“Sarah’s voice is one we need, and one we will hear
for a very long time.”
Sarah Michael Hollenbeck is a Chicago-based writer and editor, whose essays have appeared in Triquarterly and Shondaland among other literary journals and blogs. Her essay "A Goldmine" won the Grand Prize in the 2013 Dogwood Literary Contest, has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize, and received a Notable Mention in Best American Essays. Her essay "As Long As It's Healthy" appeared in the anthology, Nasty Women. Her work grapples with sexuality, femininity, physical disability, and gaze--often exploring how we perceive ourselves, how we are perceived by others, and the tender space in between.
The week after receiving her MFA in creative writing from Northwestern University, Sarah moved to a new apartment. While packing, she ran out of bubble wrap, then newspaper, then all other packing materials. Sarah wrapped her remaining dishes in an extra copy of her 140-page Master's thesis. Although most of the thesis-wrapped dishes broke, Sarah vows to continue putting her writing to practical use.
Speaking of practical, Sarah has a day job. She is the proud co-owner of Women & Children First, one of the last remaining feminist bookstores in the world. If you're in Chicago, come say hello.