Evelyn Sharenov's Biography

Writing and Publication History:

MEMBER: National Book Critics Circle, NW Science Writers Assn., VIDA; joined the Advisory Board of Wising Up Press. Listed in Poets and Writers author directory. Chosen as a juror for an international writing residency to serve a two year term.

LITERARY JOURNALS and MAGAZINES: Etude, Glimmer Train, Mediphors, Fugue, XConnect, Eclectica, Rain City Review, Hip Mama, NYQ, Pulpsmith, Talus and Scree, The Bear Deluxe, Bitterroot, Work Literary Magazine, Hybrid Mom, Thumbnail Magazine, Unshod Quills, New York Times/Science Times

ANTHOLOGIES: 'Magic Affinities' - Love You To Pieces, Beacon Press, May 2008; 'Collateral Damage' - Citadel of the Spirit, February 2009; 'Annie' and 'Collateral Damage' - View From the Bed:View From the Bedside - Wising Up Press, August 2010; 'How We Become What We Become' - People's Apocalypse, Ariel Gore, Editor, 2012, 'The Typography of Her Chest' - ROAR, 2013, POETRY: The Generations of Sarah, publ. date 1992, Alms House Press, New York City, NY, chapbook

CITATIONS AND AWARDS: 'Magic Affinities' - Best American Short Stories; Oregon Literary Arts Grant - fiction; Fishtrap Fellowship; Red Cinder Residency/Hawaii/May-June 2010; Oregon Arts Commission Career Opportunity Grant - 2010; Kimmel Harding Nelson residency - 2012

REVIEWS, JOURNALISM, COMMENTARY and MAGAZINES: Bitch Magazine, Portland Magazine, Bear Deluxe Magazine of Environmental Arts, the Oregonian newspaper, the New York Times, Hybrid Mom

CURRENTLY AT WORK ON: 'Notes From Bedlam' - essay collection; 'The Amazing Greatcoat' - novel; 'How We Become What We Become' - collection of flash memoirs and personal essays;  

EDITOR: former nonfiction editor at Thumbnail Magazine; former nonfiction editor at the Oregon Literary Review; current award winning blogger at Psychology Today Magazine.

MEDIA: guest on Back Page, OPB - November 14, 2010

Bio:

I grew up in NYC; after college I moved to southern California where I remained for a decade, then on to Portland, Oregon; after a visit to Portland in 1980, I decided that one day I would live there. Portland is a great small city, a walking city, a bicycle city, a public transport city, a food and drink city, a jazz and blues and rock city, a dance city, a cultural center with plenty of green space. And above all, a book city. It has spectacular seasons and matches&nbsp my concept of home. I'm married to photojournalist Adam Bacher.  I have two stepdaughters.I am retired from mental health nursing where I spent 15 years treating the acutely mentally ill population for crisis stabilization.  When I'm not writing, I'm reading - essays, medical literature, neuroscience and psychology, novels, short stories, literary nonfiction. I love going to the theater, symphony and opera, but I'm just as happy staying at home watching the telly, listening to music, walking with my dog Harold, and hanging out with my husband.  I'm a smokin' classical pianist.  My first degree was in literature and philosophy from Hunter College followed by graduate work in piano performance. After volunteering for a suicide hotline, I became passionate about the field of crisis intervention and working with the mentally ill.  I returned to school for a degree in neuroscience/psychology, then nursing.  My parents attended the Juilliard School, my brother was a boy soprano with the Metropolitan Opera, my uncle was a cellist.  Music is in my blood.  Between us we cover piano, violin, voice, cello, mandolin, accordion, recorder and harmonica. 

My husband and I love to hike, enjoy our local parks and restaurants, travel.  We enjoy having friends over for cocktails and dinner.  BBQ is a year round love affair. We have two cats and a chatty African gray parrot. Updates: Elsa, the world's best dog, passed away in July 2011. Harold, a young Dingo-mix rescue, has now joined the family as the world's best dog. He's getting to know Elsa's ghost in the house. We live in a small home in the city; it has a secluded back yard, a hot tub and a country feel.  Summers we grow a complete salad in our vegetable garden.          

I was a member of SDS and still tilt to the left. I always give money to strangers with dogs who stand at the exits and entrances of freeways.

I rock out.  Gotta stay busy to keep one step ahead of the devil.