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Biography

My name is Denise Tolan.

 

I am a writer who believes what Virginia Woolf says is true: "On the outskirts of every agony sits some observant fellow who points."

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I am a pointer. 
 

I love love love the novel Moby-Dick.

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I love teaching English.

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I also write both fiction and non-fiction. Check out some of my publications.

 
 

News and Stuff

Have a new piece out in Barren Magazine called "The History of Tedium."

My newest work in Crack the Spine is called 

Mercury Rising.  

Upcoming Pieces:
  • Flock Fall/Winter 2020
  • Penn Review  Spring 2021
  • Sonora Review Fall 2020
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My piece, "A Very Short History of Abuse," published in this anthology, was recently nominated for Best Short Fictions 2020!

Order a copy here!

Great Weather for Media

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Denise's non fiction piece at Bodega , "Things That go Boom," was a finalist for the 2019 Penelope Niven International Literary Award

Click the Bodega link to read!!

Denise was a finalist for the Diane Woods Memorial nonfiction prize.

 

Read "Betrayed by Blood" in Lunch Ticket

Denise's piece in Lunch Ticket's Amuse-Bouche Spotlight, Because You are Dead, was selected for inclusion in 2018's Best Small Fictions.

Order 2018's Best Small Fictions.

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 Story up at Queen Mob's Tea House. Enjoy!!

 

 

Publications and Awards

Fiction

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Non-Fiction

Available on Amazon 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NBNDY19

Also available at Amazon in Best Small Fictions 2018
 

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  • "Malocchio" Santa Ana River Review

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  • "A Very Short History of Abuse" Great Weather for Media 

Available on Amazon 

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  • "The Underside of Normal" Fugue 

Awards

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  • 2019 Finalist Palooka Press

  • Nominated for Best Small Fictions 2020 by Great Weather For Media

  • 2019 Finalist Arts for the People Chapbook Contest

  • 2019 Longlist Ink Tears Short Story Contest

  • 2019 International Literary Awards, Penelope Niven Prize in Nonfiction: finalist

  • 2019 Gambling the Aisle Chapbook Prize: finalist 

  • 2018 Diane Woods Memorial Award: finalist, non fiction

  • 2018 The Best Small Fictions, Lunch Ticket: winner

  • 2018 International Literary Awards, Penelope Niven Prize in Nonfiction: finalist

  • 2018 Forge Fellowship: finalist

  • 2017 Wigleaf’s Top 50, Apple Valley Review, long-listed

  • 2017 River Styx Schlafly Beer Micro-Brew Micro-Fiction contest: semi Finalist

  • 2017 Saturday Evening Post Fiction Contest: finalist

  • 2016 Texas Observer Short Story contest: honorable mention

  • 2016 SunStruck Magazine Creative nonfiction writing contest: winner

  • 2015 Best of the Net, The Great American Lit Mag: nominee

  • 2013 Glimmer Train’s Award for New Writers: honorable mention

  • 2012 Glimmer Train's Very Short Fiction Award: finalist