Sandra Scofield was born and raised in west Texas, lived for 30 years in Southern Oregon, and now divides her time between Missoula, Montana, and Portland, Oregon. She is the author of seven novels, a memoir, a popular craft book for writers-"The Scene Book," and most recently, a book of essays about family. Her second craft book, about novel revision, is forthcoming Fall 2017 from Penguin Press. Her many literary awards include an American Book Award and a fiction award from the Texas Institute of Letters; a fiction award from The American Aademy of Arts and Letters, and The American Book Award. She has also received an NEA/USIA New American Writing Award and fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Oregon Institute of Letters, and the Oregon Arts Council. Three of her books were NYT Notable Books of the Year. Her most recent book, "Mysteries of Love and Grief," was runner-up for the Willa Cather Women Writing the West Award (2016). Scofield has been on the faculty of the University of Iowa Summer Writing Festival for more than twenty years, and is a faculty member of the Pine Manor Solstice Creative Writing Program since 2007. She is also a painter. sandrajscofield.com.