About Melanie

Melanie Sumner (that’s me) is a prize-winning author, an intrepid single Mom, a curious traveler, and a part-time recluse. Born on a small planet not far from here, she grew up in the southeastern United States. After forays into places like Dakar, Taos, and P-town, she has returned to Georgia where she teaches at Kennesaw State University. 

She is the author of the novels, How to Write a Novel, The Ghost of Milagro Creek, and The School of Beauty and Charm, as well as a collection of short stories, Polite Society. Her stories and essays have appeared in many magazines including The New Yorker, Harper’s, and Seventeen. 

Melanie is the recipient of the Whiting Award, a grant from the National Endowment of the Arts, and fellowships to Yaddo and The Fine Arts Work Center. Her books have won awards such as The New Mexico Best Novel and the Maria Thomas Best Novel by a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer. Editions of How to Write a Novel will be published in Germany, Italy, and Israel. 

She earned her MFA at Boston University and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.