Gwen E. Kirby is a fiction writer whose short stories have appeared in prominent literary journals such as "One Story", "Tin House", "Guernica", and "Mississippi Review". Her work has garnered critical acclaim, including her story "Shit Cassandra Saw That She Didn't Tell the Trojans Because at That Point Why Bother They Won't Listen," which was selected by guest editor Aimee Bender for "Best Small Fictions 2018" and featured in the "2018 Wigleaf Top 50". Another notable piece, "Midwestern Girl Is Tired of Appearing in Your Short Stories," won the "2017 DISQUIET Literary Prize for Fiction".
Kirby holds an MFA from Johns Hopkins University and a PhD from the University of Cincinnati. Her writing often blends dark humor with sharp social commentary, exploring themes of identity, gender, and contemporary life. She served as the "2018-2019 George Bennett Fellow" at Phillips Exeter Academy, further cementing her reputation in the literary community. Currently, she is an assistant professor of English at Carleton College, where she continues to write and teach.