Idra Novey is an accomplished American author, translator, and poet. She was born and raised in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and has three siblings. Novey is a graduate of both Columbia University and Barnard College. Her debut novel, "Ways to Disappear," won the prestigious Brooklyn Eagles Prize in 2016 and the Sami Rohr Prize in 2017. It was also a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for First Fiction.
Novey's writing has received significant critical acclaim. Her novel "Take What You Need" was named a New York Times Notable Book of 2023 and one of The New Yorker's Best Books of the Year. This novel is set in the Allegheny Highlands of Appalachia, where some of her family has lived for over a century. Her other novels include "Those Who Knew" and "Ways to Disappear," the latter of which was a finalist for the L.A. Times Book Prize for First Fiction.
In addition to her work as a novelist, Novey is an accomplished poet and translator. Her poetry and fiction have been translated into over a dozen languages. She has also written for various prestigious publications such as The Atlantic, The New York Times, and The Guardian. Novey currently teaches fiction at Princeton University, where she continues to inspire and educate aspiring writers. Her new book of poems, "Soon and Wholly," is set to be published in 2024.