Leslie Jamison

Anthology HORIZONS publishes “Pergelation”

The Blue Mesa Review put together a print anthology of previous contributors’ work to display at AWP in Los Angeles this year. They picked ten pieces from 2016 to 2022 and included my essay “Pergelation,” which won the Blue Mesa Review Nonfiction Contest judged by Leslie Jamison in 2018 and went on to be a Best American Essays Notable that year.

“Pergelation” is one of my favorite publications. I worked on it off and on for years, and I kept trying to fictionalize it. Finally, after reading Jamison’s The Empathy Exams, I rewrote “Pergelation” as straight nonfiction, then submitted it to the BMR contest. My hope was that it would be a finalist and she would read it, and I was delighted when it won.

I wish I could have picked up a print copy in person at AWP but I’m happy to have this in my hands now–it’s a beautiful anthology. Thank you to Amy Dotson and the rest of the team for making this book.

“Pergelation” Wins Blue Mesa Review’s 2018 Nonfiction Contest

My story “Pergelation” was selected by contest judge Leslie Jamison as the winner of the Blue Mesa Review Fall 2018 Nonfiction Contest.

I worked on “Pergelation” off and on for years, initially trying to fictionalize it. After reading Jamison’s book of essays, The Empathy Exams, I sat down and rewrote “Pergelation” as pure nonfiction. I submitted it for the first time when I saw Jamison was judging the Blue Mesa Review contest. And it won! I’m so glad and terrified and elated.

Many thanks to the Blue Mesa Review, Leslie Jamison, and all of the friends who read this story before I sent it out. It will be published in Issue 38, forthcoming in early December 2018.