Jessica Karbowiak

Jessica Karbowiak is a graduate of creative writing programs at The University of Texas at Austin and The Pennsylvania State University. She is a native New Yorker who teaches college writing.

Her creative work has appeared in literary journals such as The Chaffey Review, Two Hawks Quarterly, Blood Orange Review, and Side B magazine. Some of her work has been anthologized, and two of her essays were nominated for 2011 Pushcart prizes.

This is her first collection of essays and stories.

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Jessica Karbowiak’s beautiful short stories and essays chronicle the narrator’s growth from a space of victimization, to observer and ultimately redemption. Its theme of learning how to live in the world covers the author’s own personal tragedies, historical accounts, surreal short stories on acceptance and self-worth and finally becoming whole—even as a damaged creature. The collection is gorgeous, challenging, peculiar and experimental. As much about the writing as the narrative, the author bends perception by lyrically manipulating her words and their meanings into a unique reading experience. These Things I Know is equal parts art piece, narrative and memoir, and will fill readers with a sense of wonder and hope as they turn each page.

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“A stunner of a memoir, both gut-wrenching and uplifting, describing the pain and triumph of a young woman's life in hypnotic, lyrical prose. It's a tough story, told with no self pity and with a great sense of humor, one that will move and enthrall its readers.” —William J. Cobb, author of The Bird Saviors

“Exceptional. Karbowiak only needs a couple of pages to demonstrate her virtuosity. These stories and recollections are serious, even bleak, but if, like me, you finish the book elated, you will have to agree: this is an author who wrings the beautiful from the tragic, resisting the lure of sentimentality at every turn. The result is perfect.” —Phil Jourdan, author of Praise of Motherhood

“These words make me want to be a better writer, a stronger woman, and a more compassionate human. The details in this book are so intense, the images, settings and situations are so vivid, they still pop into my head at odd times. This is the kind of book I read at least twice. Once for story, a second time to savor the language and I will go back a third time for study. Writers like Jessica Karbowiak are very, very rare.” —Sarah Martinez, author of Sex and Death in the American Novel