Sheree Renée Thomas

A native of Memphis, Sheree Renée Thomas writes between a river and a pyramid. She is the author of Shotgun Lullabies: Stories & Poems (Aqueduct) and editor of Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction from the African Diaspora and Dark Matter: Reading the Bones (2001 & 2005 World Fantasy Awards).

Her poetry and short stories appear in literary journals and magazines such as Callaloo, Eleven, Eleven, Harpur Palate, Meridians, StorySouth, Strange Horizons, Mythic Delirium, and in anthologies, including The Moment of Change, So Long Been Dreaming: Postcolonial Science Fiction & Fantasy, Mojo: Conjure Stories, Mythic 2, Southern Revival, Hurricane Blues, and The Ringing Ear: Poets Lean South.

She has been honored with fellowships from Cave Canem Foundation, New York Foundation of the Arts, the Lee Hope Fellowship for Diverse Voices, and the Ledig House / LEF Foundation Fellowship for Fiction. Her work was nominated for a Pushcart Prize, two Rhysling Awards, and received Honorable Mention in The Year’s Best Fantasy & Horror (16th & 17th annual eds). She is an alumna of Clarion West '99.

Sheree has written essays and critical reviews for The New York Times, The Washington Post, Essence, The Cascadia Subduction Zone, Upscale, and Vibe. A teaching artist who has taught creative writing at universities and arts organizations around the country and in London, Sheree is also an indie publisher. Her Wanganegresse Press published Mojo Rising: Confessions of the 21st Century Conjureman by Arthur Flowers and SCARAB, a limited edition hand-sewn Coptic bound anthology. She co-founded Anansi: Fiction of the African Diaspora in '99.

Sheree curated the New York Review of Science Fiction reading series at Dixon Place, named in 2002 as the Best Geek Culture Readings by BEST OF NEW YORK© in The Village Voice. Over the years she has served as a juror for the Speculative Literature Foundation, the Carl Brandon Society, and the James Tiptree, Jr. Awards.