Texas State lecturer receives prestigious Whiting Writers Award

By Daniel Palomo III
University News Service
October 31, 2013

Jennifer duBois

Jennifer duBois (Photo by Ilana Panich-Linsman)

Texas State University lecturer Jennifer duBois received the prestigious Whiting Writers’ Award, given annually to 10 emerging writers who have demonstrated excellence.

DuBois, a lecturer in the Masters of Fine Arts in creative writing program, has published numerous short stories and two novels in her young career. Her first novel, A Partial History of Lost Causes, was the winner of the Northern California Book Award for fiction.

The distinction, bestowed by the Mrs. Giles Whiting Foundation, includes an award of $50,000. DuBois said it was a great honor and validation.

“You write a novel in an isolation chamber and when it’s published you feel like only four people read it,” duBois said. “To have something like this come through offers a reassurance.”

Cartwheel is duBois’ recently-released second novel is about a American foreign exchange student arrested for murder. Told through perspectives from four characters, it’s an exploration of how different people interpret the same situation.

She will be at Book People in Austin on Monday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. for a speaking and signing. Visit her website www.jennifer-dubois.com for more information about her career.