Sean Madden

Poet, Fiction Writer

Lincoln, CA

California US

Website:

www.seanmadden.org

Author's Bio

Sean Madden is the author of the story collection, If That's What You Think You Want, which is forthcoming from Cornerstone Press in 2027. Currently he is at work on a novel. He holds a BA in English from UC Berkeley and an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Kentucky and lives with his wife and sons in Placer County, California.

Education:

University of Kentucky MFA

Publications & Prizes

Fiction

Journals:

Nonconformist Magazine

The Coil

Umbrella Factory Magazine

Waccamaw Journal

White Wall Review

Poetry

Journals:

Carousel

Hawaii Pacific Review

Jelly Bucket

MacGuffin

Mantis: A Journal of Poetry, Criticism & Translation

National Poetry Review

Sport Literate

The Emerson Review

William & Mary Review

Windhover

Prizes won:

Pushcart Prize (Nominated by The Emerson Review for "Note for Inspector," 2022).
52nd Jerry Jazz Musician Short Fiction Contest (Finalist for "The Growing Terror of Nothing to Think About," 2019).
Luminaire Award for Best Prose (Finalist for “How the Lonesome Engine Drivers Pine,” The Coil, Alternating Current Press, 2018).
Fourth Annual Emerging Writers Prize (Co-recipient, The John Updike Review, 2017).
Tuscany Prize for Catholic Fiction (Finalist for “The Sister’s Inheritance,” 2014).

Personal Favorites

Favorite authors:

Marcel Proust, John Updike, Kazuo Ishiguro, Bernard Malamud, J.F. Powers, Flannery O'Connor, Richard Russo, John Cheever, Haruki Murakami, Claire Keegan, John Banville, Ron Hansen, Chaim Potok, Emma Donoghue.

What I'm reading now:

Selected Letters of John Updike by James Schiff

More Information

Gives readings:

Yes

Travels for readings:

Yes

Identifies as:

American

Prefers to work with:

Any

Fluent in:

English

Born in:

San Diego, CA

California

Raised in:

San Diego, CA

California

Please note: All information in the Directory is provided by the listed writers or their representatives.

Last update: Oct 01, 2026