About Me

I live on the edge of California, in Carlsbad, with my husband and our kids. I've previously worked as a publications coordinator, a freelance writer, a middle- and high-school teacher, and an ESL instructor. In an effort to hang out with my kids more, I now substitute teach in their school district.

MichellePanik

I also write stories.

My story about a man who wins fame (but not fortune) after eating a four-pound burrito was given Honorable Mention in Salem College's 2009 International Literary Awards. It was subsequently published in Alimentum and written up in The Review Review.

More recently, "The Education of Monica Steele" was one of two finalists for Terrain's Sixth Annual Contest. Additionally, Feminine Inquiry chose "The Stroller" as Runner-up in their Fall 2015 Fiction Contest. I was previously a prose reader for cahoodaloodaling, and I now do the same volunteer job at Chestnut Review.

For a long time I had a running habit—something I kicked in favor of a triathlon addiction. These days I run and spin, but not nearly as intensely. I also do some ocean swimming and paddle boarding, which supply both story ideas and the headspace to develop them. Life is good.


Education

  • 2009: University of California, San Diego Extension. TESOL Certificate

  • 2003: University of Maryland, College Park. Master of Fine Arts, Creative Writing

  • 2001: University of California, San Diego. Bachelor of Arts, Literature/Writing and Art History/Criticism