Mandy Shunnarah
Mandy Shunnarah
Writer

Mandy Shunnarah
is an Alabama-born Palestinian journalist and writer of essays, poetry, short stories, and cultural criticism, who now calls Columbus, Ohio, home.

 
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Register for my Literary Sportswriting Workshop through Workshops4Gaza!

The workshop is online and will take place on January 13th from 7-8:30pm EST.

All proceeds benefit Palestinians in need of critical resources like food, water, shelter, and warm winter clothes.

 

Published Writing

 
 

Forthcoming

My full-length poetry collection, We Had Mansions, is forthcoming from Diode Editions in 2025!

“ode to cows & clitorises” (finalist) and “marriage, as the world burns,” (semifinalist) 2 poems — Crab Creek Review
I’m one of three finalists in the 2024 Crab Creek Review Poetry Prize, chosen by Kelli Russell Agodon

“in arabic, the word for poppy is pieces” and “of cemeteries & chimney swifts,” 2 poems — Electric Literature

“prayer ghazal,” poem — Arc Poetry

“the ritual complete” and “the naturalist,” 2 poems — The Dodge

“we love what we long for,” poem — Channel Magazine

“if jesus was fat” — poem to be reprinted in Haymarket Books’ Palestinian Poetry Anthology, Heaven Looks Like Us: Palestinian Poetry, edited by Noor Hindi and George Abraham (spring 2025)

“Redneck Palestinian,” essay — Ask the Night for a Dream: Palestinian Writing from the Diaspora, anthology from Palestine Writes Press
Use the code “dream” when you preorder for $5 off

“Honeymoon (Turquoise) Blues,” essay — to be reprinted in the Chicken Soup for the Soul: Laughter is the Best Medicine anthology (2025)

 

Anthologies

Contributed the essay “Buckeye to All That” to The Columbus Anthology from Belt Publishing

Contributed the essay “Double Demoted” to Gifted-ish: Women and Nonbinary Writers on Intelligence, Identity and Education from McFarland Books

Contributed the essay “Our Miracle House” to Chicken Soup for the Soul: Miracles and the Unexplainable

Contributed the essay “An Introvert Builds a Little Free Library” to Chicken Soup for the Soul: Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

Contributed the short story “The Memory Store” to Through the Aftermath: An Apocalyptic Anthology

Contributed the essay, “Honeymoon (Turquoise) Blues” to The Bad Day Book: Vol. 1

 

Creative Nonfiction

‘Grandmother, Where’d You Get So Smart?’ ‘Living, Baby. Living.’ published in the Solver Stories column in the New York Times

Worshipping at Jerry Springer’s Daytime Altar published in Electric Literature

Grape Leaves published in The Rumpus
(video of me reading this essay live)

My Love Poems Are the Most Palestinian Thing About Me published in The Offing

Mohammed and Me published in Heavy Feather Review
Received a 2020 Best of the Net Nomination

Summoning Circle published in Lumiere Review

If You’re Dead, Let Me Know published in Entropy Magazine

Love and Labne published in The Other Side of Hope
Received a 2021 Best of the Net Nomination

Who Would I Be Without the Violence? published in Consequence Forum

Where Is The Old Country? published in Mizna (print only)

On Languishing published in OSU The Journal
Nominated for a 2024 Pushcart Prize

White Walls and Yellow Wallpaper published in Lifelines Magazine

Ink Love published in Talking Writing

The Last Summer published in Deep South Magazine

Winston Street. Birmingham, Alabama. published in Barely South Review

Smoke in the Water published in The Citron Review

Salted Wound published in The Citron Review
Received a 2017 Best of the Net Nomination

The Letter I Never Sent Harper Lee published in The Missing Slate

How Not to Wear Your Mother's Wedding Dress published in Entropy Magazine

Plucking Chin Hairs published in New Southerner magazine (now defunct) and reprinted in Doubleback Review
Honorable Mention in nonfiction category in New Southerner’s annual contest in 2016
(Hear me read an abridged version at New Southerner’s issue launch party.)

 

Poetry

our people had mansions published in Porter House Review
Winner of the 2024 Editor’s Prize in Poetry, judged by Kaveh Akbar
Nominated for a 2024 Pushcart Prize

ekphrastic under a bombed-out sky published in Apogee Journal

if jesus was fat and hide and seek published in Electric Literature

ars poetica of partridges & palestine published in Palette Poetry

a square metre in palestine published in AGNI

everyone’s favorite palestinian published in Black Warrior Review

the miracle of loaves & fishes published in Phoebe Journal

ode to the hare published in Split This Rock’s The Quarry

the hookah published in beestung

they stop torching our cities long enough to pray and only an american published in Protean magazine

exit wounds and the rage of the diaspora published in New Orleans Review

the clamshell published in OSU’s The Journal
Received a 2023 Best of the Net Nomination

the damage has been done published in HOAX

small delights; my lover is left-handed; mary; the great falastini four poems published in Mud Season Review

the ritual published in Zoetic Press/Nonbinary Review

let me make a home in you published in Sunlight Press

a train derails in ohio & they still won’t say the name of my country published in Yellow Arrow Journal

standing barefoot on the bible published in Orca Literary Journal

when they say palestinians don’t exist published in Justice for All Journal (print only)

meander scars published in Snarl Journal

cousin and on watching a video of palestinian teens dancing dabke published in Middleground

that damn lawyer who shares my name published in Southern Women’s Review

when i say fuck men published in Heavy Feather Review

marriage, as peaches rot on the counter published in Zoetic Press/Nonbinary Review/Heathentide Orphans

resting bitch face published in Strange Times Zine

dandelions published in The Dandelion Review

Suite of Palestine poems in the art exhibit “Text Me When You Get Home” at Hopkins Hall Gallery in Columbus, Ohio, (June 2023) and Gazala Projects in Gettysburg, Ohio (July 2023)

 

Fiction

The Memory Store published in Post Apocalyptic Media
Won 2nd Place in their annual short story contest in 2021

Come Get It published by Short Édition
Chosen as one of seventeen finalists for the national short story contest Money Chronicles: A Story Initiative. The story will be published and shared via Principal Foundation’s Short Story Dispensers located in New York City, Los Angeles, Charlotte (NC), Seattle, and Iowa City.

Holler General published in Exposition Review

How to Become the “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” published in The Normal School

Ghost Story published in The Wild Hunt
Received a 2020 Pushcart Prize Nomination

 

Culture Writing

When Waffle House is Home published in Columbus Monthly

Tatreez Artists Keep This Palestinian Folk Art Alive in the Midwest published in Arts Midwest

What we’re really losing when Skate Naked closes published in Matter News

An Ode to Bob’s Bar in Clintonville, a Neighborhood Mainstay published in Columbus Monthly

No One is Pure Enough for ‘Purity Culture’ published in al.com/The Birmingham News

Thoughts from a Palestinian Humanist published in The Humanist

The Woman Who Turns Songs into Drinks published in Dirty Spoon (radio segment was recorded for WPVM 103.7 Asheville, NC)

The Endless Creative Possibility of Zines published in Arts Midwest

Bullshit: how purity culture polices language published in Reckon South

What It Feels Like: I'm a Creative Writer Taking Meds for Anxiety published in Happify Daily

Praying for a friend like you published in Reckon South

I can take care of myself published in Reckon South

A Guide to Clintonville Area Shop Cats published in Columbus Monthly

Ode to Roller Skating published in Roller Rag (print only)

Making a Name for Myself as a Shunnarah published in Reckon South

How to Build A Record Collection On a Budget published in Vinyl Me, Please

Rural Ohio Curator Brings Palestinian-American Artists Together published in Arts Midwest

With Scott Woods and Steve Abbott Stepping Back, a New Open Mic Scene Emerges published in Columbus Monthly

Chicago’s Neo-Futurists Celebrate 35 Years of Experimental Theatre published in Arts Midwest

Detroit Writer’s Novel to be Made into TV Series published in Arts Midwest

Indianapolis’ Eiteljorg Museum Puts Focus on Native American Art published in Arts Midwest

This Rural South Dakota Town is Home to the International Vinegar Museum published in Arts Midwest

Columbus-based Baby Dance Club Reaches Global Audience published in Arts Midwest

Little Free Library opens doors to make comfortable connections published in Clintonville Spotlight

Bird nerds enjoy the marvel of chimney swifts published in Clintonville Spotlight

Local brick fishers troll Olentangy for treasure published in Clintonville Spotlight

For the Columbus Miniature Society, Little Things are a Big Deal published in Columbus Monthly

Skaters find lots of acceptance at The Lot published in Clintonville Spotlight

Resident plays role in controlling feral cats published in Clintonville Spotlight

Repurposing can lead to acts of ‘radical kindness’ published in Clintonville Spotlight

Kindness spreads through social media group published in Clintonville Spotlight

Man’s benches reuse invasive honeysuckle published in Clintonville Spotlight

 

LGBTQ+ Writing

The Unbelievable Struggles of Queer Organizers Trying to Unionize an Ohio Starbucks published in The Buckeye Flame

Queer sex educator fired from Ohio Department of Health for inclusive sex ed outreach published in The Buckeye Flame

Take a Tour of the Historic Homes of 5 LGBTQ+ Artists published in Saving Places/The National Trust for Historic Preservation

In Community and at Home as a Trans Person in Rural Appalachia published in TransLash

How to Survive the Extrovert Energy of Pride Season If You’re a Queer Introvert published in Pride Source

LGBTQ-Owned Business Spotlight: Bake Me Happy published in Experience Columbus

LGBTQ-Owned Business Spotlight: The Kitchen published in Experience Columbus

LGBTQ-Owned Business Spotlight: The Plant Gays published in Experience Columbus

LGBTQIA+ Sports in Columbus: Leagues, Gyms and the Fan Experience published in Experience Columbus

Quiet Outings: Low-Key LGBTQIA+ Friendly Spots in Columbus published in Experience Columbus

Columbus Sweet Treats: LGBTQIA+-Owned Bakeries to Try published in Experience Columbus

LGBTQIA+-Owned Restaurants in Columbus Perfect for Date Night published in Experience Columbus

LGBTQIA+ Authors of Columbus published in Experience Columbus

Death, loss inform new queer vampire zine from Eric Clift-Thompson published in Matter News

Queer Handmade Home Decor Gifts for Everyone on Your List published on them.us

The Best Last-Minute Queer Gifts published on them.us

After a pandemic hiatus, Lesbians Benefitting the Arts sponsors art show at Stonewall Columbus published in The Buckeye Flame

Plan Your 2023 Columbus Pride published in Experience Columbus

Parker finds proper path through photography published in Clintonville Spotlight

 
 

Business & Finance Writing

Growing up, my parents took the cash my grandparents gave me, and now I can't understand why anyone would give kids money as a gift published in Personal Finance Insider

I thought my homeowners insurance would cover my home-based small business. I was wrong. published in Insider

See inside Victoria's Secret's revamped 'store of the future' as it ditches Angels to lure more women published in Business Insider

7 reasons to give gift cards that many people don't think of published in Personal Finance Insider

Instead of a living wage, my job gave me a big bonus — and then it disappeared when I needed it most published in Personal Finance Insider

I took out a personal loan for debt consolidation, and it has made my divorce more complicated published in Personal Finance Insider

I used a simple feature from my bank to save $13,000 for a down payment without even noticing published in Personal Finance Insider

I was traumatized by a leaky roof in an old apartment, so when it happened in my home I was beyond relieved to have insurance that covered it published in Personal Finance Insider

How to Make Money on Etsy published in Business Insider

Independent book seller finds permanent site published in Clintonville Spotlight

Bubble café seeks to be the cat’s meow published in Clintonville Spotlight

Literary Criticism, Book Reviews & Author Interviews

Reimagining the Homeland Through Speculative Fiction published in the Institute for Palestinian Studies’ blog

In Community and at Home as a Trans Person in Rural Appalachia published in TransLash

Portraits of Love: Queer Love in Color by Jamal Jordan published in the Kenyon College alumni magazine

Tales from the Underworld: Vial of Tears by Cristin Bishara published in the Kenyon Collage alumni magazine

Local author targeted by book-banning censors [Ashley Hope Pérez] published in Clintonville Spotlight

Inspiration for poet was closer than she thought [Ruth Awad] published in Clintonville Spotlight

Kaudo’s first book is ‘Ripe’ for reading [Negesti Kaudo] published in Clintonville Spotlight

Karin Cecile Davidson mines childhood memories for new collection published in Matter News

Profile on Rage: Narcissism, Patriarchy, and the Culture of Terrorism by Abigail Esman published in the Kenyon College alumni magazine

Anyone Home: On Norah Lange's "People In the Room" published in Entropy Magazine

Author brings back familiar characters published in Clintonville Spotlight

Sense of place critical in author’s novel, life published in Clintonville Spotlight

‘Ape House’ author’s love of nature started here published in Clintonville Spotlight

Loss’ book themes continue to resonate now published in Clintonville Spotlight

‘Columbus Book Project’ brings city to life published in Clintonville Spotlight

Dad turns interest in improv into new book published in Clintonville Spotlight

Author weaves eerie elements into stories published in Clintonville Spotlight

Meyers finds plenty of topics to inspire his writing published in Clintonville Spotlight

Author hopes awards open doors to publishing published in Clintonville Spotlight

[Review] Against Memoir by Michelle Tea published in PANK Magazine

[Review] Animals Eat Each Other by Elle Nash published in PANK Magazine

[Review] Adult Gummies by K. Karivalis published in PANK Magazine

Unraveling Trauma and Title IX: An Interview with Sarah Cheshire published in PANK Magazine

The Personal, the Political, and the Musical: An Interview with Hanif Abdurraqib on They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us published in PANK Magazine

The Mystery and Mythology of Found Audio by N.J. Campbell published in PANK Magazine

Haints, Horrors, and Hilarity: JD Wilkes on The Vine That Ate the South published in PANK Magazine

Southern Tales of Mythic Proportions Come to Life in 'The Vine That Ate the South' published in Deep South Magazine

[INTERVIEW] Hauntings, Humor, Poetry, and Dogs – An Interview with Kimmy Walters published in PANK Magazine

[Review & Interview] Am I Alone Here? by Peter Orner published in PANK Magazine

3 Books For Southern Expats Missing Home published in Deep South Magazine

3 Unflinching Southern Memoirs Published By Small Presses published in Deep South Magazine

Clintonville still home to many literary gift options published in Clintonville Spotlight

 

History, Home, & Science Writing

Love Lives In This Place published in The Order of the Good Death

That Total Hottie, Rutherford B. Hayes published in Columbus Monthly

Olives, Climate Change, and Zionism published in Science for the People

Pine Grove Elementary School: A Rural Black Community Rallies to Save Their Historic Schoolhouse published in Saving Places/The National Trust for Historic Preservation

Owosso Armory: A Former National Guard Base Brings the Community Together published in Saving Places/The National Trust for Historic Preservation

Take a Tour of the Historic Homes of 5 LGBTQ+ Artists published in Saving Places/The National Trust for Historic Preservation

Development Puts Fort Wayne’s Historic Electric Works in New Light published in Saving Places/The National Trust for Historic Preservation

Historic Lazarus Home in Downtown Columbus Undergoes a Preservation-Focused Revival published in Columbus Monthly

Baby Steps: A Westerville Couple Makes Their Quirky Uptown Home Suitable for an Infant published in Columbus Monthly

 
 
 
 

Sex Writing

Published in large national magazines under a pseudonym. Kinks—I mean, links—available upon request.

Books in Progress

Outside of Midwest Shreds, Mandy is currently working on a memoir, poetry collection, and novel.

They are currently seeking agent representation.

Let’s Stay in Touch

Contact me with any questions you have.

When you fill out the form, you’ll be subscribed to my email list where I periodically send out news and updates about book releases, signings, events, workshops, and the like. If you decide you don’t want to hear from me, opt out at any time—no hard feelings.

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