Search
Close this search box.
Search
Close this search box.
Morgan
Author of Short Fiction
Writer of Darkly Funny Short Stories
Travels from: Bangor, Maine

“There is so much brutal, raw, and beautiful power in these stories. Reading this book, I literally laughed and cried.” —Tommy Orange, author of There There

Night of the Living Rez: StoriesMorgan Talty is a citizen of the Penobscot Indian Nation where he grew up. He received his BA in Native American Studies from Dartmouth College and his MFA in fiction from Stonecoast’s low-residency program. His story collection Night of the Living Rez  (2022) won the New England Book Award for fiction, and is in a Native community in Maine and explores what it means to live, survive, and the persevere after tragedy. The New York Times called it “Remarkable… An electric, captivating voice… Talty has assured himself a spot in the canon of great Native American literature.”

Talty’s work has appeared in Granta, The Georgia Review, Shenandoah, TriQuarterly, Narrative Magazine, LitHub, and elsewhere. A winner of the 2021 Narrative Prize, Talty’s work has been supported by the Elizabeth George Foundation and National Endowment for the Arts (2022). Talty teaches courses in both English and Native American Studies, and he is on the faculty at the Stonecoast MFA in creative writing. Talty is also a Prose Editor at The Massachusetts Review.

Morgan’s Authors Unbound Profile: 

Night Of The Living Rez

Tin House Books |
Short Story Collection

Finalist for the New England Book Award for Fiction

An Esquire Best Book of 2022 So Far

New York TimesTIME, The Boston Globe, Vulture, Boston.com, Daily Beast, EsquireCosmopolitan, BuzzFeed, Good Housekeeping, Bustle, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Lit Hub, Chicago Review of Books, Book Riot, WBUR, WBEZ, and Debutiful Best Book of Summer

“There is so much brutal, raw, and beautiful power in these stories. Reading this book, I literally laughed and cried.” —Tommy Orange, author of There There

Set in a Native community in Maine, Night of the Living Rez is a riveting debut collection about what it means to be Penobscot in the twenty-first century and what it means to live, to survive, and to persevere after tragedy.

In twelve striking, luminescent stories, author Morgan Talty—with searing humor, abiding compassion, and deep insight—breathes life into tales of family and a community as they struggle with a painful past and an uncertain future. A boy unearths a jar that holds an old curse, which sets into motion his family’s unraveling; a man, while trying to swindle some pot from a dealer, discovers a friend passed out in the woods, his hair frozen into the snow; a grandmother suffering from Alzheimer’s projects the past onto her grandson; and two friends, inspired by Antiques Roadshow, attempt to rob the tribal museum for valuable root clubs.

A collection that examines the consequences and merits of inheritance, Night of the Living Rez is an unforgettable portrayal of an Indigenous community and marks the arrival of a standout talent in contemporary fiction.

Authors Unbound

Night of the Living Rez: Stories

This talk explores the dominant themes of Night of the Living Rez which include class, violence, internalized colonization, and what it means to love and forgive those who have failed us. Listeners are invited to consider what we might learn by considering the various situations the characters find themselves in. The talk also includes a look at the stories and experiences that shaped the author. This talk can be customized to reflect the interests of the particular audience.

Authors Unbound

The Art of Fiction

This talk is for writers and readers who want to learn more about the foundations of fiction: Point of view, character, setting, conflict, and theme among others. This talk is also generative in that attendees leave with writing.

Authors Unbound

Conversations on Craft Elements

This is a customizable experience that will reflect the interests and desires of a particular audience. All topics will be in-depth looks at specific writing elements.

Authors Unbound

Conversations on the Business of Writing

This talk will explore the various ways writers can make money outside of book advances and selling their writing. Listeners will leave this talk with a deeper appreciation of the skills they have that can earn them financial means to support their writing.

Morgan Talty on Night of the Living Rez with Ashleigh Bell Pedersen at the Center for Fiction

New collection of stories by Penobscot writer draws critical acclaim

Morgan Talty’s Upcoming Events

Morgan’s News and Reviews

Honors, Awards & Recognition

National Book Foundation 5 under 35 Award Winner, 2023
PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize for Debut Short Story Collection
An Esquire Best Book of 2022 So Far
July 2022 Indie Next List
Winner, The New England Book Award for Fiction

Media Kit

By clicking the link below you will be directed to a Google Docs Folder
where you can download author photos and cover images.

Similar Authors

Diane
Critically Acclaimed Novelist
Brandon
Critically Acclaimed Novelist
Diane
Novelist & Memoirist
Lisa
Award Winning Novelist
Waubgeshig
Bestselling Fiction Writer

Interested in hosting this author?
Send us a message and an A|U Agent will return to you ASAP!