Kirsten Menger-Anderson
Kirsten Menger-Anderson is an American fiction writer. Her latest work and debut novel is The Expert of Subtle Revisions which is published by Penguin Random House and releases March 18, 2025. Her first book, a collection of linked short stories titled Doctor Olaf van Schuler's Brain, was published by Algonquin Books in 2008. A number of the collected stories have also appeared in literary journals, such as Ploughshares and the Southwest Review. Menger-Anderson has a degree in Economics from Haverford College and an MA in English and creative writing from San Francisco State University. She previously held positions at Salon.com and Wired.com. Menger-Anderson currently lives in an old Victorian house in San Francisco with her husband and children. Her grandfather is the mathematician Karl Menger.
Publications
The Expert of Subtle Revisions, a novel, Penguin Random House, March, 2025 Doctor Olaf van Schuler’s Brain, a collection of linked short stories, Algonquin, September, 2008 Salk and Sabin, a short story, Ploughshares, Issue #106 Vol. 34/2&3 Fall 2008The Doctors, a short story, Post Road, Issue 16 Fall/Winter 2008 The Baquet, a short story, Southwest Review, Volume 89, Number 2 & 3, 2004Reading Grandpa’s Head, a short story, Maryland Review, Volume 1 Fall 2004The Story of Her Breasts, a short story, Plaztik Press, 2004Kathleen, a short story, Pindeldyboz, 2003Blue Glow, a short story, Lynx Eye, Volume X Number 4 Fall 2003Gretle, a short story, Wascana Review, Volume 36, Number 2 Fall, 2001Critical acclaim
Doctor Olaf van Schuler's Brain was a finalist for the Northern California Book Award. It was selected as one of 2008’s best books by the Sun Sentinel Books editor, Chauncey Mabe and was included in Chicago Time Out’s “Top 10 for 2008” as well as SEED Magazine’s top picks for 2008. Several of her short stories have been short-listed for awards, including the Richard Yates Award, the Glimmer Train Short Story Award for New Writers, the Iowa Review Story Contest, and the Andre Dubus Award.Her novel The Expert of Subtle Revisions received positive reviews from Kirkus Reviews, the Los Angeles Times, and the Washington Post .