Debra Di Blasi

Curriculum Vitae

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

President, Jaded Ibis Productions, Inc., a transmedia corporation™ 2002-Present
• Publisher-in-Chief, Jaded Ibis Press. Publishing fine and unusual literary books, CDs, DVDs.
• Creator and manufacturer of the Diem® WordPlay™ educational toy.
• Producer-Director of BLEED channel. Video interviews with innovative writers and artists.

PUBLICATIONS
FICTION
Books
Skin of the Sun, mixed media fiction & nonfiction). Spuyten Duyvil Press, Brooklyn, NY. Forthcoming 2010.
What the Body Requires: a symphonic novel. Jaded Ibis Press. 2008
The Jirí Chronicles & Other Fictions, short stories. FC2 Books/​University of Alabama Press: Tuscaloosa, AL. March 2007
Prayers of an Accidental Nature, short stories. Coffee House Press: Minneapolis, MN. May 1999
Drought & Say What You Like, novellas. New Directions Books: New York, NY. March 1997 (See AWARDS)

Anthologized Writing
“Products from The Jiri Chronicles and Other Fictions” and “The Incomplete but Real History of the Jiri Chronicles.” The &NOW Awards: Best Innovative Fiction of 2004-2008. Robert Archambeau, Davis Schneiderman, and Steve Tomasula, eds. 2004-2008. Lake Forest Press/​&NOW Books, Lake Forest, IL. October 2009
Glauke’s Gown.” Forms At War: FC2 1999-2009. R. M. Berry, ed. FC2/​University of Alabama Press. March 2009
“Oops. Sorry." Notre Dame Review: The First 10 Years. John Matthias and William O’Rourke, eds. January 2009
“Sprung Up in the Years Since.” Wreckage of Reason: XXperimental Women Writers in the 21st Century. Nava Renek, ed. Spuyten Duyvil Press. 2008
“Rape,” excerpt from Drought. The Why and Later. Carly Sachs, ed. (Deep Cleveland Press, December 2007)
“Bohemian Beasts and Their Buttery Buxom Brides” (writing as Jirí Cêch) in the anthology, Brothers and Beasts: An Anthology of Men on Fairy Tales. Kate Bernheimer, ed. Wayne State University Press. Fall 2007

Short Stories
“Mud Cookies of Haiti.” Exquisite Corpse. Forthcoming February 2010.
“Morning Star, My Father, Mine.” Ragazine. Fall 2009
“Quell the Mayhem Night.” The Diagram. (See AWARDS) 2008
“It’s Okay To Stare.” Exquisite Corpse. Spring 2008
“Anonymous Children of Martin Luther: A-G of an Abecediary.” Clackamus Literary Review. Spring 2007
“Personal Effects,” Mad Hatters’ Review. October 2006 (See AWARDS)
“Machine Ghosts,” Drunken Boat. Spring-Summer 2006 (See AWARDS)
“A Bird Does Not Understand the Concept of Glass,” Kansas City Voices. Literary journal. Summer 2006. (See AWARDS)
“King of the Jungle and Rock and Roll,” Zygote in My Coffee. Online literary journal. Winter 2005.
“Czechoslovakian Rhapsody Sung to the Accompaniment of Piano,” Notre Dame Review. (Special Issue: Anthology of &NOW Festival of Innovative Writing & Art) Winter 2005
“Sister Sister Sister Sister.” Chelsea. Literary journal. Spring 2005.
“Three “Snapshots: A Genealogy in Flight.” First Intensity. Literary journal. Fall 2004.
“Sparrows.” Rhapsoidia. Literary journal. Summer 2004. (See AWARDS)
“Seed,” Big Ugly Review. Online literary journal Summer 2004. (See AWARDS)
"Oops. Sorry." Notre Dame Review. Literary journal. Summer 2003
“Translation.” Juniata Voices. Literary journal. Spring 2003
"Haunted." Notre Dame Review. Literary journal. January 2003
"Thaw." The Kansas City Star Magazine. December 8, 2002. (commissioned fiction)
"Glauke's Gown." The Iowa Review. Literary journal. April 2002 (See PERFORMANCE /​ INSTALLATION /​ THEATRE)
“Charles Elliot Pickens.” Chickenscratches. Literary journal. May 2001
“An Obscure Geography." (See AWARDS)
"Czechoslovakian Rhapsody Sung To The Accompaniment Of Piano." The Iowa Review. Literary journal. December 2000 (See RADIO /​ AUDIO and PERFORMANCE /​ INSTALLATION /​ THEATRE)
"Recollection" and "Blue." Clay Palm Review. Literary journal. February 2001.
“Blue,” “Recollection,” and “Exiles.” The Prague Review. Literary journal. Winter 2000
“Snapshots: A Genealogy.” Show + Tell anthology of Kansas City writers and artists, Potpourri Publications: Kansas City, MO. June 2000
"The Buck." Potpourri Literary journal. Fall 1996
"Blind." New Letters Literary journal. Spring 1996
"Drowning Hard." Cottonwood Literary journal. 1995; anthologized in Moondance e-zine. 1997 (See also AWARDS)
"I Am Telling You Lies." Sou'wester Literary journal. 1995
"Chairman of the Board." TIWA (Themes Interpreted by Writers and Artists) literary and visual arts magazine. 1993 (See also RADIO /​ AUDIO)
"An Interview With My Husband." New Delta Review. Literary journal. 1991; anthologized in Lovers: Writings By Women, The Crossing Press. 1992. (See also AWARDS)
"Delbert." AENE literary journal. 1991
"The Season's Condition." Colorado-North Review. Literary journal. 1990 (See also FILM and RADIO /​ AUDIO)
"Where All Things Converge." Transfer. Literary journal. 1989

POETRY
“What the Word Delivers.” Out of Nothing. Online literary journal. June 2009
“What the Crow Delivers.” Sleepingfish. Literary journal. Spring 2007
“Diptych: Petroleum and God,” The Melic Review. Online literary journal. Spring 2006, and presented at Poetry Slam sponsored by Missouri Center for the Book and Kansas City Public Library, September 2004
“Ways a Father Dies,” The Melic Review. Online literary journal. Summer 2004
“The Last Mare.” Poetry Midwest. Literary journal. March 2004


WRITING AS “THE REAL JIRÍ CÊCH™”
“Seven Poems: By the Moravian Sea, Time Ago, Thirst to Eat, A Fine Field, Mid-day, Playing, Notes To Myself.” Other Voices International Poetry Anthology. Spring 2007
“It’s A Man’s World.” Poets Against the War. Online literary journal. Spring 2004
“Two Poems: Run and Bullocks,” with an introduction by poet H.L. Hix. Pleiades journal. Summer 2004
Guest Editor: In Posse Review. The Melic Review. 2004
“Refugees.” The Melic Review, Online literary journal. Spring/​Summer 2003
Whither: Poems of Exile poetry collection by Jirí Cêch. Jaded Ibis Press. 2002
Comes Life poetry collection by Jirí Cêch. 2005

NONFICTION
Guest Editor: Writing as a Conceptual Art special feature. “The label-less-ists and the inevitable ism to come: An Introduction” Review fine arts magazine. Spring 2005.

Art Columnist: The Pitch. February 2001-May 2002
"Age Before Beauty? The Nelson's Egyptian art is 'old' news." May 1-7, 2002
"Clay Money: the Belger Center understand the economics of art" (part 4). April 18-24, 2002
"Minority Majority: Artists of color rule in Shades of Clay"(part 3). April 4-10, 2002
"Burnt Offerings: Stoneware potters make art the rite way" (part 2). March 14-20, 2002
"The New Evolution: At the H&R Block ArtSpace, ceramics artists play God" (part 1). Feb. 28-March 6, 2002
"Pop Smart: The Dirt Gallery throws a pop hilarity contest." February 14-20, 2002
"Souls for Sale: May Tveit gives the money changers a dose of Retail Therapy." January 24-30, 2002
"Screen Play: Bruce Yonemoto's work produces special effects." January 10-16, 2002
"Memory Tricks: At the Opie Gallery, life goes by in a flash." Dec. 13-19, 2001
"Paradise Lost: Nature is here today, there tomorrow." Nov. 29-Dec. 5, 2001
"Shelf Life: Judge these books by their covers." Nov. 15-21, 2001
"Story Look: The Late Show has multiple views on the Present Tense." Nov. 1-7, 2001
"Dirty Laundry: Marcie Miller Gross comes clean about life and death." Oct. 4-10, 2001
"Refuge: Ke-Sook Lee's Garden offers a moment of silence." Sept. 20-26, 2001
"Miller Time: Tim Miller's hope chest springs eternal." Sept. 6-12, 2001
"No Escape: Lucinda Devlin and Stephen Tourientes rattle some cages." Aug. 2-8, 2001
"Writing on the Wall: The Dirt Gallery's Time Travelers have something to spray". Jul. 19-25, 2001
"Art Works: The Kemper suggests that beauty is in the hands of the holder." Jul 5-11, 2001
"Lesson Plan: Oida Touchón figures things out." Jun. 21-27, 2001
"Last Word: Jesse Howard, Jenny Holzer and Jack Pierson say it loud." Jun. 7-13, 2001
"Artist, Heal Thyself: Joe Gregory pears down his psyche." May 24-30, 2001
"Young Blood: Artist-curators pump new life into the city." May 10-16, 2001
"Virtually Art: Artists untangle the Web of a new medium." Apr. 12-18, 2001
"Face Value: Artside Out gives poverty a face — and disadvantaged children a voice." Apr. 26-May 2, 2001
"Breaking the Surface: These photographs are more than skin deep." Mar. 29-Apr. 4, 2001
"Everybody's A Critic: Homer's pictures painted a thousand words." Mar. 15-21, 2001
"Dirty Work: Sculptor James Croak Gets Down to Earth…Literally." Mar. 1-7, 2001

Contributing Writer: SOMA (South Of Market) arts magazine, San Francisco, CA
"We've Got Joe Montana." 1994
"I Am Writing To You From the Middle Of Nowhere.” 1990
"James Rosenquist: Seeing/​Not Seeing." 1990
"Diamanda Galas: Honesty Inside A Clenched Fist." 1989
"Rising From the Ash Heap of Performance Art, Rinde Eckert Takes Off." 1988
"Otto Hitzberger: Cutting Away." 1987
"Miró." 1987
"Jonathan Barbieri: Missiles Across the Border." 1987

Contributing Art Reviewer: The New Art Examiner, Chicago, IL
"Jane Ashbury" short review. 1985
"Marilyn Propp" short review. 1984

Essays
Gass Pain: a hypertext. The Center for Book Culture casebook on William H. Gass's The Tunnel, H.L. Hix, editor. November 2000 (www.centerforbookculture.org)
"Why It's Important to Tell Your Story." Published online at 1,000 Stories (www.kcstories.com)
"Millennium Garden: Paintings by Jim Sajovic." Published in art catalog. September 1999
"Out of the Garden, Into the Cave." 1997 (See also AWARDS)
"What Three Cheers Everywhere Provide." Anthologized in Exposures: Essays By Missouri Women. Woods Colt Press: Kansas City, MO, March 1997 (See also AWARDS)


AWARDS /​ RECOGNITION
FICTION
2008 The Jiri Chronicles & Other Fictions selected as A Best Book of 2007 by Steve Tomasula, John Gallaher, Lidia Yuknavitch.
2008 Innovative Fiction Award for “Quell the Mayhem Night.” The Diagram (http:/​/​thediagram.com)
2008 Inspiration Grant from Kansas City Metropolitan Arts Council for BLEED educational videos.
2006 Pushcart Prize nomination for “Personal Effects.” Mad Hatters’ Review literary journal
2006 Pushcart Prize nomination for “A Bird Does Not Understand the Concept of Glass.” Kansas City Voices.
2007 Best of the Web Fiction for “Personal Effects.” Web del Sol magazine.
2008 Special Recognition in “And So It Begins…” Flash Fiction Award, for “Quiet Stones.” From Big Ugly Review literary journal.
2006 Panliterary Awards Fiction Finalist for “Machine Ghosts” by Drunken Boat literary journal.
2005 Pushcart Prize Nomination for “Sparrows.” by Rhapsoidia literary journal.
2005 Special Recognition Award for “Gorgeous #15: The Fabulous Plastic Surgery of Dr. Harold W. George” (digital print), 7th Annual Faces Juried Online International Art Exhibition, sponsored by Upstream People Gallery (www.upstreampeoplegallery.com), Omaha, NE.
2004 Short Short Fiction Award for “Seed.” (First Place) Sponsored by The Big Ugly Review literary journal
2003 James C. McCormick Fellowship in Fiction. Sponsored by the Christopher Isherwood Foundation.
2002 Special Recognition Award for "An Obscure Geography" and "Drowning Hard" (short stories). Moondance International Film Festival Competition.
1998 Thorpe Menn Book Award for Drought & Say What You Like. Sponsored by American Association of University Women.
1997 James Fellowship for the Novel-in-Progress for What The Body Requires (novel, formerly titled Reprise: Reprisal). Sponsored by the Heekin Foundation.
1991 Eyster Prize for Fiction for "An Interview With My Husband" short story. Sponsored by New Delta Review.

FILM /​ SCREENPLAYS /​ VIDEO
Cinovation Screenwriting Award for Drought screenplay. 1997
Austin Film Festival’s Screenwriting Competition finalist for The Walking Wounded screenplay. 1996


2003 First Place in Essay Competition “Hope.” Sponsored by National League of American Pen Women (Missouri Region).

SCREENPLAYS
What the Body Requires. Screenplay adaptation for director Biju Viswanath. In progress.
Drought. 16mm, 28 min. 1997 (film premiere) 1993 (written) Based on the novella of the same title by Debra Di Blasi. Produced by Breathing Furniture Films/​Lisa Moncure & Michael Leen. Screenplay by Debra Di Blasi, Lisa Moncure, Michael Leen. Directed by Lisa Moncure. Photography by Michael Leen. Sound Design by Jim McKee/​Earwax Productions. Starring Jessika Cardinahl & Jack Conley. Production design by Megan Ricks & John Matheson. Editing by Jennifer Jean Cacavas. Radio Program Music by Allen Davis.
SCREENINGS:
• Elon University, Elon, NC. March 2002
• National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington, DC. November 2000
• Ragtag Cinema, Columbia, MO. June 2000
• Universe Elle, as part of the 53rd Cannes International Film Festival:, Cannes, France. May 2000
• Broadcast rights purchased by Independent Film Channel. Premiere broadcast November 23, 1999
• Kansas City Filmmakers Jubilee: Kansas City, MO. April 1999 (See also AWARDS)
• Göteborg Sweden Film Festival: Göteborg, Sweden. Feb. 1999
• Festival Internacional de Cine de Bilbao Spain: Bilbao, Spain. November 1998
• Sao Paulo Mostra Internacional de Cinama: Sao Paulo, Brazil. October 1998;
• Figueira da Foz International Festival of Cinema: Lisbon Portugal. September 1998 (See also AWARDS)
• Webster University Film Series: St. Louis, MO. September 1999.
• Sarajevo International Film Festival: Sarajevo, Bosnia. August 1998
• Recontres Cinemágraphiques Franco-American D'Avignon, France: Avignon, France. June 1998 (See also AWARDS)
• Charlotte Film Festival: Charlotte, NC. June 1998
• Toronto Worldwide Short Film Festival: Toronto, Canada. June 1998 (See AWARDS)
• New York/​Avignon Film Festival: New York, NY. April-May 1998
• New York Women's Film Festival: New York, NY. April 1998
• Taos Talking Pictures Film Festival: Taos, NM. April 1998 (See AWARDS)
• American Film Institute Film Festival: Los Angeles, CA. World premiere October 1997

The Season's Condition. 10 min. Based on the short story of the same title by Debra Di Blasi. Produced and directed by Lisa Moncure. Cinematography by Michael Leen.
SCREENINGS:
• Toronto Film Festival: Toronto, Canada. 1998
• American Film Institute Film Festival: Los Angeles, CA. 1995
• Bay Area Film & Video Poetry Festival: San Francisco, CA. 1994
• Culture Under Fire Film Festival: Kansas City, MO. 1994


VIDEO
BLEED CHANNEL: Interviews with innovative writers and artists. Produced by Jaded Ibis Productions. Written/​directed/​edited by Debra Di Blasi (See AWARDS)
EPISODE 4: “SOWING BOOKS: Writer Davis Schneiderman.” 2009
EPISODE 3: “MONSTROUS WOMEN OF THE AVANT GARDE: Wreckage of Reason editor Nava Renek, and writers Danielle Alexander, Amina Cain, Alexandra Chasin, Megan Milks, Aimee Parkison, Cynthia Reeves.” Spring 2008
EPISODE 2: “SMART LIT: Sissy Boyd, Teresa Carmody, Vanessa Place.” Summer 2007
EPISODE 1: “DREAM TIME: Anne Austin Pearce.” Winter 2007

OTHER
Fall Into the Gap. Original video produced for/​presented at Associated Writing Programs Conference, 2008
Hung™ Video Commercial for Hung™ cologne, as part of The Jirí Chronicles fiction project. 2007
I Don’t Love James Frey’s Beard. Original experimental video. Online at YouTube. 2006
One Day Soon Enough. Experimental video. Online at YouTube. 2006
Gimme Noise. Music video for Ümlaut: ültimate über art metal. 2006
On The Garden Path. Music video for Ümlaut: ültimate über art metal. 2006
Jung in Africa. Experimental digital video.
The Jirí Chronicles: Curse of the Yellow Snake. Original animation for Comedy Central competition. 2006
I’m a Character Because: the real Jirí Cêch. Original short for USA Television network online. 2006
An Interview of Debra Di Blasi By The Real Jiri Cech. For Conceptual Writing article/​website. 2004.
Gorgeous Surgeries. Series of original shorts for collaborative writing/​visual novel. 2004-2005
road /​ kill /​ joy. Original short experimental. 2003
Fist. Original short experimental. 2002


RADIO /​ AUDIO /​ MULTI-MEDIA

Personal Effects Audio adaptation by Debra Di Blasi, based on the short story by Debra Di Blasi. Online at Mad Hatters’ Review http:/​/​www.madhattersreview.com/​issue6/​fiction_diblasi1.shtml
The Jirí Chronicles. Ongoing multimedia project: poetry collections, CD-ROM audio interviews, websites, videos, music (includes Ûmlaut death metal), art therapy drawings, consumer products (tee shirts, posters, neckwear, postcards, etc.), Over 400 individual works, to date.
Haunted. Audio adaptation by Debra Di Blasi, based on the short story by Debra Di Blasi. Online at Notre Dame [re]view www.nd.edu/​~ndr/​review
Czechoslovakian Rhapsody. Radio adaptation from the short story of the same title. Produced by Finnish Broadcasting Corporation (YLE). Helsinki, Finland. Broadcast premiere October 1998
Kansas City Fiction Writers: Vol. 1. Short stories ("The Season's Condition" and "Chairman of the Board") recorded for double CD set, limited edition; featuring Kansas City fiction writers. Art Radio: Kansas City, MO. Release date December 1998
Dreamless Dream. Radio adaptation from the short stories “Blind,” “Stones,” and “Our Perversions.” Produced by Finnish Broadcasting Corporation: Helsinki, Finland. Broadcast premiere October 1998
Drought. Radio adaptation of the novella of the same title by Debra Di Blasi, produced and adapted by YLE (Finnish Broadcasting Corporation), Helsinki, Finland. Broadcast premiere May 1998


PERFORMANCE /​ ART EXHIBITIONS /​ THEATRE

Unit 5 Group Exhibition. Unit 5 Gallery. Kansas City, MO. February 7-28, 2009
Patterns of Behavior. Group Exhibition. Unit 5 Gallery. Kansas City, MO. December 1-29, 2008
Beasts. Group Exhibition. Greenlease Gallery, Rockhurst University, Kansas City, MO. January 2007.
Bend: An exhibition of new paintings by Debra Di Blasi and Anne Austin Pearce. The Late Show, Kansas City, MO. June 24-July 31, 2005.
20”x20”x20” National Juried Compact Competition. “muons, gluons, pions & strings: Homage to Edward Witten No. 70.” Northwest Art Center, Minot State University, Minot, ND. January 12-22, 2005.
Americas 2000 Paper Works Juried Competition. “muons, gluons, pions & strings: Homage to Edward Witten Nos. 12 and 52.” Northwest Art Center, Minot State University, Minot, ND. January 12-22, 2005.
"Gorgeous #15: The Fabulous Plastic Surgery of Dr. Harold W. George" (digital print), 7th Annual Faces Juried Online International Art Exhibition, sponsored by Upstream People Gallery (www.upstreampeoplegallery.com), Omaha, NE (see AWARDS) April-Present
Making Meaning: Artist Books, H&R Block ArtSpace. January 2004. 2003.
In Case You Haven’t Noticed, I’m Not Wearing Any Clothes. multimedia performance, &Now Writers Conference, Notre Dame University. Spring 2004
Alias. “It’s a Man’s World: The art of Jirí Cêch.” Urban Culture Project, Kansas City, MO. January-March 2004.
Artist as Collector. "Ad Fictions" for group exhibition. H&R Block ArtSpace. Sept. 2003.
Intruder. One-act play. Premiere performance at Project T, The Writers Place, Kansas City, MO. April 2002.
Glauke's Gown. Performance-reading. Elon University, Elon, NC. March 2002.
Translation. Multimedia installation; collaboration with visual artist Sharyn O'Mara; assisted by sound designer Chris Willits. Juniata Museum of Art, Juniata, Pennsylvania. November 2002 - January 2002.
Unbroken View. Multimedia installation; collaboration with visual artist Sharyn O’Mara; assisted by sound designer Chris Willits. Premiere exhibition: Edwin A. Ulrich Museum: Wichita, KS. November 2000-January 2001.
Czechoslovakian Rhapsody. Multimedia performance based on the short story of the same title by Debra Di Blasi. Written/​directed/​produced/​performed by Debra Di Blasi. Premiere Ragtag Cinema, June 2000
An Interview With My Husband. Chamber theatre adaptation from short story of the same title by Debra Di Blasi. Produced and adapted by Stephen Booser. Directed by Art Suskin. Stage management by Nancy Madsen. Premiere at The Writers Place, Kansas City, October 1997


TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Kansas City Art Institute - Kansas City, Missouri. 1995 - 2003
All courses listed here were designed and taught by me.
• Special Instructor, full-time appointment. Courses designed & taught: Experimental Writing, In the Darkness: War Short Stories, Writing Foundations, Magazine Publishing. Founder, developer, course instructor and supervisor of Vault Eleven, an arts magazine collaboration between KCAI, William Jewell College, and Rockhurst University). Fall 2002-Spring 03
• Adjunct Instructor. Course: Mixed Media Fiction. Spring 2002
• Adjunct Instructor. Courses: Hyperfiction, Writing Foundations, Ceramics Critique Seminar. Fall 2001
• Faculty, KCAI Summer Art Lab. Course: Creative Writing. Summer 2001
• Adjunct Instructor. Course: Truth or Dare: The Art of the Personal Essay. Summer 2000
• Adjunct Instructor. Courses: Writing Foundations I & II. Developed and taught innovative and highly successful curriculum for students with learning and/​or writing disabilities. 1997-2000
• Instructor. Course: Portfolio Preparation, Continuing Education. 1998-2000
• Instructor. Course: Creative Writing, High School Summer Program. 1999
• Instructor. Course: Experimental Writing, High School Summer Program. 1998
• Adjunct Instructor. Course: The Art of Experimental Writing. Winters 1998-99, 2000; Summer 2001
• Instructor. Course: Experimental Writing. High School Summer Program. 1997
• Instructor. Course: Art-Writing. Summer 1995, 1996
Learning/​Writing Specialist: Academic Resource Center. 1995-2000

KCAI Academic Committee
• Chair: Mobility (Overseas Study) Committee. Fall 2002 – Spring 2003
• Faculty Sponsor: The Writing Club. Spring 2002 and 2003.
• Scholarship Committee: 1999-2000


RELATED TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Lecturer/​Workshop Instructor: “Hybrid Fictions,” Summer Arts Program, California State University, Fresno, CA Summer 2010
Instructor: UMKC The New Letters Weekend Writers Conference, Faculty, Kansas City, MO. June 2002, 2003, 2008, 2009
Instructor: PEN/​Faulkner Writers in the Schools:
• Hogan Prep School, Kansas City, MO. Spring 2009
• Harmon High School, Kansas City, KS; Grandview High School, Grandview, MO; Hogan Prep School, Kansas City, MO; Independence Academy, Independence, MO. Spring 2005
• Harmon High School, Kansas City, KS; Grandview High School, Grandview, MO; Hogan Prep School, Kansas City, MO Spring 2005; Independence Academy, Independence, MO. 2004
• Washington High School, Kansas City, KS; Raytown South High School, Raytown, MO; Hogan Prep School, Kansas City, MO. 2003
Workshop Instructor: "The Art of Writing Fiction," Avila College, Kansas City, MO. Oct. 2004, Oct. 2007 & March 2009
Workshop Instructor: "Flash Fiction," Independence Academy, Independence, MO. Spring 2007
Workshop Instructor: "The Art of Writing Fiction," The Writers Place, Kansas City, MO. Summer 1999
Workshop Instructor: “Fiction” at Paseo Art Academy, Kansas City. Sponsored by The Writers Place. December 1998
Workshop Instructor: "Dialog" at Paseo Art Academy. Sponsored by The Writers Place. December 1997
Adjunct Instructor: “Inventing the Truth: The Essentials of Fiction Writing,” Maple Woods Community College, Kansas City, MO. Spring 1999


RELATED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Advertising Production Manager. MacWeek Magazine, San Francisco, CA. 1988-1989
Advertising Manager. Robert Half of Northern California, San Francisco. 1986-1988
Executive Assistant, Accessible Arts, Inc., Kansas City, KS. 1990-1992.
Secretary (including graphic design, technical writing), Sprint, 1992-1996.
Administrative Assistant (including graphic design, technical and promotional writing), Oppenheimer Industries, Kansas City, MO. 1980-1985.


EDUCATION
1989 San Francisco State University — M.A. Novel Writing Program (no degree taken)
1985 B.F.A. Painting: Kansas City Art Institute
1975-79 University of Missouri-Columbia — Creative Writing (Poetry) and Journalism (no degree taken)


VISITING WRITER

Sacramento State University, Sacramento, CA. April 2008
Lake Forest College, Lake Forest, IL. February 2008
Truman State University, Kirksville, MO. April 2008
Independence Academy. May 2007.
Kansas City Art Institute: Modernism & After. November 2001-03, 2006
Stephens College, Columbia, MO. October 2006
Northwest Missouri State University. Spring 2006
Flash Fiction Workshop. Independence Academy, Independence, MO. Spring 2006
Warren County Community College, New Jersey. March 13, 2003.
Baker University, Kansas City, MO. November 2002
Elon University, Elon, North Carolina. March 17-22, 2002


PRESENTATIONS /​ PANELS

"Ellipsis as art: Crafting omission of information in a text." Panelist, Associate Writing Programs Conference. Denver, Colorado. April 2010.
"Cut Culture: Innovative Collaboration for the Digital Age." Panelist, &NOW Conference of Innovative Writing. University of Buffalo, New York. October, 2009
“Having a Great Time. Wish You Were Here.” Presenter, UMKC The New Letters Weekend Writers Conference, Faculty, Kansas City, MO. June 2009
“Publishing” with Hilda Raz. UMKC Mark Twain Conference, Faculty, Kansas City, MO. June 2009
"Fiction In/​And Literature." Panelist, with Jennifer Calkins, Andrea Kneeland and Vanessa Place. Society for Literature, Science and Art. Charlotte, NC. November 2009
“Nonfiction Factions: Essays, Memoirs & Histories in the 21st Century.” Presenter, New Letters Weekend Conference & Workshops. Kansas City, MO. June 2008
"Going Commando." Panelist with Alexandra Chasin, Nava Renek, Aimee Parkison, Megan Milks. &NOW Festival of Innovative Literature & Art. Orange, CA. April 2008
"Science In/​And Literature" Panelist with Vanessa Place, Jennifer Calkins, Andrea Fitzpatrick. &NOW Festival of Innovative Literature & Art. Orange, CA. April 2008
“From Homer to Simpson: A Symposium of Critical, Creative and Cultural Writings.” Keynote Speaker, Truman State University, Kirksville, MO. April 2008
"1000 Words: Picturing Fictions" Panelist, with Rikki Ducornet, Vanessa Place, Steve Tomasula. Associated Writing Programs Annual Conference, New York, NY. Jan 30-Feb 2, 2008
"Kitsch and Pop Culture as Social Critique" Panelist & reader, with Alexandra Chasin, E.C. Bachner, Lyn Halper, Megan Milks. Associated Writing Programs Annual Conference. New York, NY. Jan 30-Feb 2, 2008
“Liquor, Junk, Madness, and the Underwood Portable: The Portrait of the Author in Film.” Panelist, with Ron Hogan, Rivkah Sass, Gerald Shapiro, Timothy Schaffert. Omaha Nebraska Lit Fest. September 2007
"Reading Fiction." Presenter, PEN/​Faukner Writers in the Schools. May 3, 2007.
"If You’re So Goddamn Nice Then Why Does Everybody Hate You?" at “Shake your TABOOty, A Conference of Critical and Creative Texts,” Truman State University, Kirksville, MO. April 5, 2007
“Technology and the Soul.” Panelist, Society for Contemporary Photography. Kansas City, MO. April 2006.
"Sexual Textual Experiments: The Avant-Garde Laid Bare." Panelist, &NOW Conference, Lake Forest College. (with Lidia Yuknavitch, Lucy Corin, Lynda Schor). April 2006
“Lying In The Interstice” Presenter, UMKC-Belger Arts Center, Kansas City, MO. February 2005
"Being God: The Urge to {re}Create," Presenter, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art First Friday Gallery Talks. May 2, 2003
Renee Stout Symposium, Moderator, UMKC-Belger Arts Center, Kansas City, MO. October 2002
"The Importance of Telling Your Story," Presenter: 1,000 Stories, sponsored by Kansas City Public Library. September 2001
National League of American Pen Women, Presentation, Westport Branch. October 2000
"Creative Writing in the Fine Arts," Panelist, Associated Writing Programs Conference. April 2000
“Unbroken View: A Panorama of Image + Text” Presentation with visual artist Sharyn O’Mara at “Image and Text: American Creativity and the Relationship Between Writing and The Visual Arts, Wichita, Kansas. January 2000
"Hypertext and Fiction," Panelist with Speer Morgan (Missouri Review) and Diane Greco (Eastgate Systems), Celebration of the Book Conference, Columbia, MO. Nov. 1999
Presenter & Instructor: "The Art of Poetry & Fiction," Barnes & Noble, Independence, MO. September 1999
"The Art of Fiction Writing," Panelist; "Vision & Revisions: Revising Literary Fiction," Presenter. 15th Annual Maple Woods Community College Writers' Conference, Kansas City, MO. September 1998
"The Influence of Place on Culture and Identity in Literature," Panelist. 45th Annual Conference on Composition and Literature, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS. October 1997


LITERARY READINGS
(selected)

“FC2 Books Authors” Associated Writing Programs Conference. 2008, 2010
“Wreckage of Reason Anthology.” Medaille College, Buffalo, NY. February 2009
“Wreckage of Reason Anthology.” with Laynie Brown, Amina Cain and Cris Mazza: University of Southern California at San Diego. November 2008.
“New Letters.” Kansas City Literary Festival. May 2008.
“Shake your TABOOty, Conference of Critical and Creative Texts,” Truman State University, Kirksville, MO. April 4-5, 2007.
T.M.I. Reading Series, San Diego, CA. March 2007
Moe’s Books, with Paul Vangelisti. Berkeley, CA. January 2007
Ragtag Cinema Series, Columbia, MO. May 2006.
“FC2 Women Writers.” &NOW Innovative Literature Conference, Lake Forest College, Lake Forest, IL. April 2006.
Northwest Missouri State University. Maryville, MO. March 2006.
Central Missouri State University, Warrensburg, MO. Winter 2006.
The Writers Place, Kansas City, MO. July 22, 1993
&Now Innovative Literary Conference, Keynote, Notre Dame University, Spring 2004.
"Fourth Annual Celebration of the Book," Missouri Center for the Book, Missouri State Library. Nov. 2000
“New Letters 29th Anniversary Reading,” Associated Writing Programs Conference. April 2000
Barnes & Noble at Lincoln Center, New York, NY. October 1999
Nuyorican Poets Cafe, New York, NY. October 1999
Webster University, St. Louis, MO. September 1999
Liberty Center, Sedalia, MO. September 1998
Exposures: Essays By Missouri Women at Daniel Boone Library, Columbia, MO. June 1997
Exposures: Writing By Missouri Women at William Jewell College, Liberty, MO. March 1997
Satire, Wit, Irony Writers Conference sponsored by Kansas City, Kansas Community College. March 1995


LITERARY or FILM JUDGING /​ GUEST EDITORSHIP
(selected)

In Posse Review. www.inpossereview.com. Guest Fiction Editor: September 2009
Johnson County, Kansas Art Council Scholarships: Literature. Final Judge: Spring 2008, 2009.
Mastermind Art Awards: Visual Arts, sponsored by The Pitch, Kansas City, MO. Final Judging Panelist: Spring 2006.
Mad Hatters’ Review. Guest Editor: Summer 2007
Every Picture Tells a Story film competition, sponsored by Independent Filmmakers Coalition, Kansas City. Final Judge: August 2003
New Letters National Short Story Writing Award. Final Judge: 1999
Facets College Fiction Contest, William Jewell College. Final Judge: Spring 1999
River of Words, national poetry competition. Judge: April 1997-988


ORGANIZATIONS /​ AFFILIATIONS

The Authors Guild, Inc., Member, 2000 - Present
Crosscut: Women Making Movies, a special section of Kansas City Filmmakers Jubilee, Founder & Chair. 2002-2003
Kansas City Filmmakers Jubilee, Board of Directors . 1999 - 2003
Missouri Arts Council Citizens Panel on Literature, Panelist. June 1999 - June 2001


PRESS
(selected)

Word Riot. (David Hoenigman interviews Debra Di Blasi) January 15, 2009
Experimental Fiction, Poetry & Jazz. (Jefferson Hansen Interviews Debra Di Blasi). October 5, 2008
Review of Contemporary Fiction. (The Jiri Chronicles & Other Fictions book review). Summer 2008
The Kansas City Star (Steve Paul interview of Debra Di Blasi).
Mad Hatters’ Review (Marc Lowe Interviews Debra Di Blasi). Issue 6, October 2006
The New York Times Book Review ("Sex and Oxygen": review of Prayers of an Accidental Nature). August 15, 1999
Trinidad Plus (Prayers of an Accidental Nature article & review). August 3, 1999
Library Journal (Prayers of an Accidental Nature book review). May 1999
ForeWord (Prayers of an Accidental Nature book review). June 1999
Feminist Bookstore News (Prayers of an Accidental Nature book review). February 1999
The Kansas City Star (Prayers of an Accidental Nature book review). May 1999
Publishers Weekly (Forecasts: Prayers of an Accidental Nature book review). February 1999
Kirkus Reviews (Prayers of an Accidental Nature book review). February 1999
Voices in Italian Americana (Drought book review). Spring 1998
Review of Contemporary Fiction (Drought book review). February 1998
Fallon News ("Soundings": Drought book review). February 1998
Star magazine (feature article & interview). April 20, 1997
In Print (Drought book review). May 7, 1997
Book Lovers (Drought book review). May, June, July 1997
Publishers Weekly (Drought book review). January 6, 1997
Kirkus Reviews (Drought book review). December 1996