by Writing Workshops Staff
A week ago
We're thrilled to celebrate WritingWorkshops.com alumni Kerry Donoghue on the publication of her debut short story collection, MOUTH, released by Unsolicited Press in January 2025!
Kerry, who participated in workshops led by our instructors Courtney Kocak and Mark Gottlieb, has crafted a provocative collection exploring the theme of consumption. From competitive eaters to rodeo clowns, the characters in MOUTH grapple with their deepest hungers and desires, asking profound questions about appetite and identity.
"When our appetites define us, how do we survive the hunger?" This central question resonates throughout Kerry's collection, which has already garnered praise from notable authors.
Joshua Mohr describes the stories as heartbreaking "in the best way possible" while also making him "laugh [his] ass off," comparing Kerry's work to Amy Hempel.
Gina Chung calls the collection "totally engrossing, rendered in prose that'll slap you silly with every dazzling line."
Kerry's fascination with consumption began during her childhood in Los Angeles, where mall culture shaped her observations of how people shop, dress, and eat. This perspective infuses her writing with unique insights into human desire and behavior.
Prior to this collection, Kerry's poetry and stories have appeared in Ninth Letter, Painted Bride Quarterly, Permafrost, The Louisville Review, and The South Carolina Review, among other journals. She also wrote The Loudest Voice of All, a children’s book, to fundraise for an organization that educates girls about the power of voting. She holds an MFA in Writing from the University of San Francisco and was selected for the 2025 Poets & Writers Get the Word Out publicity incubator.
MOUTH is available now from Unsolicited Press. Join us in congratulating Kerry on this significant achievement!
To learn more about Kerry and her writing, visit her author website.
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