Sarah Elizabeth Schantz is a fiction writer living on the outskirts of Boulder, Colorado in an old farmhouse surrounded by open sky, century-old cottonwoods and coyotes.

In 2011, her short story, "The Sound of Crying Sheep" won first place for a fiction contest hosted by Third Coast; Third Coast not only published the story, but they nominated her for the Pushcart Prize, and for best New Stories from the Midwest (she was accepted for inclusion in the upcoming anthology of the latter). Before this particular award, the story was short-listed for contests hosted by both Zoetrope and New Letters. This award, and the attention Schantz received, prompted her to write her first novel, which is titled FIG. Represented by Heather Schroder at Compass Talent, FIG released Spring of 2015 (McElderry/Simon & Schuster).

Several excerpts from FIG, have won the following awards: 1. "Plastic Surgery" won first place in the 2012 contest hosted by the feminist press, Saturday's Child. 2. "The Breaking Wheel" was a double-finalist for two literary competitions hosted by Hunger Mountain and is available to read on their website. 3. "Stillborn" was short-listed by a flash fiction contest ran by WOW! Women on Writing, before it won first-place for the fourth annual flash fiction award hosted by Monkey Puzzle Press (also available to read online at their website). 4. "Electric Shock Therapy" was a national finalist for the 2012 contest hosted by Alligator Juniper; the story was later republished by Midwestern Gothic. 5. "Palindromes" was a fiction finalist for Glimmer Train, before it was short-listed by Alligator Juniper and published in their 2013 edition.

Schantz is also working on her second novel, ROADSIDE ALTARS, and the first chapter titled, "Sister" won the Fall 2012 Orlando Prize for Short Fiction hosted by the foundation, A Room of Her Own; the story was published by The Los Angeles Review (Volume 13/ Spring 2013).

You can find more of Schantz's work in the following journals and anthologies: Bombay Gin (37:2, 2011), The Adirondack Review, The Smoking Poet, Midwestern Gothic, Hipmama, and the contemporary anthology of fairy tales titled: MODERN GRIMMOIRE.

Schantz is available for readings, and has been featured at the 2012 Small Press Festival in Milwaukee, the 2013 Bouldering Poets Reading Series and the 2013 4x4 Reading. She has a BA in Writing & Literature and a MFA in Writing & Poetics from Naropa University. She collects Lotus slippers, Blue Willow, Edwardian-style nightgowns, fairy tales, Owl figures and antique marbles. She loves to take a long bath so salty it becomes the sea, and every time the moon is full, she takes a long stroll in the silver light.

Books by Sarah Elizabeth Schantz

Fig

by Sarah Elizabeth Schantz - Fiction, Young Adult 14+

Fig’s world lies somewhere between reality and fantasy. But as she watches Mama slowly come undone, it becomes hard to tell what is real and what is not, what is fun and what is frightening. To save Mama, Fig begins a fierce battle to bring her back. The problem is that in the process of a daily sacrifice, she begins to lose herself as well, increasingly isolating herself from her classmates and engaging in self-destructive behavior that only further sets her apart.