David Mura

David Mura (born 1952) is an American author, poet, novelist, playwright, critic and performance artist whose writings explore the themes of race, identity and history. In 2018, Mura published a book on creative writing, "A Stranger’s Journey: Race, Identity & Narrative Craft in Writing," in which he argues for a more inclusive and expansive definition of craft.
Mura has published two memoirs, "Turning Japanese: Memoirs of a Sansei", which won the Josephine Miles Book Award from the Oakland PEN and was listed in the New York Times Notable Books of the Year, and "Where the Body Meets Memory: An Odyssey of Race, Sexuality and Identity" (1995). His most recent book of poetry is "The Last Incantation" (2014); his other poetry books include "After We Lost Our Way", which won the National Poetry Contest, "The Colors of Desire" (winner of the Carl Sandburg Literary Award), and "Angels for the Burning". His novel is "Famous Suicides of the Japanese Empire" (Coffee House Press, 2008).
Mura communicates frequently through his social media accounts: blog.davidmura.com; @MuraDavid
Early life and education.
David Mura was born in 1952 and grew up in Chicago, Illinois, the oldest of four children. He is a third generation Japanese American son of parents interned during World War II. After the war, his father changed the family name "Uemura" to "Mura." His grandparents came to USA from Japan before the Russo-Japanese War (1904).
Mura earned his B.A. from Grinnell College and his M.F.A. in creative writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts. He has taught at the University of Minnesota, St. Olaf College, The Loft Literary Center, and the University of Oregon. He currently resides in Saint Paul, Minnesota, with his wife Susan Sencer and their three children; Samantha, Nikko and Tomo.
Published works.
Full-Length Poetry Collections
Novels
Memoirs/Nonfiction
Literary Craft/Criticism
Awards and honors.
His honors include two NEA fellowships, the 1994 Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Writers Award (which includes a cash prize of $105,000), and a US/Japan Creative Artist Fellowship, two Bush Foundation Fellowships, four Loft-McKnight Awards, several Minnesota State Arts Board grants, and a Discovery/The Nation Award. He has had his work published in literary journals and magazines including "The Nation", "The American Poetry Review", "The New Republic", "The Missouri Review", and "Crazyhorse".