Meet Steve Yarbrough

Steve Yarbrough, Graduate Program Director of the MFA in Creative Writing and author of nine books.

I didn’t know much about Emerson students when I came here, but I’ve just fallen in love with them. They’re talented. They’re committed. They’re bright. They are just a joy to be around.

—Steve Yarbrough

Steve Yarbrough is the author of nine books. His latest novel, The Realm of Last Chances, will be published by Alfred A. Knopf in 2013. His work has been published in Ireland, the UK, the Netherlands, Japan and Poland.

When asked about joining the Writing, Literature & Publishing faculty in 2009, Steve remarks, “I knew Emerson was special in a lot of ways. It’s got a long tradition of creative writing, it’s the home of Ploughshares—not to mention Redivider and various other literary journals—and I like the work of a lot of people who teach here. So when the opportunity opened up, I jumped at it."

For Steve, having the chance to work alongside the talented writers and scholars who teach in Emerson’s MFA in Creative Writing program was too good to pass up. So he left sunny California for the unforgiving and unpredictable weather of Boston. When Steve first arrived, he was impressed by the talent of Emerson’s MFA students. He explains, "I didn’t know much about Emerson students when I came here, but I’ve fallen in love with them. They’re talented. They’re committed. They’re bright. They are just a joy to be around."

Steve brings his enthusiasm for WLP’s faculty and students to his role as Graduate Program Director of the MFA program. His door is always open, and he encourages students to stop by. He’s more than happy to be in Boston; he explains, “It's a great city in which to be a writer." Boston is a literary epicenter: home to major book publishers and a host of literary events and readings.

Perhaps most importantly, Steve recognizes and appreciates all that distinguishes Emerson’s MFA from similar programs offered at other schools. “I honestly cannot think of another school in the country that offers such a cornucopia of choices to a student when it comes to finding (very accomplished) people to take classes with," he says.

From the faculty of award-winning authors, poets, and scholars, to the gifted student body and its location in a city with a long and strong literary tradition, Emerson’s MFA program is unique and powerful. Steve considers himself lucky to be part of this vibrant community of writers. “It’s great to be excited about going to work every day,“ he says, “and I think that’s fairly rare."

To learn more about the MFA in Creative Writing, visit Graduate Admissions, email gradapp@emerson.edu or call 617-824-8610.