Anthony Veasna So

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Anthony Veasna So
Born(1992-02-20)February 20, 1992
Stockton, California, U.S.
DiedDecember 8, 2020(2020-12-08) (aged 28)
San Francisco, California, U.S.
OccupationWriter
Alma materStanford University (BA)
Syracuse University (MFA)
Period2018–2020
Notable worksAfterparties

Anthony Veasna So (February 20, 1992 – December 8, 2020) was an American writer known for short stories, which were described by The New York Times as "crackling, kinetic and darkly comedic" and often drew from his upbringing as a child of Cambodian immigrants.[1][2] So died from an accidental[3] drug overdose in 2020, and his debut book, a short story collection entitled Afterparties, was published the following year.[4]

Biography[]

So was born in Stockton, California, to Khmer parents who had fled Cambodia during the Cambodian genocide under the Khmer Rouge.[1][4] He graduated from Stanford University in 2014[5] with bachelor's degrees in Art and English.[1][2] He was a Kundiman Fellow and a Paul & Daisy Soros Fellow. In December 2020, he received a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from Syracuse University.[1] He taught at Colgate University, Syracuse University and the in Oakland, California.[6] Afterparties had been the subject of a bidding war between publishers; the winning publisher, Ecco, had offered him a six-figure sum for two books. His editor at Ecco said, "His writing is blazingly funny but also deeply empathetic. Those traits don’t come together that often."[1]

A second book by So, tentatively titled Songs on Endless Repeat, which will include segments of an unfinished novel he had worked on as well as nonfiction writing, is set to be published in 2023.[4]

At the time of So's death, he lived in San Francisco with his partner, Alex Torres. He died from a drug overdose at his residence on December 8, 2020, at age 28.[4]

Bibliography[]

Books[]

  • Afterparties: Stories (August 3, 2021), ISBN 0063049902

Online fiction[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Green, Penelope (December 13, 2020). "Anthony Veasna So, Author on the Brink of Stardom, Dies at 28". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "Anthony Veasna So". Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  3. ^ Pineda, Dorany (August 1, 2021). "Before rising star Anthony Veasna So died, he immortalized Cambodian California". Los Angeles Times.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c d LaValee, Andrew (July 19, 2021). "A Rising Star's Career Was Cut Short. His Impact Is Just Beginning". The New York Times. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  5. ^ "Mr. Anthony So". Stanford Alumni Directory Search. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  6. ^ Associated Press. "Anthony Veasna So, author of highly anticipated debut story collection, dies at 28". USA Today. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
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