Sonya Lea

Sonya Lea is an accomplished writer, teacher, and creative professional based in Seattle. She is known for her memoir "Wondering Who You Are," which was a finalist for the Washington State Book Award and received acclaim from various publications, including Oprah Magazine and the BBC.1

Writing Career

Sonya Lea's work primarily focuses on memory and identity. Her essays have been published in numerous prestigious outlets, including Salon, The Southern Review, and Guernica.1 She is currently working on a book titled "BLOODLINES," which explores the last public execution in America.1

Teaching Experience

Sonya Lea is a writing instructor at Hugo House in Seattle, where she teaches various courses on writing.12 Some of her classes at Hugo House include:

• Writing the Tough Stuff
• Writing a Screenplay That Doesn't Suck
• Invented Forms
• The Wild Self

In addition to her work at Hugo House, Lea teaches online at Lidia Yuknavitch's Corporeal Writing.1 She has also developed a pilot project to teach writing to women veterans through the Red Badge Project.13

Other Creative Endeavors

Sonya Lea is involved in various creative projects:

• She co-created a podcast called "BITCHCONOCLAST" with her youngest child, Dylan Bandy, focusing on sex, feminism, and power.1
• Her short film "EVERY BEAUTIFUL THING" won awards for direction and score.1
• She is an Academy Award Nicholl Fellowship Finalist in screenwriting.1

Sonya Lea's diverse background includes work as a house cleaner, cook, editor, and in museums and science centers.1 She is also a recipient of several awards, including an Artist Trust Award and two Canada Council Awards.1