Steven Gillis - Ann Arbor

Steven Gillis is an Ann Arbor novelist and co-founder of the nonprofit publishing house Dzanc Books. Gillis also launched 826michigan, a nonprofit satellite of the writing center at 826 Valencia in San Francisco.

Steve Gillis at his Ann Arbor home office in 2010. (Photo courtesy of The Ann Arbor Chronicle.)

Before becoming a full-time writer, Gillis worked as an attorney specializing in anti-trust cases.

Dzanc Books was co-founded in 2006 by Gillis and Dan Wickett. (It's pronounced Duh-ZAANCK, and incorporates the first letter of each of their kids’ names. Gillis has two. Wickett has three.) Dzanc imprints include Black Lawrence Press, Other Voices, Keyhole and Starcherone. Periodicals under the Dzanc umbrella are Absinthe: New European Writing; Monkeybicycle, a print and online literary journal run by Dzanc’s art director, New Jerseyite Steven Seighman; and The Collagist, an online literary magazine edited by Ann Arborite Matt Bell.

Gillis also has taught writing at Eastern Michigan University. He's a former board member of the Ann Arbor Book Festival.

Gillis attended the University of Michigan as an undergraduate and got a law degree from the University of San Francisco. He lives on the east side of Ann Arbor and works from a home office.

Timeline

2015: His fifth novel and seventh book – "Benchere In Wonderland" – is published by Hawthorne Books.
2012: Another collection of stories, "The Law of Strings," is published by Atticus Books.
2010: His fourth novel "The Consequence of Skating" is published. It won the Silver Medal at the Independent Publishers Awards.
2008: His third novel "Temporary People" is published by Black Lawrence Press.
2007: A collection of short stories, "Giraffes," is published.
2006: Co-founds the nonprofit Dzanc Books, with partner Dan Wickett.
2005: His second novel "The Weight of Nothing" is published.
2005: Launches 826michigan, an Ann Arbor nonprofit writing center affiliated with Dave Eggers' 826 National nonprofit based in San Francisco.
2003: His first novel, "Walter Falls," is published by Brook Street Press. The book was a finalist for the Independent Publishers Book of the Year Award.
2002-2005: Teaches writing at Eastern Michigan University.
1989-1993: Works as an attorney for the Washington D.C. law firm Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, specializing in anti-trust cases.
1988: Earns law degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law.
1986: Earns undergraduate degree in English language & literature from the University of Michigan.