Pamela Gwyn Kripke is an award-winning journalist and author whose news stories, features and essays have been widely published in newspapers, magazines and literary journals.
Her debut novel, At the Seams, was published in 2023 by the traditional small press, Open Books. A coming-of-age story about a girl who grows up to investigate the family mystery that haunts her through childhood, the book addresses the generational impact of keeping secrets, revealing how far we’ll go to protect the people we love. The book is based on true events.
“Pamela Kripke writes effective descriptions that had me picturing every scene in vivid detail. Jealousy, insecurity, misunderstanding, unrealistic expectations, and the inability to accept one another and their differences are described with insight and perception.” -Readers’ Favorite
“The story regales readers with striking images, such as an arm that whips down “like a knife,” or dresses that “…appeared on the screen, like playing cards flipped from a deck.” The novel has comedic episodes, history, sparkling dialogue, and a crisp pace throughout. Kripke offers a clear-eyed, compassionate look at the strengths and struggles of a family and the cost of unacknowledged grief.” –Constance Garcia-Barrio, Philadelphia Stories
In the story collection, And Then You Apply Ice (Open Books, 2024), women and girls encounter hurt – to their emotions, bodies, beliefs and ideas – confronting who they are or will become. Their predicaments reveal the subtleties of human interaction, the power in one’s decisions and ultimately, the complex resilience that imbues women’s lives. A captivating look at managing transgression, the collection is an honest, funny and astute portrayal of the female experience. Seven of the 21 stories have been previously published in various literary journals.
“Pamela Gwyn Kripke’s prose is pitch-perfect, starting with the title. The scenes in And Then You Apply Ice are vivid and fresh, ironic and funny. This collection is an absolute joyride.” —Corie Adjmi, author of The Marriage Box and Life and Other Shortcomings
“In Pamela Gwyn Kripke’s accessible and surprising collection of stories, we glimpse into the rich inner lives of women exploring their boundaries in the world: mothers and daughters; lovers on the brink of connecting or falling apart; and girls discovering what it means to move among boys who claim to love them, whether they want them to or not. With humor and lyricism, Kripke creates characters who struggle to understand each other and themselves, only to find they need more than just ice to soothe their pain.” – Elizabeth Stix, author of Things I Want Back From You
“…absolutely delightful, intriguing short stories with an edge or an attitude — highly recommended.” – Andrew Pessin, author of Bright College Years
Purchase At the Seams here.
Purchase And Then You Apply Ice here.
Follow me:
Instagram: @pamelagwynkripke
Thank you so much for reading my work. I hope you love it!
EVENTS
Saturday, June 10, 2023: Book signing at Barnes & Noble, Exton, PA, 1:00-3:00
Saturday, June 17, 2023: Author talk at Scarsdale Public Library, Scarsdale, NY, 2:00-3:00
Saturday, June 24, 2023: Book signing at Barnes & Noble, Devon, PA, 1:00-3:00
Monday, August 21, 2023: Radio interview, KPFA 94.1 Berkeley, CA and on KPFA.org, 1:00 Pacific
Saturday, September 9, 2023: Book signing at Barnes & Noble, Plymouth Meeting, PA 1:00-3:00
Saturday, October 7, 2023: Collingswood Book Festival, Collingswood, NJ
Thursday, October 19, 2023: Reading at Narberth Bookshop, Narberth, PA, 7:00
Thursday, November 30, 2023: Author Panel, Keneseth Israel, Elkins Park, PA, 7:00
Thursday, January 18, 2024: Reading at Phoenixville Library, PA, 6:45
Monday, January 22, 2024: Virtual Talk, Ludington Library, Bryn Mawr, PA, 7:00
TBD: Book Signing, Barnes & Noble, Valley Forge, PA, 1:00
Monday, May 13, 2024: Reading and Signing, City Institute Library, Philadelphia PA 5:30
Saturday, May 18, 2024: Signing, Barnes & Noble, Exton, PA 1:00
Saturday, June 1, 2024: Wellington Square Books, Exton, PA
PODCASTS AND OTHER INTERVIEWS (Click to listen)
Radio interview, KPFA 94.1 Berkeley, CA and on KPFA.org, 1:00 Pacific
“Write the Damn Book Already,” with Elizabeth Lyons
“Helping Writers Become Authors,” with Emma Dhesi
“Cover to Cover,” with Mary Elizabeth Jackson
Local Author Talk, Phoenixville Public Library
TBD: The Resilient Writers Radio Show, with Rhonda Douglas
Tuesday, April 9, 2024: Writers Corner, with Mary E. Jackson and Bridgetti Lim Banda
TBD: “Joy on Paper,” with PatZi Gil
Saturday, May 4, 2024: “Book Lover’s Companion,” with Edith Zeitlberger
Pamela Gwyn Kripke 