Amanda Gaines is an Appalachian writer, born and raised in southern West Virginia. She holds a Ph.D. in Creative Writing from Oklahoma State University and an MFA from West Virginia University. Her creative writing and research explore themes of gender, cultural mythos, the body, and popular culture.

Amanda is interested in contemporary horror and surrealism, often examining how the body manifests grief, rage, and joy, and how memory and notions of self are fluid and hybrid. Her work has been nominated for Best of the Net several times, and her essays “Purplest” and “Flea” were listed as Notable in 2022 and 2024’s Best American Essays, respectively.

Amanda’s teaching interests focus on hybridization, research, and audience. She believes that creative writing should center on how the body, landscape, and cultural milieu intersect to incite discovery and criticism