Sam Sax is an American poet, novelist, and educator. They graduated from Oberlin College and earned an MFA in poetry from the University of Texas at Austin. Drawing on their queer and Jewish identity, Sax writes about the body, mental health, sexuality, violence, grief, and religion. Their first poetry collection, “Madness,” was selected for the National Poetry Series, and their second, “bury it,” received the James Laughlin Award. In “Pig,” Sax uses the cultural meanings attached to pigs to examine desire, capitalism, and the politics of the body. Their debut novel, “Yr Dead,” follows the fragmented memories of a nonbinary young person dying during a protest and explores loneliness, political engagement, and human connection in the digital age. It was longlisted for the 2024 National Book Award for Fiction.
