Afabwaje KurianAfabwaje Kurian is the author of the novel BEFORE THE MANGO RIPENS, which has been shortlisted for the 2025 Aspen Words Literary Prize. She received her MFA from the Iowa Writers' Workshop. Her short fiction has been published in McSweeney' Quarterly Concern, Callaloo, Crazyhorse, The Bare Life Review, and Joyland Magazine. She's taught creative writing at the University of Iowa, for the International Writing Program, and for The Writer's Center. Born in Jos, Nigeria, and raised in Prince George's County, Maryland and in Ohio, Afabwaje now divides her time between Washington, DC and the Midwest. Read More Read Less