Anthony Veasna So

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Anthony Veasna So
Born(1992-02-20)February 20, 1992
Stockton, California, U.S.
DiedDecember 8, 2020(2020-12-08) (aged 28)
San Francisco, California, U.S.
OccupationWriter
Alma materStanford University (BA)
Syracuse University (MFA)
Period2018–2020
Notable worksAfterparties

Anthony Veasna So (February 20, 1992 – December 8, 2020) was an American writer. His short stories were described by The New York Times as "crackling, kinetic and darkly comedic" and often drew from his upbringing as a child of Cambodian immigrants.[1][2] So died from an accidental[3] drug overdose in 2020, and his debut book, a short story collection entitled Afterparties, was published in 2021.[4]

Early life and education[edit]

Anthony Veasna So was born on February 20, 1992, in Stockton, California, to auto repair shop owner Sienghay So and Ravy So, a retired claims representative for the Social Security Administration. So was a second-generation Cambodian American. After fleeing the Cambodian genocide to Thailand, his parents' families settled in Stockton, where they met.[1][5] His parents lived in what Vulture described as an "upper-middle-class gated enclave in West Stockton". So had a large extended family: birthdays and festivities are collectively celebrated in a large family gathering and many relatives live in close proximity to each other. With consistent good grades, So was described in his childhood as "the quiet one reading in the corner [...] smart but lacked common sense. Clumsy." So had been sickly since childhood, suffering from asthma, chronic ear infections and numerous allergies.[5]

He graduated from Stanford University in 2014[6] with bachelor's degrees in Art and English.[1][2] He was a Kundiman Fellow and a Paul & Daisy Soros Fellow. In December 2020, he received a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from Syracuse University, where he worked with Jonathan Dee and Dana Spiotta.[7]

Career[edit]

He taught at Colgate University, Syracuse University and the Center for Empowering Refugees and Immigrants in Oakland, California.[8] Afterparties had been the subject of a bidding war between publishers; the winning publisher, Ecco, had offered him a six-figure sum for two books. His editor at Ecco said, "His writing is blazingly funny but also deeply empathetic. Those traits don’t come together that often."[1] In January 2022 it was announced that Afterparties would be developed for television.[9][10]

A second book by So, titled Songs on Endless Repeat, which includes segments of an unfinished novel he had worked on as well as nonfiction writing, was published in 2023.[4]

At the time of So's death, he lived in San Francisco with his partner, Alex Torres. He died from a drug overdose at his residence on December 8, 2020, at age 28.[4]

His book Afterparties was the winner of the 2022 Ferro-Grumley Award for LGBTQ literature.[11]

Bibliography[edit]

Books[edit]

  • Afterparties: Stories (August 3, 2021), ISBN 0063049902
  • Songs on Endless Repeat: Essays and Outtakes (December 5, 2023) ISBN 0063049961

Online fiction[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d Green, Penelope (December 13, 2020). "Anthony Veasna So, Author on the Brink of Stardom, Dies at 28". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Anthony Veasna So". Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  3. ^ Pineda, Dorany (August 1, 2021). "Before rising star Anthony Veasna So died, he immortalized Cambodian California". Los Angeles Times.
  4. ^ a b c LaValee, Andrew (July 19, 2021). "A Rising Star's Career Was Cut Short. His Impact Is Just Beginning". The New York Times. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  5. ^ a b Jung, E. Alex (August 2, 2021). "Infinite Self". Vulture. New York. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  6. ^ "Mr. Anthony So". Stanford Alumni Directory Search. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  7. ^ Hopsicker, Katie (September 13, 2021). "SU alum posthumously garners praise from former professors in book 'Afterparties'". The Daily Orange. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  8. ^ Associated Press. "Anthony Veasna So, author of highly anticipated debut story collection, dies at 28". USA Today. Retrieved December 14, 2020.
  9. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (January 19, 2022). "Garrett Basch's Dive Wins Rights To Develop Anthony Veasna So's 'Afterparties' For TV; Lauren Yee To Exec Produce". Deadline. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  10. ^ "Anthony Veasna So's Afterparties will be developed for television". Literary Hub. January 20, 2022. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  11. ^ "Anthony Veasna So wins posthumous award for LGBTQ fiction". Toronto Star. May 11, 2022. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
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