In “Topos,” Thornwillow Patrons’ Prize-winner Beth Steidle blends her skills as both an artist and writer to present a haunting reflection on life, death, and movement on the Rio Grande. The Thornwillow Patron’s Prize is made possible with the support of the New York Foundation for the Arts and subscribers to the Thornwillow Dispatch, Patrons’ Edition.
Beth Steidle is a writer and illustrator whose work ranges from fiction to visual art. Best known for her works The Static Herd and “Topos,” her writing is celebrated for its ability to blend image and text in inventive ways. Through exploration of memory, loss, and landscape, Steidle masterfully crafts a beautiful natural world. Her fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, have appeared in several publications, including Gulf Coast, Fairy Tale Review, and Indiana Review (finalist for the 1/2K prize). She is also a recipient of a poetry fellowship from the New York Foundation of Arts and a Pushcart Prize nomination. In addition to her literary work, Steidle owns Scylla Paper Company, where she designs for print for several well-known publishers and literary organizations such as Simon & Schuster and W.W. Norton & Company. Her design work has also received awards from the New York Book Show and received recognition from Lit Hub, Book Riot, and Spine Magazine, among others.
