Ianthe Brautigan Swensen

Office

About

Ianthe Brautigan Swensen is an author, educator, and creative writer whose work explores literature, storytelling, personal experience, and cultural history.

She is the author of the memoir You Can't Catch Death, which has been translated into Swedish and German and released as an audiobook through Audible.

Her writing extends beyond books to television, literary publications, and documentary projects. She has written for the PBS series Joanne Weir Plates and Places and contributed introductions to several publications featuring the work of her father, author Richard Brautigan.

Through her writing and teaching, she brings a creative, interdisciplinary perspective to literature, storytelling, and the art of communication.

Education

Master of Fine Arts (MFA), Creative Writing  San Francisco State University

Academic Interests

• Creative Writing & Storytelling
• Literature & Literary Studies
• Memoir & Personal Narrative
• Writing for Television & Media
• Literary History & Cultural Memory
• Documentary Storytelling
• Language & Literacy

Selected Publications & Presentations

Books

You Can't Catch Death

Memoir exploring personal experience, family history, and the legacy of writer Richard Brautigan.

• Translated into Swedish and German.
• Available as an audiobook through Audible.

Television Writing

Joanne Weir Plates and Places — PBS

Contributed writing to the PBS television series exploring food, travel, and culinary traditions.

Literary Publications

Her writing has appeared in:

• Confrontation
• The Antioch Review
• Simple Feast
• Other literary publications

Literary Introductions & Editorial Contributions

Ianthe has written introductions for publications featuring Richard Brautigan's work, including:

• A French translation of a collection of Richard Brautigan's poetry.
• A new translation of Revenge of the Lawn.
• Please Plant This Book.

Selected Presentations & Literary Events

Ianthe has participated in literary festivals, readings, and panel discussions in the United States and internationally.

Cascadia Poetry Festival (2018)

Participated alongside writers Michael McClure and C. A. Conrad.

Dinefwr Literature Festival — Wales

Presented alongside Gruff Rhys and Joe Dunthorne.

Sonoma Writers Festival

Participated in literary programming celebrating writing and storytelling.

Litquake — Writers and Zeitgeist of the 1960s

Panel discussion at UC Berkeley exploring Richard Brautigan, Ken Kesey, and Lenore Kandel.

I Watched the World: 30 Years After Brautigan

Participated in a literary event with Joanne Kyger, Michael McClure, and David Meltzer, co-produced by the Bancroft Library and Litquake.

Creative Projects

Richard Brautigan Documentary

Ianthe has been developing a documentary exploring the life and literary legacy of her father, Richard Brautigan.

Her work contributes to the preservation and interpretation of his writing and influence on American literature.

She is also a member of the Société des Auteurs et Compositeurs Dramatiques (SACD), an organization representing authors and creators.