Zu Vincent

Teen Zu (photo by Laurie Hesed)

"I spend most of my time looking out the window. (I recommend it.)" ...Joyce Carol Oates

"In public, we become public figures. But in private, we 'become' the individuals we are." ...Joyce Carol Oates


About Me

Zu writes for both chidlren and adults. A freelance writer, editor and writing instructor, she holds an MFA in Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts, where she was awarded Harcourt's post-graduate semester in 2006.

She is Associate Faculty at Butte Community College, and holds Yoga and Mindfulness Workshops at Vermont College of Fine Arts Masters in Creative Writing residencies each January and July.

In addition to her many school visits around the country, her recent national speaking engagments include the Associated Writers Program's National Conferences in Denver, Washington, D.C., Chicago (2012), The Kansas State Department of Education Conference, and the Oklahoma State Department of Education's Encyclomedia Conference.

Along with her novel The Lucky Place, her recent non-fiction books include Catherine the Great: Empress of Russia, and Stranger in His Own Land: A Japanese American in World War II.

A former Senior Editor at the art and travel magazine Expressions, Zu has developed a popular series of short stories, a play and numerous features articles and photos for various newspapers and magazines, having written for Redbook, Yoga Journal, Flyfishing, Fine Homebuilding, Harper's, Ladies Circle, Country Living and The National Inquirer, among others.

Today her six panel kiosk guides visitors through Trona Pinnacles National Monument, one of Hollywood’s favorite filmscapes. You can read her articles on the craft of writing at her popular group blog Through the Tollbooth.


Scenes from the movies Holes, Star Trek, Planet of the Apes and countless others are filmed at the Pinnacles