The River Beyond the World

Janet Peery (born July 18, 1948, in Wichita, Kansas) is an American short story writer and novelist best known for her debut novel The River Beyond the World, a National Book Award finalist in 1996. She began writing fiction in her forties after various jobs and earned an MFA from Wichita State University, publishing stories in journals like The Kenyon Review and Shenandoah. Peery taught at Old Dominion University as University Professor and received awards including NEA and Guggenheim fellowships, two Pushcart Prizes, and the Whiting Writers' Award.