The School of Creative Writing is pleased to congratulate RJ McDaniel, MFA. RJ’s graduate thesis is a novel entitled Transubstantiation.
RJ’s essays on baseball and other topics have been featured at Catapult, VICE Sports, Baseball Prospectus, and FanGraphs, among others. They were the inaugural Writer in Residence at the Upstart & Crow Literary Arts Studio. Their debut novel, ALL THINGS SEEN AND UNSEEN, is forthcoming in April 2024 from ECW Press.
Transubstantiation follows the relationship between gay trans couple Van and James. Four years into their relationship, Van and James seemed to have settled into a dynamic that is comfortable for both of them. But after a chance encounter with a Catholic saint when he stands at the very brink of despair, James becomes powerfully drawn toward the Catholic Church — a journey he hides from Van, who remains alienated from his family and his culture due to trauma around his Catholic upbringing. Van and James must try to find balance between pursuing their own needs and maintaining their trust and connection with each other.
Contact
Request more information about RJ’s thesis project using our Grad Showcase Contact Form.