Ann Hood

Ann Hood is a Lecturer and Assistant Director of the Newport MFA in Creative Writing at Salve Regina University's Department of English, Communications and Media. An accomplished author with over a dozen novels, five memoirs, and numerous editorial projects, she maintains an active presence in contemporary literature.

Hood holds a B.A. in English from the University of Rhode Island (1978) and an M.A. in English from New York University (1984). Her creative practice spans literary fiction, memoir, young adult literature, and nonfiction, with recurring explorations of grief, personal transformation, and everyday life. Notable thematic focuses include knitting culture and aviation history, as demonstrated in her memoir Fly Girl about her eight years as a TWA flight attendant.

Hood's publication record shows consistent output across decades, evolving from her 1987 debut novel Somewhere Off the Coast of Maine to recent works like The Book That Matters Most. Her writing demonstrates versatility across genres while maintaining strong narrative craftsmanship.

Her professional recognition includes:

• Two Pushcart Prizes
• Two Best American Food Writing awards
• Best American Travel Writing award
• Best American Spiritual Writing award
• Entertainment Weekly's Top 10 Nonfiction Books of 2008 (Comfort: A Journey Through Grief)

In her academic role, Hood contributes to graduate education through the Newport MFA program while maintaining an active writing career. Her editorial work on anthologies like Providence Noir and knitting collections demonstrates collaborative engagement with broader literary communities. Hood splits her time between Providence and New York City with her husband, food writer Michael Ruhlman.