Ninotchka Rosca

Antonia Rosca (born December 17, 1946), known by her pen name Ninotchka Rosca, is a Filipina feminist, author, journalist, and human rights activist best known for her 1988 novel State of War and for her activism, especially during the martial law dictatorship of former Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos. Rosca has been described as "one of the major players in the saga of Filipina American writers."

Rosca was a recipient of the American Book Award in 1993 for her novel Twice Blessed.

Biography

Education and early career Rosca received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English (Comparative Literature) at the University of the Philippines Diliman, and became a journalist working for various Philippine publications after she graduated. She was taking up Asian Studies (Khmer Civilization) for her graduate studies at the time she had to leave the Philippines because of the Marcos dictatorship. They had one child, Sibyl Jade, who was born in the 1960s and raised by Rosca's newer partner, journalist Luis V. Teodoro along with his son with her, Luis Renato, after Rosca was forced to leave for the United States in 1977. Gang of Five (Independently Published, 2013) Sugar & Salt (2006) The Monsoon Collection (Asian and Pacific Writing) (University of Queensland Press, 1983) Bitter Country and Other Stories (Malaya Books, 1970)

Reception and recognition Rosca's novel State of War is considered a classic account of ordinary people's dictatorship. Her second best-selling English language novel Twice Blessed won her the 1993 American Book Award for excellence in literature.

Rosca is a classic short story writer. Her story "Epidemic" was included in the 1986 100 Short Stories in the United States by Raymond Carver and in the Missouri Review collection of their Best Published Stories in 25 Years, while "Sugar & Salt" was included in the Ms Magazine's Best Fiction in 30 Years.