For many years, I was a contributing writer for the NY Times Sunday Review and a columnist for the NY Times Magazine. My forthcoming book, The Secret History of the Rape Kit, will be released in 2025 from Vintage Press.
Books
The Secret History of the Rape Kit, my 12th book, tells the story of Marty Goddard, who kicked off a feminist revolution in forensics. In the 1970s, she pushed for the adoption of rape kits across America — and then she disappeared. I’m pleased that Claire Danes, a supporter of this project, is the narrator of the audiobook.
I’ve been awarded several literary prizes including an NEA fellowship. In the 90s, I was shortlisted for the Orange Prize — this photo comes from a PR shot from a London trip for the Orange Prize festivities.
Literary adventures
I’ve been lucky enough to speak at lots of literary events (including this one, a Grub St. gala). I’ve won numerous awards including an NEA fellowship, a Smithsonian fellowship, and two Massachusetts Cultural Council fellowships.
MIT fellow
Thanks to the Knight Science Journalism Fellowship at MIT I spent a year indulging my passion for microbiology. Here’s a photo from a fellowship field trip.
Zine-ster
I got my start a long time ago as a zine publisher, with my home-made publication Pagan’s Head. It eventually became a book. Not sure why, but someone has made a Wiki page about this.
Village Voice…
… is where I grew up. Working at the newspaper in my early 20s, I learned how to fact-check, copy edit, write reviews and report out stories. I sometimes also subbed in as the receptionist — a job that involved chatting with Abbie Hoffman as he waited to see Nat Hentoff.
Literary Agent
David McCormick
37 West 20th Street
New York, NY 10011
212-691-9726
Film Agent
Anonymous Content, Kassie Evashevski
(212) 621-3098, kassie@anonymouscontent.com
Speaking Agency
The Leigh Bureau
(908) 253-8600
speakerinfo@leighbureau.com
Email Pagan — paganken at gmail