Photo credit: Bobbie Harte

Dale Kushner

Current City, State, Country

Madison, Wisconsin, USA

Birth City, State, Country

Newark, New Jersey, USA

Biography

‍Dale M. Kushner is an award-winning American novelist, poet, and essayist who explores the mysterious terrain of the human psyche and its transformation in her work.

Holding an MFA in Creative Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts, Dale has a deep interest in dreams, creativity, and personal transformation, which was enriched by her study of Jungian depth psychology at the C.G. Jung Institute in Switzerland. There she explored the unconscious, synchronicity, and the archetypal patterns that influence our lives This background profoundly shapes her writing. Dale’s latest book, Wild Freedom: The Princess Who Found Her Name — On Fairy Tales, Imagination, and the Creative Mind, will be published in May 2026 by Chiron Publications and is a hybrid work of fairy tale, memoir, and reflection that explores imagination as a vital psychological and spiritual practice.

Dale is also the author of the popular monthly Psychology Today column, “Transcending the Past,” which bridges art, psychology, and science. In her columns, she shares insights into dreams, relationships, trauma, and creativity.

Dale’s debut novel, The Conditions of Love, was celebrated for its intimate exploration of love, loss, and resilience, and was nominated for the Texas Library Association Award for Outstanding Adult Fiction. Her recent poetry collection M received Special Mention in the Pushcart Prize 2024.

Her work has appeared widely in journals and anthologies, and Dale has been featured in international conferences and documentaries.

A passionate advocate for storytelling and the transformative power of dreams, Dale’s work brings together art and science, offering readers a guide through the labyrinth of the unconscious with wisdom and empathy. She believes that individual growth and transformation can inspire broader societal healing. She is honored to be considered a compelling voice in contemporary literature and psychological insight.

Dale and her husband live in Madison, WI. with their Golden Retriever, Maisie. Learn more at DaleMKushner.com.

Published Works

Wild Freedom: The Princess Who Found Her Name — On Fairy Tales, Imagination, and the Creative Mind,

M (3: A Taos Press, 2022)
The Conditions of Love (Grand Central, 2013)

Author Site

Links to Sample Works

Current Title

author, columnist for Psychology Today online

Education

University of Wisconsin, Madison, BA in English
Vermont College of Fine Arts, MFA in poetry

Subject Matter

Genre