Vendela Vida is an American author, editor, and educator best known for her novels Let the Northern Lights Erase Your Name (2007) and The Diver's Clothes Lie Empty (2015). Her most recent work, We Run the Tides (2021), became a national bestseller and a New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice. Vida co-founded The Believer magazine and has made significant contributions to the literary and educational landscape through her writing and teaching.
Born in San Francisco, California, Vendela Vida was raised by European immigrant parents — her mother from Sweden and her father from Hungary. Her name, Vendela, was inherited from her maternal grandmother.
After completing her secondary education in California, she studied English at Middlebury College in Vermont, graduating in 1993. While at Middlebury, she met her future husband, Dave Eggers. Vida later earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from Columbia University, where her thesis evolved into her first book, Girls on the Verge (2000).
Vida's literary career began in earnest with her 2003 novel, And Now You Can Go, a story that explores a young woman's emotional journey after an assault. She has described the novel as part of a trilogy exploring themes of violence and rage. Its sequel, Let the Northern Lights Erase Your Name, takes readers to the Arctic Circle and combines mystery with emotional depth.
The novel won Vida the 2007 Kate Chopin Award for its unconventional female protagonist.
Her third novel, The Lovers (2010), follows an American woman's quest for self-discovery in Turkey. Vida's 2015 novel, The Diver's Clothes Lie Empty, was inspired by her experience of being robbed on a trip to Morocco. The story begins with the theft of a traveller's identity and belongings, leading to a suspenseful exploration of freedom and self-reinvention.
Vida explained in an interview: "What if someone came to Morocco and their passport was stolen? In a way, it could be liberating".
In 2021, Vida released We Run the Tides, set in her hometown of San Francisco. This coming-of-age story of friendship and betrayal reflects the city's changing cultural landscape. Critics praised its suspense and poignant observation blend.
In addition to her novels, Vida has co-edited The Believer Book of Writers Talking to Writers and the collection Confidence, or the Appearance of Confidence. She also collaborated with Dave Eggers on the screenplay for Away We Go (2009).
As a founding board member of 826 Valencia, she supports youth creative writing in San Francisco.
Vendela Vida lives in the Bay Area with her husband and two children.
Photo credit: Lili Peper
