AdvertisementWrestling Gators And Language In 'Swamplandia!'February 09, 2011facebookEmailKaren Russell was born in Miami and now lives in New York. The story of Swamplandia! first appeared in "Ava Wrestles the Alligator," from Russell's collection of short stories, St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves, published in 2006. (Michael Lionstar)