Craig Lancaster

Last updated
Craig Lancaster
BornFebruary 9, 1970 (1970-02-09) (age 54)
Occupation(s)Writer, journalist
Known fornovels: 600 Hours of Edward , Edward Adrift, The Summer Son

Craig Lancaster (born February 9, 1970) is an American author, playwright, and journalist, best known for his novels 600 Hours of Edward , its sequel, Edward Adrift, and The Summer Son . [1] [2] [3] His other notable works include a short story collection as well as numerous articles and essays produced during his career as a newspaper writer and editor. [2] [4] [5] The author, a two-time High Plains Book Award winner, was lauded as "one of Montana's most important writers." [2] [3] [6]

Contents

Lancaster's works are set against the backdrop of the contemporary American West, specifically Montana, where he lives and writes. [3] [6] [7] His prose has been described as deeply emotional and deceptively direct, [8] centering on intense characters who navigate obstacles and relationships in ways that are simultaneously humorous and poignant. [3] [9] [10] [11] His literary influences include Hemingway, Steinbeck, Stegner, and Doig. [7] [11] [12]

Biography

Craig Lancaster was born in Lakewood, Washington, on February 9, 1970. He was adopted by a Wyoming couple who met in Billings, Montana, where he would eventually settle and launch his career as a novelist. [12] [13] After his parents divorced in the early 1970s, his mother remarried and moved Craig to suburban Fort Worth, Texas. [6]

His step-father, a longtime sportswriter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, had a tremendous impact on Lancaster's formative years by encouraging his early interest in writing. [12] [13] [14] [15] Lancaster's fascination with the "Western identity" was also rooted in his childhood, as he traveled extensively during summer vacations to visit his father, who followed work in Western oil fields. [6] [12] Lancaster describes his early memories of Montana as "vast, beautiful, [and] overwhelming," and knew that he "wanted to be a part of it." [6] [7] [12]

Lancaster attended the University of Texas at Arlington, and subsequently made his foray into "The West" of his early imagination via a series of journalistic assignments that led him from Texas to Alaska, Kentucky, Ohio, California, Washington, and eventually, Montana. [4] [12] [13] In 2006, Lancaster moved to Montana, where he married and subsequently divorced in 2015. [13] Lancaster married fellow novelist Elisa Lorello in 2016. [16] His work as a writer and editor has appeared in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram , San Jose Mercury News , Billings Gazette , and Magic City Magazine. [3] [4] [5] [17] He also serves as design director of Montana Quarterly, in addition to being a frequent contributor. [3]

In October and November 2023, Yellowstone Repertory Theatre, a professional troupe in Billings, Montana, staged the world premiere production of Lancaster’s first full-length play, Straight On To Stardust. The play was hailed as “very smart and deeply moving.” [18]

Major works

Novels

Short stories

Nonfiction

Plays

Awards and recognition

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References

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  37. International Book Awards 2017 Award Announcement
  38. 2022 American Fiction Awards
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