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]
Craig Lancaster | |
---|---|
Born | February 9, 1970 Lakewood, Washington, U.S. | (age 54)
Occupation(s) | Writer, journalist |
Known for | novels: 600 Hours of Edward, Edward Adrift, The Summer Son |
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
editCraig 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
editNovels
edit- 600 Hours of Edward (Riverbend Publishing, 2009)[6][12]
- The Summer Son (Lake Union Publishing, 2011)[6][14]
- Edward Adrift (Lake Union Publishing, 2013)[2][17]
- The Fallow Season of Hugo Hunter (Lake Union Publishing, 2014)[19]
- This Is What I Want (Lake Union Publishing, 2015)[20]
- Edward Unspooled (Missouri Breaks Press, 2016)[21][22]
- Julep Street (Missouri Breaks Press, 2017)[23][24]
- You, Me, & Mr. Blue Sky, co-author with Elisa Lorello (Lancarello Enterprises, 2019)[25]
- And It Will Be a Beautiful Life (2021, The Story Plant)[26]
Short stories
edit- Quantum Physics and The Art of Departure (Missouri Breaks Press, 2011),[9] republished in 2016 as The Art of Departure[27]
Nonfiction
editPlays
edit- Straight On To Stardust (world premiere in 2023)
Awards and recognition
edit- 2009 Montana Honor Book, 600 Hours of Edward[3][10][30]
- 2010 High Plains Book Awards "Best First Book," 600 Hours of Edward[10][31][32]
- 2010 Utah Book Award Finalist, The Summer Son[3][33]
- 2012 Independent Publishers Book Award, Gold Medal, "Best Regional Fiction," Quantum Physics and The Art of Departure[3][9][34]
- 2012 High Plains Book Awards Finalist, Quantum Physics and The Art of Departure[3][35]
- 2014 Kindle First Selection, The Fallow Season of Hugo Hunter[19]
- 2016 High Plains Book Award Fiction Finalist, This Is What I Want[36]
- 2017 International Book Awards Finalist, Edward Unspooled[37]
- 2022 American Fiction Awards Winner, "Literary Fiction," And It Will Be a Beautiful Life[38]
- 2022 2022 High Plains Book Awards Winner, "Fiction," And It Will Be a Beautiful Life[39]
References
edit- ^ Shank, Jenny (September 11, 2013). "Two Novelists' Love/Hate Relationship with Social Media". PBS. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
- ^ a b c d Crisp, David."Edward Adrift" Archived November 14, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, The Billings Outpost, Billings, June 15, 2013. Retrieved on November 6, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Moore, David, and Simon, Lisa.[1], Reflections West, Year 2, Episode 35, Retrieved on November 6, 2013.
- ^ a b c Ames, Larry.“On the Move: Long Road leads to Top Job at Mercury News”, The Dallas Morning News, Dallas, Retrieved on November 6, 2013.
- ^ a b Ens, Kaitlin.“Craig Lancaster to Read at Dances with Words” Archived 2013-11-22 at the Wayback Machine, UMW News, Retrieved on November 6, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/600Hours , Biography, Craig Lancaster, Retrieved on November 6, 2013.
- ^ a b c "C-Span City Tour - Billings". October 4, 2013. Archived from the original on November 14, 2013. Retrieved November 6, 2013.
- ^ Shafter, Judy (May 10, 2011). "Craig Lancaster - The Summer Son". livelytimes.com. Archived from the original on January 3, 2014. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
- ^ a b c Puffer, Jerry (June 13, 2012). "Sad, Funny, Alarming". K96FM. Retrieved November 6, 2013.
- ^ a b c Evison, Jonathan.“When We Fell In Love--Craig Lancaster” Archived 2014-10-19 at the Wayback Machine, Three Guys One Book (3G1B), February 3, 2001, Retrieved on November 6, 2013.
- ^ a b Miller, Mark.“Reading Hemingway in Yellowstone”, M. Mark Miller--News, Views, & Stories, March 1, 2011, Retrieved on November 6, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g “Craig Lancaster”, Goodreads, Retrieved on November 6, 2013.
- ^ a b c d “Craig Lancaster”, LibraryThing, Retrieved on 6 November 2013.
- ^ a b Sandifer, Linda. “Author Interview: Craig Lancaster", Writing the West, February 17, 2011, Retrieved on 6 November 2013.
- ^ “Craig Lancaster” Archived November 14, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, WritersNet, Retrieved on November 6, 2013.
- ^ Lorello, Elisa."It's Not About the Ring", Elisa Lorello, Author and Writing Coach Blog. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
- ^ a b “Craig Lancaster, Author of Edward Adrift”, The Write Question, KUFM, Retrieved 6 November 2013.
- ^ Jorgenson, Chris. "Yellowstone Rep's Production of Local Playwright's "Straight On To Stardust" Is a Stunner"., Billings Gazette, October 22, 2023. Retrieved on November 27, 2023.
- ^ a b Collins, Katie (October 1, 2014). "Kindle First Gives Early Access to Amazon Titles for 99p". Wired. Wired.co.uk. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
- ^ https://beta.prx.org/stories/157800 , "The Write Question-Craig Lancaster", Retrieved June 21, 212016.
- ^ https://www.craig-lancaster.com/books-edward-unspooled.html [bare URL]
- ^ "Craig Lancaster | Edward Unspooled". November 25, 2016.
- ^ https://www.craig-lancaster.com/books-julep-street.html/ [bare URL]
- ^ Kemmick, Ed. "Newspaper Shutdown Sets Stage for New Lancaster Novel"., Last Best News, May 15, 2017. Retrieved on November 27, 2023.
- ^ Hergett, Rachel. "'You Me and Mr. Blue Sky' first collaboration for writing duo". Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
- ^ Fong, Stella. "High Plains Book Awards Finalist: "And It Will Be a Beautiful Life" by Craig Lancaster"., Billings Gazette, October 3, 2022. Retrieved on November 27, 2023.
- ^ https://www.craig-lancaster.com/books-the-art-of-departure.html [bare URL]
- ^ http://www.worldcat.org/title/past-due-pastorals-memories-and-observations-of-a-mind-adrift-in-the-west/oclc/317879476, WorldCat, Retrieved November 6, 2013.
- ^ http://www.authorsden.com/categories/book_top.asp?catid=25&id=32993, AuthorsDen, Retrieved November 6, 2013.
- ^ “Montana Book Award Honors 5 Authors”, Billings Gazette, March 6, 2010, Retrieved November 6, 2013.
- ^ “High Plains Book Award/Previous Winners” Archived 2016-03-14 at the Wayback Machine, Parmly Billings Library, Retrieved November 6, 2013.
- ^ “Craig Lancaster”, Billings Gazette, Billings, Retrieved November 6, 2013.
- ^ “Lancaster Novel a Finalist for Utah Book Award”, Billings Gazette, Billings, July 31, 2011, Retrieved November 6, 2013.
- ^ “High Plains Book Awards Announces Finalists”, Billings Gazette, May 24, 2012, Retrieved November 6, 2013.
- ^ “2012 High Plains Book Awards Finalists”, Billings Gazette, October 14, 2012, Retrieved November 6, 2013.
- ^ "2016 High Plains Book Awards Finalists", Billings Public Library, High Plains Book Award. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
- ^ International Book Awards 2017 Award Announcement
- ^ 2022 American Fiction Awards
- ^ Previous High Plains Book Award Winners