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Craig Lancaster

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
BornFebruary 9, 1970 (1970-02-09) (age 54)
Lakewood, Washington, U.S.
Occupation(s)Writer, journalist
Known fornovels: 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

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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

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Novels

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  • 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

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  • Quantum Physics and The Art of Departure (Missouri Breaks Press, 2011),[9] republished in 2016 as The Art of Departure[27]

Nonfiction

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  • Past-Due Pastorals: Memories and Observations of a Mind Adrift in the West (2009)[28][29]

Plays

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  • Straight On To Stardust (world premiere in 2023)

Awards and recognition

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  • 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

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  1. ^ Shank, Jenny (September 11, 2013). "Two Novelists' Love/Hate Relationship with Social Media". PBS. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/600Hours , Biography, Craig Lancaster, Retrieved on November 6, 2013.
  7. ^ a b c "C-Span City Tour - Billings". October 4, 2013. Archived from the original on November 14, 2013. Retrieved November 6, 2013.
  8. ^ Shafter, Judy (May 10, 2011). "Craig Lancaster - The Summer Son". livelytimes.com. Archived from the original on January 3, 2014. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
  9. ^ a b c Puffer, Jerry (June 13, 2012). "Sad, Funny, Alarming". K96FM. Retrieved November 6, 2013.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ a b Miller, Mark.“Reading Hemingway in Yellowstone”, M. Mark Miller--News, Views, & Stories, March 1, 2011, Retrieved on November 6, 2013.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g “Craig Lancaster”, Goodreads, Retrieved on November 6, 2013.
  13. ^ a b c d “Craig Lancaster”, LibraryThing, Retrieved on 6 November 2013.
  14. ^ a b Sandifer, Linda. “Author Interview: Craig Lancaster", Writing the West, February 17, 2011, Retrieved on 6 November 2013.
  15. ^ “Craig Lancaster” Archived November 14, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, WritersNet, Retrieved on November 6, 2013.
  16. ^ Lorello, Elisa."It's Not About the Ring", Elisa Lorello, Author and Writing Coach Blog. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
  17. ^ a b “Craig Lancaster, Author of Edward Adrift”, The Write Question, KUFM, Retrieved 6 November 2013.
  18. ^ Jorgenson, Chris (22 October 2023). "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.
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ https://beta.prx.org/stories/157800 , "The Write Question-Craig Lancaster", Retrieved June 21, 212016.
  21. ^ "CRAIG LANCASTER | Edward Unspooled".
  22. ^ "Craig Lancaster | Edward Unspooled". November 25, 2016.
  23. ^ "CRAIG LANCASTER | Julep Street".
  24. ^ Kemmick, Ed. "Newspaper Shutdown Sets Stage for New Lancaster Novel"., Last Best News, May 15, 2017. Retrieved on November 27, 2023.
  25. ^ Hergett, Rachel (29 March 2019). "'You Me and Mr. Blue Sky' first collaboration for writing duo". Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  26. ^ Fong, Stella (3 October 2022). "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.
  27. ^ "CRAIG LANCASTER | the Art of Departure".
  28. ^ 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.
  29. ^ http://www.authorsden.com/categories/book_top.asp?catid=25&id=32993, AuthorsDen, Retrieved November 6, 2013.
  30. ^ “Montana Book Award Honors 5 Authors”, Billings Gazette, March 6, 2010, Retrieved November 6, 2013.
  31. ^ “High Plains Book Award/Previous Winners” Archived 2016-03-14 at the Wayback Machine, Parmly Billings Library, Retrieved November 6, 2013.
  32. ^ “Craig Lancaster”, Billings Gazette, Billings, Retrieved November 6, 2013.
  33. ^ “Lancaster Novel a Finalist for Utah Book Award”, Billings Gazette, Billings, July 31, 2011, Retrieved November 6, 2013.
  34. ^ “High Plains Book Awards Announces Finalists”, Billings Gazette, May 24, 2012, Retrieved November 6, 2013.
  35. ^ “2012 High Plains Book Awards Finalists”, Billings Gazette, October 14, 2012, Retrieved November 6, 2013.
  36. ^ "2016 High Plains Book Awards Finalists", Billings Public Library, High Plains Book Award. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
  37. ^ International Book Awards 2017 Award Announcement
  38. ^ 2022 American Fiction Awards
  39. ^ Previous High Plains Book Award Winners
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