Craig Lancaster Explained

Craig Lancaster
Birth Place:Lakewood, Washington, U.S.
Occupation:Writer, journalist
Known For:novels: 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.[4] [5] The author, a two-time High Plains Book Award winner, was lauded as "one of Montana's most important writers."[6]

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

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Shank. Jenny. Two Novelists' Love/Hate Relationship with Social Media. September 11, 2013. PBS. May 5, 2015.
  2. Crisp, David."Edward Adrift", The Billings Outpost, Billings, June 15, 2013. Retrieved on November 6, 2013.
  3. Moore, David, and Simon, Lisa.http://www.reflectionswest.org/episodes/ep35_lancaster.php , Reflections West, Year 2, Episode 35, Retrieved on November 6, 2013.
  4. 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. Ens, Kaitlin.“Craig Lancaster to Read at Dances with Words”, UMW News, Retrieved on November 6, 2013.
  6. http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/600Hours, Biography, Craig Lancaster, Retrieved on November 6, 2013.
  7. Web site: C-Span City Tour - Billings . October 4, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131114012614/http://showyou.com/v/y-p3mjAgDrsno/cspan-cities-tour-billings-craig-lancaster-former-billings-gazette?u=c-span . November 14, 2013 . November 6, 2013.
  8. Web site: Craig Lancaster - The Summer Son . Judy . Shafter . May 10, 2011 . livelytimes.com . May 31, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140103194933/http://livelytimes.com/montana-music-entertainment/entry/craig-lancaster-the-summer-son/ . January 3, 2014.
  9. Web site: Sad, Funny, Alarming . Puffer . Jerry . June 13, 2012 . . November 6, 2013.
  10. Evison, Jonathan.“When We Fell In Love--Craig Lancaster”, Three Guys One Book (3G1B), February 3, 2001, Retrieved on November 6, 2013.
  11. Miller, Mark.“Reading Hemingway in Yellowstone”, M. Mark Miller--News, Views, & Stories, March 1, 2011, Retrieved on November 6, 2013.
  12. http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2857826.Craig_Lancaster, “Craig Lancaster”
  13. http://www.librarything.com/profile/CraigLancaster “Craig Lancaster”
  14. Sandifer, Linda. “Author Interview: Craig Lancaster", Writing the West, February 17, 2011, Retrieved on 6 November 2013.
  15. http://www.writers.net/writers/67011, “Craig Lancaster”
  16. Lorello, Elisa."It's Not About the Ring", Elisa Lorello, Author and Writing Coach Blog. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
  17. http://www.prx.org/pieces/95055-craig-lancaster-author-of-edward-adrift, “Craig Lancaster, Author of Edward Adrift”
  18. Web site: 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.
  19. News: Collins. Katie. Kindle First Gives Early Access to Amazon Titles for 99p. October 9, 2014. Wired.co.uk. Wired. October 1, 2014.
  20. https://beta.prx.org/stories/157800, "The Write Question-Craig Lancaster", Retrieved June 21, 212016.
  21. https://www.craig-lancaster.com/books-edward-unspooled.html
  22. Web site: Craig Lancaster | Edward Unspooled. November 25, 2016.
  23. https://www.craig-lancaster.com/books-julep-street.html/
  24. Web site: Kemmick. Ed. Newspaper Shutdown Sets Stage for New Lancaster Novel., Last Best News, May 15, 2017. Retrieved on November 27, 2023.
  25. Web site: 'You Me and Mr. Blue Sky' first collaboration for writing duo. Hergett. Rachel. Bozeman Daily Chronicle. en. May 7, 2019.
  26. Web site: 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.
  27. https://www.craig-lancaster.com/books-the-art-of-departure.html
  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. http://billingsgazette.com/entertainment/books-and-literature/montana-book-award-honors-authors/article_cc949a3e-28b7-11df-9fda-001cc4c002e0.html “Montana Book Award Honors 5 Authors”
  31. http://ci.billings.mt.us/index.aspx?NID=1641 “High Plains Book Award/Previous Winners”
  32. http://billingsgazette.com/news/local/craig-lancaster/image_d093a3ce-d333-11df-a0da-001cc4c002e0.html “Craig Lancaster”
  33. http://billingsgazette.com/entertainment/books-and-literature/lancaster-novel-a-finalist-for-utah-book-award/article_d9ead242-1d53-5bb1-a271-95de21d685fb.html “Lancaster Novel a Finalist for Utah Book Award”
  34. http://billingsgazette.com/news/local/craig-lancaster/image_d093a3ce-d333-11df-a0da-001cc4c002e0.html “High Plains Book Awards Announces Finalists”
  35. http://billingsgazette.com/entertainment/books-and-literature/high-plains-book-award-finalists/article_13733162-0a48-523d-af1f-297f5b8ee56f.html “2012 High Plains Book Awards Finalists”
  36. http://www.highplainsbookawards.org/ "2016 High Plains Book Awards Finalists"
  37. https://www.internationalbookawards.com/aboutus/2017awardannouncement.html, International Book Awards 2017 Award Announcement
  38. https://americanbookfest.com/americanfictionawards/2022afafullresults.html, 2022 American Fiction Awards
  39. https://www.highplainsbookawards.org/previous-winners/#current-winners-2022, Previous High Plains Book Award Winners

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