Charles Blackstone
| Charles Blackstone | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
March 21, 1977 Chicago, Illinois |
| Occupation | Novelist, editor |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater |
University of Illinois at Chicago University of Colorado |
| Period | 2003–present |
| Genres |
Autobiographical fiction Experimental fiction |
| Notable work(s) | Vintage Attraction (2013) |
| Spouse(s) | Alpana Singh (m. 2006) |
|
www.charlesblackstone.com | |
Charles Blackstone (born March 21, 1977)[1] is an American writer and managing editor of literary website Bookslut. His most recent novel is the semi-autobiographical Vintage Attraction (2013).
Early life
Blackstone was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois.[1] He graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago[2] and earned a Masters degree from the University of Colorado creative writing program in 2003,[3] where he received the Barker Award for Fiction in 2001.[4]
Career
Early work
Blackstone's first novel was the avant-garde The Week You Weren't Here (2005), set in Chicago in the spring of 2001.[5] Using experimental prose, the story follows Hunter Flanagan on his search for true love.[6] Next, he collaborated with Jill Talbot as co-editors of the experimental anthology The Art of Friction: Where (Non)Fictions Come Together (2008),[7] a collection exploring the creative differences between fiction and nonfiction.[8] His stories have been published in literary journals including Bridge, Evergreen Review and The Journal of Experimental Fiction.[5] His short story "Before" was published in Esquire in March 2008 as part of the magazine's Napkin Fiction series.[9]
Vintage Attraction
Set in Chicago and Greece, Blackstone's semi-autobiographical second novel Vintage Attraction is a depiction of the academia, celebrity and fine wine culture.[2] The novel is inspired by his courtship of Alpana Singh, a master sommelier and TV show host who he would later marry. The character Peter Hapworth, a lonely 30-something adjunct creative writing professor, is based on Blackstone, and Isabelle "Izzy" Conway, who hosts a wine-tasting program, is based on Singh.[10][11][12] The novel took Blackstone four years to write.[13]
Bookslut
Since 2010, Blackstone has served as managing editor of Bookslut, a literary website founded by Jessa Crispin in 2002.[10][14] He works with writers and serves as an editor for the monthly reviews.[10]
Personal life
Blackstone has been married to sommelier and restaurant critic Alpana Singh since 2006.[8][10][15] They live in Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood.[10]
Honors
- University of Colorado's Barker Award for Fiction, 2001[4]
- Newcity's Lit 50: Who Really Books in Chicago, 2012[16]
- Newcity's Lit 50: Who Really Books in Chicago, 2013[17]
Bibliography
Fiction
- The Week You Weren't Here (2005, Low Fidelity Press)
- Vintage Attraction (2013, Pegasus)
Nonfiction
- The Art of Friction: Where (Non)Fictions Come Together (2008, University of Texas Press) – editor, with Jill Talbot
Collections
- The & Now Awards: The Best Innovative Writing, "Before" (2009, Lake Forest College Press); originally appeared in Esquire, March 2008
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Kevin Frazier, “Wine and Bellow: An Interview with Charles Blackstone,” Open Letters Monthly, Fall 2013.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Kelli Christiansen, “We’ll Drink to That,” Chicago Book Review, October 11, 2013.
- ↑ “Class Notes – March 2013,” Coloradan Magazine, March 1, 2013.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Vintage Attraction with Charles Blackstone," citylitbooks.com. Accessed December 20, 2013.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Jill Talbot, “An interview with Charles Blackstone,” Word Riot. Accessed December 16, 2013.
- ↑ Valerie MacEwan, “The Week You Weren’t Here by Charles Blackstone,” PopMatters, January 20, 2004.
- ↑ Sabra Embury, “Expedient Pairings: On Charles Blackstone’s ‘Vintage Attraction’,” Los Angeles Review of Books, October 30, 2013.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 J. Ryan Stradal, “The Sunday Rumpus Interview: Charles Blackstone,” The Rumpus, October 13, 2013.
- ↑ Charles Blackstone, “Before,” Esquire, March 13, 2008.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 Kevin Nance, “Courting Alpana Singh inspires Charles Blackstone’s ‘Vintage Attraction’,” Chicago Tribune, November 3, 2013.
- ↑ Kim Hubbard, “What We’re Reading This Weekend: Brand New Fiction,” People, October 4, 2013.
- ↑ Michael Lindgren, “New novels by David Leavitt, Charles Blackstone and Steve Yarbrough,” Washington Post, November 21, 2013.
- ↑ Naomi Huffman, “Some Enchanted Sommelier: Pugs, Wine and Writing with ‘Vintage Attraction’ Author Charles Blackstone,” Newcity, December 13, 2013.
- ↑ Gina Frangello, “New Directions in Publishing: Charles Blackstone,” thenervousbreakdown.com, April 13, 2012.
- ↑ Nicholas Day, “Alpana’s Revenge,” Chicago Reader, October 12, 2006.
- ↑ Greg Baldino, Ella Christoph, Brian Hieggelke, Naomi Huffman and Micah McCrary, “Lit 50: Who Really Books in Chicago 2012,” Newcity, June 7, 2012.
- ↑ Brian Hieggelke and Naomi Huffman, “Lit 50: Who Really Books in Chicago 2013,” Newcity, June 6, 2013.