News item #1: A new short story of mine is published in the April issue of Harper’smagazine. It’s called “Trying to Find the Right and True Way to Talk about Death Is Funny.” It’s about death, philosophy, and saying good-bye. I’m grateful to editors Christine Smallwood and Chris Carroll for taking a chance on it. Please check it out!
News item #2: I’m honored to be a recipient of one of this year’s Arts and Letters Awards from the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
“Unit One,” a new short story of mine, is published in issue 249 (fall 2024) of The Paris Review, with eerie illustrations by Cathleen Clarke. Please check it out!
“Clay,” a new short story of mine, is in this week’s issue of The New Yorker (the one dated 12 August 2024), with a lovely illustration by Daniele Castellano that’s reminiscent of de Chirico. The magazine recorded me reading the story aloud, and there’s also a short Q&A with me about it. Please check it out!
In other news, both my novels recently got unexpected shout-outs. In its list of the 100 best books of the 21st century, the New York Times Book Review added this note at the end of the entry for Alan Hollinghurst’s The Line of Beauty: “Liked it? Try ‘Necessary Errors,’ by Caleb Crain.”
And in a July 13 round-up of “great political novels,” Sophia Nguyen of the Washington Post called my novel Overthrow“the best American political novel of the 21st century,” which was pretty nice!
My short story “The Letter” has been awarded the Paris Review‘s Susannah Hunnewell Prize. I feel honored, grateful, and moved. Many thanks to the editorial committee! Please come celebrate at the Revel, the Paris Review’s annual fundraiser.
“Recognition,” a new short story of mine, is in issue 72 of McSweeney’s, available (in print only) either from an independent bookstore near you or directly from their website.
