Pinckney Benedict
Encyclopedia
Pinckney Benedict is an American short-story writer and novelist whose work often reflects his Appalachian background.
. He attended The Hill School
in Pottstown, Pa. and later graduated from Princeton University
, where he studied primarily with Joyce Carol Oates
, in 1986, and from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop at the University of Iowa
in 1988.
He has published three collections of short fiction (Town Smokes, The Wrecking Yard, and Miracle Boy) and a novel (Dogs of God).
His stories have appeared in, among other magazines and anthologies, Esquire
, Zoetrope: All-Story
, StoryQuarterly
, Ontario Review, Appalachian Heritage, the O. Henry Award
series (twice), the New Stories from the South series (four times), the Pushcart Prize
series (three times), The Ecco Anthology of Contemporary American Short Fiction, and The Oxford Book of American Short Stories.
Along with his wife, the novelist Laura Benedict (Isabella Moon, and Calling Mr. Lonelyhearts), he edits the biennial Surreal South fiction anthology series (Press 53). The third volume of the series, Surreal South '11, was published in October 2011.
He wrote the screenplay for the feature film Four Days (Cite Amerique 2000), which starred Colm Meaney
, Lolita Davidovich
, and William Forsythe
.
He serves on the core faculty of the low-residency MFA program at Queens University of Charlotte
in North Carolina. He has served on the writing faculties of Oberlin College
, Princeton University, and Hollins University, as a McGhee Writing Fellow at Davidson College
in Davidson, North Carolina, and as a Thurber House Fellow at the Ohio State University
.
He is currently full professor in the English Department at Southern Illinois University Carbondale
.
, a fiction grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a Literary Fellowship from the West Virginia Commission on the Arts, a Michener Fellowship from the Writers’ Workshop at the University of Iowa, the Chicago Tribune’s Nelson Algren Award, and Britain’s Steinbeck Award.
Biography
Pinckney Benedict grew up on his family’s dairy farm in Greenbrier County, West VirginiaGreenbrier County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 34,453 people, 14,571 households, and 9,922 families residing in the county. The population density was 34 people per square mile . There were 17,644 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile...
. He attended The Hill School
The Hill School
The Hill School is a preparatory boarding school for boys and girls located in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, about 35 miles northwest of Philadelphia....
in Pottstown, Pa. and later graduated from Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
, where he studied primarily with Joyce Carol Oates
Joyce Carol Oates
Joyce Carol Oates is an American author. Oates published her first book in 1963 and has since published over fifty novels, as well as many volumes of short stories, poetry, and nonfiction...
, in 1986, and from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop at the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
in 1988.
He has published three collections of short fiction (Town Smokes, The Wrecking Yard, and Miracle Boy) and a novel (Dogs of God).
His stories have appeared in, among other magazines and anthologies, Esquire
Esquire (magazine)
Esquire is a men's magazine, published in the U.S. by the Hearst Corporation. Founded in 1932, it flourished during the Great Depression under the guidance of founder and editor Arnold Gingrich.-History:...
, Zoetrope: All-Story
Zoetrope: All-Story
Zoetrope: All-Story is an American literary magazine that was launched in 1997 by Francis Ford Coppola. Blooming from Francis Coppola's "Crazy Idea Department," All-Story is devoted to showcasing the most promising voices in short-fiction...
, StoryQuarterly
StoryQuarterly
StoryQuarterly is an American literary journal based at Rutgers University–Camden in Camden, New Jersey. It was founded in 1975 by Pamela Painter, among others. Works originally published in StoryQuarterly have been subsequently selected for inclusion in The Prize Stories: The O...
, Ontario Review, Appalachian Heritage, the O. Henry Award
O. Henry Award
The O. Henry Award is the only yearly award given to short stories of exceptional merit. The award is named after the American master of the form, O. Henry....
series (twice), the New Stories from the South series (four times), the Pushcart Prize
Pushcart Prize
The Pushcart Prize is an American literary prize by Pushcart Press that honors the best "poetry, short fiction, essays or literary whatnot" published in the small presses over the previous year. Magazine and small book press editors are invited to nominate up to 6 works they have featured....
series (three times), The Ecco Anthology of Contemporary American Short Fiction, and The Oxford Book of American Short Stories.
Along with his wife, the novelist Laura Benedict (Isabella Moon, and Calling Mr. Lonelyhearts), he edits the biennial Surreal South fiction anthology series (Press 53). The third volume of the series, Surreal South '11, was published in October 2011.
He wrote the screenplay for the feature film Four Days (Cite Amerique 2000), which starred Colm Meaney
Colm Meaney
Colm J. Meaney is an Irish actor widely known for playing Miles O'Brien in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. He is second only to Michael Dorn in most appearances in Star Trek episodes. He has guest-starred on many TV shows from Law & Order to The Simpsons...
, Lolita Davidovich
Lolita Davidovich
Lolita Davidovich is a Canadian film and television actress.-Early life and career:Davidovich was born in London, Ontario, the daughter of immigrants from Yugoslavia. Her father was from Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, and her mother was from Slovenia; she spoke only Serbian during her early years...
, and William Forsythe
William Forsythe
William Forsythe may refer to:* William Forsythe * William Forsythe and choreographer * William Forsythe , Australian slalom canoerSee also*William Forsyth...
.
He serves on the core faculty of the low-residency MFA program at Queens University of Charlotte
Queens University of Charlotte
Queens University of Charlotte is a private, co-educational, comprehensive university located in Charlotte, North Carolina. The school has approximately 2,600 undergraduate and graduate students through the College of Arts and Sciences, the McColl School of Business, the Wayland H. Cato, Jr. School...
in North Carolina. He has served on the writing faculties of Oberlin College
Oberlin College
Oberlin College is a private liberal arts college in Oberlin, Ohio, noteworthy for having been the first American institution of higher learning to regularly admit female and black students. Connected to the college is the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, the oldest continuously operating...
, Princeton University, and Hollins University, as a McGhee Writing Fellow at Davidson College
Davidson College
Davidson College is a private liberal arts college in Davidson, North Carolina. The college has graduated 23 Rhodes Scholars and is consistently ranked in the top ten liberal arts colleges in the country by U.S. News and World Report magazine, although it has recently dropped to 11th in U.S. News...
in Davidson, North Carolina, and as a Thurber House Fellow at the Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
.
He is currently full professor in the English Department at Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public research university located in Carbondale, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1869, SIUC is the flagship campus of the Southern Illinois University system...
.
Published works
- Town Smokes (short stories), 1987
- The Wrecking Yard (short stories), 1992
- Dogs of God (novel), 1995
- Surreal South (edited anthology, with Laura Benedict), 2007
- Surreal South '09 (edited anthology, with Laura Benedict), 2009
- Surreal South '11 (edited anthology, with Laura Benedict), forthcoming 2011
- Miracle Boy and Other Stories, Press 53Press 53Press 53 is an independent publisher of literary fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. The press was founded October 1, 2005 by Kevin Morgan Watson of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. In November 2005, Watson partnered with Sheryl Monks of Hamptonville, North Carolina, and their partnership became...
, 2010
Awards
He is the recipient, among other prizes, of a Literature Fellowship from the National Endowment for the ArtsNational Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created by an act of the U.S. Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. Its current...
, a fiction grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a Literary Fellowship from the West Virginia Commission on the Arts, a Michener Fellowship from the Writers’ Workshop at the University of Iowa, the Chicago Tribune’s Nelson Algren Award, and Britain’s Steinbeck Award.