By Sharyn Vane
Special to the American-Statesman
McCracken is the author of seven books, including the critically acclaimed 2019 novel “Bowlaway” and the forthcoming short-story collection “The Souvenir Museum.” She is one of eight writers in this year’s 60-member class, which also includes fellowships in visual and performing arts, media, film, craft and architecture and design.
It is the largest class in the history of the Chicago-based United States Artists, which has granted more than $33 million to 700-plus artists over 15 years.
“One of the things that’s really gratifying, when you look at who they’ve chosen, it’s people at different stages of their careers,” McCracken said in a phone interview. “It’s not an award for ‘most promising’ and it’s not an award for ‘lifetime achievement.’”