Charles Blackstone
American writer
Alpana Singh
(m. 2006; div. 2014) Caroline Eick
(m. 2016)Charles Blackstone (born March 21, 1977)[1] is an American writer. His most recent novel is the semi-autobiographical Vintage Attraction (2013).
Early life
Blackstone was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. He is the great grandson of Janet Sobel.[1] He graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago[2] and earned a master's 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 whom 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]
Writing for the Los Angeles Review of Books, Sabra Embry said that Vintage Attraction's fantasy vs. reality love story was poignant.[14] Reviewing for the Chicago Reader Aimee Levitt described the book as awkwardly written, and the protagonist as unsympathetic.[15] Gapers Block reviewer Ines Bellina praised the descriptions of wine, food, and local Chicago landmarks, but called the plot dull.[16] Michael Lindgren of The Washington Post called the book "a slapdash, irritating affair."[17]
Other projects
In 2010 Blackstone began serving as managing editor of Bookslut, a literary website founded by Jessa Crispin in 2002.[10][18] He has worked with writers and served as an editor for the site's monthly reviews.[10]
In 2015, Blackstone taught writing at the Gotham Writers' Workshop in New York City, where he lives.[19]
Personal life
Blackstone married sommelier and restaurant critic Alpana Singh in 2006.[8][10][20] The couple divorced in 2014.[21] In 2016, Blackstone married Caroline Eick, a senior vice president with Philadelphia-based healthcare marketing firm Calcium.[22]
Honors
- University of Colorado's Barker Award for Fiction, 2001[4]
- Newcity's Lit 50: Who Really Books in Chicago, 2012[23]
- Newcity's Lit 50: Who Really Books in Chicago, 2013[24]
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
- ^ a b Kevin Frazier, "Wine and Bellow: An Interview with Charles Blackstone," Archived 2018-02-01 at the Wayback Machine Open Letters Monthly, Fall 2013.
- ^ a b Kelli Christiansen, "We'll Drink to That," Chicago Book Review, October 11, 2013.
- ^ "Class Notes – March 2013," Archived December 24, 2013, at the Wayback Machine Coloradan Magazine, March 1, 2013.
- ^ a b "Vintage Attraction with Charles Blackstone," citylitbooks.com. Accessed December 20, 2013.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ a b J. Ryan Stradal, "The Sunday Rumpus Interview: Charles Blackstone," The Rumpus, October 13, 2013.
- ^ Charles Blackstone, "Before," Esquire, March 13, 2008.
- ^ a b c d 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," The Washington Post, November 21, 2013.
- ^ Naomi Huffman, "Some Enchanted Sommelier: Pugs, Wine and Writing with 'Vintage Attraction' Author Charles Blackstone," Newcity, December 13, 2013.
- ^ Embury, Sabra (30 October 2013). "Expedient Pairings: On Charles Blackstone's "Vintage Attraction"". L.A. Review of Books. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
- ^ Levitt, Aimee (21 October 2013). "In Vintage Attraction, Charles Blackstone shoots a blanc". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
- ^ Bellina, Ines (28 January 2014). "Book Review: Vintage Attraction by Charles Blackstone". Gapers Block. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
- ^ Lindgren, Michael (21 November 2013). "New romance novels by David Leavitt, Charles Blackstone and Steve Yarbrough". The Washington Post. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
- ^ Gina Frangello, "New Directions in Publishing: Charles Blackstone," thenervousbreakdown.com, April 13, 2012.
- ^ "Bio". CharlesBlackstone.com. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
- ^ Nicholas Day, "Alpana's Revenge," Chicago Reader, October 12, 2006.
- ^ Dan Klefstad, "In Vino Veritas? Novel About Wine And Marriage Blends Reality, Fantasy," Northern Public Radio, February 23, 2015.
- ^ The New York Times, [1] Legacy.com, March 20, 2022.
- ^ 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.
External links
- Official website
- Interview at Entropy
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