Mark Richard was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, a city situated in the southwestern part of the state, and spent his formative years in Texas and Virginia, two states that have played a significant role in shaping his identity and artistic vision. As a renowned author, he has made a name for himself through his outstanding literary works, including two award-winning short story collections, "The Ice at the Bottom of the World" and "Charity", as well as a bestselling novel, "Fishboy". His short stories have been featured in an impressive array of prestigious publications, such as The New Yorker, Harper's, Esquire, GQ, The Paris Review, The Oxford American, Grand Street, Shenandoah, The Quarterly, Equator, and Antaeus.
Throughout his illustrious career, Richard has received numerous accolades and honors, including the PEN/Ernest Hemingway Award, a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship, a Whiting Foundation Writer's Award, a New York Foundation for the Arts fellowship, the Mary Francis Hobson Medal for Arts and Letters, and a National Magazine Award for Fiction. His impressive credentials have also led to visiting writer-in-residence positions at several esteemed institutions, including the University of California, Irvine, University of Mississippi, Arizona State University, the University of the South, Sewanee, and The Writer's Voice in New York.
In addition to his literary pursuits, Richard has also made a name for himself as a journalist, with his work appearing in prominent publications such as The New York Times, Harper's, Spin, Esquire, George, Detour, Vogue, and The Oxford American. He has also served as a correspondent for the BBC. Richard currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife, Jennifer Allen, and their three sons.
