Recognition

Audie Award (2011), Tantor Media. Snakewoman of Little Egypt, read by Coleen Marlo.
Washington Post “Best Novels of 2010” (Snakewoman of Little Egypt)
Illinois Arts Council Finalist’s Award (2001)
Publisher’s Weekly “Best ‘98 Books” (Fall of a Sparrow)
Illinois Arts Council Artist’s Grant (1990-91)
NEA Artist’s Fellowship (1989)
PEN Syndicated Fiction Award (1988)
Illinois Arts Council Artist’s Grant (1987-88)
Finalist in the PEN Nelson Algren Competition (1986)
Illinois Arts Council Artist’s Literary Award (1985)
Illinois Arts Council Artist’s Grant (1984-85)
Illinois Arts Council Artist’s Grant (1983-84)
Honorable Mention in The California Quarterly  short-fiction competition (1982) (“The Mountain of Lights”)
Illinois Arts Council Fellowship in Creative Writing (1981-82)
NEH Summer Seminar, Princeton (1979)
NEH Fellowship in Residence, University of Chicago (1975-76)
NDEA Title IV Fellowship, Princeton (1965-68)
Woodrow Wilson Fellowship, University of North Carolina (1964-1965)
Exchange Fellowship, The Queen’s University of Belfast (1963-64)
Phi Kappa Phi
Graduated “With High Honors” from the University of Michigan (1963)