Chris Crutcher claims that he is the last person on earth that anyone in his hometown would have expected to become an award-winning writer. He admits that To Kill a Mockingbird was the only book he read all the way through in high school.

Chris Crutcher grew up in Cascade, Idaho.

His father was in the military during World War II, leaving his mother alone with two small sons. Crutcher's mother had a difficult time coping with her responsibilities, and she later became an alcoholic. Although Crutcher had a good relationship with his father, Crutcher's father was hard and distant, rarely showing approval. It was Crutcher's grandfather, Glenn, who gave Crutcher the guidance and attention that he needed. Crutcher credits his grandfather for having the greatest influence on his life and for the characters in his novels who learn to deal with pain and...