Born and raised in Texas, TRACY DAUGHERTY is the author of six novels, six short story collections, a memoir, a book of personal essays, a collection of essays on writing, a novella collection, and six literary biographies. His 2009 biography of Donald Barthelme , Hiding Man, was a New York Times and New Yorker Notable Book; his 2015 biography of Joan Didion, The Last Love Song was a New York Times Bestseller; and his 2023 biography of Larry McMurtry, Larry McMurtry: A Life, was a Pulitzer Prize finalist. His work has been recognized by the Guggenheim Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. At Oregon State University he helped found the MFA Program in Creative Writing.