Brandon Taylor (writer) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Brandon Taylor
Born	(1989-06-01) June 1, 1989 (age 36) Prattville, Alabama, U.S.
Occupation	Writer
Alma mater	Auburn University Montgomery University of Iowa University of Wisconsin–Madison
Period	2020–present
Notable works	Real Life (2020) Filthy Animals (2021)
Notable awards	The Story Prize (2022)

Brandon Taylor (born June 1, 1989) is an American writer. He is known for his novels and short stories. His first novel, Real Life, was published in 2020 and was nominated for the Booker Prize. In 2022, his collection of short stories, Filthy Animals, won The Story Prize.

Early Life and Learning

Brandon Taylor was born in Prattville, Alabama. He grew up in a small town near Montgomery. His family didn't have much experience with reading. Because of this, Brandon often read important papers like medical bills for his parents.

He taught himself to read using his brother's school books. As he grew up, he read many different kinds of books. These included romance novels, nursing manuals, and the Bible.

Brandon went to Auburn University Montgomery for his first college degree. Later, he studied biochemistry in a graduate program. But in 2016, he decided to change his path and focus on creative writing. He earned advanced degrees from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the University of Iowa. At the University of Iowa, he was a special writing fellow at the Iowa Writers' Workshop.

Becoming a Writer

Brandon Taylor's short stories and essays have appeared in many popular magazines. Some of these include The New Yorker and Granta. He also works as a senior editor for "Recommended Reading" at Electric Literature. He is a staff writer at Literary Hub. He has also written book reviews for The New York Times.

Taylor has shared that he was inspired by many other writers. These include Jane Austen and Alice Munro. He has also received special awards and fellowships for his writing. These include support from the Lambda Literary Foundation and the Tin House Summer Writer's Workshop.

His first novel, Real Life, came out in 2020. It was published by Riverhead Books. In 2021, his collection of short stories, Filthy Animals, was also published by the same company.

Real Life

Brandon Taylor wrote his first novel, Real Life, very quickly. He finished it in less than five weeks! He said that writing a novel means you have to live inside the story.

The book is about a gay Black student from a small town in Alabama. It explores his experiences at a university. Real Life was published in 2020 and received great reviews. Critics praised Taylor's strong writing style. They said the book explores deep feelings like loneliness and finding meaning in life.

Taylor hopes his novel makes people think about how they connect with others. He wants readers to consider how they might both be hurt and hurt others in relationships.

The book was nominated for the 2020 Booker Prize. The New York Times also listed it as one of the "100 Notable Books of 2020." In 2021, it was announced that Real Life would be made into a movie. The musician Kid Cudi is set to be in it.

Filthy Animals

Taylor's collection of short stories, Filthy Animals, won The Story Prize in 2022. This award is given to excellent collections of short fiction. Reviewers praised the stories for being warm and human. They compared Taylor's writing to famous authors like Raymond Carver and Alice Munro.

The Late Americans

Brandon Taylor's second novel is called The Late Americans. It was published in 2023. This book follows a group of writers living in Iowa City. This is where Taylor lived when he was studying at the Iowa Writers' Workshop. The book received mostly good reviews, though some opinions were mixed compared to his earlier works.

What's Next for Brandon Taylor

Brandon Taylor is always working on new projects. In 2023, it was reported that he was writing two more novels. These are called Group Show and Other Years. He is also working on a special project called Kinfolks. This book will explore the rural areas where he grew up.

He also plans to publish two non-fiction books. One will be a collection of his thoughts on literature. The other will be about how to write. These are expected in 2026 and 2027. Taylor is also helping to start a new publishing company called Smith & Taylor Classics. This company will publish lesser-known works by famous authors.

Personal Life

As of 2022, Brandon Taylor lives in New York City.

Awards