Victor LaValle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Victor LaValle
Born	(1972-02-03) February 3, 1972 (age 53) New York City, U.S.
Occupation	Author
Education	Cornell University (BA) Columbia University (MFA)
Period	1999–present
Genre	Speculative fiction Horror
Notable works	Slapboxing With Jesus The Ballad of Black Tom The Changeling
Notable awards	Shirley—Novel (2010) BFA—Novella (2017) Shirley—Novella (2017) WFA—Novel (2018) Locus—Horror Novel (2018)
Spouse	Emily Raboteau
Children	2

Victor LaValle (born February 3, 1972) is a well-known American author. He writes many types of stories, especially speculative fiction and horror. He has written a collection of short stories called Slapboxing with Jesus and five novels. Some of his famous novels include The Ecstatic, Big Machine, The Devil in Silver, The Changeling, and Lone Women.

His fantasy-horror story, The Ballad of Black Tom, won the Shirley Jackson Award in 2016. Besides books, LaValle also writes essays and book reviews. His work has appeared in magazines like GQ and The Washington Post.

Early Life and Education

Victor LaValle was born on February 3, 1972. He grew up in Queens, New York, in the neighborhoods of Flushing and Rosedale. His mother, who came from Uganda, raised him.

He attended Lawrence Woodmere Academy for his schooling. Later, he studied English at Cornell University. He also earned a special degree in Creative Writing from Columbia University.

Exploring Victor LaValle's Books

Slapboxing with Jesus

LaValle's first book, Slapboxing with Jesus, came out in 1999. It is a collection of eleven connected short stories. These stories are mostly about young Black and Latino men. They live in New York during the 1970s and 1980s. The book was highly praised by critics. It helped LaValle win the PEN/Open Book Award.

The Ecstatic

In 2002, LaValle published his novel The Ecstatic. This book continues the story of Anthony James, a character from his earlier short stories. Anthony is a young man facing big challenges. The novel shows how his family tries to help him. It also explores how they might need help themselves. Even though the story deals with serious topics, it has a lot of dark humor. Critics loved this book, comparing LaValle to famous writers. It was even a finalist for major awards in 2003.

Big Machine

Big Machine was released in 2009. This novel follows Ricky Rice, a man who survived a difficult past. His life changes when he gets a mysterious letter. The letter calls him to a secret place in Vermont. The book was very popular and appeared on many "top ten" lists. It won the Shirley Jackson Award for Best Novel in 2009. It also received the Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence and an American Book Award.

The Devil in Silver

Published in 2012, The Devil in Silver tells the story of Pepper. Pepper is a man who is sent to a mental hospital. He believes a monster, called the Devil, roams the hospital at night. Pepper teams up with other patients. They work together to fight the challenges they face, including the monster.

The Ballad of Black Tom

In 2016, LaValle released The Ballad of Black Tom. This is a shorter novel, called a novella. It retells an old story by H. P. Lovecraft. LaValle tells the story from the viewpoint of a young Black man. This character lives in Harlem. The book was very well-received.

The Changeling

The Changeling came out in 2017. This novel was highly praised by critics. The New York Public Library named it one of the ten best books of 2017. It also won several big awards in 2018. These include the World Fantasy Award for Best Novel and the Locus Award for Horror Novel.

Destroyer

LaValle also writes comic books. In 2017, he published Destroyer. This graphic novel is a modern version of the classic story Frankenstein. It features a descendant of Dr. Frankenstein and the original monster.

Lone Women

His novel Lone Women was published in 2023. This book is a western story with fantastical elements. It is set in Montana in 1915. The story is about Adelaide Henry, a single woman. She leaves her family farm in California to start a new life in Montana. She carries a heavy, mysterious trunk with her.

Victor LaValle's Personal Life

Victor LaValle is also a teacher. He is an associate professor at the Columbia University School of the Arts. He lives in New York with his wife, who is also a novelist, Emily Raboteau. They have a son and a daughter.

Awards and Recognitions

Literature Awards

Other Honors and Fellowships

• 1998: Fine Arts Work Center, Fiction Fellow
• 2000: Breadloaf Writer's Fellowship
• 2004: Whiting Award for Fiction
• 2006: United States Artists Ford Fellowship
• 2010: Guggenheim Fellowship
• 2010–2011: Writer-in-Residence in Amsterdam, Netherlands
• 2016: This Is Horror Novella of the Year (for The Ballad of Black Tom)

Best Book Lists

Many magazines and newspapers have listed LaValle's books among their best.

• In 2009, Big Machine was on "Best Books" lists for Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, The Nation, Publishers Weekly, and Washington Post.
• In 2012, The Devil in Silver was on "Notable Books" lists for New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and Washington Post.
• In 2017, The Changeling was on the New York Times "100 Notable Books" list.