About Claire Vaye Watkins:
Claire Vaye Watkins is an American author and professor. She received her Master of Fine Arts from Ohio State University and currently teaches creative writing at the University of Michigan. She is the daughter of former Charles Manson's "Family" member Paul Watkins and Martha Watkins, who Watkins describes as “this incredible dynamo, a great bullshitter.” Her book of short stories Battleborn won The Story Prize among other awards and honors. Of her parents' influence on her award-winning collection, Watkins has said, “My father’s story is more in the collective subconscious but my mom’s is closer to the project.”