Collectible Colum McCann (2009 Nat'l Book Award Winner)

Colum McCann is the author of two collections of short stories and five novels, including his newest novel, “Let the Great World Spin", which was the winner of the 2009 National Book Award. His fiction has been published in 30 languages and has appeared in The New Yorker, The Atlantic Monthly, GQ, Paris Review, Bomb and other places.

Besides being an award-winning author and essayist, Colum teaches at Hunter College in New York, in the Creative Writing program, with fellow novelist and Nathan Englander.

Prior to and during the publication of his first collection of short stories, McCann began publishing in literary journals and magazines, including STORY. These are usually overlooked by collectors, but still hold 'unique' value for a complete collection.

McCann was a featured speaker at a Minnesota Public Radio / Concordia College (Moorhead, MN) National Book Awards 'Readings and Conversation' event on 3/25/2010 (the day of my 30th birthday). Prior to this engagement, I spent all of March completing my collection by buying up two copies of each of his 1st edition / 1st printing books, including the four STORY magazine appearances, and the obscure essay printed in The World Unfurled, by Matteo Pericoli. McCann signed all four magazines and the nine books of my complete collection, as well as the duplicate copies to offer available online for sale.

It is rare to find a complete >all signed< collection offered for sale from one individual seller. Opportunities hardly ever arise where one has so much access to an author of this caliber to allow for twenty-five books to be signed at one time. Colum was very accommodating, and frankly humbled, that I was standing in his presence with so many obscure books.

The full audio recording of the National Book Award discussion at Concordia College will be broadcast on Minnesota Public Radio at 10 a.m. on April 5. During the conversation, McCann spoke about his inspiration on writing, background on his travels and stories, as well as his humility for praise of his work - something he takes quite seriously. He also briefly mentioned the new book he is currently working on.

To find more information about collectible books available by Colum McCann, go here.

Author photo credit: Brendan Bourke