Nickolas Butler

Butler was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania. He was raised in Eau Claire, Wisconsin,{{Cite web |title=Nickolas Butler |url=https://www.harpercollins.com/blogs/authors/nickolas-butler |access-date=September 30, 2020 |website=HarperCollins}} where he attended Memorial High School.{{Cite web |last=Rasmussen |first=Eric |date=December 18, 2013 |title=Off Like a Shot |url=https://volumeone.org/articles/2013/12/18/204260-off-like-a-shot |access-date=September 30, 2020 |website=Volume One}} He attended high school alongside Justin Vernon, frontman of indie folk band Bon Iver.{{Cite web |date=March 29, 2014 |title='Lovesongs' Examines What It Means To Come Home |url=https://www.npr.org/2014/03/29/296212076/lovesongs-examines-what-it-means-to-come-home |access-date=September 30, 2020 |website=Weekend Edition Saturday |publisher=NPR}} Butler's debut novel Shotgun Lovesongs (2014) was partly inspired by the creation of Bon Iver's debut album For Emma, Forever Ago (2007).{{cite web|last=Nathans-Kelly|first=Steve |title=Nickolas Butler Talks Family Secrets and the Rust Belt in The Hearts of Men|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2017/03/nickolas-butler-hearts-of-men.html|work=Paste|date=March 10, 2017|access-date=June 10, 2017}} Butler graduated with a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2002, and received an MFA from the Iowa Writers' Workshop in 2012.{{Cite web |last=Kolker |first=Jeanne |date=March 30, 2014 |title='Lovesongs' born at storied Iowa program |url=https://madison.com/entertainment/arts_and_theatre/books/blog/lovesongs-born-at-storied-iowa-program/article_8c6321d4-7958-5999-8bc9-de29ad8464ad.html |access-date=September 30, 2020 |website=Wisconsin State Journal}} Prior to publishing Shotgun Lovesongs, Butler worked in coffee roasting, office management, meat packing, telemarketing, maintenance at Burger King, and as an author escort, liquor store clerk, hot-dog vendor, and bed-and-breakfast manager.

Butler's debut novel, Shotgun Lovesongs (2014), was published to critical acclaim, including a review by Janet Maslin in The New York Times{{Cite web |last=Maslin |first=Janet |author-link=Janet Maslin |date=March 9, 2014 |title=Friends Return, but Can't Go Back |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/10/books/shotgun-lovesongs-nickolas-butlers-debut-novel.html |access-date=September 30, 2020 |website=The New York Times}} and a review by Jonathan Evison in The New York Times Book Review.{{Cite web |last=Evison |first=Jonathan |author-link=Jonathan Evison |date=April 3, 2014 |title=Reunion Tour |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/06/books/review/shotgun-lovesongs-by-nickolas-butler.html |access-date=September 30, 2020 |website=The New York Times Book Review}} In March 2013, Deadline Hollywood reported that Fox Searchlight Pictures acquired the film rights to Shotgun Lovesongs.{{Cite web |last=Fleming |first=Mike Jr. |date=March 13, 2013 |title=Fox Searchlight Acquiring Debut Novel 'Shotgun Lovesongs' |url=https://deadline.com/2013/03/fox-searchlight-acquiring-debut-novel-shotgun-lovesongs-452571/ |access-date=September 30, 2020 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}

Butler has received literary prizes for his work and has published articles, reviews, short stories, and poetry in publications including Ploughshares, Narrative Magazine, and The New York Times Book Review, The Kenyon Review Online, The Christian Science Monitor, and Sixth Finch.{{Cite web |date=August 26, 2017 |title=Nickolas Butler |url=https://foxcitiesbookfestival.org/nickolas-butler/ |access-date=September 30, 2020 |website=Fox Cities Books Festival}}

Butler is also a contributor to a local Wisconsin newspaper, The Country Today, where he shares stories and observations about life and events in western Wisconsin.{{cite news|last=Butler|first=Nickolas|date=October 22, 2022|title=Keep river on your right|url=https://www.leadertelegram.com/country-today/outdoors/keep-river-on-your-right/article_a5c999cc-ef72-5a41-8585-8a09392ab3d6.html|newspaper=The Country Today|access-date=November 22, 2022}} Since 2019, he has contributed to a column for the Eau Claire-based Leader-Telegram, called Sawdust Stories, which features stories all in or about the Chippewa Valley.{{cite news|last=Johnson|first=Gary|date=March 30, 2019|title=Editor's column|url=https://www.leadertelegram.com/opinion/columnists/editors-column/article_22b4a98f-7c0e-58ce-8cb7-a13a3bea8383.html|newspaper=Leader-Telegram|access-date=April 16, 2024}}

On May 20, 2024, Butler announced that he would run for a seat in the Wisconsin State Assembly. He sought to replace the retiring incumbent Warren Petryk, a Republican, in the 93rd district, which includes part of the west and south sides of the City of Eau Claire as well as rural portions of Eau Claire, Dunn, and Trempealeau counties.{{Cite news |date=May 20, 2024 |title=Butler campaign: Announces candidacy for Wisconsin's 93rd Assembly District |url=https://www.wispolitics.com/2024/butler-campaign-announces-candidacy-for-wisconsins-93rd-assembly-district/ |access-date=May 20, 2024}}{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=V1 |date=May 20, 2024 |title=Eau Claire Novelist Butler Making State Assembly Bid |url=https://volumeone.org/articles/2024/05/20/342140-eau-claire-novelist-butler-making-state-assembly-bid |access-date=August 4, 2024 |website=volumeone.org |language=en}} Butler was defeated in the primary by Christian Phelps.{{Cite web |last=Fristed |first=Sam |date=August 14, 2024 |title=Christian Phelps wins Democratic nomination in 93rd Assembly |url=https://www.wqow.com/news/christian-phelps-wins-democratic-nomination-in-93rd-assembly/article_3a8538a6-5a07-11ef-acee-274b1e1bf636.html |access-date=September 11, 2024 |website=WQOW |language=en}}

Butler lives with his wife and two children on 16 acres of land in the town of Washington, Wisconsin.{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://www.nickolasbutlerforassembly.com/about |access-date=August 4, 2024 |website=Nickolas Butler for Wisconsin's 93rd Assembly District |language=en-US}}

{{Election box begin no change|title=District 93 Democratic primary{{cite web |title=2024 Wisconsin State Assembly Primary Election Results |url=https://elections.wi.gov/sites/default/files/documents/County%20by%20County%20Report_Assembly%20Contests.pdf |website=Wisconsin Elections Commission|date=August 27, 2024}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Christian Phelps|votes=4,580|percentage=51.74}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (United States)|candidate=Nickolas Butler|votes=4,267|percentage=48.20}}{{Election box write-in with party link no change|votes=5|percentage=0.06}}{{Election box total no change|votes=8,852|percentage=100.0}}{{Election box end}}

• 2018 Friends of American Writers Literary Award{{Cite web|title=Friends of American Writers Chicago Literature Awards|url=http://www.fawchicago.org/awards.php|website=www.fawchicago.org|access-date=May 4, 2020}}
• 2016 Prix Médicis étranger, shortlist{{Cite web|title=Surprises pour la première sélection du Prix Médicis|url=https://www.nouveau-magazine-litteraire.com/prix-littéraire/surprises-pour-la-première-sélection-du-prix-médicis|website=www.nouveau-magazine-litteraire.com|language=fr|access-date=May 4, 2020}}
• 2015 Wisconsin Library Association Literary Award{{Cite web|title=Wisconsin Library Association 2016 literary award winners announced|url=https://madison.com/entertainment/books/wisconsin-library-association-2016-literary-award-winners-announced/article_d13c80f8-1e1e-575e-a9d6-8c62d994e19c.html|last=Journal|first=Amanda Finn {{!}} Wisconsin State|website=madison.com|date=July 10, 2016 |language=en|access-date=May 4, 2020}}
• 2015 UW–Whitewater Chancellor's Regional Literary Award{{Cite web|title=Nickolas Butler to receive Chancellor's Regional Literary Award|url=https://www.uww.edu:80/news/archive/2015-04-lit-award|website=www.uww.edu|language=en-US|access-date=May 4, 2020}}
• 2014 Prix PAGE/America{{Cite web|title=Nickolas Butler|url=https://www.harpercollinsspeakersbureau.com/speaker/nickolas-butler/|website=HarperCollins Speakers Bureau|language=en-US|access-date=May 4, 2020}}
• 2014 Great Lakes Great Reads Award{{Citation|title=HFF14 Awards Ceremony: Nickolas Butler| date=November 20, 2014 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtrKXELG4GI|language=en|access-date=May 4, 2020}}
• 2014 Midwest Independent Booksellers Award
• 2014 Flaherty-Dunnan First Novel Prize, longlist
• 2014 Prix du roman Fnac, shortlist
• First Place in Narrative Magazine{{'}}s Spring 2011 Story Contest for "Underneath the Bonfire"

• {{Cite book |title=Shotgun Lovesongs |publisher=Thomas Dunne Books |year=2014 |isbn=978-1-250-03981-1}}{{Cite web |date=December 2, 2013 |title=Fiction Book Review: Shotgun Lovesongs by Nickolas Butler |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-250-03981-1 |access-date=September 30, 2020 |website=Publishers Weekly}}
• {{Cite book |title=The Hearts of Men |publisher=Ecco |year=2017 |isbn=978-0-06-246968-7}}{{Cite web |date=November 21, 2016 |title=Fiction Book Review: The Hearts of Men by Nickolas Butler |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-06-246968-7 |access-date=September 30, 2020 |website=Publishers Weekly}}
• {{Cite book |title=Little Faith |publisher=Ecco |year=2019 |isbn=978-0-06-246971-7}}{{Cite web |date=January 10, 2019 |title=Fiction Book Review: Little Faith by Nickolas Butler |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-06-246971-7 |access-date=September 30, 2020 |website=Publishers Weekly}}
• {{Cite book |title=Godspeed |publisher=G. P. Putnam's Sons |year=2021 |isbn=978-0-593-19041-8}}{{Cite web |date=April 19, 2021 |title=Mystery/Thriller Book Review: Godspeed by Nickolas Butler |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-593-19041-8 |access-date=July 29, 2021 |website=Publishers Weekly}}

• {{Cite book |title=Beneath the Bonfire: Stories |publisher=Thomas Dunne Books |year=2015 |isbn=978-1-250-03983-5}}{{Cite web |date=March 30, 2015 |title=Fiction Book Review: Beneath the Bonfire by Nickolas Butler |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-250-03983-5 |access-date=September 30, 2020 |website=Publishers Weekly}}
• "The Chainsaw Soirée"
• "Rainwater"
• "Sven & Lily"
• "Morels"
• "Leftovers"
• "Beneath the Bonfire"
• "Sweet Light Crude"
• "In Western Counties"
• "Train People Move Slow"
• "Apples"

• {{Cite magazine |title=The Chainsaw Soirée |url=https://kenyonreview.org/kr-online-issue/2011-summer/selections/the-chainsaw-soiree/ |magazine=The Kenyon Review Online |edition=Summer 2011}}
• {{Cite magazine |title=Underneath the Bonfire |url=https://www.narrativemagazine.com/issues/fall-2011/spring-contest-winners/underneath-bonfire-nickolas-butler |magazine=Narrative Magazine |edition=Fall 2011}}
• {{Cite magazine |title=Leftovers |url=https://www.narrativemagazine.com/issues/stories-week-2012-2013/story-week/leftovers-nickolas-butler |magazine=Narrative Magazine |edition=Stories of the Week: 2012–2013}}
• {{Cite book |title=In Western Counties: A Short Story |publisher=Thomas Dunne Books |year=2014 |isbn=978-1-4668-7857-0}}{{Cite web |title=In Western Counties |url=https://us.macmillan.com/inwesterncounties/nickolasbutler/9781466878570 |access-date=October 1, 2020 |website=US Macmillan}}

• {{Cite magazine |title=Twenty or Thirty |url=http://sixthfinch.com/butler1.html |magazine=Sixth Finch |edition=Fall 2010}}
• {{Cite magazine |title=For Samuel Mockbee |url=https://www.terrain.org/poetry/26/butler.htm |magazine=Terrain |edition=Fall/Winter 2010 |issue=26}}
• {{Cite magazine |date=October 8, 2009 |title=Contradance in a Good Square or Circle |url=https://newversenews.blogspot.com/2009/10/contradance-in-good-square-or-circle.html |magazine=The New Verse News}}

• {{Cite news |date=January 14, 2010 |title=Sweet Dreams of Denim |work=Volume One |url=https://volumeone.org/articles/2010/01/14/201075-sweet-dreams-of-denim}}
• {{Cite news |date=April 16, 2014 |title=Death of a Mailbox |work=Wisconsin Life |url=https://www.wisconsinlife.org/story/death-of-a-mailbox/}}
• {{Cite news |date=November 2, 2018 |title=Leif Enger's New Novel Brims With Grace and Quirky Charm |work=The New York Times Book Review |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/02/books/review/leif-enger-virgil-wander.html}}

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Category:1979 births

Category:Living people

Category:Date of birth missing (living people)

Category:21st-century American novelists

Category:American male novelists

Category:21st-century American poets

Category:American male poets

Category:21st-century American short story writers

Category:American male short story writers

Category:People from Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Category:Writers from Allentown, Pennsylvania

Category:Writers from Wisconsin

Category:University of Wisconsin–Madison College of Letters and Science alumni

Category:Iowa Writers' Workshop alumni

Category:21st-century American male writers