Diane Cook is a highly acclaimed literary fiction author, best known for her debut collection of short stories, "Man v. Nature." This collection was a finalist for several prestigious awards, including the Los Angeles Times Art Seidenbaum Award for First Fiction, the Believer Book Award, and the Guardian First Book Award. Cook's work has been published in esteemed literary magazines such as Granta, Tin House, and Harper's, and her stories have been featured in numerous short story collections, including The O. Henry Prize Stories and Best American Short Stories.
Diane Cook was born in Oakland, California, and later attended Columbia University for her MFA in creative writing. During her time at Columbia, she was also a Teaching Fellow. In addition to her fiction writing, Cook has written nonfiction articles for This American Life and The New York Times Magazine. Her exceptional work has earned her a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship in 2016.
Cook's biggest influences include John McPhee, known for his excellent reporting and writing, Rebecca Curtis, whose exciting writing style has been an inspiration, and Aimee Bender, who has significantly impacted the direction of Cook's writing. Cook's work often explores the relationship between humans and nature, and her unique storytelling style has earned her a place among the most talented contemporary writers. She currently resides in Brooklyn, New York.