Will Mackin is a well-known American novelist, particularly recognized for his military fiction, short stories, and war stories. He was born and raised in Marmora, New Jersey, and later spent a few formative years in Beaconsfield, Quebec. After joining the Navy in 1990, Mackin served as a weapons system officer on a carrier-based jet during his first posting in Iraq. He was later sent to Afghanistan as a joint terminal officer, where he gained extensive experience and insights that would later inspire his writing.
Upon retiring from the Navy in 2014, Mackin decided to focus on his passion for writing. Given his military background, it was a natural choice for him to write about his experiences and those of his fellow soldiers. His debut collection of short stories, Bring Out the Dog, was published by Random House in March 2018 and features 11 short stories that describe the experiences of soldiers during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The book received critical acclaim and helped Mackin establish himself as a prominent writer.
Mackin's work has appeared in several prestigious publications, including The New Yorker, GQ, Tin House, and The New York Times Magazine. His story "Kattekoppen" was selected by Jennifer Egan for inclusion in The Best American Short Stories 2014, and his essay about being an extra on Breaking Bad, published in GQ, was nominated for an American Society of Magazine Editors "Ellie" award. Mackin's writing has also been featured in numerous literary journals across the nation and in foreign countries. He collaborated with photographer Grant Cornett for the illustrations of his novel Kattekoppen, which was released to great success and attracted a large number of readers.