Craig Clevenger

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Craig Clevenger (born 1964 in Dallas, Texas) is an American writer known for contemporary fiction with neo-noir and transgressive elements. He grew up in Southern California and studied English at California State University, Long Beach. He has published three novels: The Contortionist’s Handbook (2002) and Dermaphoria (2005) with MacAdam/Cage, and Mother Howl (2023) with Angry Robot. His work has drawn praise from authors like Chuck Palahniuk and Irvine Welsh, and his influences include Jim Thompson, James M. Cain, Edgar Allan Poe, Italo Calvino, and James Ellroy, among others.

The Contortionist’s Handbook follows John Dolan Vincent, a gifted forger who, during a psychiatric interview, reveals his true past. Dermaphoria tells the story of an amnesiac LSD chemist who becomes addicted to a drug that mimics human touch. Mother Howl is his latest novel, published in 2023. Film rights have been pursued for The Contortionist’s Handbook, with names like Miguel Sapochnik and Channing Tatum mentioned in connection with a potential adaptation. Dermaphoria has also seen film development, with director Ross Clarke and a cast including Joseph Morgan, Ron Perlman, Walton Goggins, and Kate Walsh; it was shown at festivals under the title Desiree and filmed in New Orleans. For more information, visit craigclevenger.com.