Elizabeth McCracken's first novel, THE GIANT'S HOUSE--a finalist for the 1996 National Book Award--was widely praised for its heart, its humor, and its poetic yet unsentimental voice. Like her extraordinary novel, McCracken's stories are a delightful blend of eccentricity and romanticism. In the title story, a young man and his wife are intrigued and amused when a peculiar unknown aunt announces a surprise visit--only the old woman can't be traced on the family tree. In "What We Know About the Lost Aztec Children," the "normal" middle-class son of a former circus performer (the Armless Woman) must suddenly confront his mother's pain. In "It's Bad Luck to Die," a young woman discovers that her husband's loving creations--he's a tattoo artist--make her feel at home in her skin for the first time. Daring, offbeat, and utterly unforgettable, Here's Your Hat What's Your Hurryis the work of a n unparalleled young storyteller who possesses a rare insight and unconventional wisdom far beyond her years. Her stories will steal your heart.Elizabeth McCrackens first novel, THE GIANTS HOUSE--a finalist for the 1996 National Book Award--was widely praised for its heart, its humor, and its poetic yet unsentimental voice. Like her extraordinary novel, McCrackens stories are a delightful blend of eccentricity and romanticism. In the title story, a young man and his wife are intrigued and amused when a peculiar unknown aunt announces a surprise visit--only the old woman cant be traced on the family tree. In What We Know About the Lost Aztec Children, the normal middle-class son of a former circus performer (the Armless Woman) must suddenly confront his mothers pain. In Its Bad Luck to Die, a young woman discovers that her husbands loving creations--hes a tattoo artist--make her feel at home in her skin for the first time. Daring, offbeat, and utterly unforgettable, Here;s Your Hat Whats Your Hurryis the work of a n unparalleled young storyteller who possesses a rare insight and unconventional wisdom far beyond her years. Her stories will steal your heart.

"McCracken is a . . . robust, ferocious romantic who sees reality with all its chinks, twitches, and zits, and finds it beautiful."(--Katherine Dunn, author of Geek Love)

"McCracken is a descendant of Anne Tyler, whose characters in the smallness of their lives project large themes."(--Austin American-Statesman)

"The wonderful power of the human imagination emerges as a constant in this quirky . . . collection of tales."(--The Times (London))

Elizabeth McCracken's first novel, THE GIANT'S HOUSE--a finalist for the 1996 National Book Award--was widely praised for its heart, its humor, and its poetic yet unsentimental voice. Like her extraordinary novel, McCracken's stories are a delightful blend of eccentricity and romanticism. In the title story, a young man and his wife are intrigued and amused when a peculiar unknown aunt announces a surprise visit--only the old woman can't be traced on the family tree. In What We Know About the Lost Aztec Children, the normal middle-class son of a former circus performer (the Armless Woman) must suddenly confront his mother's pain. In It's Bad Luck to Die, a young woman discovers that her husband's loving creations--he's a tattoo artist--make her feel at home in her skin for the first time. Daring, offbeat, and utterly unforgettable, Here's Your Hat What's Your Hurry is the work of a n unparalleled young storyteller who possesses a rare insight and unconventional wisdom far beyond her years. Her stories will steal your heart.Elizabeth McCracken s first novel, THE GIANT S HOUSE--a finalist for the 1996 National Book Award--was widely praised for its heart, its humor, and its poetic yet unsentimental voice. Like her extraordinary novel, McCracken s stories are a delightful blend of eccentricity and romanticism. In the title story, a young man and his wife are intrigued and amused when a peculiar unknown aunt announces a surprise visit--only the old woman can t be traced on the family tree. In  What We Know About the Lost Aztec Children,  the  normal middle-class son of a former circus performer (the Armless Woman) must suddenly confront hismother s pain. In  It s Bad Luck to Die,  a young woman discovers that her husband s loving creations--he s a tattoo artist--make her feel at home in her skin for the first time. Daring, offbeat, and utterly unforgettable, Here; s Your Hat What s Your Hurry is the work of a n unparalleled young storyteller who possesses a rare insight and unconventional wisdom far beyond her years. Her stories will steal your heart.

McCracken's characters are quirky outsiders, and her off-beat vision is completely unique, such as in the story of a young woman who discovers that her husband's loving creations (he's a tattoo artist). Her rare insight and unconventional wisdom herald a magical new voice in the world of short fiction. Her stories will steal your heart.

Elizabeth McCracken is the author of Niagara Falls All Over Again, winner of the PEN/Winship Award, as well as Here's Your Hat What's Your Hurry?, a collection of stories. She has received grants and awards from the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, the National Endowment for the Arts, the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the Guggenheim Foundation, and the American Academy in Berlin.

It's bad luck to die — Some have entertained angels, unaware — Here's your hat what's your hurry — The bar of our recent unhappiness — Mercedes Kane — What we know about the lost aztec children — June — Secretary of State — The goings-on of the world.