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Edgerton was born May 20, 1944 in Durham, North Carolina, and then lived in a small community, Bethesda, on the outskirts of the city.  Growing up in a rural area, Edgerton had a happy childhood.  His outgoing personality and keen sense of humor contributed to his popularity in the community. “Drama during this period,” Edgerton recalled, “came from baseball, hunting, and playing Robin Hood with my friends in the woods.” He was particularly proficient in baseball. For nine summers, including his freshman year in college, Edgerton played on some type of baseball team.

Edgerton’s earned a BA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a major in English. He enjoyed reading Emerson, Thoreau and Twain. But, it wasn’t until his sophomore year in college, after reading Hemingway’s Farewell To Arms, that he decided to be an English teacher. He wanted to share his love for such literature with others.

During his undergraduate years, Edgerton was a student in the Air Force ROTC program, where he learned to fly a small plane. Upon graduation in 1966, he received a commission and entered the U. S. Air Force. For the next 5 years he served on active duty as a fighter pilot based in the United States, Korea, Japan, and Thailand.

After his return from the Air Force, Edgerton went on to earn a master’s degree from UNC Chapel Hill before starting a teaching career. With this degree he accepted a faculty position as an English teacher in his old high school. He also earned a Ph.D. from the University.

His decision to be a serious writer was a very deliberate one, but somewhat of a surprise even to him.  In May 1978, he watched Eudora Welty read one of her stories on public television. That night led to the creation Raney, Walking Across Egypt, The Floatplane Notebooks, Killer Diller, In Memory of Junior, Redeye, and Where Trouble Sleeps. Their critical reception led to his receiving a Guggenheim Fellowship, a Lyndhurst Fellowship, and the North Carolina Award for Literature, a Distinguished Alumni Award from University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Education Department, and five notable book awards from the New York Times. His latest work is titled The Bible Salesman: A Novel

Edgerton is married and has two children. He lives in North Carolina.

Read our review of Clyde Edgerton’s
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