RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – A writer in residence and instructor at Arkansas Tech University has been nominated for a prestigious literature award.
Eli Cranor was placed on the list for his novel “Broiler.” He is currently one of 30 nominees on the long list, which will be reduced to a short list in August.
The winning author will be recognized in a November event in Hartford, Connecticut, where they will receive $25,000.
“Broiler” is Cranor’s third novel. A crime fiction novel, it tells the story of two men after one is fired from his job at a plant.
Amazon selected “Broiler as one of the 20 best mysteries, thrillers, and suspense books of 2024. The Minneapolis Star Tribune and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel named it to their lists of top summer books for 2024, along with recognitions from other sources.
Cranor lives in his hometown of Russellville with his wife and children. His fourth novel, “Mississippi Blue 42,” is due to be published in August.


