He was awarded a 1975 National Endowment for the Arts grant, a 1978 Bread Loaf Fellowship, and 1979 Guggenheim Fellowship. In 1978 Louisiana State University Press published "Blanco," his first novel, and "Things About to Disappear," a collection of short stories. Avon will republish both books in paperback next year. [extracted from 1979 brochure]