Mary Karr's work has been deemed 'hardboiled, hardedged, hardbitten' by Poetry. Her allure is a gripping combination of savvy intelligence and an utter refusal for sentimentality. Karr is the author of four volumes of poetry including the forthcoming Sinners Welcome (Harper Collins, 2006), and the memoir, The Liars' Club. The recipient of numerous grants including The Whiting Writer's Award, an NEA, and a Guggenheim, Karr teaches at Syracuse University and lives in New York City.