Marisa Crane

Mac Crane is an American writer.

Early life and education Crane was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania and raised in Philadelphia. They were heavily involved in sports growing up and were also an avid reader. From the age of six they aspired to be an author and a WNBA player.

Crane began writing their debut novel in 2018 and initially completed it as a short story. However, after losing their job, they shifted focus to writing full-time and converting I Keep My Exoskeletons to Myself to a novel. In the book's world, the government attaches extra shadows to those who have committed acts of harm or violence. The book won the 2024 Lambda Literary Award for Speculative Fiction.

Their second novel, A Sharp Endless Need, is a coming-of-age story centered around a high school basketball star dealing with the death of her father and a complicated relationship with their best friend. It was released in 2025 by Dial Press. The novel was a finalist for the 2026 Lambda Literary Award for Lesbian Fiction.

Their debut short story collection, Perverts, was published July 7, 2026 from Dial Press. The Chicago Review of Books listed it as one of "Our Most Anticipated Books of 2026."

Personal life Crane is queer and nonbinary, and uses they/them pronouns. They are married with two children and reside in San Diego.