Today the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation celebrates 24 creative individuals who will receive one of the Foundation’s annual $500,000 awards–the famous “genius grants.”

Three writers were included among the winners: author Edwidge Danticat (pictured), short-story writer Deborah Eisenberg, and poet Heather McHugh.

Here’s more from Danticat, from a NY Times article: “It felt incredibly, wonderfully surreal … What artists crave and need most is time. It will definitely buy some time. It’s wonderful to have a sense of security, especially in these economic times.” (Via Publishers Weekly)