This announcement comes from a Richmond Fontaine newsletter sent to fans last week. The band, recently inducted into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame, has been lead by Scappoose, Oregon author Willy Vlautin for the past 20 years.
“In case you haven’t heard, Willy’s first novel, The Motel Life, has been adapted to the big screen. The movie stars Emile Hirsch, Stephen Dorff, Kris Kristofferson, and Dakota Fanning. Fans of the book will be glad to know the film is very faithful to the novel, and was beautifully filmed in Reno and northern Nevada. We might be a little biased, but we think it’s a pretty damn good film. It opens in US theaters and on iTunes and VOD this Friday, November 8th. For a list of theaters and other info about the movie, visit the official site. Several cities have been added for later November release dates as well.
As a companion to the movie, the great folks at Harper Perennial have published a film tie-in edition of The Motel Life, which will be available in stores Tuesday, November 5th. Willy has a handful of copies he’d like to give away, so we’re having a contest. Scan and email your original motel-themed art (photo, painting, drawing, silkscreen, Etch A Sketch, needlepoint, etc.) and our highly qualified panel of judges will pick five lucky winners. Of course the books will be personally inscribed by Willy, and RF is throwing in some surprise gifts as well. The deadline is Friday, November 15, and winners will be announced on Willy’s website and Facebook page.”
Vlautin’s new novel, The Free, publishes Feb. 6.