One of our favorite unsung Northwest authors was honored in a big way this week in the UK’s The Guardian. Famous authors were asked to select their favorite book from the last ten years. George Pelacanos chose Northline by Scappoose, Oregon author Willy Vlautin. 

Michael Gruber has described Vlautin as the “secret love child of Raymond Carver and Flannery O’Connor.” His writing may be downbeat, but it’s also tender and true. He has published three novels—The Motel Life, the aforementioned Northline and, most recently, Lean on Pete. Vlautin is also the frontman for the indie band Richmond Fontaine, which he founded in 1994.