spring tour & the jayhawks
In March, Willy and Dan will be heading across the pond to do a handful of acoustic gigs, including a bunch of shows supporting The...
Feb 7, 2012


The Motel Life, Swedish + HUGE Sonic article
There’s a great article on Willy & Reno in Sweden’s leading music magazine, SONIC. It’s a really nice (and huge – 8 pages) article with...
Jan 10, 2012
gearing up…
The new record, The High Country, is all wrapped up and ready to go. Release dates are: September 5 in the UK & Europe, and September 20...
Sep 4, 2011
Willy and Roddy Doyle
Willy is absolutely thrilled to have the honor of reading with Roddy Doyle at the Galway Arts Festival on July 19. You can’t have a...
Jun 14, 2011
The Ne’er-Do-Well
Willy recently contributed a story to a nifty literary magazine, with its most current issue of working class stories, The Ne’er-Do-Well....
Jun 9, 2011
Pete gets a lucky break
Make that two lucky breaks… We are thrilled to announce that on Monday night Willy took home two awards for Lean on Pete: the Ken Kesey...
Apr 27, 2011
A Motorcycle for A Horse
Keeping busy these days… The trade paperback edition of Lean on Pete recently came out in the UK (Faber) and Willy recorded a special...
Apr 4, 2011
Oregon Book Awards
Great news… Lean on Pete has been shortlisted for the Oregon Book Award (Ken Kesey Award for Fiction). Literary Arts presents the Oregon...
Jan 27, 2011
year end accolades for lean on pete
LEAN ON PETE is popping up on the darnedest Best of 2010 lists.. Eileen Battersby’s Books of the Year (Irish Times) Hot Press #1 Book of...
Dec 20, 2010
pnba shortlist announced
The Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association has announced the shortlist for its 2011 awards, and LEAN ON PETE has been selected as one...
Nov 28, 2010
pete makes #3 in britain
Lean on Pete has been chosen as #3 in The Independent’s “50 Best Winter Reads“. The low-down from the judges: ‘An occasionally...
Nov 19, 2010


richmond fontaine, the horse
A very kind and hopeful gentleman in England has named a 2-year-old thoroughbred racing colt after Richmond Fontaine. And by God, the...
Nov 9, 2010
thank you
Willy would like to extend a huge Thank You to Multnomah County Libraries, Friends of the Library, and Pageturners for inviting him to...
Nov 1, 2010
wordstock, satyricon
Fresh back from Festival America in Paris (yes, some French people actually appreciate American film & lit), Willy is lucky enough to be...
Oct 8, 2010
summer news
Willy is heading overseas for a quick trip to the Edinburgh International Book Festival and then to Germany to celebrate the release of...
Aug 13, 2010
summer festival time
Willy is just back from Australia, where he had a great time at the Sydney Writers Festival and enjoyed a few swell acoustic gigs with...
Jun 7, 2010
Willy on W+K Storytime
Willy recented recored an episode of the super-cool Wieden+Kennedy radio program Storytime. The episode features tunes by RF and Willy...
Apr 28, 2010
Lean on Pete makes Indie Pick list
The American Booksellers Association has chosen Lean on Pete for its Indie Next Great Reads list for May 2010, making Willy 3 for 3 (The...
Apr 2, 2010
Lean on Pete on Irish TV
RTE’s arts program The View (not to be confused with the American program!) recently featured Lean on Pete. Watch it here.
Mar 20, 2010
US dates set for Lean on Pete
The US release date for Lean on Pete is April 13, and Willy will be heading out on the road for readings and gigs in April & May. Click...
Mar 20, 2010