- Jun 14, 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 9, 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....
- Apr 27, 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 4, 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...
- Jan 27, 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...
- Dec 20, 2010
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...
- Nov 28, 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 19, 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 9, 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 1, 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...
- Oct 8, 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...
- Aug 13, 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...
- Jun 7, 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...
- Apr 28, 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 2, 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...
- Mar 20, 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...
- Feb 28, 2010
Paint a Vulgar Picture
Willy was mentioned recently on NPR’s All Things Considered for his contribution to a book of short stories based on songs by The Smiths...
- Feb 11, 2010
Press for Lean on Pete
So far the critics have been kind… ‘As one boy’s journey, Lean on Pete is as real as blood: as a novel it is remarkable. Willy Vlautin,...
- Feb 2, 2010
Coconut Pirate
826 National is a non-profit that helps kids aged 6-18 improve their writing skills. The good folks there have a cool fundraising...