- 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...
- Jan 22, 2010
Lean on Pete video
Check out the short video created by Brad Beenders for Willy’s new novel, Lean on Pete. It features some cool race horse footage shot at...
- Jan 12, 2010
Lean on Pete release in the UK & Ireland
Willy’s third novel, Lean on Pete, is out February 4 in the UK & Ireland (US fans will have to wait until April, sorry). Willy is heading...
- Dec 14, 2009
Happy Holidays
What better way to celebrate the holidays than with an alcoholic overweight unemployed jockey! Willy wrote, narrated, and created music...


- Nov 17, 2009
- Nov 11, 2009
Thanks Sanibel & FGCU!
The Sanibel Writers Conference was fantastic! Met a bunch of cool writers and other literary types there, and really enjoyed the Florida...
- Oct 13, 2009
Big in Texas. Going to Florida.
Northline is a finalist for the 2009 Writers’ League of Texas Book Awards. Willy has been invited to the Sanibel Island Writers...
- Sep 27, 2009
vote for willy & the boys
Magnet’s latest online poll for “What Album Are You Most Looking Forward To Next Week?” includes Richmond Fontaine. Please VOTE for RF’s...
- Jul 12, 2009
We Used to Think…
Sorry we haven’t posted any news lately. We’ve got a lot of catching up to do. Two good reasons to check out the new Minus 5 record...
- Mar 31, 2009
NORTHLINE published in Germany
NORTHLINE has just been released in Germany by publisher BERLIN VERLAG. The reviews are coming in and they’re great! (We’ll post them on...
- Jan 1, 2009
More year-end accolades for Northline
More reasons for Willy to not feel like a loser… The Seattle Post-Intelligencer’s book critic John Marshall gave Northline the #2 slot...


- Dec 24, 2008
Thanks Music Millennium!
Music Millennium (the coolest ever record store, which we are lucky enough to have in Portland) for the great window display they did for...
- Dec 22, 2008
Oregonian picks Northline in Best of 2008
The Oregonian has selected Northline as one of the ten best Northwest books of 2008. “Northline demonstrates that (Vlautin) is not a...
- Dec 1, 2008
UNCUT includes Northline in ‘Best of 2008’
The UK’s Uncut magazine’s December issue includes Nothline in its list of Best Books of 2008. “Heartbreaking excursion into the world of...

- Nov 1, 2008
A Jockey’s Christmas
Just in time for the holidays, Willy has released a spoken word Christmas story on CD. A Jockey’s Christmas is the story of an alcoholic...
- Sep 9, 2008
Courtney Hunt set for Northline
We are thrilled to announce that Courtney Hunt just signed on to write and direct the film version of NORTHLINE! Her film Frozen River...