Columbia County Reads 2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 15, 2018

St. Helens, Ore. - Columbia County libraries have selected the books of award-winning Scappoose author Willy Vlautin as the focus of Columbia County Reads 2018.

Columbia County Reads is a yearly collaboration between Columbia County libraries to bring reading to the forefront of public discourse. If everyone reads the same book or author at the same time, it is hoped that it will inspire discussions, connections, and a shared perspective among Columbia County residents.

Participating libraries include Clatskanie Library District, Columbia City Community Library, Rainier City Library, Scappoose Public Library, St. Helens Public Library, and Vernonia Public Library. Each library has a selection of Vlautin’s books available for check out.

Vlautin will make author appearances at four Columbia County libraries in April:

• Scappoose Public Library, Wednesday, April 25, 7 p.m.
• St. Helens Public Library, Thursday, April 26, 7 p.m.
• Vernonia Public Library, Friday, April 27, 7 p.m.
• Clatskanie Library District, Saturday, April 28, 7 p.m., at the Clatskanie Cultural Center, 75 S. Nehalem Street, Clatskanie

Columbia County Reads participants are encouraged to attend a neighboring library’s author event if their local library is not a host library. The St. Helens Public Library Book Club is partnering with Columbia County Reads for their April book theme. Book Club members should read any of Vlautin’s books and attend the Thursday, April 26 author appearance in lieu of the regular Book Club meeting.

Vlautin was born and raised in Reno, Nevada before he eventually moved to Oregon. As a teenager, he started playing guitar and writing songs. A Paul Kelly song, based on Raymond Carver’s short story “So Much Water So Close to Home,” inspired Vlautin to start writing stories.

Vlautin has published five novels. His first book, “The Motel Life,” was a New York Times Editor’s choice and notable book. It was also made into a major motion picture starring Dakota Fanning. “Lean on Pete” was published in 2010 and the winner of the Ken Kesey Award for Fiction, short-listed for the IMPAC award, and was recently made into a major motion picture starring Steve Buscemi and Chloe Sevigny. The film was screened at the 2018 Portland International Film Festival. “The Free” is Vlautin’s fourth novel and winner of the Oregon People’s Choice Award.

Vlautin also founded the band Richmond Fontaine in 1994, which achieved critical acclaim in the United States and across Europe. Vlautin’s new band, The Delines, debuted in 2014 and sold out venues on their first UK and Irish tour.

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For further information regarding Columbia County Reads 2018, please contact St. Helens Public Library Director Margaret Jeffries at margaretj@ci.st-helens.or.us or 503-397-4544, ext. 601.