Join acclaimed musician, songwriter and novelist Willy Vlautin for a special evening celebrating his powerful new novel, The Left and the Lucky.

Set in Portland, Oregon, the novel tells the story of Eddie, a solitary house painter, and Russell, the vulnerable small neighbour who slowly changes his life. Heart wrenching yet uplifting, The Left and the Lucky is a testament to kindness, survival and human connection.

One of America’s most distinctive chroniclers of working-class life, Willy started writing stories and songs at the age of eleven after receiving his first guitar. He joins us to discuss unlikely friendships, human connection and his commitment to telling working class stories through his work. Don’t miss an evening with one of contemporary fiction’s most charismatic and humane voices.

Hosted by Naomi Frisby.

‘One of America’s great writers.’ Roddy Doyle

‘Willy Vlautin is one of the bravest novelists writing. Murderers, cheats, sadists, showy examples of the banality of evil, are easy, but it takes real courage to write a novel about ordinary good people.’ Ursula K. Le Guin

Willy Vlautin is the acclaimed author of seven novels, including The Horse, winner of the 2025 Joyce Carol Oates Award. His novels The Motel Life and Lean on Pete became acclaimed films, while The Night Always Comes was adapted by Netflix in 2025. Born in Reno, Nevada, he lives near Portland, Oregon and teaches at Pacific University’s MFA in Writing programme. He is the founder of the bands Richmond Fontaine and The Delines.

Naomi Frisby is a writer, podcaster and event host based in Sheffield. Her short stories have been shortlisted for the White Review Prize and longlisted for Manchester Fiction Prize.

Location: Manchester Central Library