Shawn Vestal

Author website

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    • Daredevils
    • Godforsaken Idaho
    • A.K.A. Charles Abbott
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Bio

vestal_headshot_option2Shawn Vestal’s debut novel, Daredevils, was published in spring 2016 by Penguin Press. His collection of short stories, Godforsaken Idaho, published by New Harvest in April 2013, was named the winner of the PEN/​Robert W. Bingham Prize, which honors a debut book that “represents distinguished literary achievement and suggests great promise.” He also published A.K.A. Charles Abbott, a short memoir, as a Kindle Single in October 2013. His stories have appeared in Tin House, McSweeney’s, Ecotone, The Southern Review, Cutbank, Sou’wester, Florida Review and other journals. He writes a column for The Spokesman-Review in Spokane,Wash., and teaches in the MFA program at Eastern Washington University.

Godforsaken Idaho was also longlisted for the William Saroyan International Prize for Writing and was named an outstanding collection by The Story Prize.

OTHER WORKS

FICTION


Godforsaken Idaho
“A provocative and revelatory debut, filled with stories about losing faith and trying (often in vain) to find purpose, mainly set amid the sparsely populated Mormon country of the rugged Northwest.” –Kirkus Reviews
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NON FICTION



A.K.A. Charles Abbott
An essay sorting through the mazes of fact and memory surrounding the author's father and his criminal history. Read More

Interviews


Vestal "stunned" by literary prize
A story from The Spokesman-Review, following the announcement of the PEN/Bingham prize.

"Shawn Vestal's Memory Castles Made of Lego"
An interview with Melody Nixon at The Common.

The Vestal Version of Idaho
An interview in Interview magazine, with Royal Young.

"Vestal's Own Private Idaho"
An interview with Jim Kershner at The Spokesman-Review. Read More

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