The following description comes from the event organizer.

Two favorite writers from this corner - or any corner - of the country take the stage at Folio, occasioned by publication of bestselling Spokane newspaper journalist-turned-fiction-writer Jess Walter’s new book, The Angel of Rome and Other Stories (Harper). Coming two years after his fabulous historically-set novel, The Cold Millions, this collection showcases Jess Walter’s amazing range and touch as a writer. 

“A dozen stories spell excellent news for fans of the Bard of Spokane. Since Beautiful Ruins, his 2012 blockbuster, Walter has won a legion of readers who have been through the backlist and impatiently gobbled down his two follow-ups—a story collection, We Live in Water, and the excellent historical novel Cold Millions. This second collection of shorts is a glorious addition to the oeuvre, with a much brighter mood than its gloomy predecessor. The title story …  is a mini Beautiful Ruins, including an Italian setting, beautiful movie-star character, and heartbreakingly adorable but benighted male protagonist, here a blue-collar boy from Nebraska whose year abroad involves church-sponsored Latin lessons at a “papal community college” in a Roman industrial building. This. Story. Is. So. Damn. Funny. And almost ridiculously heartwarming. But the same can be said of many of the others, no matter how apparently depressing their topic ... Not sure why the author is in such a good mood, but it's contagious. Prepare for delight.” - Kirkus Reviews.

Keeping Jess Walter amiable company onstage is another stellar journalist-turned-novelist, Olympia’s Jim Lynch. His books include The Highest Tide, Border Songs, and most recently, a novel mostly set sixty years ago right here in Seattle, Truth Like the Sun.

Co-presented by Folio: The Seattle Athenaeum and Elliott Bay Book Company.