On today's episode, our guest is Liz Prato, author of the new book Purgatoire: a novel in stories from Forest Avenue Press. Liz and I last talked on Jonesy four years ago, for her essay collection Kids in America: a Gen X Reckoning. Her work also includes Volcanoes, Palm Trees, and Privilege: Essays on Hawaii, which was a New York Times Top Summer Read and a Finalist for the Oregon Book Award, and the story collection Baby’s on Fire. And Liz was editor for the story anthology The Night, and the Rain, and the River from Forest Avenue Press.
Liz’s stories and essays have appeared in dozens of literary journals and magazines, and have been chosen as Notable Works in Best American Essays and Best American Sports Writing. She’s Editor at Large for Forest Avenue Press and lives here in Portland.
Released just last week, Purgatoire was named this year’s Powell's Book Pick for Portland, an honor the legendary bookstore gives to a local new release they think the whole city will enjoy. I think you’ll agree.