Willy Vlautin reveals the story behind his novel ‘The Left and the Lucky’

kAm“%96 C62D@? x DE2CE65 HC:E:?8[ x E9:?<[ :D 3642FD6 x >256 D@ >2?J A6@A=6 F?92AAJ A=2J:?8 >FD:4[” D2JD '=2FE:?[ H9@ 3682? 4@>A@D:?8 D@?8D H96? 96 H2D ;FDE `` 2?5 8C@H:?8 FA :? #6?@] “x =:G65 :? E96 32D6>6?E 36=@H >J >@>’D C@@>[ 2?5 D96’5 8@[ ‘yFDE A=2J E96 6=64EC:4 F?A=F8865 27E6C g A]>][’ 3642FD6 D96 =:E6C2==J H6?E E@ 365 2E g A]>] 2?5 8@E FA 2E dib_ 2]>]”k^Am

kAm“x’> 2 <:5[ D@ x’> =:<6[ ‘x’== ;FDE AFE :E @? C62= BF:6E[’” 96 D2JD] “p?5 E96? D96’5 DE2CE 32?8:?8 @? E96 7=@@C]”k^Am

kAmuCFDEC2E65 23@FE 3@E96C:?8 9:D >@> 2?5 E96 ?6:893@CD[ @?6 52J 96 H6?E :? D62C49 @7 D@>6E9:?8 5:776C6?E – 2?5 7@F?5 :E]k^Am

kAm“(96? x H2D `g[ x H6?E E@ 2 =:3C2CJ 2?5 ;FDE DE2CE65 HC:E:?8 @?6 52J[” 96 D2JD] “x C62=:K65[ ‘w@=J ,3=66A.[ >2?[ x’> ?@E >2<:?8 2?J3@5J >25]”k^Am

kAm'=2FE:?[ H9@ ?@E @?=J 3642>6 2? 244=2:>65 D@?8HC:E6C 2?5 A6C7@C>6C :? E96 32?5D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]C:49>@?57@?E2:?6]?6E^Qm#:49>@?5 u@?E2:?6k^2m 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E9656=:?6D]4@>^QmE96 s6=:?6Dk^2m[ :D 2=D@ @?6 @7 @FC 36DE ?@G6=:DED HC:E:?8 23@FE E96 =:G6D @7 H@C<:?8\4=2DD A6@A=6 :? 3@@<D DF49 2D “%96 |@E6= {:76[” “s@?’E $<:A ~FE @? |6[” k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]@4C68:DE6C]4@>^a_ac^_h^`b^5:D4@G6C:?8\2\?6H\4=2DD:4\?@G6=\5FC:?8\E96\962E\@7\E96\DF>>6C^Qm“%96 w@CD6[”k^2m 2?5 9:D ?6H @?6[ “%96 {67E 2?5 E96 {F4<J]”k^Am

kAm$@7EDA@<6?[ D6=7\56AC642E:?8 2?5 7F??J E9C@F89@FE 2 h_\>:?FE6 4@?G6CD2E:@?[ '=2FE:? H2D DA62<:?8 G:2 +@@> 7C@> 2 7C:6?5’D =:G:?8 C@@>[ C6G62=:?8 @?=J 27E6C 36:?8 2D<65 E92E 96’5 5C:G6? ad >:=6D E@ E96 ?6IE E@H? @G6C E@ 36 E96C6 7@C E96 :?E6CG:6H @? E:>6]k^Am

kAm“~FC H9@=6 G2==6J H96C6 x =:G6[ E96 :?E6C?6E’D 5@H?[ 2?5 x =:G6 :? 2 CFC2= 4@>>F?:EJ[ 2?5 H96? E96 :?E6C?6E’D 5@H?[ J@F 42?’E FD6 J@FC A9@?6[” 96 D2:5[ 5@H?A=2J:?8 E96 677@CE] “x? CFC2= 4@>>F?:E:6D[ E96 :?E6C?6E’D 2=H2JD :77J]”k^Am

kAm%9:D 4@?G6CD2E:@? 92D 366? 65:E65 7@C =6?8E9 2?5 4=2C:EJ]k^Am

k9bmkDEC@?8mu:4E:@?2= 7C:6?5Dk^DEC@?8mk^9bm

kAm'=2FE:? D2JD E96 3@@<D[ C64@C5D 2?5 >@G:6D 96 =@G65 8C@H:?8 FA H6C6 >@C6 E92? 6?E6CE2:?>6?Ej E96J 76=E =:<6 =:76=:?6D]k^Am

kAm“|2J36 E92E’D H9J x =62?65 @? 2CE D@ >F49[ 3642FD6 x 5:5?’E 4@>6 7C@> 2? 2CE:DE:4 72>:=J @C 2?JE9:?8 =:<6 E92E] x ;FDE ?66565 :E >@C6[” 96 D2JD[ 56D4C:3:?8 9:D 72G@C:E6 3@@<D 2?5 D@?8D 2D 7C:6?5D] “x AC@323=J H@F=5?’E 36 HC:E:?8 DE@C:6D :7 x H2D >@C6 >@C6 ?@C>2= @C H2D H6== 25;FDE65 =:<6 6G6CJ3@5J 6=D6]”k^Am

kAmw:D :?E6C6DE :? HC:E:?8 =65 9:> E@ 7:?5 2 >6?E@Ci HC:E6C #2?52== #665[ H9@ H2D E6249:?8 2E E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 }6G252[ #6?@]k^Am

kAm“x H6?E E@ 9:D @77:46 9@FCD @?6 52J E@ 2D< 9:> 9@H D9@CE 2 ?@G6= 4@F=5 36[” D2JD '=2FE:?] “x 5:5?’E H2?E E@ HC:E6 2 c__\A286 3@@<] x H2D =:<6[ ‘w@H D9@CE 42? :E 36nV” #665 E@=5 9:> `a_ E@ `b_ A286D H@F=5 AC@323=J H@C<]k^Am

kAmp7E6C A@F?5:?8 @FE 2 `ae\A286 >2?FD4C:AE[ '=2FE:? D2:5 96 E@@< 2 4=2DD 7C@> E96 @=56C >2?[ H9@ H@C6 (6DE6C? D9:CED 2?5 2 =@?8 @G6C4@2E] “x FD65 E@ 5C:G6 9:> ,7C62<:?8. ?FED[ >2?[ 3642FD6 x DE2CE65 E2<:?8 2 4=2DD 7C@> 9:> 2?5 E96? x’5 8@ E@ 6G6CJ @77:46 9@FCD 96 925[” 96 C642==D H:E9 2 =2F89] “x DE2CE65 5C6DD:?8 =:<6 9:>[ 3642FD6 x’5 ?6G6C >6E 2 C62= HC:E6C] x 5C2?< E96 z@@=\p:5]”k^Am

kAmtG6?EF2==J[ #665 DF886DE65 '=2FE:? E2<6 2 ?:89E 4=2DD 7C@> A@6E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^A@6ED]@C8^A@6E^82:=>2C:6\A29>6:6CQmv2:=>2C:6 !29>6:6Ck^2m[ E96 7:CDE A@6E =2FC62E6 @7 }6G252] $96 3642>6 2 7C:6?5 2?5 >6?E@C[ 2?5 96 AC@5F465 D@ >2?J DE@C:6D 7@C 96C E92E D96 6G6?EF2==J E@=5 9:> D96 4@F=5?’E C625 E96> 2== 2?5 DE:== 5@ 2== 96C @E96C H@C<] “$96 H2D 2=H2JD C62==J ?:46 E@ >6] ‘*@F’C6 ?@E 325 2E E9:D[’ H2D x E9:?< 96C BF@E6[” 96 C642==D]k^Am

kAm'=2FE:? H@F=5 <66A @? HC:E:?8[ 3FE 96 D2JD 96 DE@AA65 D92C:?8 :E H:E9 @E96CD] “x 5:5?’E C62==J D9@H 2?J3@5J 7C@> `g E@ bd[ C62==J[” 96 D2JD[ “x 2=H2JD 76=E =:<6 x H2D 86EE:?8 362E FA 7@C HC:E:?8 ,325. D@?8D[ 2?5 D@ x H2D =:<6[ ‘x’> ?6G6C 8@:?8 E@ 5@ E92E E@ E96 DE@C:6D]’k^Am

kAm“x ;FDE <:?5 @7 <6AE E96> 9:556? 7@C 2 =@E @7 J62CD]”k^Am

k9bmkDEC@?8mrF=ED[ 4C:>6 2?5 4@H@C<6CDk^DEC@?8mk^9bm

kAm'=2FE:?’D ?6H 3@@<[ “%96 {67E 2?5 E96 {F4<J[” E6==D E96 DE@CJ @7 t55:6 (:=<:?D[ 2 BF:6E=J 962CE3C@<6? 9@FD6A2:?E6C H9@ 367C:6?5D 9:D ?6IE\5@@C ?6:893@C #FDD6==[ 2 D9J[ D6?D:E:G6 6:89E\J62C\@=5 H9@’D E6CC@C:K65 3J 9:D C286\7:==65 @=56C 3C@E96C rFCE:D] %96 3@JD’ >@E96C EC:6D E@ >2:?E2:? E96 A6246[ 3FE D96’D DEC6E4965 E9:?[ H@C<:?8 ?:89ED 2D 2? 6I@E:4 52?46C 2?5 D=66A:?8 >F49 @7 E96 52J]k^Am

kAmqFE t55:6[ H9@ 6?4@F?E6CD #FDD6== H2?56C:?8 2=@?6 2E E96 8C@46CJ DE@C6 @?6 C2:?J ?:89E[ 92D 2 <?24< 7@C E2<:?8 42C6 @7 =@DE D@F=D[ >2?J @7 H9@> 96 6>A=@JD 2D 9@FD6 A2:?E6CD]k^Am

kAm“t55:6 :D AC@323=J E96 >@DE D@F?5 A6CD@? x’G6 6G6C HC:EE6? 23@FE[” D2JD '=2FE:?] “x <:?5 @7 H:D9 x H2D >@C6 =:<6 9:>[ >2?] x E9:?< 96’D 2 AC6EEJ D@=:5 8FJ]k^Am

kAm“pD 2 <:5[ x H2D 2 =@E =:<6 #FDD6==] x E9:?< E92E’D AC@323=J H9J x HC@E6 E96 3@@<[ C62==Ji x 2=H2JD H:D965 E96C6 H2D 2 8FJ =:<6 t55:6[ J@F <?@H[ E92E H@F=5 D2G6 J@F]”k^Am

kAm%96 56E2:=D E92E '=2FE:? :?4=F56D 23@FE t55:6’D H@C< 4@>6 @FE @7 9:D @H? 6IA6C:6?46 5@:?8 E96 ;@3]k^Am

kAm“x H2D 2 9@FD6 A2:?E6C 7@C J62CD[ 2?5 D@ x HC@E6 2 3F?49 @7 DE@C:6D 23@FE E9@D6 492C24E6CD[” D2JD '=2FE:?[ H9@ 2=D@ 4C65:ED 2 BF@E6 7C@> !C:>@ {6G: 23@FE @G6C4@>:?8 25G6CD:EJ 2D :?DA:C2E:@?]k^Am

kAm“x 8@E @3D6DD65 H:E9 E96 :562 E92E J@F ?6G6C C62==J <?@H H9@ 92D E92E :??6C DEC6?8E9[ E96 ECF6 8C:E E@ 92?5=6 92C5D9:A] xE’D FDF2==J ?@E H9@ J@F E9:?< – :E’D =:<6 E96 DFA6C E@F89 8FJ 72==D 2A2CE 2?5 E96 @=5 =25J :D E96 @?6 E92E 92D E96 8C:E]k^Am

kAm“x DE2CE65 E9:?<:?8 23@FE E92E :? E6C>D @7 E96D6 EH@ 3C@E96CD[ 3@E9 562=:?8 H:E9 92C5D9:A[” 96 D2JD] “x’G6 2=H2JD 366? :?E6C6DE65 :? 9@H D@>6 A6@A=6 6IA=@56[ D@>6 A6@A=6 :>A=@56] $@>6 A6@A=6 E2<6 :E @FE @? E96>D6=G6Dj D@>6 A6@A=6 E2<6 :E @FE @? @E96CD[ 3FE :E 2== 4@>6D 7C@> E92E D2>6 D6?D:E:G:EJ]”k^Am

kAmw@FD6 A2:?E:?8[ 96 D2JD[ H2D?’E D@>6E9:?8 96’5 A=2??65 @? 5@:?8 – 96’5 2G@:565 :E[ 49@@D:?8 E@ H@C< :? H2C69@FD6D @C =@25 ECF4<D – 3FE :E @776C65 9:> E96 7C665@> E@ E2<6 @77 @? E@FC H:E9 9:D 32?5] w6 6G6?EF2==J 8C6H E@ =:<6 :E]k^Am

kAm“qFE x H2D C62==J 2D92>65 @7 :E[ 3642FD6 8C@H:?8 FA[ >J 4@FD:? 52E65 2 9@FD6 A2:?E6C[” 96 D2JD[ 2?5 '=2FE:? 925 ?@E H2?E65 E@ 36 2?JE9:?8 =:<6 96C 4@FD:?’D 3@J7C:6?5] “%96 ?6IE E9:?8 J@F <?@H[ x =@@<65 6I24E=J =:<6 9:>] x 8@E E96 D2>6 D@CE @7 ECF4< 2D 9:>] x H2D 2=H2JD 4@G6C65 :? A2:?E]”k^Am

kAm'=2FE:? D2JD E96 A2:?E6CD 96 H@C<65 H:E9 H6C6 2 4@=@C7F= 3F?49[ 2?5 E96 6I2DA6C2E65 27764E:@? 96 766=D 7@C E96> :D 2AA2C6?E :? E96 ?@G6=]k^Am

kAm“*@F 9:C6 D@ >2?J 8FJD E92E ;FDE H2<6 FA H:E9 325 :562D[ 2?5 E96? E96J ;FDE 5@F3=6 5@H? @? E96:C 325 :562D 2== 52J =@?8[” 96 D2JD] “‘|:=5=J :?4@>A6E6?E’ H@F=5 36 2 ?:46 H2J @7 AFEE:?8 :E]k^Am

kAm“x 5:5 =@G6 E96 – x 8F6DD E96 H@C5 H@F=5 36 – ‘;24<2DD6CJ’ @7 J@FC 4@\H@C<6CD[ E96D6 ;FDE 56C2?865 2=4@9@=:4 H6:C5@D E92E J@F 6?5 FA 9:C:?8] q6D:56D H2?E:?8 E@ DEC2?8=6 E96> 2 76H E:>6D[ x ?6G6C 8@E E:C65 @7 E96>]”k^Am

kAm$E:==[ '=2FE:? D2JD E96C6 H6C6 E:>6D H96? 96 :>28:?65 2?J ;@3 H@F=5 36 36EE6C E92? E96 @?6 96 H2D 5@:?8]k^Am

kAm“x H2D 2=H2JD =@@<:?8 7@C 2 H2J @FE[” 96 D2JD[ 52J5C62>:?8 23@FE 364@>:?8 2 32?< C@336C @C @FE=2H[ 56DA:E6 92G:?8 ?@ :?E6C6DE :? 36:?8 2 4C:>:?2=] “*@F DE2CE 92G:?8 566A E9@F89ED[ =:<6[ >2J36 x D9@F=5 92G6 2 >2C:;F2?2 8C@H @A6C2E:@?[ J@F <?@Hn”k^Am

kAm%92E 56D:C6 E@ BF:E E96 8C:?5 ?62C=J =65 9:> E@ >2<6 2? 6IEC6>6=J 5C2DE:4 =:76 492?86]k^Am

kAm“x H2D 8@:?8 E@ ;@:? 2 4F=E 2E @?6 A@:?E :? >J 62C=J a_D 3642FD6 x 962C5 J@F 5:5?’E 92G6 E@ H@C< 2== 52J =@?8[” 96 D2JD] “%9:D 3F55J @7 >:?6 H2D 8@:?8 E@ ;@:?] w6 D2:5[ ‘…*@F A=2J >FD:4 2== 52J] *@F 5@?’E 92G6 E@ H@C<[ 2?5 E96? J@F 8@ 9@>6 E@ 2 4@>>F?6 7F== @7 C62==J 8C62E\=@@<:?8 H@>6? 2?5 E96J 7665 J@F[ 2?5 E92E’D 2== J@F 92G6 E@ 5@]V”k^Am

kAm%92E D@F?565 =:<6 2 AC6EEJ 8@@5 D6E\FA E@ 3@E9 @7 E96>[ 96 D2JD]k^Am

kAm“w6 2?5 x DE2J65 FA 2== ?:89E 5C:?<:?8] x 925 24EF2==J =@2565 FA >J DF:E42D6 2?5 DEF77 :? >J =:EE=6 A:4<FA ECF4<[ 2?5 E96? x 76== 2D=66A @? 9:D 4@F49[ 2?5 H6 H6C6 8@??2 =62G6 E96 ?6IE >@C?:?8[” 96 D2JD] “x 8@E FA 23@FE D:I :? E96 >@C?:?8 2?5 H6?E 9@>6]k^Am

kAm“(96? :E 4@>6D 5@H? E@ :E[ x’> E@@ DEC2:89E[ >2?[ x’> ?@E 9:AA:6 >2E6C:2=[” 96 D2JD] “x’> >@C6 @7 ;FDE 2 8CF?E =23@C 8FJ]”k^Am

k9bmkDEC@?8m{FC6 @7 E96 9:89H2Jk^DEC@?8mk^9bm

kAmp=E9@F89 '=2FE:? 4@?E:?F6D E@ HC:E6 2?5 A6C7@C> H:E9 E96 s6=:?6D – H9@ C64@C565 2 D@F?5EC24< 7@C E96 ?6H ?@G6= – 96 D2JD 96’5 2=H2JD C6D:DE65 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]@4C68:DE6C]4@>^a_ac^_h^`b^5:D4@G6C:?8\2\?6H\4=2DD:4\?@G6=\5FC:?8\E96\962E\@7\E96\DF>>6C^QmHC:E:?8 23@FE >FD:4 F?E:= a_ac’D “%96 w@CD6]”k^2m '=2FE:? 56D4C:36D :ED AC@E28@?:DE[ p= (2C5[ 2D 2 CF?\@7\E96\>:== H@C<:?8 >FD:4:2? H9@ 925 2 AC6EEJ 8@@5 CF? 367@C6 >2<:?8 D@>6 325 564:D:@?D]k^Am

kAm“x’5 ?6G6C HC:EE6? 23@FE >FD:4 @C >FD:4:2?D 6G6C F?E:= ‘%96 w@CD6’ 3642FD6 x ?6G6C C62==J 6?;@J65 C625:?8 ?@G6=D 23@FE C@4< DE2CD] x ;FDE 5:5?’E 92G6 2?J :?E6C6DE :? :E] u@C ‘%96 w@CD6[’ x 8@E :?E6C6DE65 :? E96 :562 @7 H9J A6@A=6 DE:== 5@ 2CE] (9J 5@6D 2 8FJ 4@?E:?F6 E@ HC:E6 D@?8D 6G6? H96? 96 <?@HD ?@ @?6’D 8@:?8 E@ 962C E96>n (9J 5@ A6@A=6 DA6?5 E96:C =:76 HC:E:?8 DE@C:6D E96J 5@?’E D6?5 @FE @C A2:?E :? E96:C 82C286n %92E’D 9@H x 8@E :?E@ :E]”k^Am

kAm'=2FE:?[ H9@ C646?E=J C6EFC?65 7C@> 2 a`\52J s6=:?6D E@FC E92E :?4=F565 `h DEC2:89E 52JD @7 D9@HD[ AC@G:56D A=6?EJ @7 92C5\62C?65 56E2:= 23@FE E96 =:76 @7 E96 8:88:?8 >FD:4:2? :? E96 ?@G6=] w6 <?@HD E96 =:76]k^Am

kAm“x 2=H2JD 7@F?5 8C62E 4@>7@CE :? :E] x 7:?5 5@:?8 3@@< DEF77 @? >J @H? 2 =@E >@C6 5:77:4F=E] qFE E92E 36:?8 D2:5[ x =@G6 E96 H@C< 6E9:4 @7 HC:E:?8 2 =@E >@C6 E92? x =:<6 E96 H@C< 6E9:4 @7 36:?8 :? 2 32?5[” 96 D2JD[ E96 =2EE6C :?G@=G:?8 2 =@E @7 =@8:DE:4D 23@FE EC2G6=[ 7@@5 2?5 =@58:?8D]k^Am

kAm“p== E92E <:?5 @7 DEF77 E2<6D FA D@ >F49 E:>6[ 2?5 HC:E:?8 :D 2== ;FDE H@C<[” 96 D2JD[ 3FE '=2FE:? 7@F?5 E92E 96 42? 2=E6C?2E6 36EH66? D@?8D 2?5 3@@<D] “(96? x HC@E6 ‘%96 {67E 2?5 E96 {F4<J[’ x HC@E6 2 =@E @7 D@?8D 3642FD6 H96? J@F’C6 HC:E:?8 ,2 3@@<.[ J@F 86E DEF4< @C J@F 86E E:C65 @C J@F 86E 3FC?65 @FE[ @C :E’D E@@ 6>@E:@?2==J E2I:?8[ @C H92E6G6C :E :D] p?5 E96? x’5 ;FDE HC:E6 D@?8D]”k^Am

kAm$6E :? E96 62C=J a___D[ E96 ?6H ?@G6=[ H9:49 3682? =:76 2D 2? 2F5:@ D9@CE DE@CJ 42==65 “%96 z:== $H:E49[” 92D 2 ?@DE2=8:4 766= E92E[ :? @FC 4FCC6?E DE2E6 @7 4@?DE2?E 424@A9@?J 2?5 42E2DEC@A96[ :D 2AA62=:?8]k^Am

kAm“x 2=H2JD H2?E65 :E E@ 766= <:?5 @7 E:>6=6DD[” 96 D2JD[ DF886DE:?8 9:D =@G6 @7 ’f_D >@G:6D 2?5 @=56C ?@G6=D >2<6D 9:> =6DD :?E6C6DE65 :? HC:E:?8 23@FE E9:?8D =:<6 46==A9@?6D 2?5 4@>AFE6CD] “x ?6G6C =:<6 ?@G6=D E92E =62? 962G:=J @? E@52J[ C:89E ?@H[ 2D 72C 2D =:<6 E649?@=@8J 2?5 H92E’D 9:A C:89E ?@H]k^Am

kAm“x’G6 2=H2JD HC:EE6? 7@C >JD6=7[ ;FDE 7@C 7F?] p?5 D@ x 2=H2JD E9C@H :? A=246D E92E x =:<6[” 96 D2JD @7 E96 32CD 2?5 3FD:?6DD6D :? E96 3@@<] “x AFE 2== E92E DEF77 :? ;FDE 7@C >6[ D@ x 42? 36 2C@F?5 E9:?8D x =@G6 H96? x’> H@C<:?8]”k^Am

kAm%92E’D 6G6? ECF6 @7 >FD:4 :? E96 ?@G6=[ DF49 2D 2 4=@4< C25:@ E92E 3=2DED E96 962GJ >6E2= 32?5 yF52D !C:6DE’D “w625:?8 ~FE E@ E96 w:89H2J]”k^Am

kAm“|J 32?5[ #:49>@?5 u@?E2:?6[ H6 FD65 E@ 4@G6C E92E D@?8[” 96 D2JD] “x ;FDE E9@F89E[ E96 A@@C >@>[ 86EE:?8 E9C66 9@FCD @7 D=66A 2?5 86ED H@<6? FA 3J E92E D@?8] qFE x 5:5 :E 2D 2 ;@<6 7@C >J @=5 32?5]”k^Am

kAm'=2FE:? D2JD 96 DE:== =@G6D =:76 @? E96 C@25 2?5 =:<6D 36:?8 2 4@8 :? E96 32?5’D >249:?6CJ[ 3FE 96 25>:ED D@>6 E9:?8D 92G6 492?865 7@C E96 H@CD6 @G6C E96 J62CD[ DF49 2D C625:?8 :? E96 G2?]k^Am

kAm“%96 @?=J 8@@5 E9:?8 23@FE E@FC:?8[ 2E =62DE H96? x H2D J@F?86C[ H2D x 4@F=5 C625 2 DE24< @7 ?@G6=D @? E96 C@25[” 96 D2JD[ 3FE :E’D 92C56C ?@H 96’D E96 @?6 H9@ ?665D 9:D C6DE] “x’== 86E E9C66 A286D :?[ 2?5 x 72== 2D=66A]”k^Am

kAm0000k^Am