Shawn Vestal a finalist for PEN literary prize

Spokesman-Review columnist and author Shawn Vestal is one of five finalists for the prestigious PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize, for “Godforsaken Idaho,” a collection of short stories published in 2013. PEN American Center announced the finalists today. The PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize is awarded to “an author whose debut work — a first novel or collection of short stories published in 2013 — represents distinguished literary achievement and suggests great promise.” The prize comes with a $25,000 award. Also short-listed for the PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize are “Constellation of Vital Phenomena,” by Anthony Marra; “Brief Encounters With the Enemy,” by Saïd Sayrafiezadeh, “Everybody’s Irish,” by Ian Stansel, and “The People in the Trees,” by Hanya Yanagihara. The winner will be announced on July 30.