David Guterson

State: Washington

Born in 1956 and raised in Seattle, David Guterson is best known for his bestselling novel Snow Falling on Cedars, a poetic exploration of love, justice, and memory set in a Japanese American internment community in the Pacific Northwest. A University of Washington alumnus, Guterson began as a high school teacher before launching his writing career with The Country Ahead of Us, the Country Behind, a collection of short stories. In 1994, Snow Falling on Cedars won the PEN/Faulkner Award and was adapted into a major motion picture. Subsequent novels—East of the Mountains, Our Lady of the Forest, The Other, and Ed King—continued to explore themes of place, family, and moral reckoning. Guterson has also published poetry and essays, including Songs for a Summons and Turn Around Time, a walking meditation on aging and the Northwest landscape. He lives on Bainbridge Island and co-founded Field’s End, a writers' creative community.

Genres: Contemporary, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Nonfiction, Poetry

Audiences: Adult, All Ages