Russell Banks is the author of more than a dozen works, which include poetry, short stories, novels and essays. His novels Cloudsplitter and Continental Drift were finalists for the Pulitzer Prize. The Sweet Hereafter and Affliction were made into feature films. His latest work is a short story collection called A Permanent Member of the Family. Banks is the recipient of numerous literary awards, is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He lives in Keene, New York and Miami, Florida.