Willy Vlautin, author of “The Horse.”

SEASIDE — Portland author and musician Willy Vlautin will give a talk on his latest novel “The Horse” and play accompanying original tunes at 2 p.m. Jan. 4 in the Seaside Public Library Community Room.

“The Horse” explores loneliness, art, regret and hard-won empathy through the life of a journeyman musician who is unable to escape the tragedies of his past.

It is the story of Al Ward, who lives on an isolated mining claim in the high desert of central Nevada. A grizzled man in his 60s, he survives on canned soup, instant coffee and memories of the ex-wife, friends and family he has lost, and on life as a touring musician.

Hampered by insomnia, bouts of anxiety and a chronic lethargy that keeps him from moving back to town, he finds himself running out of reasons to go on — until a nameless horse arrives on his doorstep.

Born and raised in Reno, Nevada, Vlautin is the founder of the bands Richmond Fontaine and The Delines, and has been the recipient of three Oregon Book Awards, The Nevada Silver Pen Award and was inducted into the Nevada Writers Hall of Fame and the Oregon Music Hall of Fame.

This is a free event. There will be a time after the presentation for a Q&A. For more information, call the Seaside Public Library at 503-738-6742 or visit www.seasidelibrary.org.