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Involved in a secret five-year relationship with her middle-school teacher, Ortiz focuses on the emotional toll experienced at the hands of "Mr. Ivers." It is pretty satisfying to watch as Ortiz slowly becomes aware of the inequalities of this relationship, yet at the same time, it's entirely heartbreaking to watch this child (because, let's be honest, that is exactly what she is) take step after step toward the abyss — completely unaware of the skittering gravel beneath her feet.

While the reader may still want the closure of the after-story of Ivers's discovery and prosecution, this is not that story. Here we discover why, at 13, Ortiz walks open-eyed into a sexual relationship with a man more than twice her age. But can a 13-year-old girl, romanced by her teacher, go open-eyed into any relationship? Of course not, but she doesn't know that; she believes she is making a decision about her life. We discover why she doesn't tell, why she keeps the secret, and why she continues the relationship for five years. Isn't that what we always want to know in these situations — the "why?"

Excavation is... just that: a peeling back of layers to uncover what hides underneath. Wendy Ortiz absolutely flays herself wide open, and this excavation is one that will equally repel and compel you. Beautifully done, Excavation is one of my favorite reads this

Chloe Caldwell's raw, gritty essay collection is one hell of a seething mess, but in a really good way. Really. Bald fear, lust, despair, and addictions run rampant in this particular slice of Caldwell's life, but her love of writing and words somehow trumps the stark ugliness with something like grace. Powerful and touching, Legs Get Led Astray is a tiny bomb that will bring you to your knees but make you happy in the process, and leave you awestruck at the

A collection of loosely connected stories, musings, and meditations, all weaved together to illustrate the many different paths to overcoming grief and, one way or another, finding grace and healing. I wanted to call up the author afterward and either thank him or curse him out for ruining my day

Describe your latest book.

This Is Between Us is a novel about the many dimensions and moods that a love affair can take on. It's told in about 200 short scenes, each detailing the highs and lows of how the emotions and passions of this man and woman honestly shape their lives together, warts and all.

What's the strangest or most interesting job you've ever had?

Working here at Powell's is definitely the most interesting. When I introduce authors at events, I feel like an ambassador to literature, or sometimes when I recommend some of my favorite books (Home Land by Sam Lipsyte, Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned by Wells Tower, Daddy's by Lindsay Hunter, A Complicated Kindness by Miriam Toews) to people, I feel like some kind of a life coach. When you think about it, it's an odd job being able to pick out what goes into someone's brain. Plus, since Powell's is such a famous destination, we get all sorts of celebrities shopping in here too, so almost every day holds some kind of surprise.

Have you ever made a literary pilgrimage?

In 2007, I won a bookseller contest and got a free trip to the Oxford Conference for the Book. Some of my favorite writers are from — or have lived in — Oxford, Mississippi, so I was especially excited about going. I was accompanied by Craig Popelars from Algonquin Books and a couple of other booksellers from other independent stores. Larry Brown was the focus of the festival that year, about three years after he had suddenly passed away and left a huge hole in the literary landscape of that region. I was a big fan of his books, so it felt unbelievable for me to be there, and to also meet his longtime editor, Shannon Ravenel, and his wife and two sons. We even went fishing on Larry's pond, near the writing shack he built before his death. I got to see his grave and I cried while watching a documentary about him the next day. In my three days there, I was also able to see Holly Hunter speak on a film panel, meet the mayor of Oxford (who also runs the great Square Books), and go to Faulkner's house.

What's your biggest grammatical pet peeve?

I think it's more cute than a pet peeve, but my wife often says "pretty muchly" even though she knows I'll poke fun at her whenever she does. Sometimes I may say something odd too, but I just blame it on growing up in Eastern Washington.

Name the best television series of all time, and explain why it's the best.

This is a close race to call, but I think for me it might actually be The Shield, which has been overshadowed by many other shows in the recent past. Michael Chiklis, C. C. H. Pounder, and Walton Goggins were so gut-wrenching and fantastic in their roles. That show would just leave me breathless so often, and I think the way it ended was as good as any show ending since — even Breaking Bad and Friday Night Lights (two other shows I adore). Growing up, I would have said The Night Stalker because I was so freaked out by scary stuff.

How do you relax?

I like to turn on all the overhead lights, put on some music (maybe something kind of mellow like Rocky Votolato or Richard Buckner, or something upbeat like The Drums or Mates of State), put my legs up on the couch, and read with a whiskey and coke. Or watch a basketball or football game on TV. Sometimes I go outside and shoot baskets on the hoop in our driveway. When it's nice outside, I'm partial to lawn chairs.

Aside from other writers, name some artists from whom you draw inspiration.

I love movies, and some of my favorite filmmakers are David Gordon Green, Atom Egoyan, and David Lynch because I appreciate the slow, strange ways they burrow into their characters and their situations. I also appreciate directors who are kind of abrasive sometimes, like Gaspar Noé and Harmony Korine.

Who do you follow on Twitter and why?

I think Blake Butler is one of the funniest guys on Twitter. He brings it to another level. His thoughts are perverse and surprisingly layered for such a small format. I also really like following poets because they're masters of short utterances and funny phrasing, or maybe they're just plain crazy. People like Mike Young, Sommer Browning, Carleen Tibbetts, and Sampson Starkweather. I often LOL at all of them folks.

Five great books about the real nitty-gritty of love:

These books may make you a little uncomfortable and seem almost too personal, but love isn't always neat and tidy.

Coeur de Lion by Ariana Reines

Into the Great Wide Open by Kevin Canty

Monogamy Songs by Gregory Sherl

Wedlocked by Jay Ponteri

Breakup by Catherine Texie

Everyone has the relationship they look back on and wonder what the hell they were thinking dating and/or staying with this person for so long. This memoir perfectly captures the feelings that come years after that relationship has ended. You knew the relationship was doomed but you went along with it anyway, and now you can't help but shake your head and laugh

Both this book and I Remember by Joe Brainard use the deceptively simple "I remember" repetition to build the details of these authors' lives — Brainard, a gay man growing up in Oklahoma in the '50s, and Allison, a gay black man growing up in Florida in the '80s. There are so many moments that will be familiar to a reader's own memory and so many that will be revelations. Both books are sweet, funny, deeply human, and sometimes shocking

Elizabeth Ellen is a master of capturing the insecurities and inner workings of her characters. They drink, fight, sneak around, seduce, and stumble around trying to figure out their lives. There is very little (if any) crying. Elizabeth Ellen's people are tough and defiant but somehow still vulnerable, and that vulnerability gives the book a true

I'm really, really not just picking this because I have an essay in the collection. Really. This sweet, little book is wonderfully indie (printed solely and beautifully using an Espresso Book Machine, one of which lives at Powell's City of Books) and stuffed full of Oregon authors. A collection of essays and interviews with such local lit figures as Scott Sparling, Lauren Kessler, and Yuvi Zalkow, Brave on the Page is not only about craft and the creative life but also a lovely snapshot of the heart and soul of the incredible literary community that hovers in and around

I've read this book twice. And both times I've been blown away (and sometimes shocked) by the raw honesty in the pages. But if I were to tell you what shocked me, it wouldn't be the sex and drugs. It would be that I was left with an overwhelming sense of optimism — in a world that is often hard to find hope in, there it was, shining as brightly as the writing. Caldwell writes about her life but makes it seem like she is writing about mine, yours. I can't wait for what she writes

A breathtaking suite of sentence-driven stories that are as refreshingly funny as they are emotionally eviscerating. Linked by themes of broken relationships and mistrustful lovers, Lutz's newest stories are full of descriptions and observations so bitter and dark that they're hilariously charred