Russell Banks (born March 28, 1940) is an American author. He is president of the International Parliament of Writers and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters. His work has been translated into twenty languages and has received numerous international prizes and awards. His main works include the novels Continental Drift , Rule of the Bone , Cloudsplitter, The Sweet Hereafter and Affliction . The latter two novels were made into feature films (see: Affliction (1997 movie)). His latest novel is The Darling published in 2004. He has also written short stories, some of which appear in the collection The Angel on the Roof , as well as poetry. Many of his works reflect his working-class upbringing in New England. His stories often show people facing tragedy and downturns in everyday life. His characters express sadness and self doubt but show resilence and strength in the face of their difficulties. He lives in upstate New York and is currently the New York State Author.