This author wrote a story about the con-man Earl, whose stolen car overheats, forcing his family to seek help in a trailer park in the title Wyoming town; that story titles his collection Rock Springs. In one of his novels, the title character refuses to reach out to fellow Divorced Men's Club member Walter Luckett, who commits suicide as a result; the death of that character's son from Reye's Syndrome causes his divorce from his wife "X."  In another of his novels, the juvenile condom thief Paul lets a pitching machine hit him at the Baseball 
This author wrote a story about the con-man Earl, whose stolen car overheats, forcing his family to seek help in a trailer park in the title Wyoming town; that story titles his collection Rock Springs. In one of his novels, the title character refuses to reach out to fellow Divorced Men's Club member Walter Luckett, who commits suicide as a result; the death of that character's son from Reye's Syndrome causes his divorce from his wife "X."  In another of his novels, the juvenile condom thief Paul lets a pitching machine hit him at the Baseball Hall of Fame while on a two-day road trip with his father. The Lay of the Land is the final novel in his trilogy about New Jersey real estate agent Frank Bascombe. For 10 points, name this contemporary American author of The Sportswriter and Independence Day.
This author wrote a story about the con-man Earl, whose stolen car overheats, forcing his family to seek help in a trailer park in the title Wyoming town; that story titles his collection Rock Springs.
Richard Ford