Who is Richard Brautigan from Richard Brautigan's Trout Fishing in America ; the Pill Versus the Springhill Mine Disaster ; and, in Watermelon Sugar and what is their importance?

Richard Brautigan is the author and very possibly the protagonist in the novella, Richard Brautigan's Trout Fishing in America ; the Pill Versus the Springhill Mine Disaster ; and, in Watermelon Sugar.