Skylight Books Podcast Series

Joshua Henkin

The World Without You (Pantheon)

Acclaimed novelist Joshua Henkin reads and signs his third book, The World Without You, a poignant novel about sibling rivalries, marriage in crisis, and the aftermath of family tragedy. "Witty and wise, poignant and heartfelt. . . . The 4th of July will never be the same for me, nor for my fellow Americans. I can't imagine a world without Joshua Henkin." —Gary Shteyngart "It's no secret that Henkin is a writer of voluminous heart, humanity, and talent." —Julia Glass, author of The Widower's Tale

Joshua Henkin is the author of the novels Swimming Across the Hudson (a Los Angeles Times Notable Book), Matrimony (a New York Times Notable Book), and The World Without You (on-sale from Pantheon June 19). His stories have been published widely, cited for distinction in Best American Short Stories and broadcast on NPR's Selected Shorts. He directs the MFA Program in Fiction Writing at Brooklyn College.

Photo of the author by Matthew Polis.

THIS EVENT WAS RECORDED LIVE AT SKYLIGHT BOOKS JULY 16, 2012.

Copies of his book can be purchased here: http://tinyurl.com/ct9z5me

Dylan Hicks

Boarded Windows (Coffee House Press)

Join us as Dylan Hicks presents his debut novel, Boarded Windows. A postmodern orphan story set to music, the book will include a free download of Dylan Hicks Sings Bolling Greene, a soundtrack to the novel written and performed by the author. "Boarded Windows is a shrewd and soulful novel. References (high and low, familiar and obscure) abound in this eloquent and unusual story of not-quite innocence lost. Hicks uses his intimate knowledge of American music to give us a precise portrait of Wade Salem, a self-taught, fast-talking half-genius." --Dana Spiotta, author of Stone Arabia and Eat the Document "Do yourself a favor and read this smart, tender book. The characters will haunt you with their longing, and inspire you with their sweet, caustic wit. Dylan Hicks knows his music and his prose is a song in itself. He's given light to the shuttered and boarded parts of life." --Sam Lipsyte "As a novel, Dylan Hicks's Boarded Windows takes a sly, questioning, sidelong glance that keeps both the narrator and his listeners--because this novel is whispered, confided, mused, as much as it is written--continually off balance. As a work of American iconography, it's a continually hilarious, hopes-dashed account of an indelible American character: the con man." --Greil Marcus Dylan Hicks is a songwriter, musician, and writer. His work has appeared in the Village Voice, New York Times, Star Tribune, City Pages, and Rain Taxi, and he has released three albums under his own name. A fourth, Sings Bolling Greene, is a companion album to this novel adn will be released in May 2012. He lives in Menneapolis with his wife, Nina Hale, and his son, Jackson. This is his first novel. Visit the author online at www.dylanhicks.com. THIS EVENT WAS RECORDED LIVE AT SKYLIGHT BOOKS JUNE 6, 2012. Copies of his book can be purchased here: http://tinyurl.com/9mgbc52

Deanne Stillman

Desert Reckoning: A Town Sheriff, a Mojave Hermit, and the Biggest Manhunt in Modern California History (Nation Books)

Deanne Stillman, author of the widely acclaimed book of literary nonfiction, Twentynine Palms: A True Story of Murder, Marines, and the Mojave, and the bestselling Mustang: The Saga of the Wild Horse in the American West, returns to Skylight Books to discuss and sign her latest, Desert Reckoning: A Town Sheriff, a Mojave Hermit, and the Biggest Manhunt in Modern California History.  Desert Reckoning is based on her award-winning Rolling Stone piece "Mojave Manhunt." It was eight years in the making and is an epic tale of life in the shadowlands of 21st century Los Angeles. "Stillman explores, with exquisite detail, the broken families and failed strivings of her two protagonists.... Through the lens of a gripping true crime story, this beautifully written, humane book preserves the history of a remarkable and very American place and its people." --Publishers Weekly

Deanne Stillman is the award-winning author of Mustang, a Los Angeles Times Best Book of 2008, and the cult classic Twentynine Palms, which Hunter Thompson called “a strange and brilliant story by an important American writer.” She is a member of the core faculty at the UC Riverside-Palm Desert Low Residency MFA Creative Writing Program and currently divides her time between Tucson, AZ and Los Angeles, CA.  Her latest book is Desert Reckoning: A Town Sheriff, a Mojave Hermit, and the Biggest Manhunt in Modern California History. Photo of the author by Mark Lamonica.

You can buy copies of the author's books here: http://tinyurl.com/92v5ys9

THIS EVENT WAS RECORDED LIVE AT SKYLIGHT BOOKS JULY 14, 2012.

Christopher Beha

What Happened to Sophie Wilder (Tin House Books)

Christopher Beha, author of the memoir The Whole Five Feet, will read and sign his debut novel, What Happened to Sophia Wilder. "A thoughtful journey about the place of intellectual curiosity in relation to faith, friendship, and love." --Publishers Weekly "Christopher R Beha's What Happened to Sophie Wilder manages, somehow, to read both like an auspicious debut and a veteran achievement: it offers at once the vivid, old-fashioned pleasures of a classic bildungsroman and a frighteningly intelligent contemporary take on the ambitions and limits of storytelling and faith. It's a glass-and-steel penthouse on a foundation of oak, and the most memorable first novel I've read in some time." --Gideon Lewis-Kraus, author of A Sense of Direction Christopher R. Beha is an associate editor at Harper’s Magazine and the author of a memoir, The Whole Five Feet. He contributes frequently to the New York Times Book Review. What Happened to Sophie Wilder is his first novel. You can purchase his books online here: http://tinyurl.com/9k6wn8j Photo of the author by Josephine Sittenfeld. THIS EVENT WAS RECORDED LIVE AT SKYLIGHT BOOKS JULY 13, 2012.

Pamela Ribon

You Take It From Here (Gallery Books)

Los Angeles-based author Pamela Ribon (Why Girls Are Weird) launches her new novel You Take It from Here!

Pamela Ribon is the bestselling author of the novels Why Girls Are Weird, Why Moms Are Weird, and Going in Circles. A writer for stage, screen, and television, her credits include the Emmy Award-winning Samantha Who? Visit her popular blog at pamie.com, or find her in the dictionary under "muffin top." (That is not a joke.) THIS EVENT WAS RECORDED LIVE AT SKYLIGHT BOOKS JULY 3, 2012.

Andrew Deener and Susan Phillips

Venice: A Contested Bohemia in Los Angeles by Deener; Operation Fly Trap: L.A. Gangs, Drugs, and the Law by Phillips (both books published by University of Chicago Press)

Andrew Deener and Susan Phillips will discuss and sign their new books, which take a fresh look at Los Angeles neighborhoods and culture. Praise for Venice: A Contested Bohemia: “In this tour de force of dialectical observation, Andrew Deener explains how Venice Beach is both L.A.'s democratic libido and the summation of its inequalities.” —Mike Davis, author of City of Quartz: Excavating the Future in Los Angeles Praise for Operation Fly Trap: L.A. Gangs, Drugs, and the Law: “I thoroughly enjoyed reading Operation Fly Trap. The dramatis personae are treated as human beings, and the reader gets a chance to look at them in the flesh: loving, betrayed, strung out, anxious, and more. The book marries the real conditions of poverty, racism, and war with the day-to-day lives of victims and offenders. This is first-class ethnography.” —John Hagedorn, author of A World of Gangs

Andrew Deener is assistant professor of sociology at the University of Connecticut. He lived in Venice for close to six years. Susan A. Phillips is assistant professor of environmental analysis at Pitzer College. She is the author of Wallbangin’: Graffiti and Gangs in L.A., also published by the University of Chicago Press.

THIS EVENT WAS RECORDED LIVE AT SKYLIGHT BOOKS JUNE 27, 2012.

Eric Laursen

The People's Pension: The Struggle to Defend Social Security Since Reagan (AK Press)

Journalist Eric Laursen will discuss and sign his new book on the decades-long attempt to dismantle or diminish Social Security. "Laursen has given us a comprehensive account of the three decade long war against Social Security. . . . This is a fascinating history that progressives must learn, not only to protect Social Security but also to understand the dynamics behind an effective long-term strategy." --Dean Baker, author of False Profits: Recovering From the Bubble Economy "This magnificent history documents the hydra-headed campaign to cut and kill Social Security, conducted over decades by rightwing bankers, foundations, economists, and politicians. [The People's Pension] is utterly urgent."--James K. Galbraith, author of The Predator State "Independent financial reporter Laursen offers a breathtakingly comprehensive look at the history and politics behind 'the largest income support program in the U.S.,' ... Comprehensive and compelling reading on an important topic." --Booklist, starred review Eric Laursen, born 1960, is an independent financial and political journalist, activist, and commentator. A native of San Francisco and graduate of Columbia University in New York (B.A. in History, Master’s in International Affairs), he began his journalistic career as a reporter for Wall Street Letter, a weekly newsletter for the financial services industry. He later worked for a succession of publications: as a staff writer for Corporate Finance Magazine; editor of Asset International, a weekly newsletter for international investment firms; and as co-founder and managing editor of Plan Sponsor, the leading monthly magazine for North American pension executives. It was there he became interested in the debate over Social Security. An independent journalist since 2000, Eric has written for publications ranging from Z Magazine and The Nation to Institutional Investor and CFO. His specializations are national politics, retirement and aging, global trade, U.S. fiscal policy, social services, business and financial services, civil liberties, and alternative economics. THIS EVENT WAS RECORDED LIVE AT SKYLIGHT BOOKS JUNE 25, 2012.

Sarah Terez Rosenblum

Herself When She's Missing (Soft Skull Press)

"Herself When She's Missing explores the irrationality of sex with uncommon wit and fearlessness. I can never resist the story of a bad romance and this one grabbed me by the collar and dragged me through a love-sick mind's tilted, temporally disordered terrain. Don't forget to drink a glass of water and eat a protein bar before reading. This book might leave you faint." --Sara Levine, author of Treasure Island!!! "Sarah Terez Rosenblum's Herself When She's Missing marks the emergence of a riveting and beautifully strange new voice in American fiction. And Andrea and The Criminal Mastermind are unforgettable characters. I especially love Andrea because she jogs in cemeteries. The book made me feel more alive, I can't ask for much more from any novel." --Peter Orner, author of Love and Shame and Love Sarah Terez Rosenblum is a writer whose work has been featured in Pop Matters, The Chicago Sun Times and The Shepherd Express. When not writing, Sarah supports herself as a figure model, spinning instructor, and creative writing teacher at Chicago's Story Studio. THIS EVENT WAS RECORDED LIVE AT SKYLIGHT BOOKS JUNE 20, 2012.

Tony Abatemarco

Four Fathers

Tony Abatemarco’s award-winning monologue, Four Fathers, developed at Highways Performance Space and Stages Theatre Center, was first produced at the Tiffany Theatre in West Hollywood, directed by Don Amendolia and produced by Suzi Dietz and Paula Holt in 1992. The set consisted of original paintings and sculpture by John Nava. Excerpts are published in Michael Kearns’ book, Getting Your Solo Act Together. Tony’s work for the theatre includes Cologne, (published by Windfall Press) and the current run of Beautified, (LA Weekly "Pick of the Week") next door at the Skylight Theatre through July 1st. His most recent published story is "Schwinn," which appeared in Volume 4 of Boneshaker. He teaches acting at USC, and is Co-Artistic Director of The Katselas Theatre Company. From the Author: "I guess I’m something of a eulogist. Most of my original work for the theater has relied on a very deep need to honor the dead. My first solo, Four Fathers, did. It was a knee-jerk reaction to my father’s death, begun in that very week before we had lowered him into the ground. My father honored things. He lived in gratitude, and before I could allow my grief over losing him to engulf all that he taught me to cherish, I started to put the particulars of his life on paper. He was a great character—one of those 20th-century self-made men who grew out of poverty and little education to build a fiefdom in his birthplace, Brooklyn, significant enough to provide for his heirs. So I sang his song." -Tony Abatemarco "Art is our chief means of breaking bread with the dead." W. H. Auden.

THIS EVENT WAS RECORDED LIVE AT SKYLIGHT BOOKS JUNE 10, 2012.

Michael Kearns

The Truth Is Bad Enough, What Became of the Happy Hustler?

Actor and writer Michael Kearns (The Drama of AIDS) will discuss and sign his brand-new autobiography, The Truth Is Bad Enough, What Became of the Happy Hustler? "Hollywood's first openly gay actor . . . puts most other show-biz autobiographies to shame." --Sir Ian McKellen Michael Kearns is an actor-writer-director-teacher who has been an active member of the Los Angeles art scene for more than four decades. His books include T-Cells & Sympathy, Acting = Life and The Drama of AIDS. Kearns has written several solo pieces that have been performed worldwide (including intimacies, Rock, and Attachments). A contributor to more than a dozen anthologies, he is also the co-writer of the screenplay Nine Lives. He lives in Los Feliz with his daughter, Katherine, an up and coming filmmaker. THIS EVENT WAS RECORDED LIVE AT SKYLIGHT BOOKS JUNE 16, 2012.

Elizabeth Crane

We Only Know So Much (Harper Perennial)

Acclaimed short story writer Elizabeth Crane will read and sign her debut novel, We Only Know So Much, about four generations of an eccentric family living under one roof. "Crane has a distinctive and eccentric voice that is consistent and riveting." --The New York Times Book Review Elizabeth Crane is the author of three collections of short stories, When the Messenger is Hot, All This Heavenly Glory, and most recently You Must Be This Happy to Enter.  She is a recipient of the Chicago Public Library 21st Century Award. Her work has been featured on NPR’s Selected Shorts and adapted for the stage by Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theater.  Her debut novel, We Only Know So Much, is forthcoming in June from HarperPerennial 2012.

THIS EVENT WAS RECORDED LIVE AT SKYLIGHT BOOKS JUNE 11, 2012.

Colin Dickey

Afterlives of the Saints (Unbridled Books)

Colin Dickey (Cranioklepty) returns to Skylight Books to launch his new book Afterlives of the Saints, an unusual and highly entertaining history of the canonized. "An unusual and quite fascinating collection of tales." --Booklist Colin Dickey is the author of Cranioklepty: Grave Robbing and the Search for Genius and Afterlives of the Saints. His fiction and nonfiction have appeared in Lapham’s Quarterly, Cabinet, TriQuarterly, and The Santa Monica Review. He is also co-editor (with Nicole Antebi and Robby Herbst) of Failure! Experiments in Aesthetic and Social Practices. A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, he now lives in Los Angeles. Photo of the author by Seth Sherwood. THIS EVENT WAS RECORDED LIVE AT SKYLIGHT BOOKS JUNE 19, 2012.

Carlin Romano

America the Philosophical (Knopf)

Carlin Romano, a distinguished book critic and professor of philosophy, will discuss and sign his new book, America the Philosophical. “Carlin Romano's review of the American contribution to real philosophical thinking is genuinely exciting and provocative.  If Romano wanted to discombobulate the traditional landscape of American philosophy, he managed to achieve his goal.” --Umberto Eco “Engaging . . . With illuminating anecdotes and an addictive prose style, Romano renders complex ideas lucid without sacrificing depth of understanding or his splendid sense of humor. His breathtaking intellectual range and passion will make every reader want to be a philosopher.” --Starred review, Publishers Weekly Carlin Romano, Critic-at-Large of The Chronicle of Higher Education and literary critic of The Philadelphia Inquirer for 25 years (1984-2009), is Professor of Philosophy and Humanities at Ursinus College. His criticism has appeared in The Nation, The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Village Voice, Harper’s, the Times Literary Supplement, and many other publications. A former president of the National Book Critics Circle, he was a finalist for the 2006 Pulitzer Prize in Criticism, cited for “bringing new vitality to the classic essay across a formidable array of topics.”

THIS EVENT WAS RECORDED LIVE AT SKYLIGHT BOOKS JUNE 15, 2012.

KING MIDDLE SCHOOL WRITERS CLUB

Student members of the local King Middle School Writers Club, run by author and teacher Steve Abee (Johnny Future) will read from their work! Steve Abee began writing as an orderly at St. John's hospital in Santa Monica. He has published four books: Johnny Future, King Planet, The Bus: Cosmic Ejaculations of the Daily Mind in Transit, and Great Balls of Flowers. He teaches middle school English and lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two daughters. THIS EVENT WAS RECORDED LIVE AT SKYLIGHT BOOKS JUNE 8, 2012.

Steve Almond with special muscial guest Dan Bern

God Bless America: Stories (Lookout Press)

Steve Almond, a perennial Skylight favorite, returns to the store to read and sign his latest short story collection, God Bless America, with a performance from the amazing singer-songwriter Dan Bern! Praise for God Bless America: Stories: "A comic masterpiece." --Library Journal "God Bless America showcases Almond's fascination with the dark underbelly of American life. Sometimes he laughs at it; sometimes he stares directly into the abyss and produces something stunning. What's obvious is that Almond creatively inhabits the confused soul of modern American life. Whether he finds comedy or tragedy there, the result is provocative and memorable." --The Boston Globe Praise for Dan Bern: "An amphetamine folkie with a provocateur's wit." --Entertainment Weekly "[He's] just drunk on words, like the young Dylan. And the young Beck." --Robert Christgau Steve Almond is the author of ten books of fiction and non-fiction, three of which he published himself. This Won’t Take But a Minute, Honey is composed of 30 brief stories, and 30 brief essays on the psychology and practice of writing. Bad Poetry and Letters from People Who Hate Me are exactly what they sound like. His stories have appeared in the Best American and Pushcart anthologies. In October, Lookout Press published his third story collection, God Bless America. Dan Bern is the musician behind the albums Dan Bern, Smartie Mine, Breathe, and many more. He contributed several songs to the Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story soundtrack, the Get Him to the Greek sountrack, and other films. He has a devoted following and is known for his live shows, so don't miss this one! Visit danbern.com for discography, lyrics, tour info, the opportunity to commission a custom song or ringtone, and more. THIS EVENT WAS RECORDED LIVE AT SKYLIGHT BOOKS ON JUNE 5, 2012.