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Funny Ha-Ha on August 21

Once again I will be taking a big technology break, as I’m taking my wife and kids on a road trip, up through Michigan’s Upper Peninsula onward to the Minnesota Boundary Waters for the next ten days. Ooh, I can feel the mosquitos buzzing already. Maybe this time I’ll be able to see the Northern Lights clearly. Every other time I’ve come close, I thought they were the parking lot illumination for a car dealership.

But I wanted everyone to know about an upcoming reading and hootenanny. On August 21, I’ll be taking part in the latest edition of Funny Ha-Ha, this one called “Funny Ha-Ha With A Vengeance!” Hosted by the estimable (or is it the inestimable?) Claire Zulkey, Funny Ha-Ha is Chicago’s top reading series for comedic writers. This edition will feature Mark Bazer of RedEye and the Huffington Post; Wendy McClure, author of I’m Not the New Me; wine expert Alpana Singh; standup Kumail Nanjiani; and the hilarious filmmaker Steve Delahoyde (check out all his films at http://www.irritablecolon.com.).

The reading will be at The Hideout on Tuesday, August 21, from 7 til 9. The Hideout is somewhere near Wabansia and Elston, but you’re cool enough to know where it is already, aren’t you, pet? Yes, yes. For more information, check out Claire’s site.

ROAD TRIP!!!!! PASS THE JERKY !!!

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“Dennis Miller Radio” Postponed til Tuesday

UPDATE—

Hey, for all you Dennis Miller fans out there, here’s a chance to catch me on his radio show. Tuesday morning, at about 10:30 EST, 9:30 Central, drive time Pacific, I’ll be on the air chatting about “Recut Madness” and other business.

The show airs on WIND-AM 560 from 12-2PM in Chicago, and on WDKT-AM 1400 from 6-9PM in Detroit. Any place else, you’ll have to check the local listings.

Tune In! Phone In! Drop Out!

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A Week Off, Then WGN Radio on Sunday!!

Well, after feverishly working on various projects from our cottage (where my desk space is only slightly larger than an airplane fold-down tray), I get to quit worrying about book sales and PR for a week and go up to Camp Owasippe with the Boy Scouts. No worrying up there, right? As long as everybody sticks to the buddy system. And people stay away from the poison ivy. And a storm doesn’t come through and send a tree cleaving through someone’s tent like happened last year. No worries at all.

But after that, on Sunday, July 15, I’ll be the guest on Rick Kogan’s radio show on WGN-AM, a station so powerful I think they can pick it up in Helsinki. Rick is a famous journalist and boulevardier, and we’ll be cutting wise about “Recut Madness” and probably BARDBALL as well. I’m very excited. So tune in, from 7:30 to 8:00 a.m., and be ready to chortle over your Ovaltine.

See ya in a week.

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Printers Row Book Fair

For anybody in the area considering a trip to The Printers Row Book Fair this weekend, consider this: I’ll be speaking with film critic and writer David Kipen on Sunday at 12:30. We’ll be talking about writers in the movies, as well as Recut Madness (I hope). David is the director of literature for the National Endowment for the Arts and author of The Schreiber Theory, which aruges that writers and not directors are (or should be) the driving creative force in film.

So stop by University Center, 525 S, State, at 12:30 for a good talk, some autographin’ and then bookstall browsin’ till you keel over from the heat and/or pile of purchases you’re lugging around.

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Book Drought Ends with Massive Outpouring of Beer and Support

Well, that was quite an exhausting evening, and quite wonderful. Many thanks to all the friends and neighbors who came to Feed The Beast last night to help launch Recut Madness. The food was great, the drink was plentiful, my iPod was cranking Bootsy Collins over the sound system, but the people are what makes a party work. My mother, Aunt Pat and Cousin Ginny came down from Milwaukee to lend their support, and I got to visit with my cousin Celeste’s daughter Erin, who just moved to Chicago. And old work pals and friends from school and neighborhood, and friends of friends and…… I’m a lucky and blessed fella for having such people in my life.

It actually felt more like a wedding reception, seeing people and catching up. I apologize to those folks I didn’t speak with enough, but I hope you understand. Busy busy busy. I appreciate your support of the book, and of the Belle Center, which got a portion of the proceeds.

I hope to put up some pictures on Flickr, as soon as I can find where we put the camera. UPDATE: Found the camera, here’s the pix.

And the biggest thanks of all goes to my ever-lovin’ wife, for indeed being ever-lovin’, as well as a terrific hostess. We had almost 100 people in that little space, and she made sure there were introductions and laughter all around. There’s where I’m most truly blessed.