“Each tiny, diamond story—precise, comic, poised at the edge of surreal—contains one brutal life force tearing itself off the page. You can hold Daddy’s in your hands and feel it breathing.” —Deb Olin Unferth, author of Vacation
Coming September 2010! You ever fed yourself something bad? Like a candied rattlesnake, or a couple fingers of antifreeze? Nope? You seen what it done to other people? Like while they’re flopping around on the floor you’re thinking about how they’re fighting to live. Like while they’re dying they never looked so alive? That’s what Daddy’s is like. In this collection of toxic southern gothics, packaged as a bait box of temptation, Lindsay Hunter offers an exploration not of the human heart but of the spine; mixing sex, violence and love into a harrowing, head-spinning read that’ll push you a little further toward flopping.
Patrick Somerville has perfect pitch across the thirty-odd voices in these stories, gets perfect reception from past and future both. He is funny and sad and scalpel-sharp, at times all in the same sentence. This book contains worlds within worlds. Every single one of them enriches ours. -Roy Kesey, Author of All Over
Coming Fall 2010! In this genre-busting book from award-winning novelist Patrick Somerville characters, stories, and stray thoughts revolve around the “The Machine of Understanding Other People,” the story of a Chicago man who is bequeathed a supernatural helmet that allows him to experience the inner worlds of those around him. Through his lonely lens we peer into the mind of an art student grappling with ennui, ethics and empathy as she comes to terms with her own beliefs in a godless world. We telescope out to the story of idiot extraterrestrials struggling to pilot a complicated spaceship. We follow a retired mercenary as he tries to save his marriage and questions his life abroad. Mind-bending and cracklingly new, Somerville’s broadly appealing and uniquely imaginative constructions probe the outer reaches of sympathy, death, and love in a world seen from the inside out.
Patrick Somerville's first book of stories, Trouble, and his novel, The Cradle, are awesome. Everyone thinks so. Find out more at patricksomerville.com
"Nine caustic stories by TeBordo find screeching ironies in rhetorical absurdities and writerly subversiveness. Bizarre and biting, these tales leave a mark." —Publishers Weekly STARRED REVIEW
April 2010! A girl masters the art of forgetting among kidney thieves. A motivational speaker skins his best friend to impress his wife. A man outlines the rules and regulations for sadistic childrearing. You’ve heard these people whispering in hallways, mumbling in diners, shouting in the apartment next door. In brilliantly strange set pieces that explode the boundaries of short fiction, Christian TeBordo locates the awe in the awful possibilities we could never have imagined.
Butler is an original force who is fearless with form... The design is appropriately disarming, an apt part of the overall barrage by this inventive and deeply promising young author.—Time Out New York
A novel of 14 interlocking stories set in ruined American locales where birds speak gibberish, the sky rains gravel, and millions starve, disappear or grow coats of mold. In 'The Disappeared,' a father is arrested for missing free throws, leaving his son to search alone for his lost mother. In 'The Ruined Child,' a boy swells to fill his parents' ransacked attic. Rendered in a variety of narrative forms, from a psychedelic fable to a skewed insurance claim questionnaire, Blake Butler's full-length fiction debut paints a gorgeously grotesque version of America, bringing to mind both Kelly Link and William Gass, yet turned with Butler's own eye for the apocalyptic and bizarre.
At moments screwy, prickly and pleasantly surprising, Gray’s short shorts deliver youthful snapshots about being nuts in love... A delectable debut.—Publishers Weekly
If anything's going to save the characters in Amelia Gray's debut from their troubled romances, their social improprieties, or their hands turning into claws, it's a John Mayer concert tee. In AM/PM, Gray's flash-fiction collection, impish humor is on full display. Tour through the lives of 23 characters across 120 stories full of lizard tails, Schrödinger boxes and volcano love. Follow June, who wakes up one morning covered in seeds; Leonard, who falls in love with a chaise lounge; and Andrew, who talks to his house in times of crisis. An intermittent love story as seen through a darkly comic lens, Gray mixes poetry and prose, humor and hubris to create a truly original piece of fiction.
Well, little friends, plenty has happened since our last blog update. We could be cute and cloying as usual, but honestly: who's got the time anymore? Let's get down to business.
First order: Daddy's. We're two weeks from dropping our hottest title yet. Ya'll seriously don't know what's coming. There's a taste up now, in the form of a Mini Book. But it's only gonna start the jonesin'. For real relief, you need your own copy. First/best place to pick it up? Lindsay's Book Release Party, where it's included in the price of the admission. Someone's getting scarred on August 30th:
If you've been to Quickies! you know: Lindsay Hunter is as sweet as pie, but she's got one mean dirty mouth. Watch her work it out in celebration of Daddy's, featherproof's fall release. She'll be joined on stage by her dad, whose pride will turn to horror as he hears the nastiest thoughts that Lindsay has ever thunk. Will he break down? Someone will. Facebook Invite here.
Another reason you know this'll be a doozy: it's the culminating night of Quickies! The Gathering, a Midwest tour of pretty complete magicness. Led by Lindsay Hunter and Mary Hamilton, including featherproof stalwarts Blake Butler and Amelia Gray, as well as Dollar Store veterans Jac Jemc and Aaron Burch, and new blood John Jodzio reppin' Replacement Press. Whatever you're thinking about this tour: we can guarantee that you ain't wrong. St. Paul, Iowa City, Madison: details on the calendar.
Are you looking at your calendar yet? Because you probably just noticed it's Scorch Atlas's birthday coming round the bend. In honor of said event, we announce the:
SCORCH ATLAS BIRTHDAY DESTROY CONTEST
Once upon 2009 we decided, since Scorch Atlas was a destructive force, to offer destroyed copies on pre-sale, to the brave few who would let us mangle their copy. That looked like this:
We got a surprising amount of requests for mutilated books, and happily complied. Blake was so happy he got hungry and started to eat the book. That looked like this:
Despite a few protests from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Everything, the idea spread. Mike Kitchell exploded one:
Sean Lovelace shot some arrows at one:
And it became clear. The only way to truly finish Scorch Atlas was by destroying your copy. Thus: we propose a new contest. Destroy your copy. Better than any has destroyed before you. Smash it smear it, pepper it with flak, and digest it thoroughly. We want you to do your worst. Also acceptable: creative methods of destruction that don't necessarily destroy the book physically but endanger it, terrify it, or brutalize it. Like humiliating the book in public, or changing the text, or reading it aloud to your grandmother wearing a gas mask.
Post your video to YouTube or Vimeo. Let us know you did so at
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by September 9th, 2010 (Scorch Atlas's birthday.) Then we'll pick a winner based on criteria of Risk, Bloodlust, Derring-do, Internet research, Smarts, and Pheromones Released.
ONE GRAND PRIZE WINNER will receive: the complete featherproof fiction catalog of books, including a signed, first edition (blackened edges) Scorch Atlas, in clean/perfect/mint condition, Ever by Blake Butler, both issues of No Colony, a t-shirt that says 'Knife That', mini-books, Kristina Born's One Hour of Television, stickers, a packet of Blake's hair, a book that Blake loves destroyed just for you, and a drawing he made in his sleep. It sounds like a joke, I know. But this grand prize package is SO NOT A JOKE. It's for real.
FIVE FIRST PRIZE WINNERS will receive a signed, first edition (blackened edges) Scorch Atlas, in clean/perfect/mint condition. To replace the one you mangled.
THE REST OF THE LOSERS just fucked themselves.
Have at it.
What can you do while waiting to see if you destroyed good enough? Option one: read some mini-books of course. We've got two new dollops of foldable dew:
Option 2: Check out some book design work. Zach's design site Bleached Whale was just updated with all the book design he's done in the past year. He'll be giving a big fat slideshow at Public Works all about featherproof design stuff this Friday, August 20th at the Andrew Rafacz Gallery. More details here.
Remember when you would spend countless hours playing in the sprinkler, and fresh cut grass stuck and dried to your ankles? The adrenaline that surged through your veins when you heard the ice cream truck was enough to power you through the house and tirelessly beg your mother for a couple dollars so you could wave down the truck before its song became silent. Let’s not forget about the simple excitement that was involved in a slip n’ slide. Sunburn was a good price to pay for an entire day outside, getting sticky with sweat and melted popsicle.
Speaking of hot, Christian TeBordo’s ears must be burning. He’s getting a lot of love, so we want you to get in on this steamy action. The Big Other has shared their love, check out this sweet interview by Ryan Bradley and learn a little more about how “The Awful Possibilities” was conceived and birthed. decomP gets it. And Largehearted Boy mixes it up.
There’s nothing like a Happy Ending. Get what you want at the Happy Ending Music and Reading Series. It’s one of New York’s best shows with consistently good moves. Our friends Amelia Gray, Shane 'Shank' Jones, and Audrey Niffenegger will be gracing the stage, so get your ticket and get their early before it sells out! If you’re in NYC July 7th, get over to Joe’s Pub 425 Lafayette Street, New York, NY 10003.
Why are we so sentimental lately? Because in these oil-filled, troubled times, we need to seize the last drops of goodness. Even the Mayans say it’s over in 2012, and that’s a hot minute away. Get yourself to a good party and soak up your possible last moments. We happen to be goin’ to a banger on Friday July 9th at 7pm at the new Green Lantern! We're teaming up with them and Ampersand in our sweet new digs. Come check it:
Speaking of darkness, Monsters and Dust are big and scary. We're obsessed.
Here’s a quick list of things that are small, yet awesome: Jelly Beans, those new dollar coins, zip drives, sea shells, origami, and the new minis available on featherproof! There are two new ones out, The Miniature version of The Universe in Miniature Miniature by Patrick Somerville and Foxes by Mary Miller. So don’t forget to get yourself some joy in a small packages, you deserve it!
The Miniature version of The Universe in Miniature in Miniature by Patrick Somerville
Foxes [new] by Mary Miller
Mary Miller is on the for real list of Writers to Watch over at Dzanc, which also includes Amelia Gray, and Blake Butler! They write good books. Dzanc makes good lists.
We're straight sweatin' in this summer fever. HuffPo almost called us feisty. Zach almost cracked NewCity’s Lit 46! And we're hunkering down to get our fall books almost finished. Look for a new cover on that Daddy's soon!
In the meantime, the hang out don't stop. Check out Stop Smiling Books' second release, by Sam Weller, appearing all over the map this weekend. And we'll be experimenting heavily at The Science of Obscurity, put on by the awesome Chicago Underground Library. They are blogging down to The Printers Ball, which we can hardly wait for. But we will wait, until July 30th. There'll be a special edition of The Show 'n Tell Show, with a radical line-up.
Summer is the time to soak up the vitamin D and catch up on some much needed reading. Be sure to synchronize your planner with the goings on here at featherproof. It will be wet and wild this summer, and you are totally invited to the pool party!
FREE Mini-book!
"Nine caustic stories by TeBordo find screeching ironies in rhetorical absurdities and writerly subversiveness. Bizarre and biting, these tales leave a mark." —
