Fisk. Smolarek. Thomas. Anderson. Duffer. Peterson. Brand. And Tanzer. We are Daddy Cool release party. Saturday. June 8th. The Book Cellar.

And quite geeked we are. So please do join us. Bring your kids. Share this with your friends. Buy books. And change lives. Cool?

There is Dads & Families Daddy Cool interview.

It's true, we are talking Daddy Cool with the Bradley and the Duffer at the THE GOOD MEN PROJECT, it is most beautiful, and we are most appreciative. Excerpt? Yes. Done. Word.

GMP: Why are you enamored with dad writers?

Ben: I think it’s about seeking, or building, a sense of community when writing can be so isolating. Especially when you have a day job as I do that has nothing to do with writing. When you’re a parent, which can be a further disconnect. Community is so important, connection, reducing isolation, sharing, all of it, and seeking people who have something in common with you is such a big part of that. For me that’s dad writers, regardless of what they do otherwise.

Ryan: I ran a children’s bookstore for two years, and that was my real education in the medium. Until then I was really dismissive of books for kids. Then the deeper I plunged into fatherhood I realized nothing I write is appropriate for kids, and naturally I want to share my passion with my children. I wrote a middle grade novel for my stepson and then a short story (which will be in Daddy Cool) and I’ve bandied about some picture book ideas. I think the coolest part of the idea was that it was a chance for all of us to share our writing with our kids for a change.

Fathers. Sleep. Death. NAS. New joint. At The Good Men Project.

New joint indeed. And most thankful we are to the always beautiful Robert Duffer and The Good Men Project for running with it. Excerpt? Cool.  

"I have always preferred to quote NAS when it comes to sleep, as in, “sleep is the cousin of death,” but that may not be so accurate. I don’t fear sleep, and I don’t worry that sleep is too similar to death to embrace or befriend it.

I didn’t think much about death until my father died and I began tussling with his ghostly presence at every turn. Or before I became a father myself and started trying not to think about death and all the irrational ways my children might face it, Leukemia, porch parties, school shootings, errant cabdrivers, IEDs, and on and on and on.

The issue of sleep started early for us as parents. We decided to cry our son out. The family bed wouldn’t work for us, I who didn’t sleep for so long, and wasn’t going to add any additional hurdles to that battle. Not more than necessary anyway."

The Duffer. And The Good Men Project.

The most goodly Robert Dufferis the new Dads & Families Editor at The Good Men Project, something we think is quite goodness indeed.

Experiments in Manhood meets God, Death, Love and The Fisk.

We couldn't be more excited to see This Podcast Will Change Your Life podcastee and This Zine Will Change Your Life contributor Jason Fisk  guest essaying at Experiments in Manhood, the brainchild of fellow TBWCYL, Inc. favorite and This Podcast Will Change Your Life podcastee Robert Duffer. It's heavy stuff, but we think you can handle it. We also think it just might change your life, so hit it, just do so softly and knowingly.

A CCLaP Quadruple Book Release Party and Performance Extravaganza photo podcast wrap-up thing.

There was CCLaP. Readings. Books. Photo action. Podcast. Take a listen. Enjoy. And big thanks to the CCLaP and the Beauty Bar.

Time of Death, Experiments in Manhood and My Father's House.

Big thanks to local scribe and TBWCYL, Inc. favorite Robert Duffer for inviting us to write a guest essay as part of his excellent blog series Experiments in Manhood. In keeping with our efforts to start building and spreading the hype around the soon to be released My Father's House, we not so subtly cross-pollinated our essay "Time of Death" with a handful of references to the new book, while only barely comprising, we hope, our professional mien and responsibilities. That said, we plan to do as much of this going forward as we can and we hope you enjoy it, all of it, including the excerpt below. Thanks again Duffer, and drinks on us, many, when next we meet.

"All this thinking about him not living has also got me wondering whether I will outlive him. Maybe? Probably? Okay, but what if I don’t? That’s only sixteen more years. Sixteen. That’s plenty of time to write more, which is good, because there are so many things I want to write about. Like a novel inspired by, or possibly as an homage to, how a character might cope with his father’s slow, though still way too fast death. (Yes, that is a quasi- and probably totally unprofessional plug for my soon to be released novella My Father’s House.)"

Newcity Lit 50. Not. Gina Frangello and Robert Duffer. Goodness.

We are admittedly just getting over our devastation about not being included on the Newcity 2010 Lit 50 list, though that is not to disparage the entrants on the list itself all of whom rock. On the other hand, we are quite happy to see TBWCYL, Inc. favorite Gina Frangello not only come in at number nineteen, but score a more extensive profile/interview written by fellow TBWCYL, Inc. favorite Robert Duffer, both of whom we have had the pleasure of podcasting with. So when all is said and done, the devastation is minimized, sort of, and the happiness is maximized, a lot, and if you are so inclined you may listen to said podcasts here and here respectively.

Masciotra. Tanzer. Springsteen. The Chicago Literary Scene Examiner Interview, Part Two.

More Masciotra. More Tanzer. More Springsteen. More excerpt. And much more appreciation for The Chicago Literary Scene Examiner.

EX: Every time I listen to “Born To Run”, I get that teenage excitement to discover the world right now. I think it's the horns. Who is the literary equivalent of either a) The Boss or b) one of The Boss's songs/albums and why.

BT: I had this girlfriend in high school who once said to me that she would be happy as long as some guy at some point said to her "You ain't a beauty but hey you're alright," which is a line from “Thunder Road”. This says a couple things to me, one she didn't know how attractive she was, but more importantly that I probably grew-up in a small town and that I probably grew-up in the northeast, though possibly in the mid-west. This woman was dying to get away from our hometown and dying to do something, and be something, she wasn't yet, but thought she could be once she escaped. And this is what Bruce writes about on “Born to Run,” a yearning to be noticed and to escape the confines of home and youth and class. I say all this, because I think that means that certain books and writers could almost fit here, but just aren't quite right. The Basketball Diaries for example has some of this, but it’s almost too cool, and we certainly can't count a story about someone who doesn't want to escape their hometown especially when its New York City, a place that the characters in “Born to Run” want to escape to. Similarly, On the Road and Catcher in the Rye capture some of this vibe, but they're not quite right either, not for what you're asking. Given this, I'm going to suggest two local writers, Don DeGrazia and Joe Meno, and their two most popular works, American Skin and Hairstyles of the Damned. Both are working class, both are centered on youth and escape, and both have a strong grounding in music, though in these cases it’s punk, not rock, something I think Bruce could live with. David?

DM: “Born to Run” is about individual conquest, but it is also about the discovery of the meaning and power of love, and the participation in a just and enduring community. It encourages individuality, but not without connecting it to one's sense of integrity, act of creativity, and commitment to community. It also begins Springsteen's tradition of love talk that goes on uninterrupted throughout his career--love being not just some cheap sentimentality, but the steadfast concern for the well-being of others. Springsteen acknowledged this in live introductions to the acoustic version of the song, saying the song is about "two people trying to find their way home," and that "individual freedom with a larger community ends up feeling pretty meaningless." This is a deep and profound message in a market-driven culture that discourages communal connection and altruistic bonds empathy. It also flips the script on the market's conception of individuality, which tells people "you are your cell phone ring tone," or "you are your sneaker."

In Working On a Dream, I make literary comparisons between Springsteen and Dostoevsky, Steinbeck, and Cormac McCarthy. Steinbeck is pretty easy and straight forward considering Springsteen has a song and album called "The Ghost of Tom Joad." Throughout Nebraska, Springsteen explores the dark depths of the human psyche and the painful consequences of isolation in Dostoevskian fashion, with particular similarities to Crime and Punishment. The father and son in The Road, McCarthy's epic classic, are guided by love for each other and a commitment to goodness they call "carrying the fire." Too often people make theoretical objections to consumer culture, market-driven society, and greed, but fail to make the individual changes that need to accompany the conceptual protest. "Carrying the fire" is an expression that encapsulates making those individual changes, and "The Promised Land" is an anthemic tribute to making those changes.

Masciotra. Tanzer. Springsteen. The Chicago Literary Scene Examiner Interview, Part One.

Robert Duffer and the Chicago Literary Scene Examiner are most graciously doing a two-part interview with TBWCYL, Inc. spokesperson Ben Tanzer and author David Masciotra in advance of our most epic appearance tonight at The Book Cellar. Please do take a look, please join us and please enjoy the brief excerpt from part one below.

EX: How did a guy who dissects political issues through the lens of pop culture hook up with a guy whose characters think pop culture?

DM - I discovered Ben's second novel, Most Likely You Go Your Way and I'll Go Mine, at an exhibit on local authors at the Cultural Center. I was immediately drawn to Ben's book because of the Bob Dylan song title, and the evocative cover. Most Likely... is an insightful, funny, and evocative novel with well-developed characters and nearly flawless dialogue. I emailed Ben to give him my feedback, compliments, and encouragement. We started talking, he seemed very excited about my book, which at the time had just picked up a publisher. I'm thrilled to have his support and friendship. But, I am beginning to regret sharing a stage with the funniest guy in the world

BT - David is way too generous, but this is a friendship I have been thrilled to find myself in. It might be enough if he was only good-looking, smart and contrarian, but what’s especially exciting is his passion with progressive politics, the affects of isolation and his desire to be a champion for the downtrodden and oppressed. It’s really powerful stuff and it’s inspiring to be around. I would add, that I also think that we try to use pop culture in a similar fashion and even seek some of the same answers. While it’s true that on the surface, David may be more focused on politics and policy, while I am more focused on people trying to get laid, we are both trying to make sense of how people connect, or don’t; why people turn to drugs, drink or sex to cope or escape; and how hope can sustain us even when nothing else seems to be working.

This Podcast Will Change Your Life, Episode Ten - Jewelry and Falafel. Redux. And Re-Release.

You're sitting there and you're thinking, jewelry and falafel, in one building, and in just one sitting. No way. Way. And it's right here on Episode Ten, starring the always electric Robert Duffer. Yes, that Robert Duffer.

Some things we are digging as we prepare to briefly drop off of the grid.

Fact, we are sort of mostly briefly dropping off of the grid this week. And so we sort of thought we should leave you with some stuff to read and/or contemplate during our time away.

Yes, we're just good like that.

First off, Stories II from the most excellent short story writer Scott McClanahan is due out soon. This is quite good news. The dude is the bomb. We loved Stories. And yes we love him as well and we are not embarrassed to say so.

We would add, that Scott has also recorded a piece from Stories II for the fine crew at Apostrophe Cast and it should be heard, so why not listen to it? They are even throwing in an interview for your reading pleasure. Enjoy.

The Nick Ostdick has a new piece titled True Hair up on STORYGLOSSIA. Yes, that STORYGLOSSIA. Please feel free to consume it. And yes we love him too.

Meanwhile, for the record, feel free to assume that all writers, and publishers, referenced going forward are loved by the staff here at TBWCYL, Inc. We say, so we don't have to sound repetitive. We also say this, because how many times can you say love something before it grows stale?

This is a no stale zone. Cool?

There is a fine interview with Ken Wohlrob at Emprise Review.

And we have alternative cover and pre-order action for the Fox Force 5 collection from Paper Hero Press. Very good.

Robert Duffer has a most excellent piece on the most excellent Jason Behrends and Orange Alert at Time Out Chicago.

The Collin Kelley has a conversation with singer Vannessa Daou at soldout.

We get to learn Mel Bosworth's Best of 2009 at the Big Other.

The J.A. Tyler's novella Inconceivable Wilson from Scrambler Books is now available for pre-order. Nice.

The Pete Anderson has a series of wonderful short story reviews at the Pete Lit including pieces by TBWCYL, Inc. favorites Spencer Dew, William Walsh and the always something Kendra Grant Malone.

David Masciotra has a killer piece on the progressive politics of Tim McGraw at the Daily Yonder.

And finally, Tim Hall brings us new Uplift the Positivicals. Can you say, Santa on the beach? We thought you could.

The Chicago Literary Scene Examiner is celebrating its one year anniversary. Cool, right? Totally.

Speaking of books and media and such, and we were doing that, right, we want to give a big shout to the quite cool Chicago Literary Scene Examiner and its host the quite handsome Robert Duffer. We would add, that the Examiner has been very supportive of TBWCYL, Inc. spokesperson Ben Tanzer and we really appreciate it. We would also add that we would be offering this shout-out even if the one year anniversary column hadn't been so kind as to name-drop us and our work. Then again, if we're being honest, it didn't hurt.

Word association? Repetition Patterns? The Chicago Literary Scene Examiner? And Day Nine of This Book Tour Will Change Your Life? Way.

You feel good about these things right? Sure you do, and so yes, it is Day Nine of the tour, and yes, we are visiting with Chicago writer guy and good friend Robert Duffer and the Chicago Literary Scene Examiner, and yes, we are doing the word association thing on a variety of topics ranging from Mickey Rourke to High School Musical 3 to Kafka, not to mention crafting a new draft piece, and as always engaging in mass Repetition Patterns love. And so why not visit the Examiner, and then why not zip by CCLaP because they would love to see you, and finally, and after you catch your breath, get some rest, and maybe have some tea, why not come back tomorrow and join us when we stop by to connect with west coast writing dude Jason Riley. It all sounds like fun, right? Way.

Stop the presses, we have a This Tour Will Change Your Life update. We also have a schedule. And a tour icon. Yes, an actual icon. Sweet.

It's on. This Tour Will Change Your Life officially kicks off on Monday, February 16th. Expect much Repetition Patterns love and more of TBWCYL, Inc. spokesperson Ben Tanzer than anyone should be asked to bare. We will gladly be keeping you apprised on what's happening on a day-to-day basis, but in the interim please take a look at the schedule below, please figure out how best to plan your schedule around it and we look forward to visiting with you while we are out on the road. Well, the "virtual" road anyway.

February 16th - Pete Lit

February 17th - stand by Bert

February 18th - So the devil and a circus walk into a bar

February 19th - What to Wear During an Orange Alert

February 20th - Does this font make me look fat?

Februrary 21st - Michael Fitzgerald

February 23rd - Bigmouth indeed strikes again

February 24th - Chicago Literary Scene Examiner

February 25th - Jason Riley

February 26th - In the Nick of time

February 27th - I don't know what I'm talking about

February 28th - j.a. tyler

This Podcast Will Change Your Life, Episode Ten - Jewelry and Falafel.

How excited are we to share Episode Ten of This Podcast Will Change Your Life - Jewelry and Falafel with you? Quite. And the fact that said episode stars none other than most excellent local Chicago writer Robert Duffer of Examiner and RUI: Reading Under the Influence reading series fame. Quite, quite. So, please take a listen, not only does the Duffer rock it big time, but it just might change your life.

Orange Alert Press reading love, Songs of Insurgency and Joey Ramone.

Much awesomeness to touch on including, but not limited to the fact that last night was the inaugural Orange Alert Press reading at The Whistler and it rocked, big time, and for a variety of reasons, not the least of which was the killer line-up - the great local writer and terribly handsome Robert Duffer who read a new piece he's working on, the quite cool Stephanie Kuehnert author of the awesomely well-received novel I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone, read from her forthcoming novel Ballads of Suburbia, and maybe our favorite local live reader Spencer Dew read a new piece as well called Why I am a Catholic. So yes, quite happening, and yes, much newness going on, but we also want to take a moment to touch on two additional and not so tangential topics. First, we have finished engorging ourselves on the killer paranoia driven near tales of love lost, crushed and stroked that comprise Spencer's short story collection Songs of Insurgency and loved it to say the least, so go buy it, please, it just may change your life, and two, our book review/interview with Jew Punk Steven Lee Beeber author of the most excellent Heebie-Jeebies at CBGB's and editor of the wonderfully tortured insomnia anthology AWAKE! which is titled If I could sleep, I would dream about Joey Ramone - you see the tie-in, right, nice - is now live and begging to be read, so we would be thrilled if you chose to read that too. Though no pressure or anything, we're just saying.

One door closes, and another one opens. Or something like that.

Much fun last night at The FIXX Reading Series, many thanks to La Guth our andlessly and awesomely cool host and big props to good friends and better writers Tim Hall who read from his new joint Full of It, which we are happy to report way rocks, and Robert Duffer who read a wonderfully moving piece about a guy, a cat and his impending fatherhood. Really, really good stuff all around. And now it's done, most sad, except for the fact that we get to read at the drunken reading lovefest otherwise know as Reading Under the Influence next Wednesday November 5th, which is too cool, way too cool actually, and co-hosted by none other than Robert Duffer himself? Weird, right? And sure to provide even more literary fun, as the night will also double as an informal, quasi-public release for Repetition Patterns. We would add here that we get to read two pieces that night and while we are encouraged to read from other writer's work as well as our own, we have also been told its our party and we should do what we want, so in trying to be as narcissistic as possible, something we always enjoy, we are thinking of reading a somewhat raunchy and previously unread in public section of Most Likely You Go Your Way and I'll Go Mine and a piece from the never read anywhere Repetition Patterns too. Now, that sounds pretty tempting doesn't it? We think so, so join us, won't you? Thanks.

Did we mention that we will be reading at the FIXX reading series with Robert Duffer and Tim Hall this coming Thursday, October 30th? No? We have now.

For more information please go here. And thank you in advance, for taking look, coming out and maybe even buying some books. No pressure mind you, but if you're going to be there anyway, just say you'll think about it, okay, great.

Check this out - there is now an official Orange Alert Press reading series debuting on November 18th at The Whistler. Please join us, won't you?

And did we mention the kick-ass line-up, present company excluded of course? Don't get us wrong, we love to hype ourselves here at TBWCYL, Inc., but still even we have some limitations. No, it's true, we do, they're fairly minor and we tend to ignore them, but we have them, just look at the by-laws.