Wednesday, February 20 - Spring Fund Drive Special

Tonight from 8-9 PM Lois Jones and I co-host a poetry and prose fundraising hour, live. Yes, it's Day Two of the Spring 2013 fund drive at the only station that matters, KPFK.  Community-supported anti-corporate alternative radio needs you, by definition.  Bibliocracy and Poets' Cafe and Why Poetry and Treasures of the West exist nowhere else, and consistently present the best in poetry, fiction, nonfiction, memoir, cultural criticism, history and more.

Call (818) 985-5735 at 8 PM and start us off strong on our goal of $2000 for the weekly Wednesday night literary arts hour.  Thank you gifts?  You bet.  Here's the deal for the prose crowd, though pledge big and get 'em both, poetry and fiction premiums.  Please let us thank you on air!

The Bibliocracy Six-Pack.  (Non-alcoholic, but plenty potent!):  A $75 donation, which includes your renewed voting membership in KPFK.  Six books by six important Southern California writers you should know about, in part because their work has been featured, boostered, talked about on Bibliocracy Radio and, mostly, because these are six of the best local authors anywhere.

Bibliocracy Radio $75 Six-Pack

Gary Amdahl, The Intimidator Still Lives in Our Hearts
Alisa Slaughter, Bad Habitats
Diane Lefer, California Transit
Tod Goldberg, Other Resort Cities
Racelle Rosett, Moving Waters
Dwight Yates, Bring Everybody

Thanks, friends.

Wednesday, February 13 - Racelle Rosett

Tonight on Bib, 8 PM on KPFK:  RACELLE ROSETT.  A special program tonight in an occasional series of performance editions of the show, part of my effort to present and collect work by area Southern California writers of short fiction I admire, on the only place on the radio – KPFK – where you will hear contemporary writing read.  So, tonight, reading a complete short story in one sitting, Racelle Rosett.  She is an award-winning television writer who’s lately received acclaim for her new collection, Moving Waters.  These are funny, smart and, yes, moving interconnected short stories about the members of a Hollywood Reform synagogue who discover the place and meaning of ritual in their lives.  Tonight she reads her short story “Shomer,” for you on Bibliocracy.  SPECIAL APPEAL FROM THE BIBLIOFELLA:  Next week the Spring 2013 fund drive begins. 

Please!  Pledge to Bibliocracy and receive a Local Writers Six-Pack, six books by six important, talented area fiction writers whose work I have recently shared on this show:  Dwight Yates, Gary Amdahl, Alisa Slaughter, Tod Goldberg, Diane Lefer and, yes, Racelle Rosett.  Receive their work (short story collections by each) as a big thank-you from me for a modest $75 pledge.  Bibliocracy pitches live next Wednesday night, but you let me know on this blog or via email, and I will take your pledge early, and thank you on air!  Thanks!

Wednesday, February 6 - The Rattling Wall

Tonight on Bibliocracy Radio, 8 PM on KPFK.  MICHELLE MEYERING, Editor of The Rattling Wall.  Discussion about the dearth of literary culture in Southern California annoys me, especially when I find that the complainers, lamenters or discussers haven’t lately read a book or collection by a deserving local or regional author, or purchased or subscribed to one of the dozens of excellent regional literary journals published here, from Riverside to Santa Monica, Beverly Hills to Pomona.  Tonight, a program dedicated to celebrating the third issue of a newish journal based in Southern California but with national ambitions and appeal, a chance to talk with its editor and one prominent contributor.  Michelle Meyering founded and edits The Rattling Wall which specializes in short fiction, travel essays and poetry, and is supported by the good folks at PEN Center USA.  The newest issue, number three, offers the occasion for me to welcome her back to Bibliocracy and hear a reading by DAVID ULIN, a contributor to the magazine and, of course, chief book reviewer over at a local downtown newspaper you may subscribe to – I do!  He reads his essay “Street, Haunting” in between talking with your humble host and his terrific guest.  Congratulations to Michelle and The Rattling Wall.  And to you, for buying a copy, subscribing, and listening to this show on the radio, online or as a free download.  You have excellent taste!