Mommy, Can I Go Out and Read, Tonight?

My good pal Mike Faloon is going on another leg of his book tour. He's heading out west where they appreciate him.

Here's my review from Karen, the Small Press Librarian's blog:

This collection of short stories and personal essays by Mike Faloon ("Zisk", "Go Metric") plays host to characters who, though well-intentioned, often set their sites on goals that may not be the best for them... or those around them. Hanging Gardens kicks off with a series of stories about a small town in upstate New York. From there Faloon tells tales of his youth, from a sociopath who he went to camp with to a hilarious recollection of a high school job. Finding a favorite piece amongst all the gems in Faloon's work is tough but I couldn't stop laughing as I read his riff on Progressive Rock. Set it to music and you've got a ready-made piece for "This American Life." Faloon's stories are heartfelt and his writing is tight without a wasted word.

Here's all the info about the tour, re-posted from the Razorcake web site:

The “Mommy, Can I Go Out and Read Tonight” tour comes to Southern California. Mike Faloon reads from his new collection The Hanging Gardens of Split Rock (Gorsky Press). Todd Taylor (Shirley Wins, Razorcake magazine) and Matthew Hart (Gnarchives) read new stories. Good stories told well. Even if you don’t get the Misfits reference.

All readings are free and open to the public.

• Mon., Feb. 14th 6:00 PM, Calimucho HQ, 384 W. 15th St., San Pedro, 90731, http://calimuchohq.wordpress.com/ (Go around the back of the big blue house. Don’t be a square. Bring your Valentine’s sweetheart for a pre-dinner reading.)
• Tues., Feb. 15th, 8:00 PM, 12th & G Warehouse, 13390 12th St., Chino, 91710 with Matt Hart, http://www.facebook.com/TheWarehouseAt12thAndG
• Weds., Feb. 16th 8:00 PM, Public Address, 1268 N. Ave 50, Los Angeles, CA (Highland Park), with Matt Hart, http://publicaddresslosangeles.org/
• Thurs., Feb. 17th 7:30 PM, CSU Channel Islands, Aliso Hall, Room 150, with Johnny Tsaur
• Fri., Feb. 18th 8:00 PM at Stories Books, 1716 West Sunset Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90026 (Echo Park), http://www.storiesla.com/
• Sat., Feb 19th 1-4:00 PM – San Diego Zine Workshop, featuring Mike Faloon, Todd Taylor, and Jim Ruland at The Ink Spot. This is a workshop. Please sign up if you’d like to attend.
  Art Center Lofts, 710 13th Street, Studio 210, San Diego, CA 92101
  http://www.sandiegowriters.org/about_where.htm
  Here's the link to the workshop for sign ups.
  http://www.sandiegowriters.org/programs_workshops_zineworkshop.htm
• Sat., Feb 19th 8-11:00 PM – San Diego, Vermin on the Mount Sushi Contemporary Performance and Visual Arts, 390 Eleventh Ave., San Diego, CA 92101 http://sushiart.org/

MIKE'S BIO
Mike Faloon has paid the bills as a DJ, dishwasher, and drummer. He publishes two zines (Go Metric, Zisk) and contributes to Chunklet, Razorcake, and Roctober. His first book is The Hanging Gardens of Split Rock (Gorsky). He lives with his family in upstate New York.

TODD'S BIO
Todd Taylor is the co-founder, co-publisher, and co-editor of Razorcake Fanzine, America's only bonafide non-profit zine dedicated to independent music culture. Prior to starting Razorcake in 2001, Todd clocked in five years as the general manager of Flipside, a zine that had been continuously publishing since the summer of 1977. Todd has published over 100 zines and has conducted over 300 interviews over the past fifteen years, earning him the title of the Studs Terkel of punk rock.

MATT'S BIO
“Matthew Hart (Gnarchives, Margin Mouth contrib.) reads unpublished stories.”