My publisher, Huntington Press, has released its annual holiday catalog. It includes specials on Beneath the Neon and My Week at the Blue Angel (and many other products and collectibles). Flip through it here and find something for the Vegas-phile in your life:
Scheduled book signings
I have three book signings in the Las Vegas area over the next few months, one before Christmas. The basic details are listed below. The signings will run for at least an hour, possibly longer, depending on the busyness of the store, and copies of both Beneath the Neon and My Week at the Blue Angel will be available. One of the signings is in the central valley, one Henderson and one near Summerlin.
3 p.m. Dec. 11 Barnes & Noble (3860 S. Maryland Parkway, 89119)
3 p.m. Jan. 8 Borders (1445 W. Sunset Road, Henderson, NV 89014)
1 p.m. Feb. 5 Barnes & Noble (8915 W. Charleston Blvd., 89117)
Thanksgiving in the tunnels
I’m taking food and gifts into the tunnels on Thanksgiving, because I’ll probably be out of town for Christmas. If you want to donate some new or gently used gifts and can meet me Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon or evening, preferably in the central valley, please let me know. Looking for quality over quantity, as we’ll probably only visit three or four tunnels. The people who live in the tunnels told me they would like books (self-help, spiritual and thrillers), toiletries (disposable razors, bar soap, shampoo, etc.), laundry detergent, batteries (D, AA and AAA), jugs of water, thick socks, blankets and winter coats.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Despite threatening weather, there was a pretty good turnout for the Nov. 20 book signing at the Town Square Borders. Lots of familiar faces: Laura, Suzanne, Katherine, James, Downtown Steve, Barry from the tunnels, Slick from the sewage plant, and others. Also, a few former CityLife staffers showed up: Jarret, Meredith, Emmily and Doug. And, typical of a signing, I made a few new friends.
Overall, it was a successful event, I think. Thanks to everyone who dropped by!
If you want a signed copy of Beneath the Neon or My Week at the Blue Angel, you may want to visit that Borders. They should have copies on the shelf through the end of the year.
Also, I have three other local signings scheduled over the next few months. The next one is Saturday, Dec. 11, at 3 p.m. at the Barnes & Noble on Maryland Parkway (near Flamingo Road).
I plan to post the schedule of upcoming signings soon.
Reno News & Review feature
And an evenhanded and informative look at My Week at the Blue Angel by Brad Bynum of the Reno News & Review:
LV Weekly Q and A
I got together with Las Vegas Weekly staff writer Deanna Rilling at the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf across from UNLV. Here’s the result:
http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/news/2010/nov/19/matthew-obrien-hunter-s-thompson-blue/
Reminder
I’ll sign copies of Beneath the Neon and My Week at the Blue Angel tomorrow (Nov. 20) at 3 p.m. at the Town Square Borders. I’ll be there till at least 4.
Drop by and say hello.
Tucson Weekly gift guide
The Tucson Weekly included My Week at the Blue Angel in its eclectic and fun-to-read book gift guide. Good to know there’s still some alternative writing and thinking going on in the alt-weekly world (courtesy of my former co-worker Jarret Keene); this roundup sings and I want to read every book mentioned in it.
http://www.tucsonweekly.com/tucson/santas-book-list/Content?oid=2348874
Nov. 20 book signing at Town Square
Huntington Press
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Beneath the Neon Author to Reveal New Book and Sign Copies at Borders in Town Square
Las Vegas—Matthew O’Brien, author of the book Beneath the Neon, will sign copies of his new title My Week at the Blue Angel: And Other Stories from the Storm Drains, Strip Clubs, and Trailer Parks of Las Vegas on Saturday November 20 at 3:00 p.m. at the Borders store in Town Square.
My Week at the Blue Angel ($14.95) is a collection of creative nonfiction stories that chronicle O’Brien’s forays into the underbelly of Las Vegas, and his discovery that beauty can be found in the unlikeliest of places. The stories revolve around the real-life characters of Sin City that are incongruous to the valley’s picture-perfect neon image: A convicted murderer on parole, a missing prostitute, a strip club owner looking to found his own church, and the downtrodden masses living in the storm drains beneath the Strip.
Matthew O’Brien’s first book, Beneath the Neon: Life and Death in the Tunnels of Las Vegas ($19.95, Huntington Press), has been reviewed or covered by more than 100 media outlets, including Publisher’s Weekly, Le Monde, Wired Magazine, The Sunday Times, “The Evening News with Katie Couric,” and MTV’s “The Buried Life.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION, please contact:
Heidi Olson-Barwell
heidi@huntingtonpress.com
702-252-0655
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KNPR interview
I was recently interviewed by Dave Becker of the local NPR affiliate. He asked me about Hunter S. Thompson, the central sewage plant, the Blue Angel and many other subjects and settings.
To learn more about the interview and to hear it, click on the link below:
http://www.knpr.org/son/archive/detail2.cfm?SegmentID=7317&ProgramID=2091