News release about my book

Here’s the Huntington Press news release about my story collection. More info on the book to follow over the next few months.

For Immediate Release

Huntington Press Announces Release Date for
My Week at the Blue Angel: And Other Stories from the Storm Drains, Strip Clubs, and Trailer Parks of Las Vegas
by Matthew O’Brien

Las Vegas – Acclaimed author Matthew O’Brien (Beneath the Neon: Life and Death in the Tunnels of Las Vegas) will release his newest title, My Week at the Blue Angel: And Other Stories from the Storm Drains, Strip Clubs, and Trailer Parks of Las Vegas, on October 25, 2010.

This creative nonfiction story collection boldly explores the disenfranchised and broken side of Las Vegas while highlighting the unexpected beauty in a neon wasteland, forging a path into a hidden world beneath the city, and lending a voice to the voiceless masses rarely seen.

O’Brien, founder of Shine a Light—an organization that aids the many men and women living in the flood channels of Las Vegas—has already gained recognition for one of the stories in the collection, “Another Day on Paradise,” in the form of a fellowship from the Nevada Arts Council.

Beneath the Neon, also published by Huntington Press, is an internationally acclaimed nonfiction book that received rave reviews from numerous publications and media outlets, including E!, Publishers Weekly, and Wired magazine.

FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Heidi Olson
Heidi@HuntingtonPress.com or 702-252-0655

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NAC fellowship

One of the stories in my upcoming collection won a fellowship from the Nevada Arts Council. The story, “Another Day on Paradise,” is a personal piece about living in a historic (i.e., old) apartment complex in the shadow of the Las Vegas Strip. I’m hoping the fellowship is a good omen for the collection.

My friend Becky was also recognized in the Literary Arts category.

For more information on the fellowship, visit http://nac.nevadaculture.org.

Quick update

I got a book deal for the nonfiction story collection I’ve been working on for the past few years. Don’t want to go into too much detail now (a few things are still being finalized), but it looks like the book will be published in the fall. More details to follow – hopefully soon.

Also, the Shine a Light outreach continues to have success. In a year or so of work in the tunnels, HELP of Southern Nevada has housed about 40 people and helped turn around their lives. (I don’t recognize some of my old friends … out here in the light, back to their normal weight, all cleaned up and decked out in ironed clothes.) Special thanks to Rich Penksa, Macheo Willis and Louis Lacey of HELP, who’ve been fixtures in the tunnels since the outreach launched.

Finally, Beneath the Neon continues to have some life. The first quarter of 2010 was its best-selling quarter to date. (The book’s been out three years). Thanks to everyone who bought the book and helped spread the word.

New kid in town

I should’ve posted something about this awhile back, but I was busy and it slipped my mind: As a consultant, I helped launch a weekly magazine – Vegas Seven. It’s slick, well-produced and covers a variety of subjects, including politics, sports, nightlife, food, fashion and business.

I’m no longer consulting for Seven, but I plan to write for the magazine occasionally. In fact, I have two stories in the latest issue: a CityCenter-related essay and a feature on Michael’s Used Books.

Vegas Seven is free and available at bookstores, libraries, grocery stores, etc., throughout the valley and at www.weeklyseven.com.

Scared straight?

If you read my book Beneath the Neon, you may remember Gary. I interviewed him in Chapter 7 – the Flood Drain – and he had some interesting things to say about being a meth cook, ghosts in the drains and the afterlife. He was also part of the panel discussion at the Arts Factory in July 2008, in affiliation with Brian Paco Alvarez’s exhibit based on the book.

Anyway, a few months after the panel discussion, Gary was caught stealing and sent to prison. He spent a year and a half in the joint and was released about a month ago. Back on the streets – and, once again, considering camping in the drains – he had a heart attack and was taken to UMC, where he had quintuple bypass surgery. Then he was released … with nowhere to go.

I picked up Gary outside of UMC and took him to his friend’s apartment, where he crashed on the couch for a few days. Then HELP of Southern Nevada, once again, came to the rescue. Currently, Gary is living in an apartment in south central Vegas, where he’s resting, recovering and showing signs that he wants to change his lifestyle. (Maybe the heart attack scared him straight?) He’s also getting food stamps, has registered as a felon and has proper ID. (A prison ID doesn’t get you far on the outside.)

So, besides prison, a heart attack, and quintuple bypass surgery, Gary is doing all right. Seriously, we’re hoping he can stay off the streets and the drugs and that he has a speedy recovery.

I’ll keep you updated.

More rain

More rain is in the forecast for Las Vegas this weekend. If you live in the tunnels or washes, or know someone who does, please help spread the word.

Flood follow-up

As forecasted by the National Weather Service, Las Vegas got bombed by rain this week – but as far as I know, no one in the tunnels was killed or seriously hurt. However, a lot of people lost their camps (beds, blankets, clothing, toiletries, photos of loved ones, etc.). They’ve been calling and texting me and Rich of HELP of Southern Nevada for assistance. Last I heard, HELP had placed two people in housing and was in process of assisting others.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Jan. 22 coverage of the flooding included some info about the outreach and the people living in the underground channels:

http://www.lvrj.com/news/las-vegas-valley-gets-record-rainfall-82352547.html

A hard rain’s a-gonna fall

Just got this National Weather Service statement, which I’ve edited, from the Clark County Regional Flood Control District:

“Several storm systems will affect the area next week. While the exact timing of these systems is still uncertain, it appears that at least four and possibly as many as five different systems will cross the area next week. The first system will affect the area as early as Sunday night and continue into Monday, before exiting on Tuesday morning.

“Although exact amounts from each system are uncertain at this time, rainfall totals in the Mojave Desert valleys are expected to be at least 1 to 2 inches, with some areas seeing at least 3 inches. It would not be out of the question for many areas to see a significant portion of their normal yearly rainfall within next week.

“The potentially high totals of precipitation could result in flooding, especially if too much rain falls too quickly. At this time, it is way too early to specify what areas could see flooding. However, the potential for flooding or other hydrological impacts will increase as the week progresses, once precipitation starts to fall and totals increase.”

So, if you live in the tunnels or washes, be prepared. Also, if you know someone who lives in the tunnels or washes, give them a heads-up.

These storms sound scary!