Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Philly Fiction 2 Reading at Head House Books, Jan. 12!

Come one, come all, to the charming Head House Books (619 S. 2nd Street, just south of South St.) on January 12, 2010. Philly Fiction 2 authors will read from their stories, plus reveal their favorite "strange" Philadelphia spots. The night will also feature an exciting "identify that local UHF advertisement" quiz for hardcore Philly folks with special prizes!

Elise JuskaElise Juska will read from her story "Northeast Philly Girls." Elise is the author of the novels The Hazards of Sleeping Alone, Getting Over Jack Wagner, and One for Sorrow, Two for Joy. Her short stories and essays have appeared in many publications, including the Harvard Review, Seattle Review, Berkeley Fiction Review, Calyx, Salmagundi, Black Warrior Review, the Hudson Review, American Literary Review, Esquire.com, and the first Philly Fiction. She teaches fiction writing at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Read more about Elise at elisejuska.com. "Northeast Philly Girls" is about a teenage girl from the suburbs who visits her aunt's family in Olney for the holidays and is struck by her young cousin's worldliness.

Bruce LangfeldBruce Langfeld grew up in Whitemarsh and spent most of his life in Philadelphia. He was a diehard fan of the city as well as a keen observer of all its problems. Bruce’s creative output was wide ranging — he was a guitar player, a songwriter, a fiction writer, a poet, and a contributor of scathing responses to poorly informed political bloggers. He taught at Temple’s intellectual heritage program, and was an enormous Flyers fan. He died in 2007, proud to have never read Ayn Rand. His story, "Give and Take," will be read by Don Ron Books publisher and Philly Fiction 2 editor Josh McIlvain. In the tale, everyone from the neighborhood thinks that Vic, a South Philly housing contractor, will always land on his feet because he's hardworking and honest. But when he can't pay back the local loan shark the money he borrowed to stave off his debts, he sinks into a world of darkness and sleazy underworld dealings.

Christine FlanaganChristine Flanagan's recent work has appeared in Philadelphia Stories, the Pisgah Review, and Burning Leaf. She will be reading from “Return to Ithaca”, which was nominated for a 2008 Pushcart Prize. Her other writing awards include the James D. Bartolomeo Prize from the Drexel Online Journal, Kumu Kahua Theatre Award, Chameleon Theatre Circle New Play Prize, and South Florida Writer’s Contest (drama) First Prize. Her fiction and plays have been produced at InterAct Theatre’s Writing Aloud, the Riant Theatre, the Actor’s Center, and the Northwest Playwright’s Guild. She teaches writing and literature at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia.
In "Return to Ithaca," An ad executive who can't control his anger must move back home with his aging parents when his wife issues a restraining order against him. In his efforts to rebuild his relationship with his wife with date nights and by not drinking, her sister—who is also his business partner—stands perversely in his way.

Joshua RobertsJoshua Roberts, author of "Well Liked," was born and lives in Philadelphia. His writing has appeared in Agni, Pindeldyboz, Eyeshot, Blue Mesa Review, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and other publications, and has earned Finalist rankings in the Heekin Group Foundation Fiction Fellowship and the Utah Writers at Work Fellowship Competition. He works for the School of Public Health at Drexel University. Bumping into his college girlfriend ten years after the fact, the narrator of "Well Liked" battles his obsession to find out all the details of her life that might cast her in a bad light. Is it his anger at his own lack of confidence or true indignation at her evident cluelessness or her own lack of artistic talent? His only solution to go to the art film she has made to determine whether or not her only success is in her mind.

Details:
Philly Fiction 2 reading
Featuring stories by: Elise Juska, Bruce Langfeld (read by Josh McIlvain), Christine Flanagan, Joshua Roberts
Hosts: Josh McIlvain and Christopher Munden (editors)
Head House Books
519 South 2nd Street, Phila. 19147
Tuesday, January 12, 2010, 7:30 p.m.

Email phillyfiction@yahoo.com or visit phillyfiction.com for more information. You can buy Philly Fiction 2 and the original Philly Fiction at Head House Books at anytime or go to phillyfiction.com for a complete list of where you can purchase these great books.

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