If you didn’t make it to the first LDM, make sure you get yourself to the second. This episode, writers include the delightfully poetic Kat Dixon, the ever-intriguing Tod Caviness (Orlando Sentinel news assistant), the brilliantly honest Rachel Leona Kapitan (author of an upcoming collection of short stories entitled Small Town and Heretics of the Emerging Sciences), and the astoundingly articulate J. Christopher Silvia. Judging their readings for literary merit will be the consistently stupendous J. Bradley (author of Dodging Traffic and Interviews Editor at PANK Magazine). In charge of evaluating the readers’ performance will be the former NBA sensation (and poet!) Adonal Foyle, and the stunning photographer and video director Brook Pifer.

Personally, I’m pulling for J. Christopher Silvia for the win and for J. Bradley to say something that makes everyone cringe. See you there!

Here are the details:
WHEN: November 13, Doors open at 7, show starts at 8:15 sharp
WHERE: Mad Cow Theater, 105 S. Magnolia Ave.
COST: $6 online preorder and $9 at the door

www.literarydeathmatch.com

On August 9th, 7pm, I’ll be joining local authors James Fleming, Darlyn Finch and J. Christopher Silvia at Urban ReThink for the monthly literary event There Will Be Words. The piece I wrote for the event is fiction, which is crazy for me. I write much better creative nonfiction. So come on down, and watch me get all uncomfortable in front of a live crowd. It’ll be fun… for you at least.

For the fifth consecutive year, Lisa Pirillo and the lambs from Lambs Eat Ivy hair salon are washing puppy paws for a good cause. Tomorrow, June 26, 9am-4pm, Thornton Park’s Washington Street will turn into a street party full of suds, puppies and fun. All donations will go towards helping The Harbor House Woman’s Shelter as they break ground on their kennel to provide safe harbor for bused women and their pets. Donations will also go to Pet Rescue by Judy and her efforts to build a spay/neuter clinic in Sanford as well as the many rescues in which she provides the greatest care.

Dog or no dog, come down and support one of Thornton Park’s favorite events. There’s bound to be some good people and puppy watching. See you there!

Here are the details:

Riley the hipsta puppy says, "I can't wait to get Shampooched tomorrow, word."

What: Shampooch
When: June 26, 9am-4pm
Where: 804 E. Washington St
Shampooch Donation: $10+
Dog portraits: $20
What to expect: Puppy washing, pools, misters, tents, music, art, vendors, food, food trucks and shopping.

Okay, so maybe you didn’t have the $250 to sponsor a scribe for the Page 15 Young Writers Camp. But now, there’s no excuse to support the four-year-old children’s literary initiative. If you like guys, or girls, or booze, or being seen at “the” place on a Saturday night and watching my former roommate JR Tanghal dance while wearing white clothes, then this event is for you.

WHAT: Guys With Ties presents The White Party
WHERE: Bliss Ultra lounge – 123 W Church St
WHEN: Saturday, July 23 8pm-midnight
DONATION: $20 online or $30 at the door
* All monies go to support the Urban Think Foundation’s most prolific program, Page 15. Complimentary drinks will be served from 8-10pm (and yes, that includes alcohol).

Don’t have any white garb to wear? No problem. Check out the GWT’s first ever fashion show, July 8th, at One80 (the rooftop club at the Amway Arena). More info coming soon.

It’s true what they say you know, as one door closes another one opens. As I was saying good bye to Burrow Press and Urban ReThink two weeks ago, an old friend from Red Bull emailed me. She wanted to meet up and learn about the new projects I was working on and then also share one of her own, The Red Bulletin, Red Bull’s newest entity, a magazine dedicated to culture, magazine nerds like myself and also the sports and athletes the energy drink encompasses.

I’m no magazine expert but I do have opinions. Sometimes people want them. Most of the time people don’t. Regardless, I like to offer my ideas and suggestions to anyone who will listen. It’s just what I do.

In the case of The Red Bulletin, Pamela wanted my honest opinion. So I broke it down page by page, put into a Word document and then shipped it to her via cyber space. And that’s when something very strange happened. With the submission of my magazine critique came a reply I wasn’t expecting–an invitation to The Red Bulletin launch party in Miami and also a one night stay at the Delano Hotel, one of the more luxurious hotels on South Beach. All courtesy of Red Bull. Seriously.

So next week Cory and I are headed to ”Party in the city where the heat is on. All night on the beach until the break of dawn” or something like what Will Smith once sang about. What should we expect at the party? I’m not sure. How’s the magazine? Solid, but could certainly use some work in the front and back. As for the free interactive Red Bull app for iPad, it’s insane. You should download and play with it now if not sooner, and that’s coming from an old-fashioned person who feels most comfortable touching and turning pages.

Yo, readers! If you like me, champagne, the new interview with Ansley Schrimsher or shiny things that bling, come down to Winter Park this Saturday, July 17th, for a special Dora Mae trunk show. I’ll be shoving drinks and books in people’s faces, and guest-hosting with Sultre owner, Traci Kabran. Good times.

Where: Sultre Boutique
411 W. New England Ave, Suite A
Winter Park, Florida 32789
407-699-9696
sultre.com
When: July, 17th 12-4pm
What: A Dora Mae Trunk Show + Sultre Sale

At the end of March, 2010, Orlando’s only downtown independent bookstore closed its doors, and left its legacy and future to those involved with the Urban Think Foundation. I’m happy to report that I’ve been asked to help in the new planning of this space. As we research and plan away, we also want to ask you to involve yourself. Tell us what you’d like to see in your Thornton Park community by completing the survey found at www.urbanrethink.com. Thanks!

Come on down to Thornton Park, Washingston Street more specifically, on June 27, 2010 and join the cause. I’ll be selling books while the good people at Lambs Eat Ivy will be washing dogs. WORD.

On May 4th, 2010, I was interviewed by Rachel Wright for her Time for R & R radio show. It was good fun, and done while I was in Los Angeles on vacation. Find and listen to the podcast by clicking here!

The countdown is on for my first book signing–29 days. I’ll admit, I’m getting nervous. It’s cool things like this invitation my pal Michelle Cameron designed that keep me pressing forward. Simply amazing.

Hope to see you there!