Busy & Making New Kin

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The past few months have been busy with travel. I met a cool SOB named Lou (http://www.dubiousvirtues.blogspot.com/2012/03/frank-bills-crimes-in-southern-indiana.htmlm=1 )
his crew, Ken (who edits and runs http://www.punchnels.com/ ) Kevin whom teaches at Indy University and is a writer, Maurice whom I missed this last time around and a lot of kick ass males and females. These cats run a great little place called Second Story (http://secondstoryindy.org/), hosting writers and other events to help give back to the community. Had a blast there. I met up with a great musician in Lexington, Kentucky namedTyler Childers, check him out on itunes. If you dig guys like Chris Knight, Tyler is right up your area of listening. But he showed up for my reading at Joseph Beth Booksellers. My best bud Rod (http://mybfmblog.blogspot.com/) also showed up. On this last visit to Indy I was invited to read at the University of Indianapolis by Kevin A. McKelvey & the lovely Elizabeth Weber. Met a great group of students & people, Bob, Eden, Matt, and CJ Edwards, to name a few. Hooked up with Lou, Ken, Kevin, a kick ass chic who read with me at The Second Story reading in February and a name I can't remember, I do apologize mam, and Ryan ( http://bossnacho.com/ )who has been filming my Indy readings: http://youtu.be/jzQF9ptL6wk
  http://youtu.be/PRlV1qW30MY
  http://youtu.be/y9NuIsnVMX8
  http://youtu.be/0ali1VePJyM
I was invited to Franklin College as well in February by Micah Ling, read to her students and answered a lot of questions, then hung out with a Daniel and an up and coming writer by the name of Steven Woods(http://www.punchnels.com/fiction/billy/)

To say the least I've been busy, holding down the day gig, working on two other projects, awaiting edits for DONNYBROOK and trying to keep my head above water. I also met up with B.Anthony Brown this week, a Hoosier native who came in to visit his folks, good guy, appreciate the bonding bud!

I'll be in St.Louis on the 18th of April for this gig: http://www.slcl.org/content/st-louis-county-library-foundation-presents-seventh-annual-suspense-night

And hanging out with a great group of writers.

I've Been Everywhere Man

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Since September I've been traveling. I attended Bouchercon In St.Louis. Hung out with and met many a good people like Daniel Woodrell, Katie Estill, John Rector, Christa Faust, Reed Farrel Coleman, Peter Farris, Benjamin Whitmer, Jed Ayres, Keith Rawson, Cam, Jimmy the Worm, Matt Funk, Matt McBride, Scott Montgomery, Rod and Judy Wiethop, Stacia Decker and her husband Matt, Jonathan Woods, Megan Abbott and many many more. Traveled to Indy for a reading at the Irving Theater and read with Victoria Barrett and shot the shit with her husband/writer Andrew Scott . In October I traveled to Dearborn, Michigan for the Gliba trade show met writers Benjamin Busch & Jason Karlawish and spoke for a few seconds to Daniel Ames author of Feasting at the Table of the Damned. Signed books for 80 or 90 indie bookstores and shook many and spoke with some great bookstore owners. Went to Austin, Texas for the Texas Book Festival met and hung out with Craig Johnson and his lovely wife as well as Ray Wylie Hubbard and his wife Judy and the outstanding Harry Hunsicker. Shared drinks with Daniel Woodrell, Rod Wiethop, Craig Johnson (who by the way is one funny and cool rockin' SOB!!), Scott Montgomery, Michael and Buffy Crutchley (Mike has the stories on the dead and dumb shit that get people killed). But also had a panel with Daniel Woodrell, Donald Ray Pollock and Bruce Machart. Came back to Corydon, Indiana for a reading at the Artisan Center for Larry and Ran (great group of artists, keep kickin' it guys) and this past weekend I traveled to Frankfort, Kentucky for the Kentucky Book Fair. Had a great time. Got to meet Silas House, a great Kentucky author and a good ole country boy. Also met and spoke with Will Lavander and Derek Nikitas (couple more cool SOB's). And I'm damn tired. I'd like to thank everyone thus far that I've met and who've been so damn supportive of me and my work. Most of all thanks to my lovely wife Jenn, you've been very understanding and supportive through every step of this madness. And it looks like there's still more juice in the pipeline.

Some Things I've Been Doing

A research piece I wrote that got accepted by Granta: http://www.granta.com/Online-Only/The-Heartland

An essay I wrote about some of the wilder people I ran with back in my younger days: http://www.fsgworkinprogress.com/2011/09/we-brought-tomorrow-until-today-was-gone/#more-1086

Here's an interview I haven't posted, more of these are around the corner: http://www.wyso.org/post/book-nook-crimes-southern-indiana-frank-bill

To say the least, I've been busy with some essays for other venues while trying to work on my next book, travel and chip away at the day gig. My last reading/signing took place in Indy at Irving Theater with Victoria Barrett. Had a great time. Here's the interview in the NUVO: www.nuvo.net/indianapolis/frank-bills-crimes-in-southern-indiana/Content?oid=2354542


Next up is Dearborn, Michigan for: http://www.gliba.org/tradeshow_authors_2011.php

And here are a few reviews of Crimes in Southern Indiana: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/books/2016133649_br11indiana.html?prmid=head_more
http://www.curledup.com/crimes_in_southern_indiana.htm
http://www.timeoutchicago.com/arts-culture/books/14956813/crimes-in-southern-indiana-by-frank-bill-book-review
http://www.dangerousminds.net/comments/crimes_in_southern_indiana_dope_and_death_in_americas_heartland
http://www.thenervousbreakdown.com/rthomas/2011/09/cisi_bill/
http://bnreview.barnesandnoble.com/t5/The-Long-List/Crimes-in-Southern-Indiana-Stories/ba-p/5715
http://lit.newcity.com/2011/09/28/fiction-review-crimes-in-southern-indiana-by-frank-bill/

I'd like to thank everyone for coming to my readings, your support is much appreciated.
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