Tonight, Louis Rastelli launches his new novel A Fine Ending (Insomniac Press, 2007). Louis has been doing amazing cultural work out of Montreal for many many years (distroboto, Expozine, Fish Piss). Last spring, Jon Paul Fiorentino (who was the editor of my novel Delible) suggested that we trade off on the fiction imprint he had at Insomniac. So, springtime sees the launch of a book out with Fiorentino’s imprint, Serotonin, and the fall sees the launch of a book out with mine, Wayside Editions.
My plan with Wayside Editions is to focus on exciting first books. Louis was the first of these, and I’m very happy to see this long over-due book come into existence. When I approached him last spring, I had his shorts in mind, those lovely little “true stories” books he’d put out over the 90s, like “Fly vs. Kitten.” Louis, though, had something more ambitious in mind and from the stories I loved and some I hadn’t yet seen, wove together a wonderful novel. If you’re in or around Montreal, don’t miss this launch.
October 23rd.
6 to 10 p.m. (followed by special guest DJs)
Casa del Popolo
4873 St. Laurent
The Montreal Review of Books has a big profile of Louis and his book. Check it out.
If you’re in Vancouver, though, you might want to drop by Spartacus at 7 p.m. and hear Reg Johanson, Larissa Lai, Lora McElhinney, Sachiko Murakami, and Renee Rodin. They’ll be reading as part of the launch of West Coast Line 53: Representations of Murdered and Missing Women.
As for the imprint, next fall will see the publication of a brilliant and experimental novel by Jenny Sampirisi. Can’t wait.
