For Immediate Release

Contact: Duncan Crary 518-274-2723

Popular Author Publishes Vermont Christmas Novella – James Howard Kunstler

Author of “The Long Emergency” and “World Made By Hand” novels visits the warm-hearted side of life with “A Christmas Orphan”

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (11/29/2010) – Author James Howard Kunstler is best-known for his books and novels warning about peak oil, economic collapse and the failures of suburbia.

But this holiday season he’s taking a short break from analyzing the converging catastrophes of the 21st Century to share a Christmas parable with his readers. “A Christmas Orphan,” by James Howard Kunstler, is a new novella about a big city boy who runs away from home to small town Vermont on Christmas Eve.

“We all need a time-out from the fiascoes of the day,” Kunstler said. “Christmas is the perfect theme for reflecting on what’s enduringly funny and heart-warming. Also, I don’t think Glenn Beck should get to hog all the holiday sales.”

Set in the 1960s, “A Christmas Orphan” is the story of 11-year-old Manhattanite Jeff Greenway. When Jeff overhears his parents arguing after his dad’s holiday office party, he gets the idea that he was actually an orphan who was placed on his parents’ doorstep in a willow basket. Shocked to discover that his parents are “phonies,” he runs away to Grand Central Station on Christmas Eve and catches a train to the small town of Drakesville, Vt. There, he goes from door to door asking people to adopt him.

“When I was a kid growing up in Manhattan, I always longed for a Currier & Ives existence in a small town, where you could fish for bass and ride your bike without getting killed by a taxi-cab,” Kunstler said. “Instead, I spent my city childhood in museums, with the shrunken heads and stuffed gorillas.”

Though Kunstler’s acclaimed nonfiction books and novels are published by New York City -based Grove/Atlantic, his newest 76-page novella is the product of a print-on-demand publishing experiment with Chris Morrow, owner of Manchester, Vt.-based Northshire Bookstore.

“My own publisher didn’t know what to do with it,” Kunstler said of his novella, “and the whole industry is in turmoil. Chris recognized its value and we’re blazing the trail for a new publishing model. I think readers will get a huge kick out of it.”

Northshire is one of the only independent bookstores in the U.S. to have an Espresso Book Machine on its premises. The machine prints, binds and trims completed books on location.

“A Christmas Orphan” is available for purchase for $10 at Northshire Bookstore, located at 4869 Main Street Manchester Center, Vt., and online at: http://www.northshire.com. It will be available at select other bookstores this December.

Kunstler will read from “A Christmas Orphan” at Northshire Bookstore on Friday, Dec. 10 at 7 p.m.

ABOUT JHK

A renowned social commentator, Kunstler lives in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. He is the author of four nonfiction books: “The Geography of Nowhere,” “Home from Nowhere,” “The City in Mind” and “The Long Emergency.” He has written 11 novels and one play. His website is http://kunstler.com.

For information and high-resolution author photos and book covers for reproduction, visit: http://duncancrary.com/clients/JamesHowardKunstler.html

To schedule an interview with James Howard Kunstler, or to request a review copy of “A Christmas Orphan” contact Duncan Crary at 518-274-2723.

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Media coverage resulting from this press release:

Prognosticating author lightens up with Christmas book
The Saratogian, Dec. 05, 2010

Kunstler reads from ‘Christmas Orphan’ at Northshire Bookstore
Bennington Banner, Dec. 9, 2010

For Immediate Release
Contact: Tamara Flanders (518) 429-6615
tamaraflanders@yourbodyawake.com

REXFORD WOMAN TEACHES HOW TO “DRIVE” YOUR BIKE

Vehicular Cycling Teaches Bicyclers to Share Road with Cars

REXFORD, NY (7-14-09) — A bicycle safety instructor is teaching Capital Region cyclists how to “drive” their bikes.

“Every time I’m out on the road I see people making dangerous choices,” said Tamara Flanders, a cycling instructor who is certified by the League of American Cyclists. “Some mis-educated people behind the wheel don’t respect the right of cyclists to be on the road. On the other hand, some mis-educated bike riders don’t follow proper road etiquette and make car drivers nervous or upset.”

Flanders is working to make shared roadways safer for bicycles and cars by teaching “vehicular cycling,” the practice of driving bicycles on roads in a manner that is visible, predictable, and in accordance with traffic law.

“Cycling is safest when the bicycle is treated the same as other vehicles,” Flanders said. “When you follow all the traffic laws, you are ‘driving’ your bike. This ensures your visibility and safety from the cars around you.”

Now that summer is here, and more people are using bicycle transportation to avoid high gas prices, Flanders said it’s crucial that cyclists and car drivers do everything in their power to avoid crashes.

“Knowing how to properly share the road can prevent nearly all of the car-bicycle crashes that happen,” Flanders said.

Flanders will be teaching a variety of safe cycling courses this summer, including a cycling coaching program titled “Couch Potato to 25 Miles.” This program will teach novice cycling skills, as well as vehicular cycling, while helping beginning cyclists build their skills and endurance to comfortably cycle 25 miles. Couch Potato to 25 miles is scheduled to start at the end of July 2009 and will utilize many of the beautiful sections of Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail and select roadways in the Niskayuna and Schenectady areas.

Flanders also offers one-on-one bicycle coaching. During each session, she rides with her individual student, teaching him or her how to navigate roads safely and effectively on a bike.

In addition to teaching bicycle safety classes, Flanders is a holistic health counselor.

“Riding your bike safely is a great way to improve your health, raise your self esteem, and have a great time,” she said

For information and to register for programs, visit: http://yourbodyawake.com/id4.html .

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For Immediate Release
Contact: Dave Flood 518-462-1617

JACKSON, 50th, PUT ALBANY “MOTOWN” BAND IN HIGH DEMAND

Solid Smoke Gears Up To Record Original “Motown” Record

ALBANY, N.Y. (07-01-09) — The recent death of Michael Jackson is fueling more demand for local “Motown” band, Solid Smoke.

“This year is the 50th anniversary of Motown Records, so we’re already very busy,” said Dave Flood, manager of Solid Smoke. “With the passing of Michael Jackson, we’re getting even more calls. People love that Motown sound and they want to hear it now more than ever. Everybody loves to dance.”

Founded 11 years ago by the late Larry Lewis, Solid Smoke is a four-piece Motown-style band, featuring: Decky Lawson, 34, on vocals; Mike Wooten, 51, on the guitar and synthesizer; Myron Thomas, 55, on the drums; and James Scott, 41, on bass guitar and vocals.

“I grew up listening to that Motown stuff,” said Scott. “I also grew up singing Gospel.”

Scott, who directs the Gospel choir at Albany’s Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church, says Gospel music and Motown have a lot in common. Musically, Motown blends R&B with pop styles. But Motown can also draw from the vocal stylings of Gospel.

For now, Solid Smoke plays crowd-pleasing songs by Motown artists like James Brown, The Temptations, and Earth, Wind & Fire. But the band plans to record an album of original music by the end of this year.

“It will have the Motown feel. It will have a blues feel. It will also have a gospel feeling,” Scott said of the band’s planned upcoming
album.

Flood, who has managed the band for the last 11 years, has high hopes for the upcoming album and is already making plans with a local music
venue for the album release party.

“Many great musicians have played in this band,” Flood said. “This is the most gifted group of musicians so far. You’ve gotta go to New York to find musicians this good.”

UPCOMING SOLID SMOKE SHOWS:

July 16, Pittsfield, “3rd Thursdays”, 5 p.m.
July 19, Scotia, Freedom Park, 7 p.m.
July 25, Amsterdam, Riverlink Park, 7 p.m.
Aug. 3,10,17,24,29,31, Saratoga Springs, The Parting Glass, 9:30 p.m.

For information, call Dave Flood at 518-462-1617
or visit: http://www.myspace.com/solidsmokefunk

Click Here for High Resolution Photo of Solid Smoke.

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