New! LYNNEE BREEDLOVE'S ONE FREAK SHOW by Lynn Breedlove, 128 pages,
ISBN 978-1-933149-32-5, $14.95,
5.5x8.5 paperback, Humor/LGBT "Uninhibited humor lends tender insight and perspective to a gender politics debate that often takes place in a fiercely contentious atmosphere."— San Francisco Bay Times
Through the unusual vehicle of gender-bending comedy, Lynn Breedlove asks his audience, "Who truly owns and defines the body: self, family, or community?" Based on his critically acclaimed comedy performances, this laugh-out-loud collection of outrageous writing celebrates a lifelong defiance of categorization. With universal appeal, the distinctive humor in Lynnee Breedlove's One Freak Show delightfully enlightens while challenging societal norms about love, identity, and community.
Lambda Literary Award finalist Lynn Breedlove is known as lyricist and front thang for the queer punk band Tribe 8, and he is the author of the speed-driven bike messenger novel Godspeed. He has toured throughout the United States and Europe as a musician and comic performer. Winner of a Heritage Award for Creativity, Breedlove currently resides in San Francisco.
LILAC MINES a novel by Cheryl Klein, 352 pages,
ISBN 978-1-933149-31-8, $15.95,
5.5x8.5 paperback, Fiction/LGBT
“Klein’s characters are compelling, one and all.”—San Diego Union-Tribune
Trendy hipster dyke Felix joins her stoic aunt Anna Lisa in a hardscrabble town in the Sierra foothills after being gay bashed, and explores the town's namesake mystery: the disappearance of 16-year-old Lilac Ambrose in 1899. A spellbinding narrative that's part history, part mystery, very contemporary... with a dash of magical realism thrown in for good measure.
Author Cheryl Klein is a shameless Angeleno, quiet pescatarian, and shameful tabloid reader. She lives in Los Angeles where she is West Coast director of Poets & Writers, Inc.
OPEN LETTER TO QUIET LIGHT
by Francesca Lia Block,
128 pages,
ISBN 978-1-933149-30-1, $16,
5.5x8.5 hardcover, Poetry
“[Francesca Lia Block] is the sorceress of iridescent language.”—Kirkus Reviews
In this fiercely passionate and revealing cycle of narrative poems that read like a novella, Francesca Lia Block describes in fiery detail the rise and demise of a year-long love affair. Her rich use of language infused with the power of sex and spirit paint a transcendent, almost mythic, portrait of the way two wounded people—both searching for connection—find each other, collide, and eventually separate.
Francesca Lia Block is renowned for her groundbreaking literary works, including the best-selling Weetzie Bat. Her writing transports readers through the harsh landscapes of contemporary life to realms of the senses where love is a saving grace. She lives in Los Angeles.
QUAKELAND by Francesca Lia Block, 224 pages, ISBN 978-1-933149-23-3, $22.95, 5.5x8.8
hardcover, Fiction, cover by Irene Hardwicke Olivieri
"Block's characters can be stunning ... and at its best, her prose moves with a fluid originality ... Quakeland is not to be missed." -- San Francisco Chronicle
".. A solemn, sensual journey through the female interior landscape ..." -- Library Journal
After enduring from afar a seemingly endless series of outside worldwide disasters-including 9/11 and the Asian tsunami-while living in earthquake-prone Los Angeles, a bereft Katrina experiences deep inner longings for some sense of permanence, meaning, and intimacy. A preschool teacher contemplating the unsettling challenges of her mid-life, she finds solace in the company of her dear friend Grace, and conflict in the arms of a narcissistic yoga instructor, Jasper.
GROWING UP FREE IN AMERICA by Bruce Jackson, 144 pages,
ISBN 0-916397-48-3, $11.95, Paperback, Fiction
A superb exploration of inner city America told from the perspective of an African-American young man in short poetic prose pieces. Hypnotic and scary, just as you think you're reaching the end of a piece and that you understood it, Jackson twists the knife 90 degrees and exposes a point of view that catches you unawares, then he's through your defenses and into your heart.
Author Bruce Jackson has lived in Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, and currently resides in Seattle where he works with troubled children in a public elementary school.
GRAVEYARD GOLF and other
stories by Vampyre Mike Kassel, 64 pages, ISBN 0-916397-15-7,
$7.95, cover illustration by S. Clay Wilson paperback Fiction
"A total f*ckin' laugh riot..." -- Your Flesh magazine
Drunk house painters, guys playing golf in a graveyard at midnight, Euripides made incomprehensible: Kassel writes up a storm in this collection of hysterical short stories.
THE GHASTLY ONES and
other fiendish frolics
by Richard Sala, 96 pages, ISBN 0-916397-40-8,
$9.95, paperback Graphic Novel
Morbidly funny drawings and rhyming stories inspired by Edward Gorey, featuring a gallery of gruesome creeps and the fearsome ills that may befall us all at any time.
COLOR ME ARNOLD: The Unofficial
Arnold Schwarzenegger Coloring and Activity Book by Conor
Buckley & Lawrence Gipe, 64 pages, ISBN 0-916397-98-X, $9.95, Paperback,
Humor/Politics

COTTONMOUTH KISSES by Clint Catalyst, 160 pages, ISBN 0-916397-65-3, $12.95, Fiction
"Clint Catalyst has the magical knack for turning the most ethereal of thoughts and feelings into tangible imagery. He creates beauty with an original hybrid of brutality and love that takes my brain to its favorite place." - Anthony Kiedis (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
Whether he's writing about a chance sexual encounter at a Goth club called Lilith or revealing the inner thoughts of young hustlers in Hollywood, Catalyst unearths the trashy truth in his characters' unconventional lives.
GUTTER BOYS: A Novel by
Alvin Orloff,
224 pages, ISBN 0-916397-93-9, $13.95, Paperback, Fiction/GLBT
A twisted gay tale of unrequited love in Lower Manhattan in the early 1980s filled with scenes of humorous debauchery. Jeremy, a shy 19-year-old, falls madly in love with Colin, a disturbed yet well-read older hustler. Though Colin rejects Jeremy as a lover, he takes him on as a protégé, introducing him to the hilariously depraved world of new wave nightclubs and gay bars in the days before AIDS and the war on drugs. Innocent Jeremy, protected by the guardian spirits of his beloved dead grandmothers - one a fiery Jewish socialist, the other a proper British matron - becomes increasingly unstable under the strain of his unanswered devotion. When Jeremy finally snaps, he reaches an understanding with Colin that he never anticipated.
Also
by Alvin Orloff - I MARRIED AN EARTHLING: A Novel , 256 pages, ISBN 0-916397-64-5, $13.95, Paperback,
Fiction/GLBT
In this rollicking send-up of traditional science fiction, Earth Studies professor Norvex 7 from the planet Zeeron decides to increase his university status by visiting Earth accompanied by Veeba 22, a chic hairdresser of the highest social order. Mistaken for evil villains and harmless frauds instead of the fabulous celebrities they are, Norvex ends up in San Francisco where all hell breaks loose when he crosses paths with the adolescent agony of Chester Julian, a gay Goth teenager acne. Part Jacqueline Susann romantasy, part cheesy Lost In Space episode, this gay comedy will delight any fan of pop culture literature.
THE BEAUTIFUL: Collected Poems by
Michelle Tea,
228 pages, ISBN 0-916397-89-0, $14.95, Paperback, Poetry/LGBT
Studies "...
A humanist poet who sees the world from a very personal perspective."
-- SF Chronicle
Award-winning author Michelle Tea ran away to San Francisco's queer and literary scenes in the early '90s, finding a home on the stages of various open mic venues. She self-published a steady stream of very limited edition photocopied poetry chapbooks, all of which are available together in a single volume for the first time in The Beautiful. In these tender yet tough contemplations, Tea welcomes the reader to explore her innermost passions, devoid of pretense or assumption. Previously unpublished works, including the title poem, are also included in this stunning collection.
FROM THE
INSIDE OUT: Radical Gender Transformation, FTM and Beyond edited by Morty Diamond,
168 pages, ISBN 0-916397-96-3, $13.95, Paperback, GLBT 2005 Lambda Literary Award
Finalist / American Library Association Stonewall Award nominee
"The many facets of this book sparkle like a jewel." - Leslie Feinberg, author of Transgender Warriors
Born female yet not identifying with that gender assignment, these writers illuminate the experiences of those who identify as FTM (female to male), and those whose gender is more fluid, genderqueers and thirdgenders. Given the opportunity to explore any aspect of gender identity change, these authors have written stories, essays, and poems offering heartfelt insight into the dynamics of identity politics and the definition of self. Although all born female, these writers prove that biology doesn't control destiny.
PO MAN'S CHILD: A Novel by Marci Blackman, 240 pages, ISBN 0-916397-59-9 $12.95
paperback Fiction/Lesbian Studies
WINNER of the American Library Association GLBT Award for Literature and the Firecracker Book Award for Fiction. A selection of the Quality Paperback Book Club.
After sustaining a serious injury during an S/M scene, Po Childs checks herself into a psychiatric hospital where she recalls her life's most memorable incidents and unconventional relatives. After a poignant exploration of her family's curses and blessings, Po allows the healing process to begin.
The Military Draft Handbook:
A Brief History and Practical Advice for the Curious and Concerned
edited by James Tracy, 128 pages,
ISBN 1-933149-01-9, $12, Paperback, Current Affairs/Politics/Education
Written in a concise, easily accessible manner, The Military Draft Handbook outlines the history of conscription, how it has been resisted in previous eras, and exposes the "social justice" argument being used by some draft proponents. Full of plainspoken analysis and useful information about Conscientious Objection, Counter-Recruitment activism, and more, readers will be armed with the knowledge and organization needed to form a timely defense against forced conscription. An essential resource for young people, parents, activists, and educators alike.
Also edited by James Tracy:

The Civil Disobedience Handbook: A Brief History and Practical Advice for the Politically Disenchanted edited by James Tracy, 96 pages, ISBN 0-916397-76-9, $10 paperback History/Current Events
Non-violent civil disobedience is an American tradition, an essential element of a working democracy. From the Bill of Rights to contemporary direct action tactics utilized by the Ruckus Society, this handbook outlines a brief history of social protest. Helpful resources and handy information are included, as well as tips on everything from getting arrested to manipulating the media.
MOLOTOV MOUTHS: Explosive New Writing by
James Tracy, Raw Knowledge, George Tirado, Leroy Moore, Ananda
Esteva, Dani Montgomery, and Josiah Luis Aldrete, 144 pages, ISBN 0-916397-87-4,
$13.95 Paperback, Literature / Current Affairs & Politics
The Molotov Mouths Outspoken Word Troupe has a simple mission: social justice. Without slogans or dogma, these seven authors have created an original literary manifesto of progressive ideas. Passionate stories about gentrification, discrimination, and identity politics unite with heartfelt poems exploring poverty, race and disability that positively shine with subversive solidarity.
Good Advice for Young Trendy People
of All Ages, edited
by Jennifer Blowdryer, 144
pages, ISBN 1-933149-02-7, $15, Paperback, Pop Culture/Self-Help
"Even if you think you've got it all together this collection will help you scam a better scam, work a deeper style, and become a more gracious human being." - Michelle Tea
Compiled by a veteran of the underground after spending 30 years in the alternative art trenches, these experiential, very real commentaries from today's underground luminaries offer honest and humorous advice on everything from "Door Etiquette for the Nightlife-Challenged" by Clint Catalyst to "How to be an Art Star" by downtown NYC scenester Reverend Jen. Without a hint of irony, Good Advice for Young Trendy People of All Ages shows would-be bohemians how things really are ("How to Live in Debt" by Mykel Board), instead of selling far-fetched dreams of writing the great novel or producing a top gallery show.
SOME ANGELS
WEAR BLACK: Selected Poems
by Eli Coppola, Introduction by Michelle Tea, 160 pages,
ISBN 0-916397-71-8, $13.95, Paperback, Poetry
Narrative poems with straightforward, feisty sensibilities confront the difficulties and rewards of love: what one goes through to love and be loved. Social injustice ("Jury Duty") and mortality ("Casual Hands, Brutal Stars, Past Things") are recurrent themes, but love is always the driving force. Often funny, with a subtle sting, Coppola's heartfelt writing reveals an unrelenting, courageous struggle with a progressive disabling disease ("Enlightenment and Muscular Dystrophy").

THE UNDERGROUND GUIDE TO LAS VEGAS edited by Jarret Keene, 208 pages, ISBN 0-916397-99-8, $15.95, Paperback, Travel
The absolute lowdown on what and where in the neon desert's Sin City, whether you're here for a day, a week, or the rest of your life. Avoid the Strip's cheesy pitfalls: enjoy cheap and tasty eats, existential dive bars, loud and nasty bands, thrift stores, pawn shops, awesome gambling odds, and Vegas's best transsexual strip club. For hangover recovery, discover some of the most relaxing spas and breathtaking outdoors the West has to offer.
INTELLIGENT
JOKES compiled by Sion Rubi,
128 pages, ISBN 0-916397-97-1,
$11.95, Paperback, Humor
A man tells his wife, "You know, I don't feel like going to the Robinsons' party."
She replies, "I don't feel like going either, but imagine how happy they'll be if we don't go."
With so many remarkably unfunny things going on in the world today - from the war in Iraq to the Asian tsunami and its aftermath - everyone desperately needs to laugh just to relieve the tension of everyday life. In fact, laughter, along with an active sense of humor, may help protect against a heart attack, according to a recent study by cardiologists. In the interest of restoring mental and physical health in the general population, Intelligent Jokes is written in a colloquial style, with an appeal for clever readers looking for more than a rudimentary punchline. Lovers of "shaggy dog stories", as well as those who appreciate witty insights into personal relationships, send-ups of human folly, and our preoccupation with sex, will find these amusing jokes enormously entertaining.
MADNESS
AND RETRIBUTION: Poems
by Juliette Torrez, 80 pages,
ISBN 0-916397-95-5, $12.95, Paperback, Poetry. Cover painting
by Mark Ryden.
Travel a picturesque and often harrowing road through these narrative poems to encounter the quiet survivors and overlooked places fallen through the cracks in the American Dream. Meet a battered wife wearing a celebratory dress to her husband's funeral ("The Red Dress") and a fed-up woman who shoots a complaining nonsmoker at Denny's ("Mother of Four"). With empathy for the human condition, Juliette Torrez captures the absurdity, hypocrisy, and ultimately the beauty of the places and people she has known.
IT'S ALL GOOD: How Do You Like It
Here Now? edited by Jennifer Joseph &
Wendy Shimamura,
144 pages, ISBN 0-916397-85-8, $11.95, Paperback, Fiction/Poetry/Comix
Hard-hitting stories, accessible poems, and hair-raising comix answer the question of millennial ennui in the wake of economic crashes, Zoloft for breakfats, and governmental insanity. This lively collection contains fresh work by more than 40 cutting-edge writers and artists: sordid tales of lousy employment and nutty families; curious poems about a cop with diarrhea and a condom-eating cat; ill-fated love stories; and punk rock comix are among the eclectic mix of eccentric offerings. Outstanding writers from every region of the US are featured in this celebration of human spirit and good ol' American originality.
LEGENDS OF PUNK: Photos from the Vault by Rikki Ercoli, 128 pages, ISBN 0-916397-86-6, $19.95, 7 x 10 Hardcover, Music/Photography
A visual feast of black-and-white portraits capturing the most notorious rock'n'roll icons from the punk/new wave era. In these never-before-seen live and backstage photos, Sid Vicious is alive and sneering, the Red Hot Chili Peppers barely have a tattoo between them, the crowds are moshing, and the hairdos are tremendous. Sid, PIL, Patti, Blondie, Ramones, Clash, Stiv, DKs, Circle Jerks, DOA, Misfits, X, Slits, Nuns, Cramps, Lydia Lunch, and more.

IN ME OWN WORDS: The Autobiography of Bigfoot written and illustrated by Graham Roumieu, 44 pages, ISBN 0-916397-84-X, $12.95 Full color hardcover Humor
North America's favorite crypto-zoological homonid recast as the modern day everyman bravely struggling with casual cannabalism, eating disorders, pop culture and philosophical quandaries. Absolutely hilarious - a total laugh riot! "Brilliantly funny..." - San Francisco Chronicle