San Francisco...Mark Abramson @ Books Inc! Synchronicity abounds with Russian River Rat author...
Yesterday was an intriguing day, but auspicious signs during the course of it, signalled I was on the right path and where I was meant to be according to the cosmic design.
Early in the day, when I was unable to locate the LA Times, I settled for the San Francisco Chronicle which I plucked up at the local newstand.
As I quickly gleaned the pages, I spied an iintriguing article on disappearing Sea Lions in San Francisco Bay, which I clipped out to refer to for a potential post later in the week on the environment.
The rest of the day's schedule filled up pretty quickly - and the energy expended to keep abreast of it - ended up rustling up a craving for munchies around 7 p.m.
As I scoured Market Street for an inviting diner to slip into, I spied Books Inc, and thought I'd pop in to snatch up the Times (to read over dessert).
For the first time on this visit to Frisco (after searching high & low for the Los Angeles daily) a cashier at the back desk finally informed me that the newspaper did not have a distributor in the tony Bay area.
So, I was SOL.
With a sigh, I started to turn away, when I noticed a gaggle of fold-up chairs uniformly placed around a small podium in the center of the backroom.
Just as that image caught my eye, I suddenly realized that customers were strolling in and taking seats, for what appeared to be an in-house literary event.
The cute staffer informed me that writer Mark Abramson - who penned the popular "Beach Series" tome - Russian River Rat - would be reading a few paragraphs from his latest (as yet unpublished) offering.
Unfortunately, I was not familiar with the author or his celebrated book on the Russian River hot-spot.
In fact, I'm probably the only the single male to have never trekked up to the popular resort for a week-end of camp.
I've heard all the - gossip, rumors, and innuendo - though.
All true, I gather from trustworthy sources (oh, yeah!).
As it turns out, that morning the Chronicle mentioned the event - but for some inexplicable reason - I didn't stumble across it (just the report on Sea Lions).
How ironic!
As the - witty, outgoing, middle-aged author prepared to read excerpts from "Snowball" - he chortled in an aside that the manuscript may have to undergo some judicious edits before the publishing phase, if the Sea Lions continued to vanish from the bay.
Apparently the delightful sea creatures play a major role in uncovering a macabre twist in the plot.
Talk about synchronicity!
At this juncture, soothed by the realization that I was where I was meant to be at that given moment in time, I settled in for a very entertaining night at the bookstore.
The author was blessed with a packed house - in fact - several fans of his reading style were forced to stand (due to a lack of chairs) as he delighted us all with excerpts from - not only the new book - but from old favorites other book-lovers in the cozy nook were familiar with.
Then, there was a special surprise treat.
Mark pointed out that a publisher back east was interested in his "Diaries" which consisted of entries that stretched back a few decades.
So, he was inclined to read a couple of highly-personal notes from those intimate "memoires", fortunately for his enthusiastic fan base in attendance.
Abramson selected a couple of entries from January 7th (1975, I believe) because that was the date of yesterday's book-reading.
It was going to be interesting to learn what was on his mind the same day so many moons ago.
Imagine that!
The musings all focused on his first attempt to join a writer's group (early on in his literary career) and his hand-wringing about this 'n that - what to toss over his muscular bod to attract a trick and which choice poems to select to best represent his style (in that order!) - and so forth and so on.
As to last night's venture into celebrity, well, he was warmly received by the surprisingly down-to-earth cross-section of gay men who casually-strolled in totally devoid of attitude.
On occasion, Mr. Abramson's interaction with the rapt audience was highly personal in nature.
For example, he chatted a bit about the A.I.D.S. crisis when it hit the Castro like a ton of bricks, and touched on the havoc it caused initially.
Some of the unforgettable experiences inspired his writing, naturally.
For example, he introduced one character - in his cast of many - who became affectionately known as the "bug chaser".
At one point in the early days of the outbreak, older gay men in the throes of various stages of the disease, commanded a remarkable outpouring of love from a compassionate community anxious to reach out and provide comfort in the hour of suffering.
In response to that, a curious phenomenon arose in the gay community, which was shocking to some.
A number of young gays (18-24 age-range basically) felt left out - after all, in neighborhoods like the Castro, West Hollywood, and elsewhere - those stricken with the killer virus were taken into the fold at support groups and hands-on treatment centers and were even provided with free prescription drugs for a myriad of ailments and funding to defray housing costs.
Subsequently, these hapless misguided kids actively sought out older gay men afflicted with the disease, to infect them (willingly or not).
Shortly after that strange episode in gay history, the producers and writers at "Queer as Folk", actually incorporated that disturbing manifestation into a major plot line on the highly-popular cable show.
The ratings skyrocketed, of course!
During the course of the readings last night, there were a number of humorous moments, as well.
The unassuming writer (who - like many S.F. dudes - shaves his head) joked about white sheets referred to in one chapter.
A couple of the guests reacted in a knee-jerk Martha Stewart kind-of-way.
"Who buys white sheets," one roared!
In response, Mark - quick on the uptake - chirped up.
"Well, I figure, if ever there was an emergency, you could wave them to attract help."
Of course, this triggered an old memory from my past.
A lover and I were strolling through a park years ago (not telling which one!) when nature's beauty was inclined to romantically sweep us up into each other arms.
So, we thought it might be a touch risque - and a real adrenalin rush - to lay down in the grass and smooch a little in the bright mid-day sun with Mother Nature's bounty serenading us all around.
Right-off-the-bat, we figured we'd better go off the beaten path (so to speak), and far from the madding crowd.
Curiously, when we hiked up towards the peak of one hill, the foliage diminished somewhat - and eventually - consisted of mainly low-lying shrubs.
Oh well, we were far enough away from prying eyes, that we figured we would be able to snuggle-up without any unexpected intrusions on our intimate moment in the park.
Unfortunately, my friend was wearing bright white undershorts.
Wouldn't 'ya know it, just as we were in the midst of our clinch, we suddenly heard the thunderous roar of a whirly-bird.
We jumped up and scanned the skies to determine if it was nearby.
Turns out, it was the Channel 5 News helicopter (normally used to chart the afternoon rush-hour traffic for the news anchors at the station) heading right in our direction.
OMG!
They must have seen the white flash of his skivvies hanging ten from the bushes below and thought someone was crying out for help!
Well, quick as a wink, we were buttoning up and scooting down the slope to high-tail it outta there.
I intended to tell the story to Mr. Abramson after the readings, but he was busy signing books (so I passed).
Hopefully, he'll stumble on this post, and have a good laugh!
For the most part, the event ran like clock-work, though I did have some frustrations when I was video-taping Mark Abramson for this post.
Unfortunately, a gentleman who plunked down in a seat just ahead of me and slightly to the left, spoiled some of the tantalizing footage.
Gosh, he was not unlike some extra on a movie set in Hollywood, who tries to get his mug on camera - and in the process - ends up upstaging the star.
When he noticed the video camera in my hand, for instance, his behaviour got downright bizarre.
At first, he half-turned in his chair, to try to get his profile in the shots!
Then, at one point, he actually bent over - smack dab in the middle of the lens - and took a moment to re-tie his running shoes!
Duh.
Was he there to actually take in the precious moments being offered up (for free) by the author - or - simply there to be ever-mindful that his bootstraps were properly strung up?
On a couple of occasions, he also made a point of glancing at items on a shelf to our right.
When I looked over to see what was allegedly catching his eye, I was taken aback to see the items mostly consisted of toys (and games) for kids.
Pervert, perhaps?
Gosh, it was just a ploy to get on-camera!
At one point, I was tempted to lean over and point out that his inconsiderate behaviour was ruining shots I intended to post on the Internet to promote the author and his books.
In a nutshell, he was destroying golden opportunities meant for the writer, alright.
But, since I am a bit of a fatalist, I struggled through the sorry scenario without uttering a peep.
So, when you take a gander at the videos provided at the link(s) below, you'll understand why the author is closer to the left frame (and not centered).
I was trying to prevent the nutty fruitcake from weasling his way into frame!
If 'ya notice a blur or two on the videos - yup! - that's bits and pieces of his body parts (arm, head, etc.) floating in and out of the frame erratically which caught me off-guard.
Life in Baghdad by the sea, eh?
Mark Abramson reads entries from "Diaries"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7OwLLiTsUU
Mark Abramson reads excerpts from "Snowball" & other material
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VlMmGEtGvs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tt_W16OmP4o
http://www.julianayrs.com
Louis Peitzman
TRASHY FICTION suits author just fine...
San Francisco Chronicle - Thursday, January 7, 2010
If you've ever searched desperately for a fun, readable book to slip in your back pocket before heading out, take note - Mark Abramson has been there.
"I was just on my way out the door, and I thought, 'Oh, I'll just pick up something that's going to be beach reading for me,' " the San Francisco author recounts. "I wanted to find a book where I was so familiar with everything that I wouldn't have to think too hard, that I would just be entertained."
Abramson's desire to discover the next Armistead Maupin led him to begin his own locally set queer series. He called it "Beach Reading" to describe the kind of fiction he was seeking - entertaining, lighthearted and just a little bit trashy.
The "Beach Reading" series stars gay waiter Tim Snow, a reluctant psychic whose dreams help him solve crimes. The third and latest installment, "Russian River Rat," follows Tim as he struggles to settle down with his seemingly perfect boyfriend. Meanwhile, both men are haunted by their pasts. The mystery is only part of it.
The books "are not strictly about one thing," he notes. "They all involve all of these quirky characters. A lot of critics have compared them to 'Tales of the City,' Armistead's books, only across town and 30 years later."
But it wasn't easy for Abramson to find a publisher. He actually wrote the second story in his "Beach Reading" series first, and it was only after writing a prequel that he found a buyer. "I just thought, 'OK, I'm going to stick everything really sellable into the first book and make it really, really commercial.' "
Some might scoff at his approach, but Abramson maintains that there is a place for the trashy-fiction genre - especially when it's well written. "If you're going to read beach reading, why shouldn't it be good?"
Part of the appeal of "Russian River Rat" and the rest of the series is that Abramson sticks close to the reality of San Francisco - the Castro, in particular. He writes what he knows, drawing on his experiences in the community and as a waiter-bartender. Local readers can recognize the stores and bars they frequent; Abramson even features a few San Francisco celebs in cameos.
The idea is to draw readers into a world they know. The series is both familiar and escapist. It's aggressively unpretentious, because that is the kind of book Abramson wants to read. Given the dearth of good queer fiction available, he says, there's nothing wrong with something approachable and well done.
"It was part of the reason I wanted to make the covers of my books so erotic," Abramson says. "If they're just buying anything because it's queer, I might as well give them what they want."
Russian River Rat
E.B. Boatner - Lavender Magazine
Book Three of Abramson's Beach Reading series finds protagonist Tim Snow's beloved Aunt Ruth moved to San Francisco, and Tim himself finally in love with the perfect man. Oh, really? Tim and Nick begin the "If he really loved me, he'd call first" dance, against the background hum of murder and intrigue, plus the ongoing lives of the wonderfully quirky denizens of Abramson's Snow's Castro. Then, Tim finds more anomalies in Nick's background: a Big Easy cop cousin who turns up as the drowned body fished out of the Russian River, and lurkers from the past out to destroy... whom? Abramson can tie more complicated knots and entangling nets than a 19th-Century sailor, his catch prolific and entertaining. Don't mind that temperatures are falling (especially back in Tim's native Minnesota) "Beach" is a state of mind, and Beach Reading can be done as enjoyably under an electric throw by the fireside as slathered in SP 40 by the lapping waves.
RUSSIAN RIVER RAT
Bob Lind
Echo Magazine
Twinkish, late 20's Castro waiter Tim Snow is trying to adapt to a long distance relationship with Nick Musgrove, who operates a big florist/garden center in the Russian River area north of San Francisco. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, but it also makes for occasional miscommunications, jealousy and frequent worries about each other. Tim's Aunt Ruth, who moved to San Francisco after visiting Tim here, is settling in as well, bartending at the same restaurant at which Tim works, and dating a successful older man. When the paper reports a possible murder near Nick's home, and Tim gets one of his vivid possibly-clairvoyant dreams that suggests Nick may be in danger, the couple reunite at Nick's cabin, not knowing that the killer could be watching their every move.
This third in Abramson’s "Beach Reading" series continues to develop and provide background on these realistic, emotionally complete characters, while involving them in another outstanding, riveting and suspenseful mystery thriller. While I would recommend reading all of the books in order, for the full effect, each one can also stand alone as a great read. Abramson paints a wonderful picture of the diverse yet cohesive, supportive Castro community, and I can't wait until his next book to take me back to them. Bravo ... five warm sourdough stars out of five!
RUSSIAN RIVER RAT
What a great character mark Abramson gives us in Tim Snow and it is good to have him back for a third time. Tim now thinks he has found the man to complement him--a handsome guy with his own business on the Russian River. Mark now has his Aunt Ruth with him, a wonderful partner and everything should be going well for him but.......
Tim begins to have dreams that bother him and his boyfriend is showing signs that he is less than perfect and suddenly both men come into contact with men from their past who could cause trouble and even death. And that is all I am going to say about the plot so as not to spoil anything for any prospective reader. I will, however, mention that Abramson lured me in with his first book "Beach Reading" and cemented me in "Cold Serial Murder" so it was up to him to make sure that I would not be let down by "Russian River Rat" and I certainly feel he passed the test beautifully.
Abramson is quite a writer. His characters are drawn beautifully and his plot here is carefully thought out. He pulls us in and does not let go even after we close the book. Not many can do that to me.
- E.B. Boatner - Lavender Magazine, MINNEAPOLIS
Back in the 1970s, in the age of Harvey Milk and the singer Sylvester, a young man named Mark Abramson moved from his native Minneapolis to San Francisco. There he became part of a generation of gay men who populated Castro Street and changed gay life forever, joining people such as John Preston, Randy Shilts and Al Parker (all of whom he befriended).
Mark Abramson
Photo credit: bastique
Abramson has since survived the AIDS epidemic that decimated the city’s gay community and the yuppification that put San Francisco out of reach for all but the most wealthy. Abramson owes much to San Francisco; but he has also given that city much in return, as producer of gay circuit parties and mega-events including “Men Behind Bars” and “Pier Pressure.”
Abramson has also written for once famous but now defunct publications Christopher Street, Fag Rag, Gay Sunshine and Mouth of the Dragon.
Mark Abramson’s love for San Francisco is most evident in his “Beach Reading” series; a gay valentine to the City by the Bay that promises to be the best book series of its kind since Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City.
The title of the series - also the title of the first book in the series - indicates that the books are meant to be light reading, perfect for a lazy day by the sea.
The hero of the series is Tim Snow; like Abramson, he’s a refugee from Minnesota who found freedom and opportunity in the Gay Mecca. Possessing great looks, a hot body, a winning personality and a still-undeveloped psychic gift he inherited from his grandmother, Tim makes ends meet in the Castro by working as a waiter at a restaurant owned by a middle-aged gay couple who are also his landlords while trying to find true love amidst all the sexual opportunities that come his way.
The first book in the series, Beach Reading (Lethe Press; $13), is a slight book, with no overriding goal except to introduce the series’ characters and give us a little fun along the way.
San Francisco, we are told, is readying for the “party of the decade”: an all-star tribute to Sylvester at the Moscone Center. As if that wasn’t enough, evangelist Arlo Montgomery is bringing his anti-gay crusade to San Francisco that very weekend. How Tim gets involved in all this, and what he does to put a stop to Arlo Montgomery’s anti-gay agenda, is the plot of Beach Reading.
Though there is not much depth to Beach Reading (the book lives up to its name), the plot and characters are interesting enough to carry the reader through the first book and prepare him for the second one.
The second book in Abramson’s Beach Reading series, Cold Serial Murder (Lethe Press, $15), is actually better than the first one. This one introduces Tim’s Aunt Ruth, who took Tim in when his parents disowned him for being gay.
Ruth is an interesting character in her own right and adds an outsider’s perspective to the often-inbred Castro gay community. There is also an element of mystery in this volume, involving a murderer who kills Tim’s ex-lover Jason as well as other men.
Tim and Ruth make a great team and their joint efforts to find out who the Cold Serial murderer is promises us more such efforts in the future. Mark Abramson and Lethe Press are already working on several additional volumes in their beach reading series, promising more exciting adventures for Tim, Ruth, their friends and, of course, continuing their author’s enduring love affair with San Francisco.