I have two readings on the horizon and am giving a heads up. Attendance is mandatory for all people living even vaguely in the region of one of these two events. No excuses (not even involuntary hemispherectomy) will be accepted.
Here is a dramatic cloud picture I took yesterday. It has absolutely nothing to do with the readings. 
Both readings are in support of Akashic Books’ The Marijuana Chronicles (which you can purchase following that link, or at either of these events) so I’ll be reading about, possibly talking about, weed-smoking zombie hookers and, depending on the format/situation, possibly reading a very short excerpt from one of the two books I’m working on right now. Also, I will sign anything you would like signed. This does include limbs.
One of the books I’m working on is about revenge and animal (and people) rights, the other is about poverty, wealth, and two women who swap lives.
Here is a picture of two of my mom’s horses, Lance and Romanche.
Romanche is a grass-eating fiend so he has to wear a mask, otherwise he would eat so much grass he would explode. This picture doesn’t have anything to do with the readings either, though the second of the two books I’m writing does prominently feature an eccentric horse.
Both readings involve other readers I adore and admire and the Spotty Dog event will also have INCREDIBLY GOOD live music from August Wells (video there, album forthcoming any minute) who sound something like a mix of Nick Cave, Ennio Morricone and Leonard Cohen as filtered through a craggy, Irish sensibility with a lot of jagged cliffs and beautiful, desolate women wearing tattered dresses.
Sunday August 4th Spotty Dog Books and Ale
440 Warren Street, Hudson, NY
4pm -FREE- Readers: ME, Jonathan Santlofer, Linda Yablonsky
Music: August Wells
Monday September 2nd (yes, Labor Day) Bumbershoot Festival
Seattle Washington- 6pm
Reading/Q&A and possible circus antics with me, Jonathan Santlofer, and the indefatigable Amanda Stern
(I have currently misplaced the info on the exact venue at Bumbershoot, but, if you live in Seattle and/or are attending Bumbershoot anyway and wish for more details, send me a note info@maggieestep.com and I’ll get you the details.)
That’s it for now.