Meet Christopher Barzak

I secretly want to be an author. I would like nothing more than to spend my days reading and writing about Youngstown. So, I'm particularly envious that a friend of mine has gotten his FIRST NOVEL published! It's called One for Sorrow, and is being published by Bantam Books today.

He's gotten some great reviews: Publishers Weekly says, “Death forges a supernatural bond between two lonely teenage boys in Barzak's first novel. Fifteen-year-old Adam McCormick is haunted by the earthbound ghost of his murdered classmate, Jamie Marks. Barzak admirably defies convention...the novel's approach to familiar material is refreshing.” Jonathan Lethem, National Book Award winning author of Motherless Brooklyn, says, “Barzak's sympathy and humor, his awareness, his easeful vernacular storytelling, are extraordinary,” and Karen Joy Fowler, author of The Jane Austen Book Club, says One for Sorrow is, “An amazing, original debut from an amazing, original writer.” Scott Westerfeld, author of the popular YA series Uglies, calls One for Sorrow, “An honest and uncanny ride through the shadows between grief and acceptance.” Nice!

Chris teaches writing at YSU and recently taught English near Tokyo. His next novel was inspired by some experiences there. I got to hear Chris read the prologue to One for Sorrow at the Oakland a couple of months ago, on his birthday. I'm looking forward to the launch party this Saturday, September 1, from 7 to 11 PM. There will be wine, food, and live music and art inspired by the novel. Barnes and Noble will sell copies of the novel there, and Chris will, of course, be on hand to read from the book and sign copies.

You can also catch Chris here: Borders in Niles, OH, September 15, 2-4 PM; Mac's Backs in Cleveland Heights, OH, September 22, 5 PM; Youngstown State University Poetry Center Reading, October 2, 7 PM; Barnes and Noble in Boardman, Ohio) October 9, 7 PM; and at a local Book Club Discussion Group at Barnes and Noble, Boardman, OH, October 18, 7 PM. Don't spoil the ending, though, I'm still reading!