Upcoming Events:
Thursday, 22 August, 1 pm
Book Talk, “Why Books?”, Fitchburg Community Center, 5510 Lacy Rd., Fitchburg, Wis.
Thursday, 19 September, 6:30 pm
Book Talk, “Why Books, and Why This Book?”, Oregon Public Library, 200 N. Alpine Parkway, Oregon, Wis.
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Benj's Videos
The Coming of Age Quartet
by David Benjamin
David Benjamin’s “fictional memoir,” The Life and Times of the Last Kid Picked,” introduced a character who captivated readers. The voice of Benjie in The Last Kid Picked and its sequel, Fat Vinny’s Forbidden Love, became the voice of Cribbsy in two subsequent novels, They Shot Kennedy (winner of the 2021 Midwest Book Award for Fiction) and Summer of ’68, illuminate the comedy and tragedy of growing up in a tumultuous mid-century decade. In this brief video, Benjamin talks about his inspiration for a coming-of-age “quartet” that has few parallels in contemporary literature.
Saturday Afternoon at the Bookstore
On a chilly day in January, Literatus & Co., a congenial bookstore on Main Street in Watertown, Wisconsin, proprietors Wes and Isabel threw a launch party for the third in David Benjamin’s small town crime series, featuring police chief Jim Otis, Woman Trouble.
In a cozy reading room at Literatus, a group of Midwestern literati gathered to talk of books, writing and Benjamin’s books, of cabbages and kings. This informal roundtable turned into a lively conversation that lasted longer — and rendered more enjoyment — than expected.
Videographer Michael Raymond, the creator of Benj’s YouTube channel, was on hand to record the whole session. Later, he edited away all the hemming, hawing and surplusage. He titled the resulting video ”Saturday Afternoon at the Bookstore.” Take a look!
David Benjamin Reads an Excerpt from Last Kid Picked
David Benjamin | The Use of History and Humor in Bastard's Bluff
David Benjamin's Black Dragon | Fun on all Levels
David Benjamin on Jailbait
David Benjamin – The Last Kid Picked
David Benjamin – The Last Kid Picked
