The Karaoke Singer’s Guide to Self-Defense Book Release Tonight

By Betsy Mikel in Arts & Entertainment on Oct 11, 2011 6:00PM

Local independent publisher featherproof has a reputation for publishing edgy and envelope-pushing books. Their publications tend to contain supernatural experiences, secret agents, or complicated and conflicted characters (and at times, their books contain all of the above). And now they’re back with a novel by Tim Kinsella titled The Karaoke Singer’s Guide to Self-Defense which looks to be yet another dense and rewarding read.

The book is about a family that comes together for a funeral and explores their history together via reminiscing and new family experiences. Here’s a little taste from the featherproof blog: “In The Karaoke Singer's Guide to Self-Defense, post-industrial consumer capitalism practically prescribes a dream-like state as a default setting. This dream-like experience of the world is strange and erotic, as information itself becomes the currency and grounding of experience the strangeness of physicality becomes fetishized.”

Author Tim Kinsella has earned himself some Flavorwire and LitStack. Writing novels is not his first creative endeavor. He’s also a Chicago musician, starting with scream punk band Cap'n Jazz in 1995 and many other projects including but not limited to other albums, soundtracks, films, and lyrics. But now he is also an official, legitimate, publisher author, thanks to featherproof.

In celebration of this semi-rare occasion (remember, featherproof is an indie press, and also the economy sucks), there’s a book release party tonight at The Hideout. Tim Kinsella will be reading from The Karaoke Singer's Guide to Self-Defense as will a slew of other writers and readers. Get a taste of the full book by downloading the minibook, and stop by tonight for some more Karaoke fun. Also, it only costs a dollar, so if your excuse for not coming is that it’s too expensive, you’re lying. Raid your roommate’s laundry quarter stash and head to the party at 6:30 tonight.

The Karaoke Singer's Guide to Self-Defense book release party, The Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia, 6:30 p.m, $1