Fayetteville Flyer » Books

U of A Football Vault - Book signing on Saturday

JTrain — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:22:21 +0000

If you haven’t picked up your copy of Rick Schaeffer’s new book, University of Arkansas Football Vault, then you’re missing out. The scrapbook, which “takes you on a memorable journey through more than 100 years of Razorback football,” contains photos, artwork and much, much more. And by “much, much more” I mean reproductions of old game programs, historic tickets, and numerous postcards and photos, including a 1930s fan megaphone, a 1964 Cotton Bowl poster and a collectable card highlighting Darren McFadden s sensational sophmore season.

Two words: F yeah! I guess that’s one letter and one word… but you get the point.

So we’ve established that this book is awesome and that if you consider yourself a real Razorback fan, you must absolutely pick up a copy for you own bad self. What you also need to know is that if you happen to buy the book before this coming Saturday, you’ll have a chance to get it signed by not only Rick Schaeffer, but Ken Hatfield and Frank Broyles as well… and maybe a few other Razorback figures. All you have to do is show up at Barnes and Noble in Fayetteville between 11am and 12:30pm for their book signing. Pretty dang sweet if you ask me.

If I weren’t going to be out of town, I can guarantee you I’d be there.

Has anyone got their own copy of the book yet? If so, what do you think about all the cool stuff inside?

“Arkansas” author on AETN tonight

Ted Dancin' — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 21:27:05 +0000

Thanks to Rock Candy, for the reminder that “Arkansas” author John Brandon will be on AETN’s “On The Same Page”tonight at 6:30pm.

From the press release: “Brandon, a Florida native, discusses “Arkansas” with host Tommy Sanders. The book follows criminals whose shaky circumstances and bad decisions send them spiraling into the most desperate situations, elaborate deceptions and wrong turns.”

Sounds interesting enough. Oh, and this reminds us, did anyone see John Brandon at Nightbird Books back in April?

Once Upon Dickson

Ted Dancin' — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 14:39:55 +0000

We just got word of a new book on the scene called Once upon Dickson: An Illustrated History, 1868-2000 and we can’t wait to check it out.

The book was put together by Anthony J. Wappel and contains nearly 370 images, including maps and advertisements. According to KFSM.com, Wappel “worked for several years in the special collections department at the University of Arkansas and is now Washington County Archivist and Records Manager, with an office in the historic Washington County Courthouse on College Avenue.”

From onceupondickson.com:

Historic and recent photographs illustrate the changes along Dickson Street throughout the twentieth century. Some notable images are pictures of a great fire in 1911, a class picture at the Fayetteville Business College, interior photos of businesses along the street, photographs of traffic conditions through the years, and advertisements for businesses long forgotten and for some still thriving along the street.

In celebration, Jose’s is hosting an autograph party from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 17.

It is currently available for purchase online at the book’s website. Does anyone know where we can pick up a copy locally? Nightbird Books, maybe?

“Arkansas” author to read at Nightbird Books

Tomforth — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 16:00:05 +0000

Being that we are in the middle of fucking nowhere here in Fayetteville, we don’t see a lot of “cultural” activities pass through, unless you count the upcoming performance by The Charlie Daniel’s Band as a “cultural event.” (Sorry, I don’t.) Even more difficult to come by, however, are “literary” events, unless you’re a fan of the completely obscure and boring crap that the MFA department brings in a few times each semester. (In which case, why are you even reading this? You should probably be double-checking the comma usage in your latest submission to The Iowa Review–because, you know, the success of your manuscript, and thus, your entire writing career, really hinges on how effectively you use commas in a boring-ass story about how traumatic your tenth birthday party was.)

Well, believe it or not, we are actually being privileged a bona fide literary event this weekend. And trust me, it will be well worth the entry fee of zero US dollars.

On Saturday night, author John Brandon will be reading from his debut novel, Arkansas, which was recently published by McSweeney’s. Now, you might be thinking, “McSweeney’s? Like that website where they have lists with absurd names like “How Important Moments in My Life Would Have Been Different if I Was Shot Twice in the Stomach at Close Range?” Well, yes, technically. But no. While they do operate a silly website, in addition, McSweeney’s also runs a totally bitchin’ publishing business.

It should be noted that I haven’t actually read the book yet, but it’s been getting lots of positive reviews, and I’m definitely excited to get my hands on a copy. I mean, who wouldn’t be excited about reading a book described thusly:

Arkansas is a biting first novel full of wet T-shirt contests, illicit drugs, and cross-country road trips. There are the days: the dappled grounds, the aimless yardwork, the hours in the booth giving directions to families in SUVs. And then there are the nights: crisscrossing the South with illicit goods, the shifty deals in dingy trailers, the vague orders from a boss they’ve never met. Before Kyle and Swin can recognize how close to paradise they are in this neglected state park in southern Arkansas, the lazy peace is shattered with a shot. Night blends into day. Dead bodies. Crooked superiors. Suspicious associates. It’s on-the-job training, with no time for slow learning, bad judgment, or foul luck.

The reading begins at Nightbird Books on Saturday night at 7:00. A reception will follow. This event is part of the Nightbird Books’ Two Year Anniversary Party, so go out and help celebrate and support the blessed rarity that is a successful locally-owned bookstore! Really awesome literary events like this are few and far between around here, so if you’re a fan of books about Arkansas, or the state of Arkansas in general, or books with wet t-shirt contests in them, or existential crime-thrillers, or even just perhaps really pretty bookstores with a lot of cute birds in them, then you shouldn’t miss this reading.