Gay-lit reviewer waxes enthusiastic over *apathy*! (an inspirational chapbook of poems and short verse by prolific bisexual writer Bill Brent, currently in recovery from apathy, LOL)
"There may be no copies available by now (Not true! Order below. --Bill) of this elegant chapbook, produced back in June by Bill. He was (and, in a sense, still is) the publisher of Black Books (one of the presses eviscerated financially by the implosion of its distributor a couple of years ago). Without the press as an outlet for his passion for words, he went back to his roots - the 'zine. Though in this case, the 'zine as a work of homegrown art, as 'the joyous pang of inspired living,' and as recovery from that drug of apathy. The first poem, written in 1977, is 'meditation at 16' - innocent, overeager, and wise. The last entry, undated, is 'Why I Write: Therapy, schmerapy! I'll tough it out for clarity / and maybe for posterity.' Hmm. Maybe this wee book isn't recovery from that drug - but it does read, quite exuberantly, that way. Also included, a page of aphorisms, a parody of craigslist.com sex come-on rip-offs: '40 reasons you don't want to marry me,' thoughts 'on truth.' Plenty of poems. A sharp wit. A quick mind. Personality. In a recent monthly newsletter, Bill said he was working on a second limited-edition chapbook, *This Is Only A Test* (like the first, only 100 copies, many of them given away), due in November. Contact him at verbose.comcast.net - or send him $5-$15 using PayPal, www.paypal.com."
--Richard Labonte'
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EXPLANATORY NOTES:
- This 42-page chapbook is available directly from me via PayPal (send a payment of $5 to $15 to verbose.comcast.net), via Powell's Books (www.powellsbooks.com, then search for "Bill Brent" or "apathy"), or by contacting me directly at verbose.comcast.net or at 707-604-7006 ... contrary to the reviewer's speculation, there *are* still copies of the original limited edition available. And I *do* take plastic.
- Also, RICHARD LABONTĘ was the manager of the A Different Light gay bookstore chain until his retirement a few years back. He is a long-time supporter of my work and was instrumental to my two appearances in the *Best Gay Erotica* anthology in the years 2002 and 2004 (currently in bookstores; also directly from me if you can't track down a copy).
Note: Since my husband's cancer surgery 4/25/05, this book content has been integrated into the public speaking content for audiences interested in a sassy approach to personal and/or community awareness events. Another chapbook on intimate love poet
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