In reverse chronological order:

Wednesday, 6/18: Official book launch party, with reading and book signing, at Head House Books, 619 S. 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, 6/12: Reading and book signing at Main Point Books, 1041 West Lancaster Avenue, Bryn Mawr, PA, 7:00 p.m.

Monday, 6/9: Review in The Piker Press

Wednesday, 6/4: Guest post by Louis, "Three Things I Learned About Writing From My Day Jobs," on Maryann Miller's blog

Monday, 6/2: Maryann Miller discusses other work by Louis Greenstein in her Monday Morning Musings

Sunday, 6/1: Book review on Maryann Miller's blog, "It's Not All Gravy"

Thursday, May 8: Advance review in Philadelphia Review of Books

Monday, March 17: Advance review in Small Press Reviews

We've seen an occasional "rave review" before, but Sand Pilarski's article on MR. BOARDWALK in The Piker Press must qualify as an uber-rave, if there is such a thing:

"Being an editor, I read a lot. Being an avid reader, I read even more. Mr. Boardwalk is easily the best book I have read in years. Louis Greenstein weaves this story flawlessly back and forth in Jason's life, from his troubled adult life to his childhood, from his secrecy to the memories of his teen years, both the treasured and the heart-breaking. Though I've never been to the boardwalk in Atlantic City, I could nearly feel the texture of the boards under my feet as I read, smell the hot pretzels and fudge and suntan lotion....

"This was a book that I didn't save for bedtime reading; I carried it with me from room to room to dip into any time I had the chance; by halfway through I just hid in my studio and read until the book was done, unwilling to spend any more time away from it. I wished I could have lived Jason's summers on the boardwalk, talked with his friends, followed their stories for another six books at least."

Coming to Main Point Books for the first author appearance by Louis Greenstein? Here's the place you're looking for. (Cute, huh?)

It's on Thursday, June 12, at 1041 W. Lancaster Ave. in Bryn Mawr, PA. We'll be starting at 7:00 p.m.

Another Goodreads review of MR. BOARDWALK: "This is a beautifully written novel, and an impressive achievement for a first-time novelist."

List of upcoming and previous author appearances, in reverse chronological order, with links:

Wednesday, 6/18: Official book launch party, with reading and book signing, at Head House Books, 619 S. 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, 6/12: Reading and book signing at Main Point Books, 1041 West Lancaster Avenue, Bryn Mawr, PA, 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, 6/4: Guest post by Louis, "Three Things I Learned About Writing From My Day Jobs," on Maryann Miller's blog

Monday, 6/2: Maryann Miller discussed other work by Louis Greenstein in her Monday Morning Musings

Sunday, 6/1: Book review on Maryann Miller's blog, "It's Not All Gravy"

Another reviewer on Goodreads loves MR. BOARDWALK: "I really enjoyed reading this book.... It was interesting that everybody in his [the protagonist Jason's] life kept telling him to be a better 'partner' and he didn't realize how to do this until the unthinkable."

Today Louis Greenstein has a guest post on Maryann Miller's blog "It's Not All Gravy." Titled "Three Things I Learned About Writing From My Day Jobs," it's about ... well, what the title says. He's been a street performer, short order cook, youth counselor, antiques dealer, and much else, and all these jobs gave him insights he has now applied to writing. Even if you're not a recovering mime, this is crucial information.

Today's the day! MR. BOARDWALK is officially released in paperback. Books are shipping from the wholesaler.

An excerpt from Maryann Miller's review that appeared on Sunday:
"In this wonderful novel, the reader is introduced to Atlantic City through the eyes of the adult Jason as he begins to share his history with his wife and his daughter. The scene is set so vividly, we can feel the chill, salty spray from the ocean, see boys tossing a football, and sense Jason's trepidation. Then we go back to his childhood and see the magic that first had him fall in love with The Boardwalk."

In the next couple of weeks you can meet the author, Louis Greenstein, at these events:

• Thursday, 6/12: Reading, discussion, and book signing at Main Point Books, 1041 West Lancaster Avenue, Bryn Mawr, PA, 7:00 p.m.
  
• Wednesday, 6/18: Official book launch party, with reading and book signing, at Head House Books, 619 S. 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA, 7:30 p.m.
  

The paperback edition releases tomorrow! Sorry, did you just spill your coffee while jumping with glee?

Today, blogger Maryann Miller, impressed with Louis Greenstein's work, praises his musical show, One Child Born, as well. It is a great show, and the performer, Kate Ferber, has a voice to die for.

To honor the paperback's debut, here's another excerpt from the novel. In this passage, Jason finds that (a) his girlfriend Sarah is getting a little too friendly with his best friend Skip and (b) the story they made up for Sarah's mother isn't going to work.

Outside, I heard Skip and Sarah laughing. I was glad they were getting along.... Before I joined Sarah and Skip in the backyard, I stood over the kitchen table, held the tequila bottle in my hands and inspected it. Maybe I'd try alcohol one day. I was afraid it would make me vomit like Skip did at my bar mitzvah. Not that I'd be uncomfortable vomiting in front of Sarah. If you can vomit in front of your girlfriend, it's true love. But not tonight when I had to drive.

I went back outside. Skip and Sarah had finished the joint. They looked wiped out. Sarah wobbled. Skip stared at the night clouds.

"What do you think of booze?" I asked Sarah.

"I love it," she said with a loopy grin. She poked my ribs with her finger and when I turned, she planted a sloppy kiss on my face.

"Cool," I said, wiping a trickle of her spit off my chin with the back of my hand. "As long as you can walk a straight line in a couple hours."

"Yes, Mom," she said sarcastically.

I raised an eyebrow. "You probably shouldn't drink any more tonight because you have to be home at eleven and you look kind of fucked up as it is."

"She can handle her drugs and booze," said Skip.

"Yeah!" Sarah chimed in loudly. "I can handle myself, thank you." She elbowed Skip in his ribs, a friendly gesture I didn't like. Now they were laughing at a joke I didn't get—something to do with tiptoeing past comatose mothers.

Meanwhile, over at the Brookline Family Movie Theater, where That's Entertainment II was playing at seven-thirty and ten o'clock, in the middle of a song and dance spectacular, Jeanette MacDonald looked into the camera, thrust out her arms and announced: "Your attention please, Sarah Gilquist, please report to the box office. Sarah Gilquist. You have a phone call."

We heard about Jeanette MacDonald from some kids at school who were at the show. If we'd been there, Sarah would have keeled over and died from embarrassment, and the theater manager would have gotten back on the phone and told Mrs. Gilquist, "She's not available. She's dead." Instead he said something like, "No one here by that name. Sorry."

Another great review of MR. BOARDWALK on Goodreads, this one from "Melki." Here's a snippet:

"Greenstein has perfectly captured the sights, sounds and smells of that magical place by the sea in his tale of Atlantic City before legalized gambling and Donald Trump ruined the place. This is a terrific, nostalgia-laced read about a place that no longer exists except in beautiful memory."

Hey, it's June, and this is the week when Louis Greenstein's MR. BOARDWALK becomes officially available in print! Below are some of the upcoming events to mark the publication. We'll add more events and build in direct links as the information becomes available.

Today, Sunday, 6/1: Book review on Maryann Miller's blog, "It's Not All Gravy"

Monday, 6/2: Maryann Miller features other work by Louis Greenstein

Wednesday, 6/4: Guest post by Louis on Maryann Miller's blog

Come out to meet the author:

Thursday, 6/12: Reading and book signing at Main Point Books, 1041 West Lancaster Avenue, Bryn Mawr, PA, 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, 6/18: Official book launch party, with reading and book signing, at Head House Books, 619 S. 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA, 7:30 p.m.