Author Spotlight
SAMPSELL WEEK (3): A READING @ A READING (PART DEUX)
There’s a little girl sitting in the children’s section of Skylight Books reading a picture book; she looks about six or seven. (Too old to be reading a picture book. What the fuck? I was reading Bunnicula by that age.) I’m sitting in the back of the audience, so I can see into that section of the bookstore. Kevin Sampsell, who is reading from A Common Pornography, can’t. He doesn’t know that the little kid is listening to him read about the time he had manual sex with a stranger in the back of a porn shop.
Kevin Sampsell corrupting small child (courtesy Sabra Embury)
The little girl’s father is around here somewhere, although I don’t see him right now. He looks a little ominous in that lanky, muscular, tattooed L.A. way that I’m not used to yet. It’s only been 48 hours since I got to L.A. I don’t really know how to drive and almost got into like three accidents on the way to Skylight Books. Then when I walked in (slightly late because I can’t drive, that’s why I’m in the back) I saw the backs of two familiar heads, the heads of Ned Vizzini and Sabra Embury. Next to their heads was an unfamiliar head. That head turned and I recognized Ken Baumann, who I hadn’t seen before except once very briefly at Barbes Brooklyn. I’d learned only recently that he’s one of the stars of an ABC Family TV show. On TV he looks kind of like a young, skinny James Franco. In person he looks more like a mad scientist, or like Egon from Ghostbusters.
Kevin Sampsell continues reading. The little girl does not react at all to the descriptions of sex acts which are being read about twenty-five feet away from her. Her father does not appear and cause a scene. Sampsell reads to us about his high school girlfriend. It’s funny and good. One time a while back, I read something called A Common Pornography by Kevin Sampsell, a shorter version of what’s been published now, and thought it was excellent, but I haven’t read the new version yet. I’m going to. Good on Harper Perennial for publishing it. HTML Giant folks keep referring to Sampsell as “label-mate” because they’re on Harper Perennial too. I can also say “label-mate” even though I’m not on Harper Perennial. That’s because Sampsell was published by Word Riot back when. After Sampsell finishes, much of the crowd comes up to congratulate him. The book sounds and looks good. (Later, I buy it.) Then we go out for Indian food. I don’t know what Sampsell has, but Ken Baumann and I eat a plate of Indian onion rings, which are the best onion rings I’ve ever had.
Tags: A Common Pornography, kevin sampsell, kevin sampsell week, skylight books
If you’re looking for some more good eats in LA, check out The Fish Grill at 7226 Beverly Blvd.
If you’re looking for some more good eats in LA, check out The Fish Grill at 7226 Beverly Blvd.
Quirky account. The not-driving sounded fun, esp in LA.
Quirky account. The not-driving sounded fun, esp in LA.
I was born and raised in Los Angeles. Learn how to drive. You and others like you make this city even more fucked up then it already is. It’s not hard to drive. Foot on gas, hands on steering wheel, look out the window, use your turn signals. That’s it.
I was born and raised in Los Angeles. Learn how to drive. You and others like you make this city even more fucked up then it already is. It’s not hard to drive. Foot on gas, hands on steering wheel, look out the window, use your turn signals. That’s it.
I don’t realize there was a little girl close by. If I did, I would have read the chapter about turning into a baby dragon and saving the princess.
I don’t realize there was a little girl close by. If I did, I would have read the chapter about turning into a baby dragon and saving the princess.
Dude, chill. He’ll learn.
Dude, chill. He’ll learn.
not everyone knows how to drive. some of us don’t ever have to and would prefer not to. and it can be nerve-wracking to have to get behind the wheel. try a little understanding.
not everyone knows how to drive. some of us don’t ever have to and would prefer not to. and it can be nerve-wracking to have to get behind the wheel. try a little understanding.
lived in LA for years and never learned to drive. used the metro. bummed rides. walked. and yeah, even the buses. but never drove.
lived in LA for years and never learned to drive. used the metro. bummed rides. walked. and yeah, even the buses. but never drove.
what’s driving?
what’s driving?
Live in a city where 50% of the people are freaking tourists and then talk to me about understanding. And when I say tourists, I’m not talking about people from other countries. I’m talking about people from the U.S. who come to Los Angeles to live out their dreams of whatever, and simply refuse to learn the customs of car culture. This is a car city. It’s not a pedestrian city. It’s not a mass trans city. It’s a city of pissed off people who have to sit in their cars all day long. That’s like moving to New York and telling people that you don’t really like walking from place to place, that you’re not very good with making your way through foot traffic, and that you also aren’t very interested in learning how. Too bad.
Live in a city where 50% of the people are freaking tourists and then talk to me about understanding. And when I say tourists, I’m not talking about people from other countries. I’m talking about people from the U.S. who come to Los Angeles to live out their dreams of whatever, and simply refuse to learn the customs of car culture. This is a car city. It’s not a pedestrian city. It’s not a mass trans city. It’s a city of pissed off people who have to sit in their cars all day long. That’s like moving to New York and telling people that you don’t really like walking from place to place, that you’re not very good with making your way through foot traffic, and that you also aren’t very interested in learning how. Too bad.
All those people you bummed rides from? They hate you.
All those people you bummed rides from? They hate you.
It was awesome. Good reading!
It was awesome. Good reading!
i live in hollywood, and am a socal native, not that that designation means anything to me but the association between local pride and your identity seems to be important to you, and, i’m sitting here wondering why are you so uptight?
most places within america are inhabitable without a car.
i know. i can’t drive.
life is not easy outside of the big city.
this superfluous sense of urgency is silly. why is this a car city?
why are you in such a rush to go somewhere?
you bitch about the mannerisms of your fellow insects, but yet you live within the hive.
leave the hive.
go out, alone, and curse away all of the deplorable living beings that litter your daily commute.
or, sit in your safety, and complain, lament like the bitch you are, about something as silly as driving.
lament the day away and reap your petty tears.
i live in hollywood, and am a socal native, not that that designation means anything to me but the association between local pride and your identity seems to be important to you, and, i’m sitting here wondering why are you so uptight?
most places within america are inhabitable without a car.
i know. i can’t drive.
life is not easy outside of the big city.
this superfluous sense of urgency is silly. why is this a car city?
why are you in such a rush to go somewhere?
you bitch about the mannerisms of your fellow insects, but yet you live within the hive.
leave the hive.
go out, alone, and curse away all of the deplorable living beings that litter your daily commute.
or, sit in your safety, and complain, lament like the bitch you are, about something as silly as driving.
lament the day away and reap your petty tears.
im with wilson. people should really just learn to drive. whats the problem idiots. sit in the chair, press go, turn the wheel, honk the horn. my elbow by itself could drive better than your sister. fucking tourists with your big hats and your tar pits, just leave and me alone to my fast car highways.
im with wilson. people should really just learn to drive. whats the problem idiots. sit in the chair, press go, turn the wheel, honk the horn. my elbow by itself could drive better than your sister. fucking tourists with your big hats and your tar pits, just leave and me alone to my fast car highways.
Wilson–what about bikes? Can you make fun of people who ride bikes? They’re all a bunch of pussies, right?
Wilson–what about bikes? Can you make fun of people who ride bikes? They’re all a bunch of pussies, right?
“It’s a city of pissed off people who have to sit in their cars all day long.”
well maybe if people didn’t depend on their cars to go get their lattes, and instead walked there and enjoyed the day, they wouldn’t be so pissed off.
wilson, did you know that some people have had the opportunity to drive taken away from them and they can’t do a thing about it? you need to stop taking it for granted.
i really hope that one day you won’t be able to drive and will see how fucking hard life can be. you make me sick.
“It’s a city of pissed off people who have to sit in their cars all day long.”
well maybe if people didn’t depend on their cars to go get their lattes, and instead walked there and enjoyed the day, they wouldn’t be so pissed off.
wilson, did you know that some people have had the opportunity to drive taken away from them and they can’t do a thing about it? you need to stop taking it for granted.
i really hope that one day you won’t be able to drive and will see how fucking hard life can be. you make me sick.
this is the most non-driving-mfuckering forum I have ever seen.
cool.
Wish I never learned, actually.
Driving is so Big in American Lit, life.
Interesting issue.
this is the most non-driving-mfuckering forum I have ever seen.
cool.
Wish I never learned, actually.
Driving is so Big in American Lit, life.
Interesting issue.
The best writer “on driving” is Elizabeth Ellen.
The best writer “on driving” is Elizabeth Ellen.
haha. i just got back from a 5 day road trip few hours ago. can’t wait to see you saturday, kevin.
haha. i just got back from a 5 day road trip few hours ago. can’t wait to see you saturday, kevin.