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Kirk Read Memoir, fiction, performance art and improvisational storytelling

Kirk Read

Biography Kirk Read is the author of "How I Learned to Snap," a memoir that was named an Honor Book by the American Library Assocation. His forthcoming second book is a collection of essays called "This is the Thing." He cohosts two open mic events called K'vetsh and Smack Dab. He has hosted several hundred literary events in the Bay Area and has toured the United States a number of times as a solo performer and as part of the Sex Workers Art Show. He worked for a number of years at the St. James Infirmary, a free clinic for sex workers.

Upcoming Works

  • "This is the Thing," June 10-14, 2008 theater show, www.brownpapertickets.com/event/32515
    "This is the Thing," collection of essays, totally unrelated to the show
    "Fannie Floyd and the Book of Life," novel
    "The New Brotherhood," an anthology of essays about masculinity and emerging cultural and personal relationships between gay men and transmen

Favorite Authors

  • Molly Ivins, Armistead Maupin, Michelle Tea, Beth Lisick, Eileen Myles, Andrew Holleran, Edmund White, Tennessee Williams, Truman Capote, Molly Ivins, Christopher Isherwood, Ali Liebegott

Nickname

  • Kirk

Relationship

  • In a seven year relationship with a wonderful man but am forbidden by the state to call it a marriage...I'm against marriage in all forms because I hate government and church involvement in private lives, but the fact is that there are over 100 rights and privileges that are afforded to married people. Domestic partnership isn't enough -- it would take thousands in lawyer's fees to tie ourselves together, and when one of us dies or gets sick, it will be a tremendous pain in the ass to deal with the fact that we don't have those legal ties.

Family

  • Youngest of six kids in a big southern family.

Causes I Support

  • St. James Infirmary; moveon.org; Counterpulse; Queer Cultural Center; Reclaiming

University Affiliation

  • Nope

Agents

  • Paula Balzer

Contact Agents

Publishers

  • Hill Street Press
    Penguin Books

Web Links