Day 9: Reverb Prompt "Party"

These guys may not look like the penultimate partiers, but they are the Penultimate Dickheads and this is the gathering that "rocked my socks off" in 2010. WHY? Because after years of working on my novel "A Kindred Spirit" where Philip K. Dick is a central character, I attended the first Philip K. Dick Festival and held the Intergalactic debut of my novel there! That truly rocked my socks OFF!

I drove over 450 miles in the van, with my dog, to get there. I must say I was disappointed at first when I didn't see Woodstock-size throngs of folks covering the countryside, but the small group that did show up were hard-core Dickheads. They bought my book, and I forged friendships that extend beyond the sci-fi/metaphysical realm. Some of them are currently helping me with Q and A interviews about my novel.

Party HQ was a sprawling biker bar called Roy's "Last Shot" on a rural mountain road in between Denver and Boulder. We ate hearty food: burgers, steaks, pizza and listened to music by a group called Ubik, named after one of PKD's novels. The juxtaposition of the cerebral PKD fans with the Roy's rowdy, rugged bikers was something to see. But in the end, some of those bikers remembered reading PKD stories in their youth and actually joined us for pizza and discussions. It was a unique experience and a dream come true for me watching my private musings about Phil now perfect-bound and in the hands of the guys who knew him best.

Think PKD is passe?

well, think again! Philip K. Dick (PKD as the Dickheads call him) is getting even MORE popular this fall! Every week we see a new book release about him, or even BY him -- even though he's been dead for nearly thirty years. This November fans will finally see the infamous Exegesis of PKD. Infamous, I say, because there has always been a swirl of controversy around Phil's private life. The Exegesis (in full) is said to be nearly ten thousand pages of raw, journal-like scribblings-- some typed, some hand-written. Much of it centers around Phil's personal speculations on the cause of his strange encounters in early 1974, the "pink beam" phase, as some of us lovingly call it. Other Dick fans hated these final years of Phil's life claiming he had a series of "pin strokes" (TIA is the proper medical term) beginning eight years before he died and that all of his visions and "religious" experiences can be tied to brain maladies. Phil died of a stroke, followed by heart attack, March 2, 1982.

Paul Williams, who was the first Literary Executor for PKD's papers and unpublished works, was adamantly opposed to publication of the Exegesis. He called it "incoherent and repetitive." Of course Paul has his own brain malady now (early dementia from a bicycle accident) so he's in no position to argue with the Trust (Phil's offspring.) Moot point, since Volume One of the material is set for November 7, 2011 publication. All of this was discussed in the last issue of PKD Otaku-- one of the only remaining PKD 'zines. (Interview about my novel, followed by my interview with Phil's widow Tessa and other AKS/PKD matters begin on page 8. Google doc loads fast, check it out!)

The Los Angeles public library is sponsoring a panel discussion about PKD and his Exegesis in November.

That's not all! As I said, every week something new comes out. Just today I received this pre-publication blurb. You can imagine how my heart lept when I saw that subtitle: Do Androids have Kindred Spirits!! On Amazon, however, I discovered the title appears to have been changed to Philip K. Dick and Philosophy: Who Adjusts the Adjustment Bureau? That one is due out October 11.

Postings have never been more frequent or furious than they are now on the "Secret PKD Society," a private Facebook group. Seventy-five Phil fans post every new sighting. Word of the Global eBook Award for my novel, A Kindred Spirit, received fifty comments. But, this my friends, takes the cake. PKD TV!! It wouldn't be hard to fill up an internet channel with the movies, documentaries, video clips and fan ravings about our man, PKD. There's talk of a Bladerunner remake (godforbid) and Radio Free Albemuth (a posthumously published PKD novel/now film) is currently seeking a distributor. The RFA film trailer looks dark and weird, just the way ole Phil liked things. There's plenty more Phil facts over on the Official Philip K. Dick Site to keep fans up-to-date on everything coming down the pike! (pun intended ;)

Two Weeks!

Sorry about the lack of blogging and tweeting, but I had only one choice: finish editing and formatting the novel. Any available time, and some culled from not sleeping, have been spent trying to make this book the best it can be. At least the best this initial FDO edition can be. The Limited Edition FDO (For Dickheads Only) copies will be here in two weeks. And that's after I finish some final tweaks today and tomorrow and upload the final copy.
Yeah, I know, I was going to do that last week, but I continued to find spelling and formatting errors. So, this is where it stands now. I assure you this initial run must arrive in two weeks so I can share with friends and then get on the road for the PKD festival in Colorado. I'll post a better update AFTER that upload! Just wanted to say that soon the new book blog and and a lot of tweets will ensue! And, Happy BD KD!

Intergalactic Release!

At 7:30 tonight, A Kindred Spirit (my metaphysical novel about Philip K Dick) was discussed on KGNU radio in Colorado! This was the first public announcement about the book. After learning that the first U.S. Philip K Dick Festival would be held in August of this year, I decided that would be the perfect venue for the official release. Luckily, PKD festival organizer Dave Hyde agreed. So, we determined the International -- or Intergalactic Release -- would take place in Nederland, CO (sort of like Neverland, right?) just a few miles from Boulder.

Hyde spent quite a bit of time explaining the premise of the novel, and even used my disclaimer that "Any resemblance to reality is purely coincidental." I'm tired from a long day of finishing up the cover art, and talking to the publisher, or I would add more. I taped his comments. For now, I'm just thrilled to have such a perfect way to release the novel. We decided today to create an FDO Limited Edition for the festival. FDO, of course, is For Dickheads Only, in remembrance of Hyde's fun Phil 'zine. yay!

Live Blogging @ the PKD Fest

Now includes Day II: Well, here I am at the Festival in REAL time. No, that's not me. That's Patrick Clark, the FDO Guest of Honor -- an early, original PKD fan. I'm behind the camera snapping pics and writing. Events didn't begin until closer to noon and we're several speakers behind schedule. Frank Hollander has been talking for 90 minutes and sorry, but even Dickheads don't have this level of attention span for fan collection minutiae. But he does have the "holy grail" item that I won't reveal until I hunt down and buy. (See pics on FDO in the AKSbook FBook area.) Perry Kinman came all the way from Japan(amazing!) Finally we got to listen to Patrick Clark and Erik Davis and David Gill, and other speakers. There's a very small group here today, but I had a fabulous time at lunch with John Fairchild (who helped Paul Williams in the mid 80's with the PKD Society newsletters) and also edited some of the "Selected Letters" and Patrick Clark, who still publishes a Phil 'zine called PKD Otaku. He said his old 'zines are online, so here's a sample Issue #11. I would love to have this PKD Critical Interpretations by Sam Umland, who is here, but look at the price! Even $100 for Kindle version!

Sat Morning Update from icy cold van: I stayed in the lot at Roy's on 119. Great, but no elec or heat (now in the am.) Can't run the propane for frig or heat because I'm at such an angle the frig won't work. I feel drunk walking around, the van is at such an angle. (van? see pics below) Anyway, I'm running the generator for power (to email and make coffee) I'll be heading to the Gilpin Library around Noon or 1 pm for the afternoon program. It promises to be great. And as I thought, Patrick Clarck was wonderful Friday. Brought tears to my eyes -- his description of his long-time relationship with Phil. Erick and Gill talked Exegesis... that needs an entire blog post. I'll do that after today's presentations.
Finally, BOOKS, you ask. How are book sales? Meager. With less than 30 folks here you can imagine. sigh... but it's a great group and I know it will generate a lot of buzz. All these guys have active roles in the PKD Universe. and guess what, so far they like it!!

In fact, notice that Erik Davis (author of Techgnosis, Visionary State, and a consultant on Linklater's adaptation of A Scanner Darkly) has MY book, my novel lying on the table and referred to me during his remarks! I will post more on FBook later today. I have limited "juice" here in my make-shift camp zone. More soon! Sun, 8 am 8-15-2010