Austin-based Slough Press has been publishing fiction, poetry, and essays for over forty years—and one of their most entertaining titles must surely be the novel For Mr. Raindrinker, by local poet and author Ken Fontenot. Set in the New Orleans of the ’70s and earning frequent comparisons to John Kennedy Toole’s A Confederacy of Dunces, For Mr. Raindrinker follows the adventures of the indomitable Kent Soileau and his friend, balloon-animal-artist extraordinaire Mr. Raindrinker. Sound intriguing? Then have a listen to this Book Talk from our store manager Becky Garcia—and make a note to pick up a copy of Raindrinker next time you’re at the store (and be sure to attend our monthly Novel Night reading series for more Book Talks!)
Tag Archives: Ken Fontenot
TOPSY / Fontenot / White
What a fabulous Friday night at Malvern Books! We kicked things off with some lively cabaret from one of our favorite local bands, TOPSY. Our heartiest thanks to band members Joy Beth, Brett Reeves, Mario Gonzalez, and Cephas Wozencraft for sharing their hoppin’ honky-tonk with us. It’s quite the feat to make a bunch of reticent book nerds tap their toes to the music and emit the occasional (shy) holler—but TOPSY manage it every time! And if you’d like proof, do check out the footage below; I guarantee you’ll be bopping along enthusiastically in no time…
TOPSY are a tough act to follow, but writers Ken Fontenot and Lowell Mick White were up to the challenge. Ken can frequently be found browsing our Malvernian shelves, and it was a joy to finally have him share some of his words with us!
Lowell Mick White is a long-time Austinite who now finds himself living in the fine state of Kansas, teaching creative writing and literature at Pittsburg State University. We’re very glad he stopped by to visit Malvern Books on a trip to dear ol’ TX.