Courtesy of Passport Magazine
We all know someone who arranges CDs in meticulous order, or hangs shirts according to color and style. In The Alphabetical List of Would-Be Princes, author Fredric Joss Shelley goes them one better, and presents main character Jack Bradley’s lovers, ex-lovers, and wannabe lovers in twenty-six chapters with an A to Z format. The results are alternately hilarious and sweetly touching, making this debut novel a must-read.
From Aaron, the “A” of the list, is the one lettered lover whose presence pervades the book; All the way to Zack, all of Jack's encounters are filtered through Shelley’s wit and laugh-out-loud humor. Yet, the novel, (subtitled: An Extremely Organized Series of Relationships) stays just on the right side of cleverness. While Shelley obviously has a facility with language, it’s his vibrant characters that take center stage. The deft turn of a phrase never exists for its own sake, but always to deepen the characters, most importantly Jack and his three “constants”: often-dramatic Kip, quietly supportive Kennedy, and straight-guy-with-a-heart-of-gold Shawn.
It’s to Shelley’s credit that these characters never become simply “types.” Even the briefest of encounters (such as the grocery store flirtation with Whole Foods clerk Mitchell, the “M” of the book) present fully-fleshed characters. Readers will respond to Jack’s adventures with a “been there” sense of familiarity, but the situations and personalities are always just a step off from the expected, creating an anticipation of the next curve ball that Shelley throws us.
This major new novel by an up-and-coming gay writer is the perfect vacation read. With one exception: you won’t leave this one behind in the hotel room when you’re finished.
-Rich Rubin
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Giovanni's Room - Saving Our Bookstores
After hearing that Giovanni's Room still needs approximately $30K to pay for the renovations to restore a brick wall that had threatened the building's stability, I've decided to donate all the proceeds from purchases of The Alphabetical List of Would-Be Princes between now and the end of 2009 made at Giovanni's Room directly to the bookstore. This will include publishing costs as well, so the entire $16 for the book will go directly to the store in the hopes that in some small way, this will help to keep the oldest operating gay- and lesbian-interest bookstore in the country in business and making a profit.
If you happen to be in the Philadelphia area between now and Christmas, please take a moment to drop by Giovanni's Room, located at the corner of 12th and Pine Streets, to help a local bookstore!
If you happen to be in the Philadelphia area between now and Christmas, please take a moment to drop by Giovanni's Room, located at the corner of 12th and Pine Streets, to help a local bookstore!
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
apex
I'm happy to report The Alphabetical List of Would-Be Princes rises one spot on the Giovanni's Room best-seller list to #1!
And... my first book, A Boy Less Ordinary, re-enters the list at #3!
Special thanks to all my wonderful friends in Philadelphia for coming out to support me in such huge numbers!
Love!
Newslink: PGN
And... my first book, A Boy Less Ordinary, re-enters the list at #3!
Special thanks to all my wonderful friends in Philadelphia for coming out to support me in such huge numbers!
Love!
Newslink: PGN
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Book Signing Event for The Alphabetical List of Would-Be Princes Draws Huge Crowd
As seen in PhillyGayCalendar:
Book Signing Event for The Alphabetical List of Would-Be Princes Draws Huge Crowd
Philadelphia, PA - Local gay bookstore Giovanni's Room, which is currently undergoing renovations to rebuild a brick wall that is threatening the building's stability, got a boost of support this weekend with the book signing event for Fredric Joss Shelley's latest novel, The Alphabetical List of Would-Be Princes. The new release from Shelley, which follows up his successful debut, A Boy Less Ordinary, drew a large crowd, many of whom waited in anticipation by lining up outside of the oldest operating gay and lesbian interest bookstore in the country.
"It's overwhelming to see this kind of reception," Shelley stated. "A writer always hopes to connect with an audience, but I'm very lucky to see this much interest so far."
Shelley's latest novel is a romantic comedy told in twenty-six chapters, from A to Z, with each chapter devoted to a character (a "would-be" prince) that intersects with the romantic lead. Already on the best-seller list at Giovanni's Room, The Alphabetical List of Would-Be Princes has been generating a quiet buzz for weeks. Shelley credits his success to strong media support.
"Philadelphia's LGBT community has a really strong network devoted to giving artists like myself a much-needed boost," Shelley said. "Many people struggle to get their work seen or heard, so I'm very fortunate to have had such tremendous support from the community. That's certainly not something to take for granted."
Shelley is best known to the Philadelphia arts scene for his formerly syndicated column Six Degrees of Hayden, as well as his writing and acting work with local theater groups like The Dumpsta Players and Uncut Productions. His appearance at Giovanni's Room, which was a hotly anticipated event, brought out even more numbers than the bookstore had expected,
"We're very honored to have Fred here as one of Philly's great talents. Tonight's response shows how much people think of him as both an artist and a person," Giovanni's Room owner Ed Hermance said.
According to Shelley, the feeling is mutual.
"Giovanni's Room has always been supportive of the things I've done, from charity functions to keeping my books in stock on the shelf. I'm really excited to have this kind of response so I can be there for them just as they have been there for me."
Readers turned out in abundance to support the author as well as Giovanni's Room, which began renovations just a few short weeks ago. The bookstore, founded in 1973, is hoping to raise an estimated $50,000 to cover the cost of the renovations.
When asked what's next on Shelley's plate, the ambitious author mentioned work on his already-in-progress third novel, as well as supporting his fellow artists.
"There's always something going on with the artistic company I keep. I can't wait to see what they are going to create in the coming months. But after all this excitement tonight, I'm just hoping the adrenaline doesn't keep me up too late. I'm looking forward to a good night's sleep - preferably with lots of pillows."
The Alphabetical List of Would-Be Princes is now available locally at Giovanni's Room and online on Amazon.
Book Signing Event for The Alphabetical List of Would-Be Princes Draws Huge Crowd
Philadelphia, PA - Local gay bookstore Giovanni's Room, which is currently undergoing renovations to rebuild a brick wall that is threatening the building's stability, got a boost of support this weekend with the book signing event for Fredric Joss Shelley's latest novel, The Alphabetical List of Would-Be Princes. The new release from Shelley, which follows up his successful debut, A Boy Less Ordinary, drew a large crowd, many of whom waited in anticipation by lining up outside of the oldest operating gay and lesbian interest bookstore in the country.
"It's overwhelming to see this kind of reception," Shelley stated. "A writer always hopes to connect with an audience, but I'm very lucky to see this much interest so far."
Shelley's latest novel is a romantic comedy told in twenty-six chapters, from A to Z, with each chapter devoted to a character (a "would-be" prince) that intersects with the romantic lead. Already on the best-seller list at Giovanni's Room, The Alphabetical List of Would-Be Princes has been generating a quiet buzz for weeks. Shelley credits his success to strong media support.
"Philadelphia's LGBT community has a really strong network devoted to giving artists like myself a much-needed boost," Shelley said. "Many people struggle to get their work seen or heard, so I'm very fortunate to have had such tremendous support from the community. That's certainly not something to take for granted."
Shelley is best known to the Philadelphia arts scene for his formerly syndicated column Six Degrees of Hayden, as well as his writing and acting work with local theater groups like The Dumpsta Players and Uncut Productions. His appearance at Giovanni's Room, which was a hotly anticipated event, brought out even more numbers than the bookstore had expected,
"We're very honored to have Fred here as one of Philly's great talents. Tonight's response shows how much people think of him as both an artist and a person," Giovanni's Room owner Ed Hermance said.
According to Shelley, the feeling is mutual.
"Giovanni's Room has always been supportive of the things I've done, from charity functions to keeping my books in stock on the shelf. I'm really excited to have this kind of response so I can be there for them just as they have been there for me."
Readers turned out in abundance to support the author as well as Giovanni's Room, which began renovations just a few short weeks ago. The bookstore, founded in 1973, is hoping to raise an estimated $50,000 to cover the cost of the renovations.
When asked what's next on Shelley's plate, the ambitious author mentioned work on his already-in-progress third novel, as well as supporting his fellow artists.
"There's always something going on with the artistic company I keep. I can't wait to see what they are going to create in the coming months. But after all this excitement tonight, I'm just hoping the adrenaline doesn't keep me up too late. I'm looking forward to a good night's sleep - preferably with lots of pillows."
The Alphabetical List of Would-Be Princes is now available locally at Giovanni's Room and online on Amazon.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Local 'Player' Pens Romantic Fantasy
Profile in the Philadelphia Gay News:
Even though he’s an independently published author, Fredric Joss Shelley, 35, has a lot to live up to with his long-awaited second novel.
His first book, 2002’s “A Boy Less Ordinary,” was based on his ”Six Degrees of Hayden columns,” which enjoyed a six-year run in various gay publications on the East Coast. His fans and readers eagerly kept up with the exploits of Hayden, a highly extroverted gay socialite in search of unconditional love.
Shelley aims to build on his success with his sophomore effort, “The Alphabetical List of Would-Be Princes,” which follows a gay man embarking on a romantic quest, with his “would-be” princes occurring in alphabetical order.
Shelley said his fantastical premise comes from some of his favorite films.
“I get a lot of my inspiration from film — movies like ‘Amélie,’ ‘Lars and the Real Girl’ and ‘Phoebe in Wonderland,’” he said. “There’s a balance of simplicity but they have a creative approach to introducing you to a character’s world. When I see films like that or read a book that has a similar feel, they attract me right away. I wanted to create something that was similar to that.”
And while “Princes” is a romantic comedy like his first novel, Shelley said the creative process for this book was different.
“The discipline of outlining and researching was more intense because it was all in one fell swoop as opposed to doing it as you go along in spurts,” he said. ”Just staying focused was a big challenge.”
He added that the main character is not based on his life.
“I think a lot of people had me tagged as Hayden in the book I wrote last. So I decided to go the opposite way and have something that was a little bit opposite of myself.”
Given the celluloid sources that fired Shelley’s imagination, it’s not surprising that he could picture his writings on the big screen someday. But he is cautious about the idea.
“It’s a double-edged sword,” he said. “As a reader, I’m very protective of the characters that I read and always saying things like the book was so much better than the movie because you adopt, in your mind, what you envision that world being like. So it’s hard to have a movie meet the expectation. But I’d certainly like to see someone try.”
When Shelley isn’t writing, he’s acting, most often locally with the Dumpsta Players. Shelley said performing with the irreverent comedy troupe has helped his writing.
“They both work in tandem,” he said. “Acting lends itself to the writing process. When you act, you have to develop a background for the character and your motivations. You’re taking a step further than what’s on paper. In some way, you’re writing a story yourself. It’s apples and oranges to me. I get fulfillment out of both because both of those options give me a chance to be creative. When I first went to see a Dumpsta Players show, I though it was really eccentric, whether that’s good or bad. There was a bit of both, but I was immediately drawn to that. One of the things I like most about the Dumpsta Players is there’s always the ability to surprise. In 13 years, with every single show, there’s some element of it where I think, how did you get away with that? So as a writer you don’t want to be too obvious. You want to be able to give readers something that familiar but you don’t want them to predict everything that comes along. You want to give them a little bit of shock here and there.”
Shelley hosts a reading at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 19 at Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St.
Even though he’s an independently published author, Fredric Joss Shelley, 35, has a lot to live up to with his long-awaited second novel.
His first book, 2002’s “A Boy Less Ordinary,” was based on his ”Six Degrees of Hayden columns,” which enjoyed a six-year run in various gay publications on the East Coast. His fans and readers eagerly kept up with the exploits of Hayden, a highly extroverted gay socialite in search of unconditional love.
Shelley aims to build on his success with his sophomore effort, “The Alphabetical List of Would-Be Princes,” which follows a gay man embarking on a romantic quest, with his “would-be” princes occurring in alphabetical order.
Shelley said his fantastical premise comes from some of his favorite films.
“I get a lot of my inspiration from film — movies like ‘Amélie,’ ‘Lars and the Real Girl’ and ‘Phoebe in Wonderland,’” he said. “There’s a balance of simplicity but they have a creative approach to introducing you to a character’s world. When I see films like that or read a book that has a similar feel, they attract me right away. I wanted to create something that was similar to that.”
And while “Princes” is a romantic comedy like his first novel, Shelley said the creative process for this book was different.
“The discipline of outlining and researching was more intense because it was all in one fell swoop as opposed to doing it as you go along in spurts,” he said. ”Just staying focused was a big challenge.”
He added that the main character is not based on his life.
“I think a lot of people had me tagged as Hayden in the book I wrote last. So I decided to go the opposite way and have something that was a little bit opposite of myself.”
Given the celluloid sources that fired Shelley’s imagination, it’s not surprising that he could picture his writings on the big screen someday. But he is cautious about the idea.
“It’s a double-edged sword,” he said. “As a reader, I’m very protective of the characters that I read and always saying things like the book was so much better than the movie because you adopt, in your mind, what you envision that world being like. So it’s hard to have a movie meet the expectation. But I’d certainly like to see someone try.”
When Shelley isn’t writing, he’s acting, most often locally with the Dumpsta Players. Shelley said performing with the irreverent comedy troupe has helped his writing.
“They both work in tandem,” he said. “Acting lends itself to the writing process. When you act, you have to develop a background for the character and your motivations. You’re taking a step further than what’s on paper. In some way, you’re writing a story yourself. It’s apples and oranges to me. I get fulfillment out of both because both of those options give me a chance to be creative. When I first went to see a Dumpsta Players show, I though it was really eccentric, whether that’s good or bad. There was a bit of both, but I was immediately drawn to that. One of the things I like most about the Dumpsta Players is there’s always the ability to surprise. In 13 years, with every single show, there’s some element of it where I think, how did you get away with that? So as a writer you don’t want to be too obvious. You want to be able to give readers something that familiar but you don’t want them to predict everything that comes along. You want to give them a little bit of shock here and there.”
Shelley hosts a reading at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 19 at Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Interview with NightlifeGay.com
Here's an interview with NightlifeGay.com:
Local Philadelphia author Fredric Joss Shelley follows up his successful compilation A Boy Less Ordinary with the long-awaited new novel, The Alphabetical List of Would-Be Princes, which is already on the bestsellers list at Philly’s own Giovanni’s Room and online nationwide through Amazon. Nightlifegay.com caught up with Freddy to ask him some questions about the new book:
So, tell us about the new novel. What is it about?
It’s about a character named Jack who happens to meet a series of people – or “would-be princes” – in alphabetical order. The book is told in 26 chapters, with each chapter dedicated to a different person. First, there’s Aaron, then Ben, and so on. I had a lot of fun creating ways that Jack meets each “prince,” so hopefully readers will find it pretty interesting as well.
What inspired you to write this particular book?
I wanted to create something that was a little different than what people have come to expect from me, but also keep it light and funny at the same time. I was interested in writing a gay romantic comedy, but I wanted to challenge myself to tell the story in a way that didn’t fall victim to some of the clichés I’ve read in other gay literature. The alphabetical theme was something that just popped up in my head along the way.
You’ve also done some theater work in Philly. How has that influenced your writing?
I’m completely different on a stage than I am in person. I’m more laid back and reserved in person, but when I’m “on,” I tend to do just about anything to go for the laughs. What I like best about what I’ve been able to do as a writer and an actor is that you can look at the body of work on the surface and see the humor right away, but if you dig a little deeper, you’ll always find another message just under the surface. Comedy is very challenging in that way. It takes a lot to be funny, but it takes a lot more to have something else going on, too.
When did you know you would be a writer?
I was always making up stories and plays as a kid. My elementary school teachers were really cool about letting me read whatever I wrote to the class. Most of the people I went to school with still Facebook me once in a while about all the funny stories I wrote back then.
Who are your influences?
I read a lot of children’s literature for inspiration. In children’s literature, there aren’t as many boundaries like there are in adult fiction. And, underneath all that imagery and fantasy, there’s always a hidden message about something so basic and true. I guess that’s a theme with me – I like to enjoy something on a surface level, and then I like going back to it to find the hidden messages.
What are you working on next?
Acting-wise, I’m always writing and acting with The Dumpsta Players when I can fit it in my schedule. I’m also working on a book called James and the Imaginary Boyfriend. It’s another gay romantic comedy that focuses on that one unlucky guy in a group of friends who never seems to have a boyfriend. Then, one day he does, and the book pretty much looks at different points of view – does he really have a boyfriend, or is he making it all up?
Freddy will be kicking off the launch of his new book, The Alphabetical List of Would-Be Princes, on Saturday, September 19, 2009 with a book signing at Giovanni’s Room, followed by an afterparty at Woody’s. Admission is free.
Local Philadelphia author Fredric Joss Shelley follows up his successful compilation A Boy Less Ordinary with the long-awaited new novel, The Alphabetical List of Would-Be Princes, which is already on the bestsellers list at Philly’s own Giovanni’s Room and online nationwide through Amazon. Nightlifegay.com caught up with Freddy to ask him some questions about the new book:
So, tell us about the new novel. What is it about?
It’s about a character named Jack who happens to meet a series of people – or “would-be princes” – in alphabetical order. The book is told in 26 chapters, with each chapter dedicated to a different person. First, there’s Aaron, then Ben, and so on. I had a lot of fun creating ways that Jack meets each “prince,” so hopefully readers will find it pretty interesting as well.
What inspired you to write this particular book?
I wanted to create something that was a little different than what people have come to expect from me, but also keep it light and funny at the same time. I was interested in writing a gay romantic comedy, but I wanted to challenge myself to tell the story in a way that didn’t fall victim to some of the clichés I’ve read in other gay literature. The alphabetical theme was something that just popped up in my head along the way.
You’ve also done some theater work in Philly. How has that influenced your writing?
I’m completely different on a stage than I am in person. I’m more laid back and reserved in person, but when I’m “on,” I tend to do just about anything to go for the laughs. What I like best about what I’ve been able to do as a writer and an actor is that you can look at the body of work on the surface and see the humor right away, but if you dig a little deeper, you’ll always find another message just under the surface. Comedy is very challenging in that way. It takes a lot to be funny, but it takes a lot more to have something else going on, too.
When did you know you would be a writer?
I was always making up stories and plays as a kid. My elementary school teachers were really cool about letting me read whatever I wrote to the class. Most of the people I went to school with still Facebook me once in a while about all the funny stories I wrote back then.
Who are your influences?
I read a lot of children’s literature for inspiration. In children’s literature, there aren’t as many boundaries like there are in adult fiction. And, underneath all that imagery and fantasy, there’s always a hidden message about something so basic and true. I guess that’s a theme with me – I like to enjoy something on a surface level, and then I like going back to it to find the hidden messages.
What are you working on next?
Acting-wise, I’m always writing and acting with The Dumpsta Players when I can fit it in my schedule. I’m also working on a book called James and the Imaginary Boyfriend. It’s another gay romantic comedy that focuses on that one unlucky guy in a group of friends who never seems to have a boyfriend. Then, one day he does, and the book pretty much looks at different points of view – does he really have a boyfriend, or is he making it all up?
Freddy will be kicking off the launch of his new book, The Alphabetical List of Would-Be Princes, on Saturday, September 19, 2009 with a book signing at Giovanni’s Room, followed by an afterparty at Woody’s. Admission is free.
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