Hope to see all my Grand Rapids/West Michigan fans tonight at 7:00 p.m. at the gorgeous Grand Rapids Public Library. I will read from the book, and Schuler's will be on hand to sell books, which I will happily sign, even if I break off a Lee Press-On in the process.

For those wanting to see yesterday's TV interview, we will post it soon (after we work out the kinks ... and, by that, I mean work out the issues and not rehearse and abuse the band). DO NOT BE ALARMED by part in TV interview when I slinkily cross my legs like an old-school hooker and, in fact, do so with such shocking ease that it appears as if I will next light a cigarette and ask for my cash to be left on the nightstand. But that angle does show off my shoes, which is what I think the host wanted.

And how fun is this from Modern Tonic, the cultural/entertainment blog? To see full blog, with pix, head to:

(http://moderntonic.com/)


WORDS | June 2, 2009
Scream Queen

Wade Rouse, confirmed urbanite, struggling author and unashamed label whore, received a sign from Jesus (or a vagrant who uncannily resembled him) that St. Louis — where he'd spent his adult life fitting in by feverishly shopping, exercising, tanning and working at a job he despised — was driving him insane. Convinced that his urban life was vapid and exhausting, Rouse dragged his unflaggingly patient and understanding boyfriend to the middle of nowhere (just outside Saugatuck, Michigan) to find the meaning of life. And, conveniently, the hook for his new book, At Least in the City Someone Would Hear Me Scream: Misadventures in Search of the Simple Life (out today).

Adhering to the tenets of Thoreau’s “Walden” (which Rouse uses as a manual), our hero sets up a hilarious ten-part city vs. country smackdown to confront/embrace/survive various wonders of nature. Though he is repeatedly attacked by his new home — a vicious raccoon, hideous (but practical! [but HIDEOUS!]) rubber footwear — he learns to treasure the rural (snowstorms, isolation) without completely losing the urban (our dear friend cynicism). His scorecard proves to be a nailbiter, and while we're thrilled Rouse found so much to love about the simple life, we love that we can stay in the city and simply take his word for it.

At Least in the City Someone Would Hear Me Scream is available today from Harmony Books.