Martin Schneider writes:

Via the mysterious conduit known as "Facebook" arrives news that the new book about the Algonquin Round Table by our dear friend and colleague Kevin Fitzpatrick is commencing his book tour!

I've not had the pleasure of meeting Kevin, but Emily knows him well and assures me that he is a capital fellow and an unimpeachable resource on the subject of Dorothy Parker and her acerbic friends. Really, I see no way that buying his book could ever constitute a poor decision.

Emdashes readers will remember that we presented exclusive coverage of the book a little while back.

Good luck, Kevin!

I've pasted his press release below, complete with events, each of which is a delightful occasion to marinate in all things Dorothy Parker, The New Yorker, and wit in general—and to buy the book!

Hi friends and family,

I am happy to announce that my second book is out now. I am the editor of "The Lost Algonquin Round Table" and I hope you will feel compelled to want a copy. It is a collection of writing by the members of the group, 16 writers such as Dorothy Parker, Robert Benchley, Robert E. Sherwood, Edna Ferber, George S. Kaufman, Heywood Broun and many others. It has fiction, essays, humor, poems and reviews. It was a lot of fun to work on with my co-editor, Nat Benchley. To promote the book I launched my own publishing imprint, Donald Books, which you can find out more about on
www.donaldbooks.com.

So how can you get a copy? Easy! If you live in NYC, my "tour" schedule is below. For those outside of the city, you can go to any decent bookstore and they can order the book for you. Just tell them the title and they should be able to locate it to order; ISBN (hardcover): 9781440151521, ISBN (paperback): 97181440151514; it takes about a week to get it in. The book is also on all the major online booksellers, such as Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Powell's, etc. You can also order it direct from iUniverse.com (see link on donaldbooks.com).

From my web site, here is the info on where I will be starting this weekend and running through September:

Sunday, Aug. 16, 11 AM, Long Branch Free Public Library, 328 Broadway Long Branch, NJ 07740 732.222.3900. As part of the annual Dorothy Parker Day, Kevin C. Fitzpatrick will give a talk, reading and book signing. Free. Open to the public.

Wednesday, Aug. 19, 6 PM, The Corner Bookstore, 1313 Madison Avenue, at E. 93rd Street, New York, NY 10128. (212) 831-3554. Official book launch and reception party. Editors Nat Benchley & Kevin C. Fitzpatrick will be on hand with special guests. Books will be available for purchase and signing. Free. Open to the public.

Thursday, Aug. 20, 8 PM, Don't Tell Mama, 343 W. 46th Street, New York, NY 10036. Big Night Out presents the "1930s Idol" cabaret competition. Kevin C. Fitzpatrick will be signing/selling copies of the book plus is a judge in the show. $12 and two drink minimum. Open to the public. Reservations encouraged: 212-757-0788.

Saturday, Aug. 22, 12 PM, Algonquin Hotel, 59 W. 44th Street, New York, NY, 10036. Algonquin Round Table Walking Tour. Editor Kevin C. Fitzpatrick has led this literary walking tour for ten years. Walk in the footsteps of the Vicious Circle and see the locations they visited, from speakeasies to old haunts. Cost is $20 ea. At 3 p.m. in the lobby will be a book signing, followed by a small celebration to mark Dorothy Parker's birthday today. Reservations encouraged: 212-222-7239.

Wednesday, Aug. 26, 6-9 PM, Museum of the City of New York, 1220 Fifth Avenue, there is a special Wednesday evening "speakeasy" on the roof, with live music and Prohibition era cocktails. $12 admission gets you into the museum's first floor and it's Prohibition exhibition (and a free drink). Kevin will give a talk and sign copies of the book.

Sunday, Sept. 27, 12 PM, Governors Island (Colonel's Row). The Jazz Age Lawn Party and Roaring Twenties Party. Live music by Michael Arenella and the Dreamland Orchestra. Book signing 12-3 PM. $5 admission. Open to the public.

Thanks for the support, I really appreciate it.

Sincerely,

Kevin C. Fitzpatrick
kfitz@bway.net