Here at OnMilwaukee.com, we writers speak to a lot of people -- everyone from musicians to filmmakers to chefs to bartenders to boutique owners and more. Sometimes we speak to authors, too. And recently, I caught up with Kirk Farber, the Colorado-based author of "Postcards from a Dead Girl," published by Harper Perennial.
If the name sounds familiar, it's because Farber, a decade or so ago, was the drummer of local band Spill. A lot has happened for Farber, as you can see, since those days.
As he returns to Milwaukee for a number of events as an author published by a major New York publishing house, I asked Farber about the road from the drum stool to author tour.
OnMilwaukee.com: Bring us up to date about your life since Spill.
Kirk Farber: A lot has happened these past five years. Since the days of drumming with Spill, I got married, moved to Colorado, found a job at a library, signed with a literary agent and got a book published by Harper Perennial. Oh, I also cut my long hair. Shaun White has the market on crazy long red hair now.
OMC: Were you always writing creatively or is it something you came to later in life?
KF: I've been writing creatively since I was about 15, whether it was short stories or songs or screenplays or finally, the novel. I got serious about writing fiction in my late 20s and early 30s.
OMC: Tell us about the novel.
KF: "Postcards from a Dead Girl" is the story of Sid Higgins, a 20-something telemarketer who is receiving European postcards from his ex-girlfriend, Zoe, who he hasn't spoken with in over a year. He goes in search of the source of the postcards, and learns some things about himself and his past along the way. A quirky story of love and loss, but a hopeful story, and full of dark humor.
OMC: How does it feel to come home now as a published author, with a book under your arm?
KF: It's a great feeling, but kind of surreal. Still hard to believe the book under my arm is mine. I think it will hit me in a few months. But it's really nice to share the book with my friends and family back home, and hopefully a few strangers, too.
OMC: Are you still making music? Do you stay in touch with your former bandmates?
KF: I definitely stay in touch with all my former bandmates. They're all very close friends, and probably always will be. I still play my drums regularly sans band, and noodle on my acoustic guitar. Lately I've been dreaming of buying a bass.
I would love to write and record a couple of songs once the book tour is finished. I miss the music. I like to keep up with Jack (Rodee) and Andrew (Hintz) and Chad (Solberg), too (from Spill), and hear what they're creating with their various musical projects. It's a lifetime thing, music, something I'll never give up.
OMC: Finally, are you writing another book yet?
KF: Yes, I've been working another novel. I've got a good chunk written, and I'm looking forward to seeing where it goes.
If you want to hear what Spill sounded like, you can order the band's two CDs here. http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/Spill
For more on Farber and his book, visit http://kirkfarber.com/
While he's in Milwaukee, Farber -- who appeared at Next Chapter Books in Mequon Tuesday night, reads from "Postcards from a Dead Girl" at Boswell Book Company, 2559 N. Downer Ave., on Wednesday, March 10 at 7 p.m. and at Books and Company, 1039 Summit Ave., in Oconomowoc, on Saturday, March 13, also at 7.
On Thursday, March 11 he takes part in "Getting Published in 2010: Fresh Approaches to Today's Market," at Redbird Studio, 3195 S. Superior St., at 6:30 p.m. Suggested $10 donation.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
