Shaun Anthony McMichael presents 'Whistle Punk Falls'

Third Place Books welcomes Seattle writer and mental health advocate Shaun Anthony McMichael to our Ravenna store for a conversation about his new book, — a Pacific Northwestern coming-of-age story set in the shadow of the Great Recession that follows an Aberdeen teenager fighting to prevent his friend's self-destruction. This event is free and open to the public.

For important updates, RSVP is highly recommended in advance. This event will include a public signing and time for audience Q&A. Sustain our author series by purchasing a copy of the featured book!

This event is free to attend. Registration is recommended in advance.

During the Spring of 2009 in the burnout timber town of Aberdeen, Washington, seventeen-year-old wallflower Jeremy Sweet, his friends, and their families discover that befriending someone with mental illness is a labyrinthine journey. That friend is Malachi "Loud" McCrowley. Native American, homeless, and haunted by the mysterious logging death of his white father, Loud claims he communicates with the ghosts of Kurt Cobain and other tragically misunderstood misfits of Aberdeen.

Jeremy was drawn to Loud because of their similar tastes in punk music and progressive ideas. But Loud's claims about the ghosts have Jeremy on edge; he also has his opinions on Loud's relationship with intrepid tomboy-turned-heartthrob, Aurora Lee Loftner, Jeremy's unrequited love interest.

Along their quixotic and hormone-fueled effort to intervene in Loud's dizzying decline, Jeremy and Aurora form unexpected alliances with their parents and Loud's estranged Native American mom and together, they reframe what it means to help someone.

Shaun Anthony McMichael is the Pushcart-nominated author of THE WILD FAMILIAR short stories (CJ Press, 2024) and the poetry collection JACK OF ALL…(New Meridian Arts, 2024). Since 2007, he has taught writing to students from around the world, in classrooms, juvenile detention halls, mental health treatment centers, and homeless youth drop-ins. He’s edited two collections of poetry by youth affected by trauma and mental health issues (THE SHADOW BESIDE ME and THE STORY OF MY HEART). Over 115 of his poems, short stories, and reviews have appeared in literary magazines such as The Chicago Review, The Bellingham Review, and Adroit Journal. He lives with his wife and son in Seattle where he attends church most Sundays. In addition to teaching English to immigrants and refugees at a public high school, he hosts an annual literary arts reading series, Shadow Work Writers. Visit him at his website shaunanthonymcmichael.com.

Founded in 1998 in Lake Forest Park, Washington, Third Place Books is dedicated to the creation of a community around books and the ideas inside them. With locations in Lake Forest Park and Seattle's Ravenna and Seward Park neighborhoods, Third Place Books is proud to serve the entire Seattle metro area. Learn more about their event series at thirdplacebooks.com/events.

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