Stephen Vittoria launches "Christina and the Whitefish," w/ Steve Romagnoli

Author Stephen Vittoria will be joined by writer and educator Steve Romagnoli for a reading, conversation, and reception.

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It’s 1994. Christina, a young Gulf War veteran wrecked by war and tragedy, seeks redemption in Asbury Park, the seaside mecca of her childhood. It’s a place well past its prime... and now reigned over by the self-proclaimed King of Asbury Park: The Whitefish—a disabled Vietnam-era vet, tavern owner, and all-around oddball philosopher. It’s here, on the Jersey shore, that a chance meeting leads to a profound and life-altering connection.

Praise for Christina and the Whitefish

“Christina and the Whitefish is a joy to read. If Bruce Springsteen wrote fiction, it would read a great deal like this.” —Dave Zirin, The Nation (magazine), author of The Kaepernick Effect

“This novel ignites the mind's movie-making machine. Vittoria's attention to detail and character is delicate and intimate. It's a rollicking journey that is at once dark and beautiful, harsh and loving. When I finished and closed the book, it was like walking out of a dark theatre into the light of day, feeling like I was wearing the story, a suit of armor.” —Kathy Kremins, poet, author of The Curve of Things

“The characters of this stunning novel will stay with you . . . a high-spirited and humorous voyage . . . the story will give you chills.” —David Swanson, author, journalist, Nobel Peace Prize Nominee

Stephen Vittoria is an award-winning filmmaker and author. His last two feature documentaries—Mumia: Long Distance Revolutionary and One Bright Shining Moment: The Forgotten Summer of George McGovern—have been embraced by moviegoers and audiences worldwide. Vittoria was also a producer on two feature documentaries by Academy Award winner Alex Gibney: Gonzo: The Life & Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson and Magic Trip: Ken Kesey's Search for a Kool Place. Along with journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal, Vittoria co-authored the three-book nonfiction series M**der Incorporated: Empire, Genocide, and Manifest Destiny—with forewords by Angela Davis, S. Brian Willson, and Chris Hedges. Vittoria also contributed to an anthology (along with Norman Mailer and Frank Deford) entitled In Times Like These: How We Pray. Vittoria is the founder and creative director of two Southern California production companies: Street Legal Cinema and Deep Image.

Steve Romagnoli teaches Ethics and Literature at Fordham University and at the Bedford Hills Maximum Security Pr*son for Women. He has taught at-risk youth at homeless shelters, drug rehabs, and incarcerated programs throughout New York City. His short stories have appeared in numerous magazines, including: The Mid-American Review, The Carolina Quarterly, Gargoyle Magazine, and Beat to a Pulp. Five of his plays have been produced in New York City, including, Stealing Heaven, running off-Broadway at the Samuel Beckett Theater. His novel, Ghetto Dogs, is published by Alternative Book Press.

Host or Publisher Lofty Pigeon Books