Check out Jody M. Roy's March cover story in Spectra...

We are constantly wowed by the work that our authors do beyond and in addition to their books. When we published Autobiography of a Recovering Skinhead in spring of 2010 we knew that the story wasn’t finished and that the good work of Jody M. Roy and Frank Meeink would carry on.

This month Roy penned the March cover story for Spectra: A Publication of the National Communication Association that is in some ways a career retrospective for Roy. The story takes the reader through Roy’s many years of working with at-risk youth and their issues including Roy’s experience writing Autobiography of a Recovering Skinhead. Roy is a tried and true inspiration and this Spectra story captures that.

The March 2011 Spectra cover story — The Power of Outreach — by Jody M. Roy. The story begins on page 2.

Check out Frank Meeink on Fresh Air...

“And I remember looking up at God and saying, ‘God, maybe there’s something wrong. Maybe you’re right. Maybe on the black, Asian and Latino issue, maybe we are all equal.’”

The above quote is from Frank Meeink’s interview with Dave Davies on Fresh Air Wednesday, April 7th. The thirty-minute interview covered Meeink’s abusive upbringing, his transformation from skater to skinhead, his time in prison, his recovery, as well as his book Autobiography of a Recovering Skinhead written by Jody M. Roy, Ph.D.

We also want to let you know that Hawthorne Books senior editor, Adam O’Connor Rodriguez will be at AWP (The Association of Writers and Writing Programs) conference this week in Denver, Colorado, at the Colorado Convention Center, exhibit hall A, table P8, tabling for Hawthorne Books along with some of our authors. If you’re in the area, stop by and say hello.

Listen to Frank Meeink on Fresh Air

All sorts of media attention building...

It’s been an exciting month for Hawthorne Books as we move closer to the April 1st, 2010 pub. date for Autobiography of a Recovering Skinhead. In the past two weeks there have been all sorts of developments and we’d like to keep you in the loop.

Reviews Already In

The Rumpus:

“Frank Meeink is the most famous ex-skinhead in America, his life the basis for the character
of Derek Vinyard, the neo-Nazi portrayed by Edward Norton in American History X… Amazingly brutal and difficult to digest, Autobiography follows Frank from childhood through his involvement with the white supremacist movement.” — Caleb Powell

Booklist:

“Here’s a memoir guaranteed to generate a high amount of interest. Stories of personal redemption don’t get much more interesting than this one… Unflinchingly straightforward: some of the language is quite raw, and imagery quite graphic. But there’s no point in telling this story if you’re going to whitewash it first.” — David Pitt

Kirkus Reviews:

“Indelicate and harsh, but never preachy or whiny, this is an intimate, uncompromising memoir. Though it hits some predictable notes-mostly because of Edward Norton’s familiar character in American History X-it speaks forcefully from experience. Fearless, enduring story of human fragility and strength.” — Molly Brown

The Portland Mercury:

“And while a behind-the-scenes look at the neo-Nazi movement provides the book’s most fascinating moments, Autobiography is equally a tale of alcoholism, drug addiction, and recovery… Autobiography reads like an alcoholic’s fourth step—’a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves’—because that’s essentially what it is…remarkable evidence that people really can change.” — Alison Hallett

Upcoming Media

Fresh Air interview
People Magazine review
Utne Reader review
Huffington Post story
Publishers Weekly review
ABC Channel 6 Action News interview
Kirkus Reviews interview
Iowa Public Radio interview

Book Tour

March 30, 2010 Ames
April 7, 2010 Chicago
April 12, 2010 Phoenix
April 15, 2010 Tempe
April 21, 2010 Detroit
April 29, 2010 Albuquerque
May 4, 2010 Boston
May 12, 2010 Omaha
May 18, 2010 Orange County
May 20, 2010 Los Angeles
May 26, 2010 Las Vegas
June 1, 2010 Seattle
June 5, 2010 Portland
June 11, 2010 Denver
June 14, 2010 New York
June 21, 2010 Washington, DC

Social Media

Autobiography of a Recovering Skinhead Facebook
Hawthorne Books Facebook
Hawthorne Books Twitter

Now that we’re putting together the 20-plus city Autobiography of a Recovering Skinhead book tour with the help of the Anti-Defamation League, it’s a good time to broadcast the media attention that Frank Meeink generates.

Frank’s agency Admire Entertainment put together this short reel with media coverage from the likes of Hard Copy (RIP) and Katie Couric. We’ve recently begun uploading videos to our Hawthorne Books YouTube Channel so if you want to stay up to date on all things Hawthorne Books head over and check it out and/or subscribe.

Autobiography of a Recovering Skinhead reviews are already rolling in and they’re good. Really good. We’ll let you know more shortly.