We hope you can join us on Saturday, October 26th at 5:00 PM to help us celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Nadia Bruce-Rawlings highly acclaimed collection of short stories and poetry, SCARS. Originally published by Punk Hostage Press in 2014, SCARS tell Nadia’s story of addiction, abuse, and recovery through intimate vingettes. In addition to readings by Nadia and fellow author Dan Denton, our event will also feature live music by Nashville based duo, The Prickly Pair. The group, comprised of Mason Summit & Irene Greene, specialize in angsty Americana originals and classic country covers. Their latest single, “It Takes Two to Cry,” was released in August.
Nadia uses grains of her once gritty life to infuse her stories with cathartic realism. She grew up traveling the world and living in various countries before settling in Los Angeles, where she began a long career in the film industry. In recovery since 1998 from drugs, alcohol, and an abusive upbringing, Nadia and her husband have settled into the Nashville area, where she writes by the lake when she can escape their six kids and dog. Her stories “Fire” and “Scars” were both finalists in Glimmer Train’s writing contests. Her anthology SCARS was published ten years ago by Punk Hostage Press, followed in 2020 with her anthology DRIVING IN THE RAIN. Her story, “Peace Accord,” was featured in the Spring 2018 edition of Bluestem Magazine.
Denton, a former union autoworker and UAW chief steward, is a lifetime blue collar worker, writer, and poet. His work has been published in magazines, newspapers, union journals, anthologies, and often in Toledo Streets Newspaper. He has authored three books, including, $100-A-WEEK MOTEL (Punk Hostage Press, 2021) and THE DEAD AND DESPERATE (Roadside Press, 2023), and a poetry/novella hybrid, as well as dozens of chapbooks of poetry. He has toured as a spoken word artist for over a decade. Last year he was voted the best writer and author in Toledo, and after accepting an early retirement buy out offer from Toledo Jeep, he now lives full-time in a small travel trailer out in rural parts of the Midwest, chasing his biggest writer daydreams.
"Everybody should abandon their lives and read SCARS" says Jerry Stahl, author of Permanent Midnight, The Heroin Chronicles, and Bad Sex On Speed. We don’t think you should abandon your lives but we do suggest you head to the record store to celebrate or learn more about SCARS and authors Nadia Bruce-Rawlings & Dan Denton. In addition to featuring the authors and performers, we’ll also be partaking in our weekly BEER:30 hang where we share cold TN Brew Works with our of-age customers (21+ with valid ID only.) This is a free & all ages affair, so come one, come all!
