FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
“In presenting the following, I’m asking you the reader to recognize as true a series of (almost entirely) serendipitous incidents that will strain credulity to the breaking point and possibly far beyond it, as far beyond as the other side of the grave…I ask you to take my word that what are included here are no more and no less than events experienced by myself and others.”
A series of adventures now begin for several unsuspecting people, who, while enduring the mundane tasks of daily life, are greeted by incarnations of celebrities, athletes, poets, politicians, and an evil dictator, to list a few. Author David Finkle is a critic who has written about theater, music, and books throughout his career. He is also a constant observer of human behavior, and his stories reflect that by placing ordinary people in extraordinary situations. His new collection, GREAT DATES WITH SOME LATE GREATS (Plum Bay Publishing; Original Trade Paperback; June 30, 2019; $16.99) brings to life amazing figures, expired for decades, centuries, millennia even, to embolden modern-day folk with their dreams and wisdom from the past.
How does Marilyn Monroe, returning to play Hamlet on the New York stage, benefit a fellow living down the eastside Manhattan block where she used to live? Could Marcel Proust inspire a couple of jaded 21st century teenagers in a trendy New York café? Would the classicist Jane Austen attend a speed dating session? Why would Hitler be stalking a seemingly random man in the West Village? With witty dialogue and a satirical glint, GREAT DATES WITH SOME LATE GREATS will provide answers to these questions and more with additional visits from Jesus, Elvis Presley, Babe Ruth, Machiavelli, Mona Lisa, William Shakespeare, Homer, Toulouse- Lau Trec, Harry Truman, and Oscar Wilde.
Four of the stories originally appeared on Manhattan Book Review and were viewed over 2500 times. While artificial intelligence dominates the news feeds, and rehabs for people with cellphone addictions may soon emerge, it’s clear that readers have a deep appreciation for historical figures, the classics, and writers like David Finkle who bring them to life.
About the Author:
David Finkle is a writer and journalist focusing on the arts and politics. Based in Manhattan, he is the author of People Tell Me Things, a story collection; The Man With the Overcoat, a novel; and Humpty Trumpty Hit a Brick Wall, rhyming verses and illustrations about the Trump White House. Finkle is currently a theater critic for New York Stage Review and The Clyde Fitch Report and has contributed to many publications, including The New York Times, The New York Post, The Village Voice, The Nation, The New Yorker, New York, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and American Theatre.