King Cal follows aspiring musician Calvin, who loses his girlfriend, band, and best friend in one day. As he struggles to balance art and survival, this coming-of-age story explores the devotion, creativity, and sacrifice required to build a life in music.
Learn moreIn a previous post I talked about the story of Bob, a character from a draft of the novel that did not make the final cut.
I’ve been thinking about numbers.It’s only natural, once a product of yours comes out, to start following its sales.
How did I meet Paul Melançon? I was climbing into the original Uncle Green van, an old Ford Econoline we bought from Sears—no back seat, only a small love seat we took from our living room, so Paul had to sit against the metal wall.
Four weeks and two days ago The Weight of Sound left the safety of my brain (and my Macbook) and entered the real world.
In my my last entry I talked about the creation of the novel’s soundtrack; this time, I wanted to focus on how one song went from existing only as a title, and a stray line, to becoming a fully realized recording.
As the release of The Weight of Sound inches closer, I find myself thinking about Bob.
It’s a completely acceptable and expected question, the equivalent of “What’s your music sound like?” for people in bands.
Less than a month away from the official release of The Weight of Sound, people.
I moved from New Jersey to Georgia with the other members of my band after we finished high school.
I just read a brilliant essay called “Stick Control,” written by drummer and writer Jacob Slichter, in the Summer 2017 issue of “1966 – A Journal of Creative Nonfiction.”
I started playing the drums when I was eight.
I’ve been reading a lot of rock memoirs this summer.
Explore stories, insights, and behind-the-scenes updates from Peter.
As drummer for the rock band Uncle Green, Peter McDade spent fifteen years traveling the highways of America in a series of Ford vans. While the band searched for fame and a safe place to eat before a gig, he began writing short stories and novels. Uncle Green went into semi-retirement after four labels, seven records, and one name change; Peter went to Georgia State University and majored in History and English, eventually earning an MA in History. He teaches history to college undergrads, records with Paul Melançon and Eytan Mirsky, and lives in Atlanta with his family.
A Cappella Books is delighted to welcome author Peter McDade for a special afternoon talk and book signing in honor of his novel, “King Cal.” He will appear in conversation with fellow Atlanta-based writer Jessica Handler, award-winning author of “The Magnetic Girl.”
