From a writer Steve Almond calls "the master of the down and out that just got worse" comes a collection of stories that live vividly in the reader's memory long after the final page has been turned. Taking place in a world of desperate people who cling to hope, but have few expectations, Roberge introduces us to a motley crew of cripples, drug addicts, former child actors, chimpanzee boxers, exterminators, and assorted criminals. These desperate, boldly original stories are distinguished by a stark prose reminiscent of Denis Johnson or Lorrie Moore, but are, ultimately, all their own--powerful, riveting, deeply felt, and darkly funny.

You may be disturbed—or possibly titillated—to discover what can happen once you cross the Orange Curtain . . . “‘There’s a dark side to most places,’ even California’s sunny Orange County, Edgar-winner T. Jefferson Parker observes in his foreword to this outstanding entry in Akashic’s noir series, one of the stronger of the all-original anthologies. The crisp, often seductive prose of the 14 contributors, most of them relatively unknown, is a tribute to the critical judgment of the editor.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review Akashic Books continues its groundbreaking series of original noir anthologies, launched in 2004 with Brooklyn Noir. Each story is set in a distinct neighborhood or location within the city of the book. Brand-new stories by: Susan Straight, Robert S. Levinson, Rob Roberge, Nathan Walpow, Barbara DeMarco-Barrett, Dan Duling, Mary Castillo, Lawrence Maddox, Dick Lochte, Robert Ward, Gary Phillips, Gordon McAlpine, Martin J. Smith, and Patricia McFall, with a foreword by T. Jefferson Parker.

The child he loves. The idea of a child, he's beginning to understand, is where everything will go wrong. William works as a human remains removal specialist, removing stains left by the dead. Whether by a bloody crime scene or a quiet domestic death, William is reminded each day of the frailty of human life. As his fiancée, Julie, nears term with their first child William becomes increasingly desperate for a way to overcome his belief that to birth is to kill. But Mrs. Rose, an elementary school principal and messenger pigeon hobbyist, nurtures William’s depressive outlook and claims to have a way to prove that William’s hesitancy to accept fatherhood is not only natural but necessary. In this novel of impending parenthood, an idealistic teacher recruits a pliant protégé to join her group of Strangers – a devout collection of kindred minds who have dedicated their lives to cultivating a unique idea of perfection. But joining is easier than leaving. ,

Get ready: while other books may show up carefully dressed, this one answers the door in her underwear. SARK, Author, Artist, Creative Fountain, PlanetSARK.com a new, exciting voice in fictionA truly impressive debut novel that announces Carlisle as a writer to watch. Rob Roberge, author of Working Backwards from the Worst Moment of My Life The characters that inhabit this sharp and witty novel are troubled, impoverished, confused, lost, sexually frustrated, and intellectually unfulfilled. Sobasically everyone I know. Mike Barker, Co-Creator and Head Writer, American Dad! saucy writing yet tender and heart-felt charactersbridges an unusual but empowering sisterhood between girls-next-door and girls-on-stripper-poles. Its about time! Jennifer Musselman, author of Own It! The Ups & Downs of Homebuying for Women Who Go It Alone Twenty-five-year-old Tamina is a sharp-witted Jersey girl living in Hollywood with a near-phobic response to mismatching colors, an addiction to pedicures, and a hectic job teaching comprehensive sex education to urban youth. Suffering the consequences of a violent assault, Tam looks for relief in romance and LAs underground erotic entertainment scene. However, when Tams young attacker unexpectedly resurfaces among a crowd of drag queens, porn stars, and musicians, Tam finally must make real choices. Fear or confrontation. Cynicism or curiosity. Silence or honesty. It would be surreal, if it wasnt LA.

An intense memoir about mental illness, memory and storytelling, from an acclaimed novelist. When Rob Roberge learns that he's likely to have developed a progressive memory-eroding disease from years of hard living and frequent concussions, he is terrified by the prospect of becoming a walking shadow. In a desperate attempt to preserve his identity, he sets out to (somewhat faithfully) record the most formative moments of his life—ranging from the brutal murder of his childhood girlfriend, to a diagnosis of rapid-cycling bipolar disorder, to opening for famed indie band Yo La Tengo at The Fillmore in San Francisco. But the process of trying to remember his past only exposes just how fragile the stories that lay at the heart of our self-conception really are. As Liar twists and turns through Roberge’s life, it turns the familiar story of sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll on its head. Darkly funny and brutally frank, it offers a remarkable portrait of a down and out existence cobbled together across the country, from musicians’ crashpads around Boston, to seedy bars popular with sideshow freaks in Florida, to a painful moment of reckoning in the scorched Wonder Valley desert of California. As Roberge struggles to keep addiction and mental illness from destroying the good life he has built in his better moments, he is forced to acknowledge the increasingly blurred line between the lies we tell others and the lies we tell ourselves.

WORKING BACKWARDS Homeless, Broke, Divorced, Alone, Reclusive, Humiliated, Embarrassed and very very unhappy. That should be a reasonable snapshot of someone who really hasn't a lot to live for. Not this little black duck. Brendan Lauritz is no ordinary deperate dot. He is a man on a mission. He's on his way back, bigtime. In this story of success that hasn't happened.........yet, Brendan takes us on a journey, an emotional rollercoaster often with hilarious consequences and outcomes. This book thingie is about working backwards from his dream and final destination. From the town of Destin-ee back to his pathetic existence in Miser-ee, Brendan has been crying out for someone to show how to make it to the town of Happy-Me, his personal nirvana. But there is no help so he has worked out the escape route himself. Brendan has created a few new strategies to help him get out of his living hell hole. NEEDSEARCH, DOTS and VIPER POISON are the new weapons he will use to fight off the ee-vil NEGOBS which are trying to block his road to happiness. See, Brendan is just like you. He wants to be happy again. With only one life and time running out Brendan has started his journey to Happy-Me. If you want easy or "just ask and you will receive" then this book thingie isn't for you. But if you want to walk with someone hand in hand, from the hell hole of hopelessness to the heaven of happiness, then start reading. Your new life has begun.....