THEATRICAL READING
Author to interact with audience at ‘Kings of Seventh Avenue’ event
Jon Marcantoni is going to make the most of his first time in Albuquerque.
The Colorado-based author will read from his book “Kings of Seventh Avenue” tonight at Bookworks. Then on Sunday, April 23, he will perform a monologue with Sunday Chatter.
And he will conduct a workshop today at Warehouse 508 with Rowie Shebaulin.
“I’ll be back in August to premiere my new book,” he says. “I’m actually doing a ton of stuff.”
Marcantoni has been a freelance writer and editor since 2004. He has edited 10 books and was co-author with Jean Blasiar of the award-winning World War II drama “Communion.”
His latest book, “Kings of Seventh Avenue,” takes an unflinching look at the multiethnic communities of Tampa, Fla., to show how the roots of misogyny and abuse have grown so deep that they have become tradition, tracing the meteoric rise of one couple and the violent fall of another against the backdrop of Tampa’s Ybor City club district.
“It took about a year to write it, though the story sat in my head for about three years before I began to work on it,” he says.
Marcantoni says that in “Kings,” he wanted to use visualism and writing in the most visceral way.
“I want to evoke emotions,” he says. “And having characters breaking that fourth wall and playing with light imagery. I tried to make it very cinematic.”
Marcantoni, 32, grew up in theater and brings some elements of theater to his book readings.
He doesn’t like traditional book events. “I like to memorize pieces of the book,” he says. “For the event at Bookworks, we’re going to give some dialog together, do something that is communal. I see these book events as an opportunity. I’m going to come up to you and talk to you directly and make this part of your day. These book events, I get the opportunity to be directly active with the audience.”
Although this is his first visit to the Duke City, Marcantoni says some of the local authors he has been working with already feel like family.
“They are a great group,” he says. “I’ve been lucky to connect with them and make these events happen.”