Writer and Polish Hill resident Karen Lillis will have a book release party and reading at Copacetic Comics from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 8, 2012.  Karen is the author of four books of fiction: the novels “The Second Elizabeth” (Six Gallery Press, 2009) and “i, scorpion” (Words Like Kudzu Press, 2000); and the novellas “Watch the Doors as they Close” (Spuyten Duyvil, 2012) and “Magenta’s Adventures Underground” (Words Like Kudzu with New York Nights, 2004). Her fiction was nominated for a Pushcart Prize in 2010, and her article on the independent presses of Pittsburgh was a finalist for a Golden Quill Press Award in 2007. She blogs at Karen the Small Press Librarian and she is the creator of the online literary portal, Small Press Pittsburgh.

Karen will be appearing with ‘zine queen Ocean Capewell.  Ocean was born in Queens in the 80’s. She moved to Pittsburgh purely for the hell of it, and is the creator of the long-running zine “High On Burning Photographs”. She recently completed her first novel, “The Most Magnificent Rot”, a queer punkhouse tour de force that’s searching for a good publisher. She spends her days battling bureaucracy at the welfare office and spends her nights baking cookies, writing her second book, and trying to unblock her second chakra.

6:00 p.m. is the meet & greet; the reading starts at 7:00 p.m., and the signing is at 8:00pm.  Events will be held at Lili Coffee Shop & Copacetic Comics, both at 3138 Dobson Street in Polish Hill, Pittsburgh.

(Above:  Karen Lillis, photographed by Jessica Fenlon.  Photo borrowed from an interview with Karen on Word Riot)