Drew Perry’s impressive debut novel is, This Is Exactly Like You (Viking). The novel begins when Jack Lang impulsively buys a second house directly across the street from his own. His wife Beth has finally had enough. She leaves him—and their six-year-old autistic son, Hendrick—to move in with Jack’s best friend, Terry Canavan. Further complications ensue when Canavan’s ex- girlfriend, Rena, arrives at Jack’s doorstep. When the autistic Hendrick, who rarely talks at all, suddenly starts speaking fluent Spanish, Jack knows that he - and readers as well – are in uncharted territory. Jack’s attempt to navigate this new landscape—the suburban ennui of defunct putt-putt courses and karaoke bars, parenthood and infidelity, coupled with the daily surprises of autism—is the subject of this wise, witty, and large-hearted novel. Author Brad Watson said, “A beautiful rant against the so-called sane majority. And very funny: a dead-on, hilariously sad account—without a scintilla of sentimentality.” Drew Perry lives in Greensboro, N.C. He teaches writing at Elon University.

Related link: This Is Exactly Like You Website.

Born and raised in Arkansas and now residing in southwest Missouri, singer/songwriter Cindy Woolf is steeped in the Ozark folk music tradition. She honed her performing skills as a solo artist at open mike nights while attending Missouri State University in Springfield, and has recorded two albums to date. The first, Simple and Few, is completely acoustic, and the second, Before Daylight, is largely electric, with full band arrangements. Woolf showcases her fine songwriting with a unique vocal style. Pulse Weekly said, “Her voice, deep-fried Southern style, is soft, elegant, and surprisingly natural.”

Related link: Cindys Website.

Frazier Riddell was born in Canton Mississippi. He has been writing songs for the past 20 years and his newest batch are featured on his latest release, Southern Man. Riddell is a born again Christian and his faith and fatherhood (he has a son) are often reflected in his songwriting. His other CDs include Mississippi, Who Will Save This World, Opus 5, Give it to the Wind, As He Sleeps, and Life’s Little Twister.

Join host Jim Dees and our house band, the Yalobushwhackers, at 6PM, April 15, at Off Square Books. If you can’t make it in person, tune in to Rebel Radio 92.1FM. Don’t forget our rebroadcast every Saturday night at 7PM on Mississippi Public Broadcasting (90.3FM in Oxford) immediately following A Prairie Home Companion.

Also, next Thursday, Thacker Mountain Radio will present a special fundraising show at the Lyric Theater at 7PM. The broadcast will feature a live radio drama with actors on stage performing scenes from Infamous, Ace Atkins’ new novel about Machine Gun Kelly and his wife Katherine (from Memphis and Saltillo, respectively). Music from the 1930s will be performed by the Yalobushwhackers with Bryan Ledford. General admission is $10. For more ticket information, visit thelyricoxford.com and thackermountain.com. (Please note the later start time and make plans to bring friends as there will be plenty of seating available.)