Join us in celebrating the publication of Merch Table Blues, the debut novel by Rochester's own Peter Conners. The evening will include a brief reading, Q&A, book signing, and refreshments. Books will be available for sale at the event.

About the Author

Peter Conners has documented music and countercultural communities in his previous nonfiction books: Growing Up Dead; JAMerica; Cornell ‘77; and White Hand Society. He is also the author of three books of poetry. Merch Table Blues is his first published novel. A native of Rochester, NY, Conners works as Publisher and Executive Director of the city's premier literary publishing house, BOA Editions.

About the Book

When Virgil Frey gets an unexpected phone call from his childhood buddy, guitarist Richard Payne Knight, urging him to join his band Laverna as a roadie running the merch table on a small club tour through New York state, he decides to go for it. Virgil’s current situation attending a graduate school creative writing program is falling flat, and he’s hoping this new adventure will spark some kind of creative inspiration.
While on tour, Virgil discovers Laverna’s growing popularity involves a cult-like following that just might be a real cult, unexpected hook-ups and odd disappearances, and band members developing questionable habits. Can old friendships survive tour chaos? Will the band get signed? Does Virgil find the inspiring experiences he seeks? Merch Table Blues is an often humorous rock band tour mystery exploring vital ideas about loyalty and friendship that will keep readers on edge till the last encore is played.