Prospero’s Feature
Tuesday, November 25th, 2008
As promised, my latest article in Present Magazine is now available online. The bookstore interview I described in yesterday’s blog post was the basis for this story. Will Leathem is co-owner of Prospero’s Books. He and I sat in the store’s basement bookshelves and talked about emerging Kansas City writers. My name was not among them, unfortunately, but I am hoping to change that soon.
Leathem was courteous during the interview session on Sunday afternoon and an amiable host during the guest guitar clinic that followed our discussion. I’ve been to the bookstore to cover its notorious book burnings on two occasions and actually conducted another interview for Present in the main reading room. After another look around, my opinion of the store and its reading selections was high, but its feel left the bigger impression.
The location in the old Johnson’s Hardware shop on the corner at 39th Street has undeniable character. The customers that walk in off the street seem drawn to the culture – they share something with the owners and the other people shopping here – and they all remind me of the band of writers and artists I drank with in college.
Leathem shared incredible stories. For example, he mentioned he is in occasional contact with Lawrence Ferlinghetti and has modeled his publishing of local poets after the City Light Bookstore in San Franciso. Ferlinghetti’s “pocket poet” series launched Allen Ginsberg’s career (as well as his reading at the Six Gallery) in the 1950s. All American writers are indebted to him for the obscenity trial that ensued after he published Howl.
We chatted for about 30 minutes. Many of the facts in this story were provided by a press release Leathem issued to the local news media last week. That gave me the framework for the story and the ability to improvise considerably with the visual and sensual aspects of this story. Once again, editor Pete Dulin pitched me a story right in my sweet spot. I couldn’t appreciate the opportunity more. I hope you enjoy what you read.
