Now We're Here - celebrating Queen's music and my novel Now I'm Here

Why would an author like me produce a concert of acoustic Queen music in a beautiful Alamo Square Victorian with a rich LGBT history? Because I can! Also, I won a book award.

Yes, for months, shortly after the publication of my sixth novel, Now I'm Here, I decided to add live music to my reading events. Musicians Peter Fogel and Dudley Saunders offered their guitar and singing skills at my San Francisco and West Hollywood readings in September and October.

But I wanted more music, so when I shot the interior piano-playing scenes for my book trailer at The F'Inn, a lovely historic home run by Mike Finn, I realized that it would be a perfect setting for an intimate salon-style concert.

On Thursday, December 6, you can get a copy of my book, enjoy champagne and food, and hear new live versions of more than a dozen Queen songs performed by some luminary talents:  Peter Fogel, Suzanne Ramsey, Diogo Zavadski, Coleton Schmitto, Adam Dragland and special guests Leigh Crow, Ruby Vixen and Jason Brock.

I also have some upcoming and recorded radio show and podcasts.

Keep up with the new events on my website.

Peter Fogel

RSVP on the Facebook event page.

Buy tickets at https://queencelebration.brownpapertickets.com/

And please review my books online at Amazon.com and GoodReads.com! 


Here's some more info about the performers:

Suzanne Ramsey

PETER FOGEL has been a bandleader for 40 years and composed for two award-winning rock musicals: Cyberotica! and Club Inferno. Career highlights include opening for Santana with show band Enrique, playing Davies Symphony Hall with retro popsters Whoa Nellies and opening for Cher with drag-rock sensation Pepperspray.

Bay Area Native SUZANNE RAMSEY (Kitten on the Keys) has been performing locally and internationally everywhere from sleazy bars to the award-winning French film Tournee at Cannes. She survived playing in bands with Courtney Love in the '80s and currently sings in the Captain Beefheart tribute ensemble Pachuco Cadaver. She can currently be seen playing piano and accordion in a variety of bars, events and theaters in San Francisco including Flower Piano, Madrone Art Bar, the Rite Spot, and Dandy Drag King Cabaret at Oasis. Tickle her ivories at http://www.suzanneramsey.net

Diogo Zavadski

DIOGO ZAVADSKI has been performing in the Bay Area since 2014. During this time he performed with the gory and glittery troupe of the Thrillpeddlers in productions like the Cockettes musical Pearls over Shanghai, Shocktoberfest, Club Inferno, The Untamed Stage and Amazon Apocalypse. Recent works includes: Hedwig and The Angry Inch, Ray of Light Theatre, Tuck n Roll Players Cyberotica!, Theater Rhinoceros Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Rumi Missabu's Trangerella, the Palace of Trash and the First Church of The Sacred Silversexual. Diogo is the lead singer and guitarist for MuFTA.

 

COLETON SCHMITTO (left) works primarily as a stage actor, specializing in musical theater. His recent theater credits include Hedwig and The Angry Inch (Ray of Light), Next to Normal (Jewel Theatre Company), We Are Proud To Present... (San Jose Stage), The Unfortunates (American Conservatory Theater), and Memphis (Cabrillo Music Theatre). He graduated from UCLA with a B.A. in Communications Studies and currently works full-time as a clinical research coordinator with the San Francisco AIDS Foundation.
LEIGH CROW (below, left) has entertained the Bay Area for over 25 years as a singer, actor and drag performer. Featured in literally hundreds of plays (including Thrillpeddlers' Vice Palace and Pearls Over Shanghai), drag shows, independent movies and rock and roll shows (including the Whoa Nellies), she is perhaps best known for her pioneering drag king character Elvis Herselvis. Want more? Check out her country band Velvetta! You can also catch her at the fabulous Drag King Review 'Dandy' and as Captain Kirk in Star Trek Live at S.F. Oasis!

 
MS. RUBY VIXEN (right, in photo at left) is a sassy spitfire for hire who loves to entertain! Singer, burlesque emcee and costumer, Ruby has performed on stages across the bay since 2007. Ruby is Co-Producer of the fabulous drag king review 'Dandy', and a member of the Queer Country music sensation Velvetta!


 

JASON BROCK (right)  is a television, film and stage star. He was seen in homes all over the world as a finalist on X-Factor singing songs like Billy Joel's "New York State of Mind." Jason also starred in the film, Love is Not Enough, which played at global film festivals, including the Frameline Film Festival in San Francisco. Jason is well-known as a cabaret star and performs original shows regularly. He has been called a Bay Area Singing Legend and was voted Best Male Cabaret Singer for the last four years in the Bay Area Reporter.

ADAM DRAGLAND: Born and raised in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, Dragland moved to New York State as a teenager and found rock n roll. He began performing in smoky bars at the age of 17 and eventually followed the music out to San Francisco. Since arriving in The Bay he's become a staple throughout the scene on lead guitar, playing for bands such as Gold Minor, Kat Robichaud and the Darling Misfits, The Sam Chase and the Untraditional and First Church of the Sacred Silversexual. http://www.draglandband.com/

This will be a fun night for all. Queen glam rock attire encouraged! 
But get your tickets now, as it's an intimate venue.

Built in 1881, an Italianate Victorian built by Thomas O'Connor, The F’Inn has been the site of numerous music concerts, film shoots and unique performances. It’s also the Former home of the gay organization The Society of Individual Rights, the first meeting place of the historic lesbian group The Daughters of Bilitis, and the Council on Religion and the Homosexual. It also serves as a unique Inn.
 

RSVP on the Facebook event page.

Buy tickets at https://queencelebration.brownpapertickets.com/

Also, Now I'm Here won Best LGBTQ Fiction in the American Book Fest competition.

But book awards don't always equal sales. So please buy and review my books online at Amazon.com and GoodReads.com!