My Book Excerpt Published in Mr. Beller's Neighborhood

Mr. Beller's Neighborhood published "Two Guys Talking on the Corner." A story from my memoir, "I Hate the Dallas  Cowboys - tales of a scrappy New York boyhood." (YBK Publishers)

Thank you, Mr. Beller's!

The book's on sale at Logos Bookstore, 1575 York Avenue. If you're not local, buy the book online at Amazon, B&N and other booksellers.

If you admire Mr. Peabody & Sherman, or H.G. Wells, you'll love the story. If you like the story, the book will provide a ride on the WABAC Machine to street life in your old neighborhood when you were a kid. 

The penultimate "City Stories: Stoops to Nuts" @ Cornelia Street Cafe @ Tuesday, Jan 13th @ 6pm. A merge of storytelling and narrative song ~ a love letter to street life, the neighborhood and the characters in it. Our artists: Judith Heineman, Don Rosler, Michael Schwartz & Robert White. (Hunter College's best teacher ever) - $ 8 admission includes a free drink, I'm your host, and I'm telling one from my book, "I Hate the Dallas Cowboys - tales of a scrappy New York boyhood." This is our next to last show at the Cafe. I thank everyone who's been onboard these past five years, especially, the Cornelia Street Cafe's family for letting us play in your yard. Our final "City Stories: Stoops to Nuts" show is Feb 10th.

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If you like Jean Shepherd's 'A Christmas Story" you'll love my book, promise. 

 "I Hate the Dallas Cowboys - tales of a scrappy New York boyhood," 

is perfect for the big kid in your life.

Praise for the book ~ ( if you read it, please say a few honest words online in booksellers reviews section)

“Thomas R. Pryor has written a sweet, funny, loving memoir of growing up old-school in a colorful New York neighborhood. A story of sports, family, and boyhood, you’ll be able to all but taste, smell, and feel this vanished world.”
—Kevin Baker, author of the novels Dreamland, Paradise Alley, and Strivers Row

“Tommy Pryor’s New York boyhood…was the mid-century coming of age of all of us. A rousing read.”
—Robert Lipsyte, author and former city and sports columnist, The New York Times


“Pryor could take a felt hat and make it funny.”
—Barbara Turner-Vesselago, author of Writing Without A Parachute: The Art of Freefall


“Pryor burrows into the terrain of his childhood with a longing and obsessiveness so powerful it feels like you are reading a memoir about his first great love.”
—Thomas Beller, author of J.D. Salinger: The Escape Artist

“I wasn’t alive for the New York Thomas Pryor writes about, but thanks to his brilliant, honest, and hilarious book, I feel like I was there.”
—Dave Hill, comedian and author of Tasteful Nudes

I Still Hate Dallas, But I Love My Friends

taken by Gordon Balkcom

"I Hate the Dallas Cowboys tales of a scrappy New York boyhood,"book release party last night at Cornelia Street Cafe was a blast. The crowd laughing at our stories and songs was the best audience in my seven years at the Cafe. Their eyes and ears lit up for each performer. Thank you, everyone.

I asked three artists to share the stage with me last night, Michele Carlo, Leslie Goshko and Adam Wade. Three fine writers who maintain their writing excellence while they create other art that dazzles. They inspire me. Without seeing their work, I'm not sure I would have finished my book.

taken by Gordon Balkcom

Michele paints, acts, tells stories and wrote a book with solid reviews, Fish Out Of Agua: My life on neither side of the (subway) tracks (Citadel 2010) Leslie runs a monthly storytelling show Sideshow Goshko that the NY Times, The New Yorker, and others praise, she plays piano like the Devil buying your soul, and writes for periodicals like the Huffington Post. Adam is the best storyteller in NYC and he's a wicked cartoonist and funny visual and radio actor. A few months ago, Adam shared a section of his planned book with me. Adam will be a best selling author. If you like his telling wait to read his stuff on the page. He was unable to come last night but he was in the room with us. For sure. Michele, Leslie and Adam met with me and generously shared everything they could to improve my book outreach. I'm a lucky dog with amazing friends. I never take that for granted.

Frank Flaherty the best editor in NYC and my book collaborator, thank you. It was all good. YBK Publishers and Otto Barz, thank you, for believing in the book and putting your heart into the entire process.

Thank you, Jaime Nelson and Gordon Balkcom for your promotional support and Gordon's photos here.

Thank you, Michele Pryor and Jon Calvert, for getting the show on the road last night.

Thank you, Robin Hirsch, Angelo Verga, Josh Rebell, Mike, John, Alzee and the entire staff at the Cafe for letting us play in your house. Thank you, Barbara Aliprantis, for kicking me off the branch to tell rather than read.

Robert Marantz, thank you, for directing my lost soul to Barbara Turner's writing group in Vancouver 11 years ago.

Link to more photos on Facebook.

I’ll read and sign books at Barnes & Noble, 150 E. 86 St this Friday, Oct 17th@ 7pm in the Yorkville neighborhood on the Upper East Side. 

St. Stephen of Hungary's 4th grade class will join me at B&N to read their Yorkville memories. 

You can purchase the book at Barnes & Noble East 86 St., Logos Bookstore and online at Amazon and Barnes and Noble and YBK.

taken by Gordon Balkcom

Early praise for the book:

“Thomas R. Pryor has written a sweet, funny, loving memoir of growing up old-school in a colorful New York neighborhood. A story of sports, family, and boyhood, you’ll be able to all but taste, smell, and feel this vanished world.”

Kevin Baker, author of the novels “Dreamland,” Paradise Alley,” and “Strivers Row,” as well as other works of fiction and nonfiction


“Tommy Pryor’s New York City boyhood was nothing like mine, a few miles and a borough away, and yet in its heart, tenderness, and tough teachable moments around Dad and ball, it was the mid-century coming of age of all of us. A rousing read.”

Robert Lipsyte, former city and sports columnist, The New York Times

“Pryor could take a felt hat and make it funny.”

Barbara Turner-Vesselago, author of “Writing Without A Parachute: The Art of Freefall”


“Pryor burrows into the terrain of his childhood with a longing and obsessiveness so powerful it feels like you are reading a memoir about his first great love.”

Thomas Beller, author of “J.D. Salinger: The Escape Artist”

taken by Gordon Balkcom

taken by Gordon Balkcom

Father Demo Fountain

Book Event @ Barnes & Noble @ E. 86th St. Store @ Oct 17

Barnes & Noble confirmed, Friday, October 17th, book event at the East 86th Street Yorkville store for "I Hate the Dallas Cowboys - tales of a scrappy New York boyhood."

Today, I'm "The Sunshine Kid."

Working hard here!

Thank you, Dean Dacian for bottom photo.

"Hey, Dad, I See Something!"

Father & daughter at John Jay Pool on the East River. Summer in the city.

"I Hate the Dallas Cowboys - tales of a scrappy New York boyhood," coming October 2014 (YBK Publishers)

Easter Greetings From The Sunshine Kid

"Happy Easter," from "The Sunshine Kid." 

I dribble better than the Knicks.

Thomas R. Pryor

Photography

Prints:

  8 x 10 @ $25

11 x 14 @ $40

"I Hate the Dallas Cowboys" ~ this Fall From YBK Publishers

This October, YBK Publishers will release my book: 

I Hate The Dallas Cowboys -

 tales of a scrappy New York boyhood

The book contains 53 stories with related photographs - my memories of growing up in 1960s' Yorkville, New York. A neighborhood any urban kid who ran the streets and used a tenement stoop as his or her own living room will find familiar. If you liked TV's "The Wonder Years," move it to a city, add a subway and you'll slip right into my world. Francis Flaherty, thank you, for your stellar editing, friendship, and warm support on this project. YBK, thank you, for your faith in this book and steady encouragement in my work. Thank you, all my friends, who have followed my writing and photography and given me inspiration.

Bailey the Beach 108 Puppy Endorses "River to River"

Yesterday at Rockaway Beach, I met my first book customer, Bailey the Puppy being cuddled by two Beach 108th Street boys.

Bailey told me he ordered "River to River ~ New York Scenes from a Bicycle," a moment after YBK published it last Thursday. He confirmed his purchase with a printout of his Amazon receipt.  Bailey paid for the book with Greenies. I was touched and gave him a hug for giving up his tasty treats.

After a nice visit with Bailey and his two buddies, I headed down to Surf City at Beach 96th Street.  I watched many Dudes and Dudettes hang ten, riding waves all the way in on their surf boards. Sold five books to the band playing under the boardwalk, literally.  Sold one copy to the guy in the hammock.  Said it was for his sick mother.

All in all, another groovy day in the Rockaways.

"'River to River ~ New York Scenes from a Bicycle" is Published

My first book of photographs "River to River ~ New York Scenes from a Bicycle" was published yesterday by YBK Publishers.

Photos, captions and an essay in an 8 x 11 format.

The book is available at YBK and Amazon for $12.95. Other sellers will be added in a month.

This photography portfolio is a small sample of my work that YBK wanted to put out there. They did a terrific job and I’m honored they asked me. I hope you buy the book and enjoy the pictures.

If you like my stories and my photos there is a lot more coming.

My next project: "Yorkville: A Century Through the Looking Glass," will include over 100 photos from my family's collection dating back to 1906 and my current pictures. I'll weave these black & white and color photographs together through my neighborhood stories tying Yorkville's present to its past. I will take you on a cinematic journey, promise.

In late September, there will be a release party in Yorkville and you are all invited. 

Be well, Tommy


Amazon link to book


YBK link to book