Famed Literary Coach, Teacher Pens One of His Own

Chaucer’s Books (3321 State Street, Santa Barbara) will host local author Shelly Lowenkopf for a book talk and signing of his short story collection “Struts and Frets: Matt Bender Stories” on Monday,June 24 at 6 p.m.

Book Description “Struts and Frets: Matt Bender Stories “

“What’s it called when you get accolades for doing something you don’t care about and Equity minimum pay for what you love?”

 Matt Bender gave up easy bucks working in soaps for bird feed in an off-Broadway classic.  Great reviews, but what next?  Surely not as spokes-chicken for a chicken-and-waffle restaurant franchise.

Surely not.

Author Biography –  Shelly Lowenkopf

Shelly Lowenkopf held editorial positions with general trade, mass-market, literary, and scholarly book publishers, where he acquired and edited a work from a lawyer known as “the king of torts,” a memoir from a literary agent known as “the king of the mass-market paperback,” a memoir from a writer known as “the king of the pulp magazines,” and a biography of a man who earned a considerable living from his flatulence.  He taught at The Masters in Professional Writing Program, University of Southern California, for thirty-four years, did a hitch at the College of Creative Studies, UC Santa Barbara, now holds forth at the Extended Learning Program, Santa Barbara City College.  He’s published longform fiction and short stories under his own name and more pseudonyms than he can remember.  He lives in Santa Barbara, California.