Musician Farber comes home touting debut novel

Here at OnMilwaukee.com, we writers speak to a lot of people -- everyone from musicians to filmmakers to chefs to bartenders to boutique owners and more. Sometimes we speak to authors, too. And recently, I caught up with Kirk Farber, the Colorado-based author of "Postcards from a Dead Girl," published by Harper Perennial.

If the name sounds familiar, it's because Farber, a decade or so ago, was the drummer of local band Spill. A lot has happened for Farber, as you can see, since those days.

As he returns to Milwaukee for a number of events as an author published by a major New York publishing house, I asked Farber about the road from the drum stool to author tour.

OnMilwaukee.com: Bring us up to date about your life since Spill.

Kirk Farber: A lot has happened these past five years. Since the days of drumming with Spill, I got married, moved to Colorado, found a job at a library, signed with a literary agent and got a book published by Harper Perennial. Oh, I also cut my long hair. Shaun White has the market on crazy long red hair now.

OMC: Were you always writing creatively or is it something you came to later in life?

KF: I've been writing creatively since I was about 15, whether it was short stories or songs or screenplays or finally, the novel. I got serious about writing fiction in my late 20s and early 30s.

OMC: Tell us about the novel.

KF: "Postcards from a Dead Girl" is the story of Sid Higgins, a 20-something telemarketer who is receiving European postcards from his ex-girlfriend, Zoe, who he hasn't spoken with in over a year. He goes in search of the source of the postcards, and learns some things about himself and his past along the way. A quirky story of love and loss, but a hopeful story, and full of dark humor.

OMC: How does it feel to come home now as a published author, with a book under your arm?

KF: It's a great feeling, but kind of surreal. Still hard to believe the book under my arm is mine. I think it will hit me in a few months. But it's really nice to share the book with my friends and family back home, and hopefully a few strangers, too.

OMC: Are you still making music? Do you stay in touch with your former bandmates?

KF: I definitely stay in touch with all my former bandmates. They're all very close friends, and probably always will be. I still play my drums regularly sans band, and noodle on my acoustic guitar. Lately I've been dreaming of buying a bass.

I would love to write and record a couple of songs once the book tour is finished. I miss the music. I like to keep up with Jack (Rodee) and Andrew (Hintz) and Chad (Solberg), too (from Spill), and hear what they're creating with their various musical projects. It's a lifetime thing, music, something I'll never give up.

OMC: Finally, are you writing another book yet?

KF: Yes, I've been working another novel. I've got a good chunk written, and I'm looking forward to seeing where it goes.

If you want to hear what Spill sounded like, you can order the band's two CDs here. http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/Spill

For more on Farber and his book, visit http://kirkfarber.com/

While he's in Milwaukee, Farber -- who appeared at Next Chapter Books in Mequon Tuesday night, reads from "Postcards from a Dead Girl" at Boswell Book Company, 2559 N. Downer Ave., on Wednesday, March 10 at 7 p.m. and at Books and Company, 1039 Summit Ave., in Oconomowoc, on Saturday, March 13, also at 7.

On Thursday, March 11 he takes part in "Getting Published in 2010: Fresh Approaches to Today's Market," at Redbird Studio, 3195 S. Superior St., at 6:30 p.m. Suggested $10 donation.