Dear friend and Issue #4 contributor Sam Weller had a new book, Listen to the Echoes, released this week on Stop Smiling Books. My body is buzzing with nervous energy to read it. The Paris Review was gracious to host the release party.

The man of the hour was gracious enough to throw an invite in my direction.

There was a looping slideshow of pics from Bradbury’s house. Ray Bradbury’s got a globe of Mars in his home. Fucking Mars!

It was wild to walk around  TPR’s office. I felt like I was gonna brush up against some priceless artifact and accidentally break it, going down in history as that guy.

Even the bathroom’s got cool stuff in it.

Mr. Peak and one of the more sexual lit mag advertisements I’ve ever seen.

We were part of an ex-Chicago contingent showed up in support of Sam.

Sam is an amazing human. He believes in people. He believes in the strange and exciting work that they do. Even when they don’t believe in themselves. That is a rare thing to find these days. Consider yourself lucky if you’re in the position of being his friend.

The Paris Review! Come on! I’m sorry, this office was incredible. I won’t deny it, I was nerding out big time.

Thank you, Sam. And congrats!