DERRICK C. BROWN
POET
NOVELIST
SCREENWRITER
COMIC
LECTURER
BOOK PUBLISHER
A LITTLE GRIEF BREAK — 30 years of poems. All the hits in one book.
A thirty-year retrospective from one of contemporary poetry's most electrifying voices — poems that detonate with laughter before breaking your heart in the next breath. The essential poems from ten books, plus nineteen new ones.
"Buy this book! A Little Grief Break is all charm and language and daring." — Major Jackson
$25.00
What ARE YOU
UP TO THERE, BUD?
OCT 29 & 30 — AUSTIN, TX — Hyde Park Theatre, 8 PM (with Suzanne La Folette)
NOV 4 — SAN ANTONIO, TX — The Blind Tiger, 8 PM
NOV 5 — AMARILLO, TX — Stoex — Q&A 7 PM, open mic 8 PM, show 8:45 PM
NOV 6 — AUSTIN, TX — Texas Keeper Cidery, 7 PM (Bree Bailey book release)
“There’s something that happens when you read Derrick Brown, a rekindling of faith in the weird, hilarious, shocking, beautiful power of words... When you read any of his work...or when you have the fantastic fortune to watch him perform it in person, you yourself are a bit more alive.”
“Derrick Brown doesn’t just report from the human condition, he sings it— capturing how it feels to be absolutely alive in poems that are simultaneously romantic, wacky, soulful, wounded and full of wonder.”
“I wish I had written “Patience.” I mean written it down on paper. I’ve thought it to myself several times in different countries, but now Derrick has re-earned my trust after initially losing it by naming his book, Scandalabra, with a pun”
“Derrick’s poems, for me, are so generous. Generous in their wit and honesty, mesmerizing fragments of vivid memories. Like sitting next to the most fascinating drunk stranger and hearing his tales. All of them are happily part of my life now.”
“I’ve done a few shows with Derrick and I love how his poems connect with an audience with these unique setups and surprise left hooks. He is a chef that serves my favorite recipe of sarcastic but never cynical. The pieces are funny as hell and some are fearlessly heavy, with a naked sadness, and some are very stupid. Is that courageous?”
“Derrick Brown makes the often unbearable art form of poetry a true, unexpected joy. I think there’s a reasonable chance he is America’s greatest living poet and you will enjoy his work.”
“...Brown is also obviously not afraid to get vulnerable with his audience. The trope of the depressed, tortured stand-up is oft-repeated for a reason, and Brown delves into his own grief in a way that’s somehow sad and funny and ultimately insightful, all so he can show us “how the sausage is made.”
“Derrick C. brown is a heart whisperer & this collection is no exception. Equal parts devastating, hilarious, and swoon-worthy, Love Ends in a Tandem Kayak is a roadmap for every romantic looking to stay hopeful, a reminder that when love abandons us, it’s only making room for more of itself to squeeze in.”
CHECK OUT MY FREE SUBSTACK
Tips galore and true stories for writers and creative types — from 30 years of doing this for a living.
Shop THE NEW STUFF
VINYL RECORD. RECORDED LIVE IN BOSTON. COMEDY AND POETRY. PGF RECORDS. DISTRO BY SUB POP.
Get ready for a heartwarming and thrilling adventure that will ignite your child's imagination! In this exciting book, meet Ralph, the new kid at school, who finds himself in a world of magic and wonder when he encounters the mysterious and extraordinary Margo, also known as "Hot Hands."
Picture this: a strange girl with hands that blaze like fire! As Ralph and Margo team up, they embark on a journey of friendship and bravery, overcoming their fears together. Ralph, eager for a new friend, discovers the true meaning of companionship as he bonds with the unique and lovable Margo.
But Margo's hands are not just magical; they come with a fascinating challenge. Can Margo ever hug anyone without her fiery touch causing harm? Will she ever be able to experience the joy of building a snowman without melting it away? These questions will keep young readers on the edge of their seats, eager to discover the answers.
ILLUSTRATED BY MATT CARVER
WRITTEN BY DERRICK C BROWN
LECTURES AND KEYNOTES
KEYNOTES THAT DON'T PUT PEOPLE TO SLEEP. Derrick has keynoted for Space Beach, Seeds, Ingram, Brown University, Mira Costa College and more — poems, stories, and actual laughs for rooms that expected a PowerPoint. Available to MC your event or deliver a keynote people remember on purpose.
Listen Up
I wrote the lyrics for a beautiful and dark new music project with Larkk. For fans of PJ Harvey, Bat for Lashes, Angel Olsen and Phoebe Bridgers.