Take Sam, the misfit narrator of “Arcade,” Smith’s debut novel, released in paperback original this week by Los Angeles-based independent publisher Unnamed Press. In “Arcade,” Sam — who, like Smith, works as a hotel clerk — can’t keep himself away from the bookstore, although his interest is as much anthropological as sexual. But there’s definitely an emotional toll.”In “Arcade,” Sam goes through a similar trajectory, and Smith acknowledges that the novel was inspired by his own life story. One major press seemed interested, Smith says, but only if he agreed to cut most of the explicit sex scenes from the novel. They think it's too hardcore.’”But “Arcade” found a sympathetic reader in Olivia Taylor Smith (no relation), the executive editor of Unnamed Press.

Source: Los Angeles Times June 17, 2016 14:48 UTC