P.A. Kane Upcoming Events:

 

—Books And Bottles- Bookfair at The Ridge 555 Orchard Park Road, West Seneca, NY. September 25th, 530-7:30pm

—Book Talk & Signing- Lackawanna Public Library 560 Ridge Road, Lackawanna, NY. September 30th, 6pm

—Book Talk & Signing- Orchard Park Public Library  S 4570 South Buffalo Street, Orchard Park, NY. October 15th, 6pm

—Book Talk & Signing- Hamburg Pub lic Library 102 Buffalo Street, Hamburg, NY. November18th, 6pm

—Makers Market- Buffalo Historical Museum Vendor Show- One Museum Plaza Buffalo, NY. November 28th 11-5pm

—Book Talk & Signing- West Seneca Public Library 1300 Union Road, West Seneca, NY. December 22nd, 6pm

"Ballad of The Kingsmen" Todd Snider

Todd Snider passed away from pneumonia on November 14, 2025.
This essay is from my 2020 book: The Last Playlist (A Sonic Epitaph)  

Todd Snider's 2004 release, East Nashville Skyline, is a modern classic in every sense of the word. It's a great and tumultuous ride into Hank Williams's Cadillac Coupe DeVille, Mike Tyson's entourage, and the head of a jumper on a ledge who receives some divine intervention from St. Peter. Although Snider's entire catalog is pretty great, this album is his London Calling or Exile on Main Street.

Originally from Oregon, Todd Snider is a modern-day troubadour wandering the country with a guitar slung over his back, a harmonica fixed to his neck, and a head full of hard-luck stories. His songs are a mixed bag of country, rock, and blues jumbled together with minimal instrumentation and production. He delivers his songs in an affable, shaky voice that sometimes borders on preachy but is utterly sincere. Lyrically, many are story songs, often focusing on characters living on the fringes of society with a penchant for ending up in handcuffs with no more than a prayer for bail. His songs make you laugh, cry, and think—the holy trinity of songwriting.

Orchard Park Book Talk

As many of you know, for nearly three decades, my day job was as a driver at FedEx Express. In my last few years I delivered weekly packages at a Southtowns clinic (usually late) addressed to Dr. Laurence Plumb. Right away, the name struck me—Larry Plumb. Not only was it the greatest everyman name ever, but it also described the character I was working on perfectly: steadfast, honest, true—a plumb line. Last night, in attendance at my Orchard Park Library book talk, was Dr. Laurence Plumb and his lovely wife, Peggy. 

On my 𝑳𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒚 𝑷𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒃 𝑰𝒔 𝑺𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝑯𝒆𝒓𝒆 journey, several people have commented—”It’s about time someone wrote a book about Dr. Plumb.” In chatting with Dr. Plumb afterward, he told me that people, including his son, have asked him if the book was about him. After meeting and talking to him for a few minutes it was plain that book was indeed about him.

It was a nice moment. Even better, in the most Larry Plumbish kind of way, Dr. Plumb bought the entire stock of books I had on hand.

Join me June 10, 2025 at 630pm at the Cazenovia Neighborhood Library for a talk about writing and my novel LarryPlumb Is Still Here