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Publishing Drink Against Drunkenness

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This is a campaign is to raise funds to publish Drink Against Drunkenness: the life and times of Sasha Soldatow
UPDATE: we reached the initial goal, but I will keep the campaign open, with additional funds going to promotions, an eventual ebook, and a great launch party (this coming Spring in Sydney)

About Sasha

Sasha Soldatow (1947–2006) was devoted to friendship, gossip, art, provocation, and attending all the parties. He participated in action for gay rights, inner-city housing, prison reform, defying censorship. Sasha is well remembered, even from events and times where most others are a blur of the forgotten: people talk about his stylish hospitality, invigorating conversation, life lessons, and the electrifying performances of his cabaret-style suite of poems, The Adventures of Rock-n-Roll Sally. The poster of Sally and other of his art works remain on many walls. His writings received strong critical acclaim, and remain impressive today; he was a valued editor and mentor for many writers. Sasha wrote many short pieces, two books of uncompromisingly modernist prose, Private Do Not Open and Mayakovsky in Bondi; a scholarly introduction to a selection of Harry Hooton’s poetry; and an “autobiography”, Jump Cuts, co-authored with protégé Christos Tsiolkas. In Moscow in 1991 his dreams of returning to his Russian roots collapsed along with the Soviet Union. 

 About Drink Against Drunkenness

The biography of Soldatow’s life as an artist, anarchist and activist as well as an unforgettable personality is also a social history: of Sydney’s anarchist tradition, radical action groups and underground publications particularly in the 1970s and 80s, the upheavals of feminism, gay liberation, anti-censorship, inner-city development, the AIDS pandemic, prison reform. It’s well-timed in this present of collapsing capitalism and fresh interest in anarchism and forms of protest. 

I interviewed over 50 people who were involved in Soldatow’s personal, social, activist and artistic life to write it. Some are prominent in media, law, crime, publishing, writing, film, poetry, performance, activism, academic life, theatre. Among them are Christos Tsiolkas, David Marr, Pam Brown, Margaret Fink, Wendy Bacon, Judith Brett, Monica Attard … and more …

About the publication

After all those interviews, perusing over 40 boxes of Sasha’s archives, writing draft after draft, and being thoroughly edited by Bruce Sims, the biography is ready for publication. This will be a print-on-demand publication, and I need your help for the set-up costs. I hope you want this biography out of the closet and in the world and will contribute to the fund. Any amount is appreciated for its part in helping to create this book about a hero of the counter-culture. AND THERE ARE REWARDS! Cards, posters, the book …

The aim for this crowdfunding

The goal is to raise $6,000 by the end of May 2022.
If there are any donations above that amount they will be used for more promotions, an ebook edition, and a great launch party.

See below for the Budget.

About the author of the biography

Author of nine novels as well as books of memoir and short prose. Everything at inezbaranay.com  my web site  My memory of Sasha when he died here . Ask me anything.

Rewards

FOR ALL DONATIONS
Real gratitude, expressed as a thank you card [sent electronically]. 
$50 AND ABOVE 
As above, and a printed copy of Sasha’s unpublished long poem Seven Songs, mailed to you. 
$100 AND ABOVE
All the above, and a copy of Sasha’s famous Rock’n’Roll Sally poster (posing like Marilyn) mailed to you
$200 and ABOVE
All the above and a copy of the biography upon publication 

The Budget

Organizer

Inez Baranay
Organizer
Redfern, NSW

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