Blast off!

Swollen Appetite Launch Party! The RIC, July 12, 2025

Wow, just wow! ! Our Swollen Appetite book launch party last Saturday at The Rockridge Improvement Club in Oakland went above and beyond. More than a launch, it was a blast off! I say “our” launch vs “my” launch because I may have written a memoir, but I didn’t do it alone. I had editors, friends who read pages and listened to me kvetch, and my husband, Brian Mello who puts up with my shenanigans, past or present. The event was studded with local musical luminaries, who played in between selected readings. A room packed with beautiful faces beamed all kinds of love in my direction. I may have been a Straight-A drunk but I’m also the luckiest person I know.

 Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Scott Ayers for the use of The RIC for handling the sound so nimbly.

Nate the bartender!

Laura Cavaluzzo who introduced me as if I were a big shot.

Laura Clemons and Julie Kramer for the flowers.

Everyone who bought the book! We sold out!

And to the musicians – Damn! There’s not a bruised banana in this bunch!

Ajax Green and Bernie Jungle  performing songs from Granfalloon Bus, Captain Fatass and Dieselhead

Jill Olson, Michael Montalto and Stevie Cornell playing Alibi and other songs from their 1990s pop band, The Movie Stars.

Brian Mello, Peter Craft, David Knupp, Marissa Hereso and myself playing a few songs including Nick Cave’s Straight to You.

And the amazing Gillian Welch tribute band, Trillian Welch featuring:

Margaret Belton – vocals – Red Clay Halo

Jill Rogers – vocals, guitar – Little Baby

Meredith Edgars – Elvis Presley Blues

Myles Boisen – guitar, slide

Thank you to everyone who tells a friend about Swollen Appetite or posts about it on social media or writes a review! You are my marketing budget and life blood of the project. We hope to keep the book readings coupled with music from the 1990s all summer long – will let you know the next event soon!

Bye for now. Love you all so damn much.