Kevin Sampsell
Goodreads Author
Born
in Kennewick, Washington, The United States
March 17
Website
Twitter
Genre
Influences
1980s hip hop scratching, darkness, kindness, poetry, doughnuts, guita
...more
Member Since
June 2007
URL
https://www.goodreads.com/kevinsampsell
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A Common Pornography
10 editions
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published
2010
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This Is Between Us
9 editions
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published
2013
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Portland Noir
by
10 editions
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published
2009
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Beautiful Blemish
2 editions
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published
2005
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Creamy Bullets
2 editions
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published
2008
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The Insomniac Reader: Stories of the Night
by
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published
2005
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I Made an Accident
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How to Lose Your Mind With Lights On
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published
1994
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Patricia Letters
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Sean the Stick
by
2 editions
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published
2024
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Kevin’s Recent Updates
Kevin
rated a book it was amazing
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It's been a long time since I was so instantly taken by a book–the packaging, the prose, the cover art, the compact elegance of it. Lara Mimosa Montes is a master of mood and the forgotten lure of narration. You'll especially like this if you're a wr ...more | |
Kevin
started reading
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Kevin
entered a giveaway
The Irish Goodbye: Micro-Memoirs
by Beth Ann Fennelly
15 copies
available, ends on
October 30, 2025
Enter to win »
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Kevin
rated a book it was amazing
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The other day at work I was helping a customer look for a Dennis Cooper book that we couldn't find, and was probably stolen. We got to talking because I am also a Cooper fan, and I walked with him to the small press section to show him some like-mind ...more | |
Kevin
wants to read
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Kevin
rated a book it was amazing
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The other day at work I was helping a customer look for a Dennis Cooper book that we couldn't find, and was probably stolen. We got to talking because I am also a Cooper fan, and I walked with him to the small press section to show him some like-mind ...more | |
Kevin
rated a book it was amazing
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Through all my ups and downs and confusions about the work of Diane Williams, I would still take this brick to a desert island with me, especially if I had my own notebook to write in in response. Sometimes baffling, but often strange and brilliant, ...more | |
Kevin
wants to read
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Kevin
started reading
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Kevin
rated a book it was amazing
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What an absolute treat to read Toews write about her own life in this memoir style. Sure, much of her fiction is based on her own life and experiences, but this is a much more vulnerable peek behind the curtain. And on top of that, I was delightfully ...more | |
“I realize that nothing is really normal. All it takes to alter normalcy is a death or a birth. Or just some misguided fear, love, or loneliness that never goes away.”
― A Common Pornography
― A Common Pornography
“A few times I drove past early-morning commuters, driving slowly with their headlights on, sipping coffee from their travel mugs, half asleep and unaware that a scared, naked man debated whether or not to plow into them with his car like a missile.”
― A Common Pornography
― A Common Pornography
“You’ll freeze out here,” he said. What did he know? I was already a sheet of ice, a frozen branch, a twig. I could freeze in my own house, if I wanted to. The man’s eyes darted down the road.
I was an icy slip of nothing. I was invincible.”
― The Folly of Loving Life
I was an icy slip of nothing. I was invincible.”
― The Folly of Loving Life
“Spelling is a way to make words safe, at least for now, until another technology appears to soften attacks launched from the mouth.”
― Notable American Women
― Notable American Women
“Mr. Pappadakis smells like Just for Men peroxide dye and eucalyptus foot unguents. He has a face like a catcher's mitt. The whole thing puckers inward, drooping with the memory of some dropped fly ball.”
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“They weren't hours, these classes; they weren't even forty-five minutes--they were "periods," which sounded to me as if they were each at once a little era and then the end you had to see decisively put to it.”
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“A chainsaw's God's way of evening out the playing field between you and everything, even the invisible stuff.”
― Drunk by Noon
― Drunk by Noon

PNW book lovers unite!

People who like to read books* in Portland, OR and surrounding areas. * = books that are vegan, yes?

A group to discuss and recommend books published by the independent presses. Fiction, nonfiction, and poetry are all allowed.

This group is designed to discuss books published by Black Ocean, receive updates on publications and get news on author events. All are welcome, only ...more

A group of like-minded readers out to save some of America's best places, (i.e. local independent bricks-and-mortar bookstores and cafes) by purchasin ...more

This is the group for official Goodreads events, including book swaps, pub crawls, and anything else that Goodreads sponsors.

If you started as a fan of William Faulkner and Flannery O'Connor and then found your way to Harry Crews, Barry Hannah, Larry Brown, Melinda Haynes, D ...more
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Yes--Lidia and I are old friends. In fact, we just read together (and with Kerry Cohen) in Seattle last Thursday!


Actually, I've just been writing another "fan" of yours--and I'm going to sell him a rare copy of "Who the Hell..."

and the subject was "updates from Kevin, Kevin, Kevin, Kevin, Kevin"-
perhaps it is my drowsy state that finds this hilarious-
or maybe it really does sound like a pissed off valley girl.
either way.....



Or maybe it's just that I've heard you exist over and over.
I guess you'll have that.
Actually, I think you rejected one of my books once. For which I am not bitter.
Really.

Just turned in my book edits today. Feels like running a marathon, and when you're finished, you're too tired to even say, Yay!


Here's wishing you the best in all aspects of your life.
-Jeremy :)

If you don't mind sharing--I was wondering, what's your favorite book of all time?
Here’s wishing you a weekend filled with wacky whims, wonderful weirdness, and well-disposed werecats.
-Jeremy :)


I love Powells, maybe next time I'm in Portland you can show me some favorite books. I work at BookPeople in Austin. Yay bookstores.

Thanks for the add request. After perusing your book list, I know that having you for a goodreads pal will keep me in literary heaven for years! I rarely get up to Amsterdam to visit the English bookstore (and they wouldn't have too many - if any - small press offerings)...but on my annual trip to Portland, I spend hours at Powells. Usually I'm so overwhelmed with all there is to read, I don't know where to start. I end up going waaaaay over the weight limit on my return luggage...
Cheers,
Tish

Yes--Lidia and I are old friends. In fact, we just read together (and with Kerry Cohen) in Seattle ..."
the world keeps getting smaller. she was my writing professor and i just loved her and everyone she taught me about.