Kelly Braffet


Female
32 years old
New York
United States



Last Login: 9/30/2008
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 MySpace URL: 
  http://www.myspace.com/kellybraffet  

    Kelly Braffet's Interests
GeneralFor a good time, call Mrs. Pyxylplk.
MusicIt's generally agreed upon that the Party Shuffle on my iTunes is unlistenable unless you're me. On it, one will find the following: Everclear, Cracker, Sisters of Mercy, Eminem, Nirvana, Van Morrison (particularly Them-era Van Morrison), the Eels, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Leonard Cohen, Morphine, Slow Dazzle, Camper Van Beethoven, Pulp, The Postal Service, Modest Mouse, Skinny Puppy, The Cars, Moby, Front 242, The Wallflowers, Razed in Black, Nada Surf, The Killers, Weezer, James McMurtry, Marcy Playground, Rilo Kiley, and Social Distortion, as well as assorted silly goth and country music. I'll add more as they occur to me.
BooksWe're All In This Together by Owen King; Reproduction Is The Flaw Of Love by Lauren Grodstein; Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke; His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik; East of Eden and Sweet Thursday by John Steinbeck; Voodoo Heart by Scott Snyder; Perdido Street Station, The Scar, and Iron Council, by China Mieville; Case Histories by Kate Atkinson; Snow Crash and Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson; To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee; Coraline by Neil Gaiman; Last Call and The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers; The Last Picture Show by Larry McMurtry; the His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman; Faith For Beginners by Aaron Hamburger; Deception by Denise Mina; The Tooth Fairy by Graham Joyce; The Fortress of Solitude by Jonathan Lethem; Mildred Pierce by James M. Cain; Dogsbody by Diana Wynne Jones; The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett; The Cement Garden by Ian McEwan; The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon; the Abhorsen books by Garth Nix; Sunshine and The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley; Oscar and Lucinda by Peter Carey; The Brief History of the Dead by Kevin Brockmeier; The Secret History by Donna Tartt; A Purple Place For Dying by John D. MacDonald (because that was what I was reading the day I met tall, dark and handsome, and also because John D. kicks butt); The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton; and much, much more. I could do this for hours, people.
Groups: Mysteries and Thrillers

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     Kelly Braffet's Details
Status:Married
Zodiac Sign:Aquarius

   Kelly Braffet's Schools
Columbia University In The City Of New York
New York,New York
Graduated: 2001
Student status: Alumni
Degree: Master's Degree
Major: Fiction Writing
 

1998 to 2000
Sarah Lawrence College
Bronxville,New York
Graduated: 1998
Student status: Alumni
Degree: Bachelor's Degree
Major: dude, we, like, so didn't do majors.
 

1994 to 1998
Greensburg-Salem Hs
Greensburg,Pennsylvania
Graduated: 1994
Student status: Alumni
Degree: High School Diploma
 

1990 to 1994



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   Kelly Braffet's Blurbs
About me:
I write dark, creepy fiction where bad things happen to morally ambiguous people.

My first novel, Josie and Jack, was published in February 2005 by Houghton Mifflin/Mariner Books, and my second, Last Seen Leaving, was published by Houghton Mifflin in 2006. I live in Brooklyn with a certain tall, dark and handsome writer fella. We have three cats. Two and a half of them are black. Since buying my books will help buy them cat food, not buying my books must mean that you hate animals and want my cats to starve. How sad for you.

Check out my website here.

Check out Mrs. Pyxylplk, my new video-game-centric blog, here.

Praise for Last Seen Leaving:

"A suspenseful, emotionally resonant story about a mother and her daughter caught in the mystery of her husband's disappearance. Braffet's lean prose, taut pacing and subtle characterizations here live up to the promise of her debut (Josie and Jack, 2005). . . A keen, heartfelt thrill."

- Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)

"Brilliant . . . Fluid prose, vivid characters and suspenseful twists lead to a hopeful denouement."

- Publisher's Weekly (Starred Review)

"Her skillful portrayal of unresolved grief and shattered relationships lends sensitivity to this solidly crafted and compelling sophomore effort, which will secure the author's place as a novelist of note."

- Library Journal

"Kelly Braffet's Last Seen Leaving is a terrific read - at once a smart, deft thriller and a vivid study of family breakdown. Its creeping paranoia kept me intrigued and engaged right until the very last cunning sleight of hand."

- Graham Joyce, author of The Limits of Enchantment

"In Last Seen Leaving, Kelly Braffet writes beautifully about genuine emotion while at the same time giving us a hint of things creepy and wicked. It's a delight."

- Ayelet Waldman, author of Love and Other Impossible Pursuits

Praise for Josie and Jack:

"Josie and Jack takes place within a wholly imagined space, wondrously dense and strange, which moves from a kind of enchanted/poisoned hothouse rural isolation to an urban reality that is both gritty and seemingly glamorous..Kelly Braffet keeps us interested, alarmed, and involved for the whole of this descent from magical isolation into a grimmer, sadder world. I couldn't stop reading this marvelous book." - Peter Straub, author of Shadowland, Lost Boy Lost Girl, and Ghost Story

"Dark and gripping, it's a cross between The Royal Tenenbaums and Shallow Grave - Elle magazine, UK

This modern-day adaptation [of Hansel and Gretl] retains all the frightening Gothic qualities of the original tale of mistreated siblings losing their way, getting trapped, and cunningly breaking free - though Braffet allows only one of her characters such redemption . . . A dramatic and horrific resolution is countered by Josie's subtle maturation throughout, and we emerge from the book's spell feeling almost hopeful." - Library Journal

"Top dialogue, strong storytelling. A gripping debut" - Kirkus Reviews

"[A] captivating debut. Braffet's sharp portrait of an asphyxiating love and a legacy of madness is darkly gothic and supremely readable" - Publishers Weekly

"A wonderfully sick and twisted book. Josie and Jack is not only wicked fun, but proof that the novel is alive, kicking and can take a reader on a gothic tour of hell, American style." - Los Angeles Times

"Like Zeus and Hera, Hansel and Gretel, and, heck, Six Feet Under's Billy and Brenda, the titular Raeburn siblings of this thrilling debut are inexorably entwined in a deadly waltz of pain, codependency, and tragedy" - Entertainment Weekly

Who I'd like to meet:
The MySpace Tao According to Kelly:

If you sent me a friend request, and I haven't responded, be patient. I am a profoundly lazy person, and - like your average three-month-old - am capable of spending large amounts of time being amused by my toes. This keeps me from doing pesky things like checking my friend requests and leaving the house and writing novels.

If you sent me a friend request, and I denied you, know ye this: I'm easy. So the chances are, you're either selling something, or there are little video clips of copulating people on your page. And before you get all high-and-mighty about free speech or whatever, know ye also that it's not that I'm not into that. It's just that I'm not into that.

If you sent me a comment and it didn't make it up, this is probably because it's either wicked long, wicked graphic-heavy or wicked animated, and in addition to being wicked lazy, wicked easy, and wicked just-not-into-that, I'm also wicked impatient and wicked sick of waiting a wicked long time for people's wicked-tricked-out pages to load. Taketh this not personally.


   Kelly Braffet's Friend Space (Top 14)
Kelly Braffet has 1018 friends.
 Emily 


 f e e r e r 


 Rowboats 


 scott 


 Devils in the Sugar Shop 


 Jim 


 Michael, better than your average brand 


 Heather 


 vivalafoma! 


 Marcy Dermansky 


 Graham Joyce 


 Jeff Gretz 


 Leah 


 Hannah 





Kelly Braffet's Friends Comments
Displaying 50 of 592 comments  ( View All | Add Comment )
Violette





Sep 26 2008 1:48 AM

How are you? Just dropping by to say hi and to just hoping you had a great a day. Take care and keep in touch!

Violette
www. violettereid. com

Purchase your copy of:
The First Chronicle of Zayashariya:
Out of Night
by: Violette L. Reid

Available at:
www. amazon. com
www. barnesandnoble. com
www. xpressyourselfpublishing. org
and
Your Local Bookstore

Thanks in advanced for your support.
I'm sure you will love the book!
Stephen M. Williams "The Boy Wonder"





Sep 25 2008 3:32 PM

Hey you,

What are you up to this fine morning? (or afternoon with your 3 hour time difference)
Kellie Lynn, Writer





Sep 23 2008 2:40 PM

Hi Kelly-with-a-y,

I can't even begin to tell you how many times in my life my name has been mispelled...of course they always put a Y, but I'm not bitter! :) I hope you are havng a good week!

Hugs,
Kellie-with-an-ie
Leah





Sep 21 2008 5:52 AM

meh
i read over it and now i'm too much of a chicken shit to send it.


ohhhh well.

thank you anyway =)
Leah





Sep 11 2008 5:11 AM

i know this seems kind of trite, but i wanted to ask you a favor.

being that i might as well worship the literary ground you walk on, i was wondering if you'd read over something for me and maybe give me your opinions? i value them a lot, really. it's nothing long really, just something i kinda spewed out in a few minutes.

i would really appreciate it...
Cricket Yoki





Sep 13 2008 7:55 AM

Hey Kelly, how are you? I hope all is well. Have a really wonderful weekend! Much love, peace and hugs!
Cricket
MikeSegretto





Sep 17 2008 5:32 PM


Curse of the Tarantula
King's #1 fan





Sep 6 2008 2:14 AM

Hey Kelly,

I finally found a copy of Last Seen Leaving, just finished it tonight infact and wanted to send a comment to tell you how much I enjoyed it! Hooray for Anne!
My dog(as shown in default pic)doesn't like cats so don't tell him the purchase of your book helped to feed them. ;)
Looking forward to Who Can Save Us Now? and any future Kelly and Owen novels. :)

Peace, CJ
Stephen M. Williams "The Boy Wonder"





Aug 30 2008 4:46 PM

If you find yourself with free time, you should go over to gametrailers. com and watch the five part video walkthrough of Fallout they showed the other day. It'll make you weep tears of joy.

Take care,
S
David Barr Kirtley -- Fiction Writer





Aug 28 2008 3:54 AM

Hi Kelly. Actually, it now appears that next author to be reading at South Street Seaport will be, well, me. We'll be promoting a zombie anthology I'm in that also includes stories by folks like Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, Clive Barker, Kelly Link, and Joe Hill. If you're curious, I've got a poster about it up on my website (www. davidbarrkirtley. com).
Lisa Kessler Writer


Is Online


Aug 27 2008 3:42 AM

Hi Kelly -

Thanks for your friendship! I'm looking forward to getting to know you better!

I've got a new fiction blog up, so stop by when you get a chance... http://blog. myspace. com/index. cfm?fuseaction=blog. view&friendID=37024910&blogID=427121104

I'd love to hear from you!

Have a great week!

Lisa

Subscribe to Lisa's Blog
David Barr Kirtley -- Fiction Writer





Aug 22 2008 9:43 PM

> when I think somebody might be cool, I make them read either Last Call or Expiration Date, and if they don't like them, I never speak to them again.

Tough but fair, I would say.

> I did go to one of the Fantastic Fiction readings. The content was great, but I have to admit that the whole scene felt a little clubby to me

Yeah, I felt the same way the first few times I went, but now I've been going for long enough that I know everyone. And I try to make an effort to include newcomers, which is actually how I've met some of my best friends. I'd be happy to introduce you to some of the regulars, if you're interested. Just drop me a line sometime if you think you might stop by.
David Barr Kirtley -- Fiction Writer





Aug 22 2008 2:03 AM

By the way, do you ever make it out to the KGB Fantastic Fiction readings or the New York Review of Science Fiction reading series? They've hosted a bunch of the authors on your list -- China Mieville, Naomi Novik, Susanna Clarke, Jonathan Lethem. I always try to catch those when I'm back in NYC, which is unfortunately all too seldom these days.
David Barr Kirtley -- Fiction Writer





Aug 22 2008 1:34 AM

> I think you're the only person I've ever met that I didn't have to clue in to Tim Powers' brilliance. Maybe I'm just hanging out with the wrong people, though.

I was actually lucky enough to study with Tim Powers at Clarion back in '99, which is how I first came to read The Anubis Gates. Powers is an awesome, kooky guy. He's well-known among the people I hang out with, though whether that makes the people I hang out with the "right" people is a highly debatable proposition. Hey, I also noticed China Mieville, another of my favorites, on your list.
Good picks!
Elena





Aug 21 2008 7:03 PM

Thanks so much, Kelly.
You're awesome!
Matthew B





Aug 21 2008 12:56 AM

You must get this all the time, Kelly, but you're a *fabulous* reader.
A pleasure to hear as well as see you this evening!
Meri





Aug 17 2008 1:14 AM

do you plan on coming to Maine anytime soon for a book signing?
Dark Regions Press





Aug 12 2008 6:00 AM

Dark Regions Press invites you to enjoy four fine new books for preorder! These titles include: Shadows and Other Tales by Tony Richards, Wings by Sarah A. Hoyt, The Nightmare Collection by Bruce Boston and Ennui: And Other States of Madness by David Niall Wilson.

For more information on these works, either click here to visit our blog about them, or visit us directly at:

www. darkregions. com

We hope you give us a look. Thanks for reading.

- Dark Regions Press
Stephen M. Williams "The Boy Wonder"





Aug 9 2008 9:46 PM

Bad ass is a good target--but chances are when you shoot for it the round is going to go straight through the target and kill extremely amazing on the other side also =)

Madness and I are more than casual acquaintances at this point as it is.

I love your books and can't wait for the next one =] Keep at it--but I'll understand if you take a couple week break when Fallout 3 comes out--lord knows I probably will.
Stephen M. Williams "The Boy Wonder"





Aug 7 2008 7:18 PM

In regards to the slow and steady approach, I hope so =/ I'm at over 13 months and it's getting harder to rationalize it.

You're book is going to bad ass though...

And I hate to dwell on this subject but how long did it take to write J&J and LSL?

So get this, yesterday I accidentally got a signed copy of a Laurell K. Hamilton novel. My local library has books people donate and you can buy them for like a dollar apiece and I decided to pick up this one book that's the 10th in the series because it'd be cheaper than buying it at full price later.

When I opened it to check where it falls in the series, I saw that it was signed. Sadly it's personalized to someone named Dianna. My parents say I could change my name but then that makes all of my other personalized copies sort of pointless.

In any event it made my day =)

Have you seen the Dark Knight yet?
Stephen M. Williams "The Boy Wonder"





Aug 6 2008 6:52 PM

Getting old =/ yuck.

I'm trying to finish writing a book, getting ready for work/school again, and I started playing Oblivion (for real this time). I'm over 30 hours in and I'm not too proud to admit that my strategy for defeating Will-o-the-Wisps is to turn the difficulty slider all the way down for those parts.

How goes the writing?
Allan Leverone





Aug 6 2008 4:29 PM

Hi Kelly, thank you so much and right back atya!

Just as an aside, I read your "About Me" and I'm on my way to buy everything you've ever published, so feel free to get those cats some Fancy Feast!
Stephen M. Williams "The Boy Wonder"





Aug 5 2008 10:39 PM

It's Kelly! =]

I'm reading Exquisite Corpse and it's making me senselessly happy.
What's new with you?
Ramiro





Aug 5 2008 10:32 PM

Thank you Kelly for the add and your friendly comment! I do appreciate it!! I'm honored with your friendship. Cheers!
Your friend in the west coast.
Best wishes,
Ramiro
Danielle Ferries





Aug 4 2008 10:25 PM

Thanks very much for the add, and hopefully more than 3 people here in Oz have read Josie & Jack because if they haven't they don't know what they're missing.
D
boom





Aug 2 2008 7:12 PM

I just read that you're going to Portsmouth later this month... that is quite close to UNH, I do hope I can make it that night!
Verna





Jul 30 2008 3:16 PM

HI Kelly! Thanks for writing! That's too cool you have a character named Verna in your next book, I can't wait to read it. I have met one other one, a Shakespeare teacher who was from ENGLAND, so that was double-y cool.
Thanks so much for writing back!
The OFFICIAL Profile Of Dawn





Jul 27 2008 6:50 PM

Happy Sunday! I hope life has been very good to you!

Much Love,
Dawn
Leah





Jul 19 2008 7:07 PM

as dipshit-esque as that could have sounded... it was really rather inspiring.

my essays (generally) always start out on a very, uhm... "original" key anyway... I did one in high school that began with, simply, "Boys are the suck."

Oh, Othello...

I think I ended up with the highest essay score in the class... probably just for making the teacher feel like a douchebag. He was always very... anti-woman. I don't know how many times he turned good ol' Bill Shakespeare into a speech about a 66% divorce rate in America.... poor old coot.

If I had the money to even GET to the east coast, I'd be on that shit like ants on a picnic.
Leah





Jul 19 2008 12:38 AM

It's sort of always been that little dream in the back of my head to go there... a very sort of futile dream however as I am the brokest mofo out there... and I doubt they'd accept me seeing as I use words like "brokest" and "mofo" pretty freakin' regularly.

But hey, I can still dream, right?
Haha. Wow, I'm pitiful.
Jeffrey Pillow





Jul 18 2008 12:26 PM

Haha, yeah I've been known to like a few books here and there. Oh, and by the way, if you'd like any of your books reviewed and get a little free publicity, feel free to contact me. I can give you the mailing address to the newspaper I write a column for so that you can have your publisher send the proper materials their way.