Alvin Orloff began writing in 1977 as a teenage lyricist for The Blowdryers, perhaps the campiest of all the early San Francisco punk bands. After studying sociology at U.C. Berkeley he dabbled in underground theater with The Sick & Twisted Players, performance art with the Popstitutes, and deejaying at Baby Judy's Discotheque À Go-Go, before wholly succumbing to his literary pretensions.
His writing can be found in numerous zines and anthologies, including Beyond Definition (Manic D Press, 1994), Tricks and Treats (Harrington Park Press 2000), and Pills, Chills, Thrills and Heartache (Alyson Press 2004). Orloff is also the co-author of transsexual showbiz memoir, The Unsinkable Bambi Lake (Manic D Press 1996). His novels include I Married An Earthling (Manic D Press 2000), a sci-fi send-up, and Gutter Boys (Manic D Press 2004), a twisted tale of debauchery and unrequited love set in early '80s New Wave Manhattan.
Orloff most recent novel, Why Aren't You Smiling? comes out Oct. 11, 2011. Orloff lives in San Francisco's über-trendy Mission District, works at a used bookstore, and is up for just about anything.
