Publisher, Macmillan Audio (April 29, 2008)

Listen to a FREE audio clip.

Featuring exclusive original songs from Patti Smith, Sea Wolf, Ingrid Michaelson, and Tegan Quin from Tegan and Sara

When Augusten Burroughs was small, his father was a shadowy presence in his life: a form on the stairs, a cough from the basement, a silent figure smoking a cigarette in the dark. As Augusten grew older, something sinister within his father began to unfurl. Something dark and secretive that could not be named. Betrayal after shocking betrayal ensued, and Augusten’s childhood was over. The kind of father he wanted didn’t exist for him. This father was distant, aloof, uninterested. With A Wolf at the Table, Augusten Burroughs makes a quantum leap into untapped emotional terrain: the radical pendulum swing between love and hate, the unspeakably terrifying relationship between father and son. Told with scorching honesty and penetrating insight, it is a story for anyone who has ever longed for unconditional love from a parent.

In an innovative collaboration, four musicians—Patti Smith, Ingrid Michaelson, Tegan Quin, and Sea Wolf—composed and recorded original and exclusive songs for the audiobook of A Wolf at the Table. Augusten himself was deeply involved in the scoring and sound design for the audiobook program, explaining his vision for the project as “a truly cinematic, theatrical experience for the listener in which the musical score reflects what is happening in the story throughout.” Though harrowing and brutal, it will ultimately leave you buoyed with the profound joy of simply being alive. It’s a listening experience that is not to be missed.

“I felt that because this book is different than anything I have written before, it deserved a very unique, special treatment and production.” —Augusten Burroughs

In an innovative collaboration, four of Augusten’s favorite indie musicians—Patti Smith, Ingrid Michaelson, Tegan Quin, and Sea Wolf—generously composed and recorded original and exclusive songs for the audiobook of A Wolf at the Table. Augusten himself was deeply involved in the scoring and sound design for the audiobook program, explaining his vision for the project as “a truly cinematic, theatrical experience for the listener in which the musical score reflects what is happening in the story throughout.”

Read more about each of the contributing artists below and listen to samples of all four original songs inspired by A Wolf at the Table.

Performer/poet PATTI SMITH and daughter Jesse Smith collaborated with songwriter Michael Campbell in their response to A Wolf at the Table. The song, “The Only Time,” is an effort to capture the mood of the memoir by Augusten Burroughs, while maintaining a hopeful undercurrent.

Listen to an MP3 audio clip of The Only Time by Patti Smith.

INGRID MICHAELSON’s self-released album of quirky, pop gems, Girls and Boys, gained attention when her songs including, “The Way I Am,” were featured on the show, Grey’s Anatomy. With her music now a fixture on the Billboard and iTunes charts, Ingrid continues to have unprecedented success as a do-it-yourself artist.Listen to an MP3 audio clip, Spare Change by Ingrid Michaelson.

Named after Jack London’s 1904 novel, Los Angeles’ SEA WOLF is the nom de plume for singer/songwriter Alex Brown Church and the orchestral indie rock he creates. His debut LP, Leaves In The River, was released last year on Dangerbird Records to critical acclaim. Touring the country with label mates Silversun Pickups and veterans Nada Surf, the band made its national television debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Listen to an MP3 audio clip of Song of the Magpie by Alex Brown Church.

Although she is currently spending a dysfunctional amount of time touring the world with her indie pop band, TEGAN QUIN from Tegan and Sara, is a bookworm who lives and writes songs in Vancouver, Canada. “His Love” was recorded in her home studio/library.

Listen to an MP3 audio clip of His Love by Tegan Quin.

About the Author & Performers: Augusten Burroughs is the New York Times bestselling author of Possible Side Effects, Magical Thinking, Dry, Running with Scissors, and Sellevision. He lives in New York City and Amherst, Massachusetts.

Performer/poet PATTI SMITH and daughter Jesse Smith collaborated with songwriter Michael Campbell in their response to A Wolf at the Table. The song, “The Only Time,” is an effort to capture the mood of the memoir by Augusten Burroughs, while maintaining a hopeful undercurrent.

INGRID MICHAELSON’s self-released album of quirky, pop gems, Girls and Boys, gained attention when her songs including, “The Way I Am,” were featured on the show, Grey’s Anatomy. With her music now a fixture on the Billboard and iTunes charts, Ingrid continues to have unprecedented success as a do-it-yourself artist.

Named after Jack London’s 1904 novel, Los Angeles’ SEA WOLF is the nom de plume for singer/songwriter Alex Brown Church and the orchestral indie rock he creates. His debut LP, Leaves In The River, was released last year on Dangerbird Records to critical acclaim. Touring the country with label mates Silversun Pickups and veterans Nada Surf, the band made its national television debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Although she is currently spending a dysfunctional amount of time touring the world with her indie pop band, TEGAN QUIN from Tegan and Sara, is a bookworm who lives and writes songs in Vancouver, Canada. “His Love” was recorded in her home studio/library.