This disturbing, powerful debut novel ushers readers into the nasty, brutish world of adolescent bullies—lords of the schoolyard. Set in 1970s suburbia, the novel explores the troubled friendship between two antisocial teenagers, Tommy and Johnny, who devote themselves entirely to tormenting their teachers and fellow high school students. Told in... Continue reading

When I was talking with a grade school teacher recently, he brought up the notion of a “shadow society” among kids, with its own rules, standards, values, and language, and from which adults are excluded. This immediately reminded me of the infamous “Trench Coat Mafia” at Columbine High School. Like... Continue reading

There are very few books written from the point of view of the bullies themselves. Why should we care? Well, Tommy and Johnny, the narrators in "Lords of the Schoolyard," are just kids too, after all, and they are capable of becoming decent adults. What’s more, some of them, perhaps... Continue reading

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Lords o f the Schoolyard (Sagging Meniscus Press, Sept. 15 2017) Stark, brutal, at times darkly humorous, and written in a powerfully pared-down style purged of any ostentation, Hamilton’s story is told from the point of view of one such antisocial bully. The effect of identification with a character so... Continue reading

The Chintz Age, a top 10 Small Press Fiction Bestseller, a LEO Weekly 2015 Must Read Book, and a New York Public Library Recommended Read, can be purchased online from: Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble.com and from Small Press Distributors. The book is also available at Barnes & Noble locations in... Continue reading