Released on = October 9, 2006, 2:28 pm

Press Release Author = Arthur Wooten - Alyson Books

Industry = Entertainment

Press Release Summary = Self-Published Gay Author Signs Multiple Traditional Book Deal

Press Release Body = FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - ALYSON BOOKS

ON PICKING FRUIT: A Novel
by
Arthur Wooten
www.onpickingfruit.com

"On Picking Fruit is funny, edgy, unpredictable gay dates from hell. I felt like I
was reading my dating autobiography!\" - ANT - Host of VH1\'s \"Celebrity Fit Club\" and
star of the new LOGO series,\"U.S. of ANT.\"

"Wooten holds a fun-house mirror to our hapless, all-too-human fumblings for true
love with hilarious results instantly recognizable to the would-be romantic in each
of us.\" --Scott&Scott authors of the Romentic Series

\"Like many of us, here\'s a good guy who enters the world \'butt first.\' At forty-five
he decides to change the angle of his view. On Picking Fruit is a fresh and funny
mix of truth and whimsy.\" - William Luce - Tony Award Winning Broadway Playwright

"If gallantry in our day is defined as facing adversity with screams of laughter,
then this is the most gallant book I know of." -Edmund White

Nominated for three 2006 Best Debut Novel Awards
Lambda Literary Awards
Stonewall Book Awards
Publishing Triangle\'s Awards

(New York, NY, October 9, 2006)- Arthur Wooten signs multiple book deal with Alyson
Books. Having purchased his self-published humorous gay novel, On Picking Fruit,
Alyson will reissue the novel in December 2006 followed by Mr. Wooten's sequel,
Fruit Cocktail - Spring 2007. He is also contributing a short story to their
collection, Best Gay Love Stories: New York City - November 2006 and will write a
serial novella, untitled - 2007.

"Alyson Books has an entirely new editorial and marketing team," says Executive
Editor Joseph Pittman. "We've relocated from Los Angeles to New York and we know
that fresh new talent like Mr. Wooten's will take Alyson to a new level."

"Whether you're straight, bisexual, lesbian, gay or just confused.dating scenarios
are universal," says Wooten in response to who will relate to On Picking Fruit. "On
Picking Fruit is fast and breezy but also heartbreaking and full of hope."

On Picking Fruit throws a hilarious new spin on dates from hell.
Excerpt from On Picking Fruit:

."In his earnest quest to find his true soul mate, Curtis is looking in all the
wrong places." -Curtis' shrink

."In his earnest quest for happily ever after, Curtis is much too selective."
-Curtis' best friend

."In his earnest quest for a monogamous relationship, Curtis will sleep with
anyone." -Curtis' mother

Although he was born gay, Curtis Jenkins has trouble picking fruit. Now a successful
middle-aged New York City writer, he's still searching for that elusive man of his
dreams. Unfortunately, Curtis has already formed a self-destructive pattern of
choosing all the wrong men in all the wrong places.

It's after a bizarre yet comical attempt at suicide that Curtis becomes a reluctant
patient of the aging and eccentric psychiatrist, Dr. Magda Tunick. Her gruff and
unethical approach to therapy relentlessly pushes Curtis to explore the real reasons
why he hasn't found love and helps him to discover the important qualities he
desires in a man.

And eager to help Curtis on his quest to find his true soul mate is his irreverent
and unpredictable mother, Mrs. J. and his incorrigible best friend and soap opera
writer, Quinn.

Will Curtis discover who and what he truly wants in his life? While he barely
survives dates that become funny, frightening, sexy, moving, and even shocking, he
may just uncover the fortitude to find Mr. Right (or even Mr. Pretty Close).

Arthur Wooten grew up in Andover, MA (just houses down from Jay Leno, no less) and
now lives in New York City. A former actor/singer/dancer, Wooten has written for
television, theatre and film. On Picking Fruit marks his debut as a novelist.

Alyson Books, Joseph Pittman, Executive Editor (212) 242-8100 www.alyson.com
Arthur Wooten (212) 712-1540 arthur@onpickingfruit.com www.onpickingfruit.com

Web Site = http://onpickingfruit.com

Contact Details = 200 West 90th St Suite 9B
New York, NY 10024
212-712-1540