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	<author id="9066">
  <name><![CDATA[Alex Austin]]></name>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9066.Alex_Austin]]></link>
  <fans-count type="integer">4</fans-count>
  <followers-count type="integer">7</followers-count>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1225674242p5/9066.jpg</image_url>
  <about><![CDATA[I'm a Los Angeles-based journalist and teacher. My two novels, The Red Album of Asbury Park (November 2008), and The Perfume Factory (June 2005), have gotten excellent reviews. In 2008, Writers Digest awarded The Perfume Factory an honorable mention for Mainstream Fiction. See reviews of both books below.

THE RED ALBUM OF ASBURY PARK

“It is simply an amazing work of fiction… a smart look inside the topsy-turvy world of the rock and roll lifestyle and the futility, hope, danger, love and mystery of survival in general. The Red Album Of Asbury Park is a book you won’t be able to put down.”—John Pfeiffer, Aquarian Magazine

&quot;I highly recommend this rare read and give it 10 out of 10. The Red Album of Asbury Park, is a must read for anyone, especially those hailing from or familiar with the Jersey Shore.&quot; --Frank Gogol, Monmouth University Outlook

 “An affecting and honest work that rolls out like a pop song and resonates unforgettably, the way a great chorus should.”—Alex Green, Caught in the Carousel Magazine

“... the writing is just brilliantly graphic, ‘...big chunks of pink flesh bright as lipstick under the train’s headlight.’ He’s a really great descriptive writer...”—Jay Benedict, Vulpes Libris

“There is a sense of resiliency in this book. The characters keep trying, and most of them are neither good guys nor bad guys, but are wavering somewhere in between. The inclusion of Springsteen, with his talent and his drive, makes the fate of some of the other characters that much more poignant.”—Kelly-Jane Cotter, Entertainment Editor, Asbury Park Press. 

The Red Album of Asbury Park is a very gripping and thoughtful book; it is melancholy and sad at times but also brings a lot of hope with it. You are highly recommended to read it.” –Mirza Gazic, Blogcritics 

“With its rich mix of New Jersey history, rock ‘n’ roll roman a clef, and mystery, The Red Album of Asbury Park will beguile, inform, and entertain you.” – Jim Testa, JerseyBeat.com

“Strongly evocative of a time and place, of interest especially to those who hail from the “swamps of Jersey” but also to anyone who loves rock 'n' roll. Good book!”—Dave Williams, Journalist, former Books Editor, Asbury Park Press

THE PERFUME FACTORY

“It's Catcher In The Rye as re-imagined by Bruce Springsteen.... I couldn't put this down.”—Jim Testa, Jersey Beat Magazine

“I have just finished reading a great little novel, The Perfume Factory by Alex Austin. It is a dark and gritty coming-of-age story set in the 60's.... His young characters are fascinating. Their naïve invincibility, their teenage wants and fears bring them to life.” —Laura Rae Amos, Blogcritics

“This is the working-class accurately portrayed in the conflict between an abusive father and his rebellious son. This is a powerful story, well told.” — Allen Caruba, Bookviews

“Huck Finn might come to mind, and rightly so: Austin's authoring skills and ear for human rhythms of speech elevate The Perfume Factory to a lofty level of achievement indeed.” —Geoff Rotuno, The Boox Review 

“First-time novelist Austin draws a sharp, affecting portrait of wrong-side-of-the-tracks hopelessness, Jersey style. He captures perfectly the tone of teenage life” —Kirkus Recommended

]]></about>      <hometown>Newark</hometown>      
  
  
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        <book id="4981512">
  <title><![CDATA[The Red Album of Asbury Park]]></title>
  <authors>
    <author>
      <name><![CDATA[Alex Austin]]></name>
      <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9066.Alex_Austin]]></link>
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  <average_rating>4.12</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>8</ratings_count>
  <published>2008</published>  
  
</book>
        <book id="14551">
  <title><![CDATA[The Perfume Factory]]></title>
  <authors>
    <author>
      <name><![CDATA[Alex Austin]]></name>
      <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9066.Alex_Austin]]></link>
    </author>
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  <average_rating>5.00</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>2</ratings_count>
  <published>2004</published>  
  
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        <book id="5961264">
  <title><![CDATA[Histoires piégées]]></title>
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      <name><![CDATA[Alex Austin]]></name>
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        <author>
      <name><![CDATA[Poul Anderson]]></name>
      <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1382619]]></link>
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        <author>
      <name><![CDATA[Karen Anderson]]></name>
      <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1382620]]></link>
    </author>
        <author>
      <name><![CDATA[Alex Austin]]></name>
      <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1382621]]></link>
    </author>
        <author>
      <name><![CDATA[C. B. Gilford]]></name>
      <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1382622]]></link>
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        <author>
      <name><![CDATA[William P. McGivern]]></name>
      <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1382623]]></link>
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      <name><![CDATA[Donald Martin]]></name>
      <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1382624]]></link>
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      <name><![CDATA[Jack Ritchie]]></name>
      <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1382625]]></link>
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        <author>
      <name><![CDATA[Alfred Hitchcock]]></name>
      <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1382626]]></link>
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  <average_rating>0.0</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>0</ratings_count>
  <published>1988</published>  
  
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