Hailing from St. Louis Missouri, Craig Kurtz came to national prominence with the 1981 release of The Philosophic Collage EP (reissued by BDR Records in 2012). A second band, The Dots, released two 45s and a track on the Hotel Massachusetts compilation CD in Northampton Massachusetts in the early 90s. Writing as Barry Stoller, he evaluated the ‘indie rock’ scene with the article Music, Marxism, and the Hype About D.I.Y. published by Monthly Review; additionally he penned the Astro Sounds ‘exposé’ for PopMatters. He has since written light verse, internationally featured in many literary journals, including Bedlamite’s First Date published by Dalhousie Review, Life Before the Internet published by Rattle, The Old Man published by Stand and The Cat Nobody Wants published by Quadrant. Surviving the Dream is his first novel. Recent short stories Imagine No Possessions published by Litro USA and Intelligent Life published by Maudlin House. A volume of lyrics The Better Sort is on sale now.