A Paper Orchestra
In his debut collection of personal essays, Emmy-nominated screenwriter Michael Jamin (King of the Hill, Just Shoot Me, Beavis and Butt-Head, Wilfred, Maron, Rules of Engagement, Tacoma FD) recounts the true stories of a sensitive, anxious man searching for the things that are most important: identity, love, forgiveness, and redemption.
A cross between David Sedaris and Judd Apatow, Michael discovers his unlikeliest moments of growth: he fakes his way onto a college-football team to experience a moment of grace; breaks up with a woman because she can’t stop saying “just kidding”; gets caught lying during a Hollywood power meeting; takes advantage of the pandemic lockdown to repair his relationship with his daughters.
Audaciously funny yet achingly poignant, A Paper Orchestra will have you rethinking the smallest, almost forgotten moments of your life.
About The Author
Michael Jamin has been a television writer/showrunner since 1996. His many credits include King of the Hill, Beavis and Butt-Head, Just Shoot Me, Wilfred, Maron, Rules of Engagement, Out of Practice, Brickleberry, Glenn Martin DDS, and Tacoma FD. A graduate of Princeton University, Michael lives in Los Angeles.
On social media, he shares his experiences working in Hollywood under the handle @MichaelJaminWriter.
Michael has been featured in Forbes, Newsweek, The Guardian, CNN, The Washington Post and more.
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Jamin has written for television for nearly 30 years, for gag-oriented stuff like Tacoma FD and character-driven, empathetic projects like King of the Hill. Well versed in finding the nuance in how people behave in everyday situations, Jamin reflects on himself in his essay-thinkpiece collection that loosely coalesces into a memoir. His very funny and touching stories about his own tender childhood segue into pieces about his regrets, anxieties, and triumphs as a father. I read this book right when my son was turning 18 and graduating, and good lord, how it made me feel happy, sad, and connected all at once. A Paper Orchestra isn’t always funny, but if one defines comedy as making sense of life and getting a visceral reaction out of its reader, it’s a triumph.
Marc Maron"As one of the head writers for my tv show Maron, Michael was essential in helping me portray myself honestly. I'm very happy and impressed that he was able to apply his craft to himself. It's not easy to put your authentic you out there. Michael did a beautiful job of it with A Paper Orchestra."
John Mayer"Fantastic... It's multi-timbral. It runs all levels of the pyramid at the same time. His knockout punches are stinging sincerity."
BookLife“Brisk, engaging storytelling and dialogue…. A Paper Orchestra offers as many heart-tugging moments as laughs.”
Reviews
Reedsy“An honest, sometimes excruciatingly so, collection of personal essays, which is also incredibly witty and made this reader laugh out loud.”
Kirkus"Those who appreciate the power of simple stories to tell us about human nature… or who are bewitched by a storyteller who has mastered his craft, will find a delightful collection of vignettes.… A lovely anthology that strikes a perfect balance between humor and poignancy.”
Reviews