"Bag of Tricks" Author Ruby Dee Philippa on the Brown Posey Press Show

Ruby Dee Philippa has led many lives and careers in one, and she is still creating. In this episode, Ruby discusses her three-volume series, Bag of Tricks: Mixed Stories of Life as a San Francisco Punk in the early 80s, on Earth Island Books.

Ruby's recollections of the Bay Area during the heyday of punk and hardcore, the music of Dead Kennedys, X, 7 Seconds, Intensified Chaos, Tragic Mulatto, and other bands reflected not only the angst and fury of the times, but also art, music, and storytelling.

The short stories in these three books are stark, sharply written, gritty, and uncompromising; for some, they will be disturbing. The characters, drawn from Ruby's past, are a mix of those she knew, with the rest made up. These stories shine a light on a time when many turned to the punk scene for an outlet, a home, a sense of belonging, but also acceptance.

Ruby Dee Philippa grew up in Northern California and West Texas. She attended San Diego State University at the age of 15, and during these formative years was drawn into the punk scene of San Francisco. Ruby also cofounded the Northern California Earth First! Chapter, was a restaurateur in Seattle, and is cofounder of the long-running Ruby & the Snake Handlers, a group with several recordings of rockabilly, roots, Americana, and country music. The audiobook of the first volume of Bag of Tricks is now available, and she will be contributing stories to the groundbreaking underground publication, "Wimmen's Comix."