Pittsburgh’s fearless features reporter Rege Behe talked “Littsburgh” with Tim Federle after his recent interview with him for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review — you can read that feature here!
Tim Federle is the award-winning author of the autobiographical novels Better Nate Than Ever and its sequel Five, Six, Seven, Nate! (Lambda Literary Award winner), which were named best books of the year by the New York Times and the American Booksellers Association, respectively. The Great American Whatever (“a Holden Caulfield for a new generation” — Kirkus Reviews) was inspired by an accident near Tim’s high school in Pittsburgh that changed the community forever.
When Tim Federle was 15, he and his best friend had a dream: They would go to New York City, see a show on Broadway and “just go all over town.”
Federle is now living that dream. The author of the new young adult title, The Great American Whatever (Simon & Schuster), he’s also co-writing (with Claudia Shear) the book for Tuck Everlasting, now in previews at the Broadhurst Theater on Broadway.
Not bad for a guy who admits to liking Primanti Brother’s and the Galleria Mall, has fond memories of taking dance classes at Point Park University, and calls the Benedum Center, where he performed as a dancer in many shows, his spiritual center.
Going to Pittsburgh when he was a teen “felt like a big journey,” Federle says. “It felt sophisticated and kind of gritty.”
Federele was eager to move to New York after high school and start a life where he didn’t have to worry about being bullied (one of the themes of The Great American Whatever). In retrospect, however, he now appreciates the advantages of living in Pittsburgh.
“Now that I’ve survived 16 years in New York, you see the arguments for living in a city on the scale of Pittsburgh,” Federle says. “There’s an argument for a place that has more of a hometown feel, that’s more commutable, more affordable.”
More book coverage from The Pittsburgh Tribune Review…
Most importantly: Where are you located, what are your hours, and do you have a particular focus in terms of the Read more
This just in from our friends at WCoNA: "To provide additional preparation time, we’ve extended the deadline to submit a Read more
About the Author: "Sean Gregory always loved fiction. At an early age he began reading the Hardy Boys and quickly Read more
A lyrical and heartfelt tribute from a parent to their “everything,” their child. From the Publisher: "Following a parent and Read more
From City Books’ website: "About the Residency The City Books Writer’s Residency offers flexible access to a comfortable, creative space within Read more
Altoona, PA—The WCoNA Writers Conference of Northern Appalachia® (here and after WCoNA) is pleased to announce a call for nominations Read more
love, Pittsburgh is hosting a “Pittsburgh Dog & Frog” coloring contest! Kids, color a page from the children’s book, “Pittsburgh Read more
From Parsec (Pittsburgh's premier Science Fiction & Fantasy Organization): "The theme of Parsec Ink’s 2025 Triangulation anthology is Dark Hearts. Read more
Littsburgh has always been a “nights and weekends” passion project, ever since we started the site back in 2015. We Read more
New York Times-bestselling author Patrick Radden Keefe will be featured at The Peters Township Library Foundation’s seventh annual Novel November Read more
"Life on the streets is hard but it's deadly when a young woman battles addiction." From the Publisher: "Where is Read more
"Founded in 2007 and sponsored by Madwomen in the Attic, the Patricia Dobler Poetry Award was created to honor the Read more
From the Publisher: "Somehow, the sun always finds its way through the windows of the five mansions on Wisteria Drive. Read more
From the Publisher: "Calling My Life With Literacy a 'new intersectionality,' Harvey J. Graff explores both overarching and underlying patterns that Read more
From the Publisher: "An eyewitness to a murder calls the Pittsburgh police from one of the city’s 446 bridges, then Read more
This just in from our friends at Write Pittsburgh: "We are now accepting applications for our teen writing programs, Rule Read more
From the Publisher: “Bye, Ocean! We love you!” the little girl sang along, a big smile on her face, because Read more
When we posted about the Steel City Creatives writer's group, we learned that the founder (Charlotte Hopkins) also runs a Read more
From the Publisher: "We are proud to announce the release of John Repp’s Star Shine in the Pines, the first title Read more
M. Christine Benner Dixon, Ph.D. is an author, editor, and writing coach living in the Squirrel Hill South neighborhood of Read more
