Looks like a toast is in order for local author J.R. Moehringer, whose new memoir, The Tender Bar, is getting more atention than a blonde in a beer joint.

Just released, Moehringer's book about growing up fatherless and finding male role models in the Long Island pub where his uncle tended bar had industry insiders buzzing all summer, after early copies were handed out at the annual book convention this June in New York.

Now, it seems the buzz will soon be a roar.

Last week, a Newsweek review by Malcolm Jones portended good things to come. Jones lauded the book, noting that it's "poised to be the fall's sleeper hit."

That review has already been seconded by raves in Entertainment Weekly, Cleveland's The Plain Dealer and The New York Observer.

And Hyperion publicist Christine Ragasa notes that more press is on the way. "Newsday's running a review, the Washington Post is running a review, The New York Times is running a review," she says. Ditto USA Today, People, the Chicago Sun-Times and National Public Radio's Fresh Air.

That's not counting a planned profile of Moehringer in The New York Times and a scheduled appearance Sept. 19 on the Today show.

No wonder Ragasa answers the phone with a lilt in her voice. "I'm just a happy camper," she says.

If she's basking in this early success, Moehringer is too busy to do the same.

Last week, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author, a Denver-based correspondent for the Los Angeles Times, was in a whirlwind, autographing books to be shipped to booksellers and sales reps, fretting about the suit he's chosen to wear on the Today show, and fielding phone calls and e-mails from friends and family mentioned in the book who want to reminisce about old times.

Next week, the frenzy mounts as he heads to Portland, Ore., to speak at the Pacific Northwest Booksellers' show and then embarks on a 12-city book tour that will take him to his hometown, among other places.

It's a heady turn of events for Moehringer, but Hyperion staffers never had any doubt the book would have legs.

"Everyone at Hyperion embraced this book from the get-go," says Ragasa. "Last November, bound manuscripts were given out to select people in the company and we ended up running out... We had to go back to Kinko's four times to print more because everyone in-house at Hyperion wanted to read a copy of The Tender Bar."

After all the publicity, it's a good bet the reading public will feel the same. Time will tell.

Meanwhile, stay tuned for the News' review of The Tender Bar, which will run in next Friday's Weekend@Home.

Moehringer's Denver book signing will take place at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 14 at the Tattered Cover in Cherry Creek.