Book tour adjustments, drama

Back from readings in San Francisco (City Lights)  and Seattle (Elliott Bay), only to learn that the author with whom I had been partnered is unable to continue with our schedule and will not be attending any of this week's events (Brooklyn, Providence, Arlington VA, & DC).  As the Providence stop was something he had arranged with friends, that won't be happening now. However, we're hoping that the other readings go forward with modifications. So it hasn't gone off the rails or all pear-shaped--at least not yet.

While the Elliott Bay reading was not nearly as well attended as the one at City Lights, both events were really positive experiences. In addition to meeting up with old friends at both readings, I also hooked up with writers Ethel Rohan, Lauren Becker, and Matthew Simmons (who has a pinball finder app on his smart phone). 

Curio, reviewed by Ethel Rohan

Early this week Ethel Rohan posted a beautiful review of Curio on her blog. I am very grateful for her kind words and careful read, but also for her honesty concerning her reluctance to read the collection. She was worried that the stories included wouldn't be "storied" enough, an anxiety I share about many contemporary collections. It's definitely true that along with a few conventional narratives, Curio includes some pieces that as stand alone might seem fragmentary or even slight, but that's why I was so eager to get the collection out there. The pieces were written with dependency and accumulation in mind.

As a result of Ethel's kind attention, it looks like a new batch of folks have visited Curio.I hope they enjoy it.

Dark Sky Interview!

I know, I know, Brad Green is supposed to have taken over the "Spotlight" author interview series over at the beautifully redesigned Dark Sky Magazine, but Ethel Rohan still has a few interviews in her back pocket, including this one with ME. Really happy about this because it's been a quiet season for me, and I really want to get back in the conversation.

Btw, Ethel's collection, Cut Through the Bone, is available for pre-order by Oct 15. Rexi says, "Buy on it!"

And a serious plea for assistance--where should I submit my little ghostie book? my email is in my profile.

Pank Little Books: ETHEL!!!!!

It's already shaping up to be an interesting week. Not only am I reading for SLQ, last night I found out that I made the shortlist of finalists for the second year of Pank's Little Books series. Last year they published Aaron Burch’s HOW TO TAKE YOURSELF APART, HOW TO MAKE YOURSELF ANEW, a sweet book gorgeously produced. Like a lot of writers lately, I'm a wee bit frustrated by the crickety silence out there--making the finals is more than I hoped for.

This year they are publishing three books by these fine writers: Matt Salesses, Nicolle Elizabeth, and (drum-roll): ETHEL ROHAN. That Ethel is getting Hard to Say published has Crabtree & Evelyn-reeking fists pumping in the air all over indie-ana. Really, it means a lot to us.

The Year in Smuction (tm Cami Park)

So I just thought this up, slapped it together. If you aren't here, it's because I'm too lazy to find you!

Also, someone help me with July, please? I'm stumped, and Erlewine (tho I love him) strikes the wrong note--

January
Fear NoBody (scroll down to 2nd piece)
Tracey Rose
Pank

February
Three Mississippi Fictions
Alan Rossi
Hobart

March
Her Parents' Bed
Jared Ward
Dogzplot

April
Snatches
Ethel Rohan
Storyglossia

May
No Means Water Balloon
Mel Bosworth
decomP

June
What Long Legs Mean
Roxane Gay
Dogzplot

July-can't find anything that isn't totally gross.
UPDATE!!! Cami Park's July choice:
I'll Book That Therapy Appointment Soon
Roberta Lawson
Zygote in my Coffee

August
Boilerplate
Lauren Becker
>killauthor

September
Drink & EBay: Bore Butter, $7 ($2.50 shipping and handling), Tuscaloosa, AL
Sean lovelace
Everyday Genius

October
Advice for Locating the Whirl
Tim Jones-Yelvington
elimae

November
The Man from Australia or New Zealand
xTx
Dogzplot

December
Delivery
Meg Pokrass
Wigleaf

Push the button, Frank

I will, I will push the button!

My VIPs on very short fiction blog is now open to the public. I'm so thrilled by the generosity of the writers who have helped out so far: David Erlewine, Robert Swartwood, Gabriel Orgrease, Erin Fitzgerald, Roxane Gay, Joseph Young, Ryan Bradley, and Scott Garson. New entries coming soon by Ethel Rohan and Lauren Becker.

No design to speak of, just an oppressive blue blogger template, but the essays are fantastic. And the most remarkable part is that the writers generated all this amazing content in just 6 days.

Rocking Monday, New stories in PANK

Just got back for a hedonistic weekend in New Orleans, which makes the publication of two new stories in Pank even sweeter. Ethel Rohan has a great one in the same issue as well.