Tag Archives: NAP

Oct 10 2012
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performances, publication news

Backstroking

Last May, James Tadd Adcox talked of putting together an anthology about angels with many terrible heads and etiquette after our Cinco de Awesome reading at Quimby’s. I was surprised when he came to me to contribute to it. I was surprised to see my boss over at NAP put it together. I saw it last night, and it is the most gorgeous e-book I ever seen. Click on the cover to get to it and check out the insane brilliance.

I went to Williamsburg for 24 hours to see The Afghan Whigs this past weekend and while it didn’t provide the catharsis The Cure provided last year, the trip gave me quite the recharge, feeling fall weather for the first time this year, seeing a concert for the first time since The Cure last year.

I’m liveblogging my restructuring and reevaluation and I am making progress in admitting some hard truths to myself. I recognize that I cannot casually just share my life with someone. I am a busy guy and I want someone who will contribute to it positively, not become a weight. I also recognize that I have a problem speaking up when I need to, allowing my politeness to be my downfall at times. I’m working on it, I swear.

Next Wednesday, I will read smut at The Peacock Room. Show starts around 9. Let me turn you on. Or out. Or off.

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Aug 20 2012
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flash fiction, publication news

The Weight Is Off

In 2009, I answered an ad on PANK‘s blog looking for a copyeditor, a way to get a foothold into something outside of poetry slam, and they accepted my application. One of the perks of copyediting was also writing interview questions for the contributors to the online portion (which in my then slam world, was a nice crossover when Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz became the first person I interviewed for the magazine). I proved to be a shitty copyeditor with the work stress, the marriage stress, the first book tour/promotion stress, the drinking to cope with that stress. However, people really liked the interviews. For the first time I think ever, people liked me. It was strange. PANK also recognized my interview skills and granted me the post of Interviews Editor on March of 2010; I finally felt like a cool kid.

PANK has been a lot of things to me. It was a gateway to a whole other universe of literature I wasn’t aware of being so focused on running a poetry slam. It allowed me to meet incredible writers and find out their human side through their willingness to answer my interview questions (and y’all have been good sports). It kicked open new doors, eventually leading me to posts with NAP and now Monkeybicycle.

The June online issue will be my last as Interviews Editor of PANK. I walk away from this happily and freely, proud that I had the honor and the privilege to contribute to the PANKverse for nearly three years. I wish those who will be eventually taking up the mantle great success, and that PANK continue kicking ass and taking names.

I also decided I will now be participating in grad school after all. My work schedule is too busy and the class syllabus places 3/5 of the class grade on group work. I work in groups where I am paid to work in groups, where there are clear financial consequences if you don’t play well with others. My experience with group work in school on the other hand has been miserable at best. Instead, I will be buying a new computer and subscribing to some software to hone my technical skills (thinking Mac).

These past few days, Monkeybicycle has published my first couple of selections as their new Web Editor. You should read them here and here.

I have a flash piece in the latest issue of A-Minor Magazine, which you should read here.

I have taken over filming There Will Be Words, which you should check out here (and we are always looking for submissions here).

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May 17 2012
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performance calendar, poetry, publication news, self assessment, Uncategorized

Matryoshka

When it comes to getting my name out there as a writer, I’ve always taken the shotgun approach, where the theory is that the more I appear, the more I put out, the more I tour, the more people will come to me, read my work, buy my work. I’m realizing this approach isn’t working like I thought I would.

Case in point: I performed three times in the same city a couple of weeks ago at three distinctly different venues. I sold a total of seven or eight books. I sold none at my AWP readings in Chicago (and I read three times at three distinctly different venues). I know writers who hardly tour (or never tour or read) and their work sells quite well and I think part of it (other than the quality of the work) is that they hardly/rarely tour or read in public and that adds to the importance, the gravity of their appearances. I’m not Bruce Springsteen or The Cure, who can do multiple shows in one city and sell out every single one, tickets and merch wise.

For me to get to the next level, it’s time for me to start becoming a little more reclusive, a little more selective to when I read, where I submit my work, how often I read in a single city. I think making myself a little more scarce from a performance perspective will be better overall for everyone.

***

I am so proud to announce that the first issue of NAP that had me as the Falconer of Fiction is out and it is so good. Diana Salier, my poetry editor counterpart, and I, put together this really kick ass issue that you should enjoy here.

If you are in Orlando tomorrow, Friday, May 17, there are two shows you need to see.

  1. Page 15 put out their first collection of stories called Wars Are Dumb and the book release party is tomorrow at Urban Rethink starting at 6 pm. Check out the literary future of Orlando. (Learn more about the project and the show here.)
  2. The Orlando Fringe Festival is in full swing and I’ll be in the Fringe Toast-Off tomorrow night at 10pm at the outdoor stage. These things are incredibly fun and fucked up thanks to the combination of wits and alcohol. The best part is that this is free! (Learn more about the show here.)

I contributed “On Writing ‘On How An Autobot Sunk The Titanic‘” to the Toasted Cake podcast. I don’t normally enjoy hearing other people read my work but Tina Connolly read it really well. For my trouble, I got $5 in cash and this nice card in the mail.

You’re welcome.

Finally, I have a poem in the May issue of Word Riot, which you can check out  here.

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Apr 23 2012
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performances, poetry, publication news, videos

The Ken Burns of Failed Relationships

Once, I Was An Angry Penguin, is now available for you to check out over at NAP Magazine. Below is the video feature for it. Enjoy.

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Mar 09 2012
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flash fiction, publication news

Like A Blister In The Sun

I broke off a professional relationship earlier this week and I almost blogged about the specifics until I stepped back for a moment and recognized it was not the adult thing to do. I instead e-mailed this person why I would no longer work with them, handling the situation directly like an adult. Like any relationship, once you recognize it has become disproportional where you give and give and give and do not receive the same energy and attention, you have to walk away. I might work with them again if they are willing to repair things but until them, I’ve got bigger and better things to do like:

I’m putting together a release party for my NAP chap, We Will Celebrate Our Failures and the line up is so killer so far. I’ll release more details as I get it together, but if you want to check out the Facebook invite, go here.

I have a five story collection coming out through KUBOA on March 31 called It Smells Like Plastic And Hurt Feelings and I’m excited about this, the progression of my fiction collections getting longer and longer. The novel is coming along slow but would love to get a full short story collection out before then.

This week has been kind to me. The fine folks over at The Eggshell Parade read this poem on their radio show, I was featured on InDigest Magazine’s Poem of the Day Podcast, 15 Views of Orlando got a really good review over at Saw Palm, and I’ve got three new flash pieces up at Untoward, which you can check out here.

Tomorrow, if you are in the Tampa/Ybor City area, check me out reading some non-fiction here.

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Feb 14 2012
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poetry, publication news

Happy Valentine’s Day

On this day of love, I give you so many gifts. The first and biggest is this.

This is a project I worked on in 2010 and 2011 and these are some of the stories that came from that project. It’s a semi linked collection of stories where relationships are destroyed in a fucked up version of pay it forward. To get an idea of what you’re in for, check out “Quality Control“. Please buy a copy and listen to The National’s High Violet album while reading it.

PANK was named as a literary heir by the New York Times. I’m floored and honored to be their Interviews Editor every issue. Also, shout out to Annalemma for making this list, as Annalemma was born in Orlando.

I have a poem in the debut issue of FeatherLit, which you can check out here.

I make a return to Safety Pin Review here.

Janey Smith gave a nice review to the first issue of Heavy Feather Review here.

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Jan 04 2012
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performances, publication news

We Are Still Counting Votes In Florida

Holy. hell. We’re only day four in voting and we’ve already got 576 votes for the best of There Will Be Words show on May 8. The poll closes on January 30 and we’ll announce the winners at the 15 Views of Orlando release party at January 31. If you haven’t voted yet, go here and do so already.

The first 1500 words of my novella, We Have Such Lovely Parting Gifts, is now live at HYPERTEXT Magazine. You should go read it here.

I’ve started my post as the Falconer of Fiction over at NAP and it’s been a lot of fun. If you are a short fiction writer, submit something. I’ll read it. It’s a great magazine, and I’m not just saying that because I’m staff, but because it’s too true.

That’s all I’ve got for now. We’ll talk again soon.

 

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Nov 18 2011
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publication news

Zounds Bitches!

My second fiction chapbook, We Will Celebrate Our Failures, is now on presale over at NAP Magazine. You have until Sunday to buy a copy with free shipping for just $4. The best part is that you get this in February, so if you want a twisted Valentine’s Day present for your lady/man friend or you want to say “we’re through” in the most creative way possible, get your copy here. If you want to know what you’re in for, it’s a linked short fiction chapbook about people breaking up other people’s engagements. You can read this story to see what I’m talking about.

15 Views of Orlando from Burrow Press is also now on presale. This is a fiction collection linked to various locales in Orlando and all of the writers in the collection have ties to Orlando as well, including myself, Lindsay Hunter, and others. You should pre-order it here and then come to the release party on January 31 to celebrate its release. All proceeds will go to Page 15, a local children’s literacy nonprofit that provides free tutoring and creative writing programs to Orlando public school students.

I’ve been listening to The Twilight Singers Live in New York album almost on repeat. It’s a good live album, then again I’m a big Greg Dulli fan.

I’ll be updating the Shows page soon. I have dates to announce where you can see me rock your face off with words.

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Oct 20 2011
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fun with audio, poetry, publication news

Hands On The 9 & 3

I don’t drive. I can drive and have driven in an emergency situation or two but I don’t drive. Originally, it was a rebellion thing because I didn’t feel like being my mom’s gopher but it stuck. I’ve lived a life without a car for a very long time and while it has its challenges (like my impending moving day), I don’t regret living without one. It makes you think on your feet, sharper, especially in a city like Orlando where public transportation is ok at best.

What I am damn good at driving though is shopping carts. I know how to pick a good shopping cart. The IKEA shopping carts are my favorites because of their four-wheel drive (you can ghost ride the cart…sideways son). And so in 2004, I wrote a poem about my mad cart driving skills and it in my slam poem rotation and I eventually retired it. And then I cleaned it up a little and it found a home in the latest issue of Stymie Magazine and it is a gorgeous home. You can check out the issue here and you can hear me read the poem here.

NAP Magazine will be publishing Once, I Was An Angry Penguin, the final part in what I call the Leigh trilogy. This trilogy consists of A Patchwork of Rooms Furnished by Mistakes and Our Hearts Are Power Ballads. I am trying really hard to get out of the business of writing poems to women based on patterns and so far, I’m doing a good job. It just allows me to focus on fiction more.

I’m gathering blurbs for my first novella, Bodies Made of Smoke, coming out next month through HOUSEFIRE. If you want to blurb me, shoot me an e-mail.

The fourteenth installment of my sex/dating advice column is up over at Specter Magazine. You can read it here.

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Jun 11 2011
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performances, publication news

Where I Almost Fell Out Of My Chair

I’m a Write Bloody finalist. No, really, I’m a Write Bloody finalist. I was eating at this kick-ass vegetarian restaurant with creepy television propaganda when I saw on Facebook people congratulating people on making the list, I went on expecting not to be on it as I haven’t made the cut the last two years. You would have laughed at my school girl like squeals and if I landed on my ass and I would have been good with that. Now, I just have to hope they like my full MS.

To really do this writing thing, you have to be persistent. You can’t be afraid of rejection. You have to be able to constantly evaluate and re-evaluate yourself. You have to keep doubt away. It eventually pays off in the end. Promise.

Read at an art show last night with some of my favorite writers, and a couple of new ones. I heard a sad rumor and then confirmation that The Cameo Theatre was closing after last night’s show. They let me produce two really great shows there, and sadly one clusterfuck. It was a great space and I will miss it dearly.

I have two poems in the latest issue of NAP, which you can check out here, and then you should read this entire issue (for real). I also found out that my novella for HOUSEFIRE, Bodies Made of Smoke, will be published M-F the week of June 20. (you can read the first novella of the series here). Between that and A Patchwork of Rooms Furnished by Mistakes, that is a really big week for me.

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