More about Charactered Pieces, here.
More about Stranger Will, here.
Category: Stranger Will
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Not a loud lesbian nor a story of masturbation; how will I succeed?
As I mentioned in a previous post, I’ll be one of a great group of writers to read at Leela European Café on April 9th in Denver. I’ve done a few readings in the past, despite the live aspect being something writers don’t often get to experience. I’ve been lucky, I guess.I am perhaps more excited to see and meet these people more than I am to actually read some of my own work. That’s natural. I’m humble by nature. Humble and handsome.
The unwritten rule is that writers should read from something either freshly published or contracted for publication. For me, that would be my story collection, Charactered Pieces. But another, perhaps not entirely unwritten rule, is that when crowds and drinks are involved, the
best type of material to read is work both funny and short. Charactered Pieces, though it contains elements of each, doesn’t contain any stories that would fit both of those qualifications equally enough to warrant the rapt attention of the audience (which I expect to be huge! You hear me! Be there or be dead!). The bar is high, as I’ve been to both Chuck Palahniuk readings (refreshingly interactive meets his morbid material makes for strange group of lit lovers, videos here, and don’t forget all the people who fainted during his Guts tour) and Dorothy Allison readings (the last, her 2009 AWP appearance which was followed by the only performance worthy of her opening, a performance from Mucca Pazza (this review calls them a ragtag band…they simply don’t know the wonder that is Mucca Pazza).
So, I’ve decided to write two entirely new pieces for the event. One involves my plea for corporate sponsorship. The other involves my plea for free beer. It’s a bit scary to debut something in front of a crowd of strangers, but I guess that’s better than waiting until a piece is printed before finding out it sucks.
What sort of material do you (or would you, if you’ve never been to a live reading) want to hear?
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Blog Orgy Tour: a hangover post with Monkeywright
Though the official Blog Orgy Tour has sadly passed, I’m still shaking off the effects. Today, I introduce the hangover post, a guest post that could have been part of the Blog Orgy Tour if only I weren’t so busy with groupies and drugs (truth: books and dominoes).
Today, at Michael Paul Gonzalez’s blog, I talk a bit about the true purpose of a blog. My post acts as a ribbon-cutting ceremony of sorts, as this is the first post in Michael’s revamped blog. I’m honored.
And if you still want, all of the past Blog Orgy Tour posts are still available, here.
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3AM Magazine is my bitch (I love you, 3AM).
EDIT: Instead of new posts each day, I figure I’ll just keep a running list here of the Buzzwords posts:
- Brought to you by Caleb J Ross. The first name in durability. The last name in class (posted 1/11/2010): this is my welcome post
- Part one in a one part series of cartoons based on blog posts I recently read (posted 1/12/2010): Someone at HTML Giant commented about the impossibility of music influencing literature. This is my rebuttal.
- Dear 3:AM Magazine (posted 1/13/2010): My love letter to 3:AM. Compromising photograph included.
- Five for: Scott C. Rogers of Black Coffee Press (posted 1/14/2010): Five questions for Black Coffee Press founder, Scott C. Rogers
- ampere’s and (posted 1/15/2010): A gathering of miscellaneous lit links from around the internets
- We can smell bullshit. We thrive on passion (posted 1/15/2010): Another answer to someone’s post, this one about a forum member who tried hocking his book to a group of people he didn’t care to know.
- AWP and Me (posted 1/16/2010): I’m going to AWP in April. You should go, too.
For this entire week, the crazies over at 3AM’s Buzzwords blog have given me carte blanche reign of the page, where I have promised not to make a fool of myself or 3AM. But I’ve been drinking. Things could get sexy.
This extended stay caps my lengthy and beautiful Blog Orgy Tour in support of my fiction collection, Charactered Pieces. I’m sure many of you have grown tired of seeing so many posts about this damn tour, and for that intrusion, I apologize. But I assure you, the content of each post was justified, if only as a means of getting people to visit the amazing sites who were kind enough to host me.
I want to thank every one of the following admins and friends who sacrificed a small portion of their page space (and possibly their reputation) for a few words from little ol’ me. The experience has been beyond phenomenal.
I’m sad to see the tour come to and end. When my next book comes around, you can bet I’ll be having another tour, and you’ll be equally as annoyed by my persistent announces of such.
And don’t forget, the reason this whole thing is going on, to buy a copy of Charactered Pieces. It’s getting fantastic reviews from all over. It’s worth your time and your measly $7, I promise. Plus, don’t forget that you get a free lit mag back issue through January 16th with every order.
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Five questions for Black Coffee Press, Scott C. Rogers
Today, as one of the final stops on my Blog Orgy Tour, my 3AM Magazine Buzzwords blog takeover continues, this time with a short, five question series for Black Coffee Press founder, Scott C. Rogers.
I ask him, among other things, why he started this press and why people should care. This is hard-hitting journalism.
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A love letter to 3AM Magazine
Today, as part of my week-long stint at the 3AM Magazine blog I offer a love letter to my beautiful host. You should join in; she’s open to multiple partners.
And as always, I urge you to check out my past Blog Orgy Tour stops here.
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Blog Orgy Tour stop #20: Friday Five The 5 Best Things Caleb J Ross Has Read Recently
I learned about Deckfight when Josh, the guru over there, approached me about doing one of their “5 Best Things” segments. I’m ashamed that I didn’t know of the site before this. I’ve since perused their archives, and I can honestly say, they do some great things over there. So, after you pretend to care what I think by reading my “5 Best Things” post, be sure to scour the rest of the site.
And don’t forget, A FULL WEEK AT THE 3AM BUZZWORDS BLOG all next week. I peed myself just now.