Two Readings and the Indian Restaurant at the End of the Universe
GAH! What a hectic, awesome week it has been.
C.S.E. Cooney had her book release party for Jack of the Hills on Thursday at Top Shelf Books in Palatine. Coon
ey's a generous broad and so the first two thirds of the night was an open mic. I read a cat fight scene over a cheating heart from my newest story, "Fruit Jar Drinkin', Cheatin' Heart Blues." Yep, the moonshiner story...which completely morphed from anything and everything I might have said in previous entries. Serves me right for thinking I knew which way the storyhorse was running before I let her stop. John O'Neill, of Black Gate Magazine fame, read from his novel in progress. There are ROBOTS! And he needs to finish it because I WANT TO READ IT, bad. Also, Gene Wolfe read. Yes, that Gene Wolfe. The Gene Wolfe of the Book of the New Sun series countless short stories and epic fantasy came to Ms. Cooney's reading and read a bit of a newly anthologized story. The lady, she keeps fine company. Other fabulous readers included Brendan Detzner, Michael Penkas and Penkas nearly slayed me. He read a flash fiction piece about a boy who was just trying to make friends and his mom wouldn't let him.... literally. He wanted to make a friend. A zombie kit came in the mail, dead body and all, and his mom called the police instead of letting him keep it. GAH! Love. It was a great night. There was face paint and food. MUCH too much food. Nom.
Speaking of much too much food. Good sweet lord. Friday night I went to dinner with Jason Waltz, C.S.E. Cooney, John O'Neill and Howard Jones. Hell yes, the Howard A. Jones who wrote The Desert of Souls. We went to a joint called India House, which is in the middle of an office complex, down a winding path and though you can see the neon from many roads, you can't seem to ever appear at the doorstop. Until you do, and then yowza, the food to be had! Seventeen kinds of delicious, but really it was the company that was the best. Cooney, O'Neill and Jones kept reciting Shakespeare to each other. With friends like that, who needs to pay for theater?
Saturday was the return of the once monthly Tamale Hut Cafe Reading series. The featured reader was a poet named Frank Rogaczewski who wrote The Fate of Humanity in Verse. He writes the kind of poetry that almost feels like an essay. It is large blocks upon the page that is very good to listen to. Cooney came with me to Tamale Hut and she recited her poem, "The Sea King's Second Bride." I read a piece from the moonshiner story about a sheriff getting justifiably jumped by miniature robots. Jenny Seay read from her on-going novel about an up and coming female wrestler. Did I mention there were tamales? Well, THERE WERE TAMALES! Seriously smalls, the Tamale Hut in North Riverside...GO THERE!
In misc. other today...
Goblin Fruit's new issue is out! Read it.
And if you are interested in the writing habits of famous artists and writers...check out Daily Routines.
Lastly, here are a few things I love this week:
C.S.E. Cooney had her book release party for Jack of the Hills on Thursday at Top Shelf Books in Palatine. Coon
ey's a generous broad and so the first two thirds of the night was an open mic. I read a cat fight scene over a cheating heart from my newest story, "Fruit Jar Drinkin', Cheatin' Heart Blues." Yep, the moonshiner story...which completely morphed from anything and everything I might have said in previous entries. Serves me right for thinking I knew which way the storyhorse was running before I let her stop. John O'Neill, of Black Gate Magazine fame, read from his novel in progress. There are ROBOTS! And he needs to finish it because I WANT TO READ IT, bad. Also, Gene Wolfe read. Yes, that Gene Wolfe. The Gene Wolfe of the Book of the New Sun series countless short stories and epic fantasy came to Ms. Cooney's reading and read a bit of a newly anthologized story. The lady, she keeps fine company. Other fabulous readers included Brendan Detzner, Michael Penkas and Penkas nearly slayed me. He read a flash fiction piece about a boy who was just trying to make friends and his mom wouldn't let him.... literally. He wanted to make a friend. A zombie kit came in the mail, dead body and all, and his mom called the police instead of letting him keep it. GAH! Love. It was a great night. There was face paint and food. MUCH too much food. Nom.
Speaking of much too much food. Good sweet lord. Friday night I went to dinner with Jason Waltz, C.S.E. Cooney, John O'Neill and Howard Jones. Hell yes, the Howard A. Jones who wrote The Desert of Souls. We went to a joint called India House, which is in the middle of an office complex, down a winding path and though you can see the neon from many roads, you can't seem to ever appear at the doorstop. Until you do, and then yowza, the food to be had! Seventeen kinds of delicious, but really it was the company that was the best. Cooney, O'Neill and Jones kept reciting Shakespeare to each other. With friends like that, who needs to pay for theater?
Saturday was the return of the once monthly Tamale Hut Cafe Reading series. The featured reader was a poet named Frank Rogaczewski who wrote The Fate of Humanity in Verse. He writes the kind of poetry that almost feels like an essay. It is large blocks upon the page that is very good to listen to. Cooney came with me to Tamale Hut and she recited her poem, "The Sea King's Second Bride." I read a piece from the moonshiner story about a sheriff getting justifiably jumped by miniature robots. Jenny Seay read from her on-going novel about an up and coming female wrestler. Did I mention there were tamales? Well, THERE WERE TAMALES! Seriously smalls, the Tamale Hut in North Riverside...GO THERE!
In misc. other today...
Goblin Fruit's new issue is out! Read it.
And if you are interested in the writing habits of famous artists and writers...check out Daily Routines.
Lastly, here are a few things I love this week: