Not Too Late

It's not too late for people to take advantage of the Rally of Writers conference in Lansing. It's an inexpensive conference with a lot of opportunities to grow.

Find out more here: http://arallyofwriters.home.att.net/news.html

Also, if you get the chance, I'll be at the Creative Spirit Center (http://www.creativespiritcenter.org/) this Wednesday, April 1 from 6:30 until 8 p.m. I'll be reading a selection from Landscape with Fragmented Figures . . . and hopefully selling a few copies of the bugger.

In the meantime, I've also been working on a quote: "Writers should not change the truth, but instead present the world truthfully, in the hope that others might be inspired to change the ugliness of some of our truths."

I know, kind of stinky . . . but I know what I mean.

A Great Time

Ken Meisel and I had a great time reading at Kirtland Community College yesterday. As always, it was excellent to hear Ken breathe life into his poems. Carol Finke has a good thing going in the Controlled Burn Visiting Writers series. They lay out a nice spread of food before the reading, which yesterday included fried chicken legs, meatballs, crackers, cheese, and assorted fruit . . . not to mention a bottomless bowl of lemonade.

Ken and I ended up going back to my house to have a little red wine and do what all writers do . . . play Guitar Hero. If you're wondering, yes, we rocked.

Not much else happening for me. Still plowing my way through that 650-page collection of short stories. Still plowing my way through student work.

Next Wednesday, April 1, I'll be at the Creative Spirit Center in Midland reading from my new novel, Landscape with Fragmented Figures. The event runs from 6:30 until 8. Hope to see a few people there.

A New Review

A review of my new novel, Landscape with Fragmented Figures, is up at Word Riot.

http://www.wordriot.org/template_2.php?ID=1858

Books and Such

I finished reading one new, hot-off-the-small-press book. I won't say anything because of that saying that mothers like to say about if you don't have anything nice to say.

I am in the process of reading The Scribner Anthology of Contemporary Short Fiction, edited by Michael Martone and Lex Williford. I'm only halfway through it (it's 600-some pages), but I can't praise this book enough. I feel like it's really bringing me up to speed on many powerful short stories that I've somehow missed. In fact, of the 50 stories therein, I've only read three of them before. The book has restored my faith in the power of the short story.




Also, if you're interested, a few of my newer stories are available on line.

First, a story of mine that has really grown on me, called "NUFOINFO" can be read here:

http://burningriver.info/?cat=30

"NUFOINFO" is on the site as a sample of what appears in Burning River Publication's literary journal, Noun vs. Verb. Man oh man, the editor, the dedicated Chris Bowen, would probably do a little handstand if you actually ordered a copy of the journal.

Also, if you download the free pdf file of issue #7 of Space Squid, you can read my flash piece entitled, "God's Bodyguard Talks to a Reporter": http://www.spacesquid.com/free_sci_fi.htm

The story was inspired by my son who, one morning on the way to school, piped up from the back seat and said, "I want to write a story and call it The Death of God's Bodyguard."

I wish I had a six year old's imagination.

Upcoming Events

On Monday, March 23rd, I'll be reading with Ken Meisel at Kirtland Community College at 5 p.m.

On Wednesday, April 1, Creative Spirit Center (1517 Bayliss St., Midland, MI): I'll be reading from and signing copies of my latest novel, Landscape with Fragmented Figures.

On Saturday, April 4, I'll be presenting two workshops (screenwriting and fiction) at the Rally of Writers in Lansing. Details here (a reasonably priced conference worth checking out)
http://arallyofwriters.home.att.net/

On Thursday, April 16th I'll be reading at Firelands College in Huron, OH as part of the promotion tour for the new novel.

On Friday and Saturday, May 1 and 2, I'll be a part of the Adequate Symbol Writing Festival (Reading/Workshop)Auburn Hills, MI. trishlet@gmail.com for more information. (Sounds like it will be a good experience)

On Wednesday, May 6, I'll be reading in the evening with Bonnie Jo Campbell at Schuler Books in Lansing. Bonnie's new collection of short stories is American Salvage (Wayne State Press)

Hope to see you at one of these events. Or (it would be quite a feat) at all of them.