I Rule

"I'm awesome." That's what I just thought when I saw five of my new poems up at Small Doggies.

I follow Carrie Seitzinger, Melissa Broder, Elisa Gabbert and Kathleen Rooney and fellow fella Michael Roberts, whom I'd not read before but whom I read and then bought his book.

There's just enough time for you to read my poems and then lambast me at Mean Week.

Interview with Stephanie Barber

Here at Human Pyramids is an interview with Stephanie Barber in which she says lovely and challenging things about her work, in lower case, like:

. . . i am working within myself right now in a very particular way. i mean that i am pushing against my own ideas and my previous work in a way that was maybe not as possible to do when i didn't have such a large body of work. it is a very subtle feeling. like artistic proprioception. an interoceptive awareness of where i am in my art. this is a simultaneously abstract and specific feeling.

i'm unsure of how i feel about this morally. there is something about the hardcore individualist motivation in working like this--responding to previous work i have made--avoiding the tropes of previous stories--etc.--something about strident individualism which feels tawdry and propagandistic. the alternative seems either like being tossed around in the giantest ocean slammed by rocks and unnamed sea creatures or being in harmony and eternal dialog with all art ever made and about to be made.

One of the things I admire most about Stephanie's approach to art is her seriousness (her "interoceptive awareness" and her ability to frame her work morally). Another thing is her knack for simile (like being in the giantest ocean slammed by rocks and unnamed sea creatures).

Her book and a DVD of her films is called these here separated to see how they standing alone.

She will be performing at the Literary Death Match in Baltimore on Oct 30.

Here is a review of her book and DVD at PANK, written by JA Tyler.

ORANGE JUICE by Timothy Willis Sanders

This is not the animal on the cover of Timothy Willis Sanders's new book, Orange Juice, coming soon from PG imprint Awesome Machine Press:

Animals with art on them are ridiculous. However, books with animals on them are great. And the cover of Sanders's short collection (56pp, $8), was made this morning by Justin Sirois and features Comic Sans and a kitten:

"Timothy Willis Sanders has style and nowhere is that more apparent than in the nine stories found in Orange Juice. Reading them is like watching secret footage of unremarkable people in unremarkable moments—you watch and at first you don't know why you cannot look away, but then, as one moment folds into another, you start to feel like you know the people you're watching. You start to care. When you read this fantastic, almost obsessive collection, you will keep wanting to know what happens next. You will care."
-Roxane Gay

Run, hide.

The Amazon Review that Started it All

There's a fun, fascinating article in Poets & Writers about the history of Dzanc Books. It starts with a review that Dan Wickett wrote at Amazon, which started the Emerging Writers Network. Well, since the Internet is an easy archive, I thought it would be neat to see if the review is still up. It is.

read that

The Last Few Days Were Awesome

Lots of readings and stuff.

THIS SUNDAY OH COOL

eBooks Offer

Justin Sirois's short book, MLKNG SCKLS, is now available for the Kindle and Nook, for just $4.99.

So is Rachel Glaser's Pee On Water (for $8.99). Go here for the Nook and here for the Kindle editions.

I would love to hear user experiences with these. If you have a Kindle or a Nook and buy one of these books, let me know. I'll send you another book as thanks.

Limited time offer -- good until Nov 1, 2010.

A BOWHLOH Review I Missed

Andy Linkner, a diligent and adventurous reader, liked Mairéad Byrne's earlier book, Talk Poetry, more than The Best of (What's Left of) Heaven, but still liked BOWLOH. Read his brief review (and other reading notes) here.

Michael Filippone's video review of The Best of (What's Left of) Heaven

This is so great. I had my copy of the book while watching and was able to read along. Way to do a Sunday morning. Thanks to Michael Filippone for defying expectations.

Readings

I like Mark Leidner's Apostrophe Cast reading so much that I want to organize an event where people come and listen to it. Can I charge money for that?

Speaking of readings, Andy Devine has some events coming up across the country, which you can read about here.

About Last Night

The Sweatpants show was cool. I played ukulele and stood on the drums. Dave played keyboards and drums at the same time. Jamie screamed as is his wont.

Looks like Andy Devine's reading was a success. Electric Literature wrote it up with one of those neat posts with pictures of good looking people holding drinks. Here's Andy on stage, about to reveal his chest:

Thanks to Luke Goebel for putting the show together.

Tonight

BALTIMORE
Sweatpants is playing the pre-release party for Chris Mason's book, coming soon from Narrow House. The show is tonight at the Wind Up at 6pm. My favorite Baltimore band, Old Songs, is on the bill too.

NEW YORK CITY
The Tyramperius Rex reading -- a celebration of Ampersand, NY Tyrant, and Publishing Genius authors -- will feature Andy Devine at Bar 9 (807 9th Ave). Also reading will be Elliott David and Benjamin Lowenkron. You should go just because Lowenkron is such a great last name, but for more incentive: comedian Dave Hill will host and, according to rumor, there will be strippers there (?).

READING TOMORROW WITH ANDY DEVINE

I'm not entirely sure of the details, but I know that ANDY DEVINE will be at this reading which also features awesome people from NY TYRANT and AMPERSAND BOOKS. It is AWESOME that they included Publishing Genius and ANDY DEVINE on this bill as well as DAVE HILL, a comedian, who will be the host. I am not sure if there will actually be strippers but I have heard there will be. I think that's weird either way. Both no strippers and strippers is weird, once the topic comes up.

The reading is TOMORROW NIGHT at 8PM in NYC. 

I have been moving all week. It's been terrible. More like for two weeks, if you consider all the advance work that had to be done. So because I've been moving, I have barely had time to check email, let alone try to advertise this reading. I also missed the opportunity to advertise the Indie Press Night hosted at Word Books that featured Publishing Genius with Ugly Duckling Presse and Featherproom -- Rachel Glaser read with Blake Butler and Jon Cotner. I hear it went really well. From a few different people I heard this.

ANYWAY, if you get a chance to be in MANHATTAN tomorrow at 8PM, go see ANDY DEVINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!