The Cincinnati Review nominated my short story “Snapper” for inclusion in the anthology, Best Microfiction 2023, which will be published by Pelekinesis Press in July. Deb Olin Unferth served as final judge for series editors Meg Pokrass and Gary Fincke, and I’m thrilled to share that Unferth selected “Snapper” to be included. You can see the full list of stories to be included at this link; it’s a wonderful group to be a part of. I’m glad “Snapper” found a home with The Cincinnati Review. This story has had a long pre-publication life. Years ago, it was a finalist in contests at both American Short Fiction and The Sycamore Review, and it had garnered many close calls and rejections since. I’ve always thought it had some truth to it though and readers would like it should they read it…and so I’m very grateful to see it finding some readers now through the good work of the people at The Cincinnati Review and Best Microfiction.
Galaga. Yes, that Galaga.
A few months ago I traveled to the incredible art complex known as Meow Wolf in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in order to write something about the first ever Galaga World Championship. This longform piece of literary journalism or whatever you want to call it, this article, is now out and available to read at Longreads.
If you’ve ever played video games or spent time in an arcade, or if you are interested in why people did & still do those things, or if you are compelled by friendship or value the communities around you, or if you’ve ever wanted to be really great at something that’s really hard, or if you are simply subject to the human condition, then this is the article for you. Plus, it includes mention of a six-foot-five humanoid rat named Plotzo and his cadre of cyberpunks, the juviegangers (pictured below).
New event! Canada!
For all of you in the Toronto-Buffalo-Niagara area! I’ve been invited to the Author’s Series 2017, hosted by the Hotel Dallavalle and Bella Vita Ristorante in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. It’s coming up soon – January 21st!
It is being held in conjunction with the region’s world-famous Niagara Icewine Festival. The Author’s Series includes cocktails, a multi-course dinner, and wine pairings. And I understand that Niagara-on-the-Lake is a beautiful arts community, nestled against the Lake Ontario shoreline. I’m really looking forward to visiting.
It’s going to be a fun one. Click on the poster below for more information, and please contact the hotel for tickets.
The New York Times
The Infinite received a solid review in The New York Times on Sunday, Nov. 20. Many thanks to Lili Wright for her thoughtful look at my novel.
The Reading Life audio
I recently appeared on New Orleans’s PBS affiliate station, WWNO, in order to have a chat with Susan Larson on her show The Reading Life. This program is my favorite thing to listen to each week, and Susan is a hero of the literary scene in South Louisiana. The entire episode is great, including Maria Semple, Philip Gould, and Herman Fuselier as well; you can listen here. I’m jabbering and reading from The Infinite in the last ten minutes of the show. The webpage also includes some lagniappe (extra) audio at the bottom.