Archive for November, 2009
Ask the Editor: Jason Cook, Editor, Ampersand
Jason Cook, Editor of The Ampersand talks to us about the difference between silly and stupid, projects that keep growing and growing and growing, and how he likes to take his coffee (read: bribes). 1. With so many independent magazines … Continue reading
Ask the Author: Sean Lovelace
Sean Lovelace gives us Why I Never Say No to Coffee in the November issue and talks about the best coffee, the poetics of flash fiction, and of course, nachos. 1. Which coffee is better: Dunkin’ Donuts or Starbucks? They … Continue reading
Ask the Author: Robyn Detterline
In Zamala, Robyn Detterline shows what might happen if you hide a lion in your dorm room closet. With J. Bradley, she talks about timing, the power of words and real magic. 1. Do you believe in real magic (note … Continue reading
It’s My Two Cents: Turner Overdrive, The Regulars, Nader, Runaways, Arnold, Flatulists
Here’s modern poetry in a nutshell: paintings, animals, mythology…Every word can end either with the suffix “-esque” or the suffix “Turner Overdrive”–.But nothing shall ever be “Turner Overdrive-esque”… Written while tipsy…Heck, we all have pets; heck, if we went to … Continue reading
Ask the Author: Matt Mendez
In the November issue, Matt Mendez writes the story of A Girl More Still and in today’s interview with J. Bradley, he is a man of few but mighty words. 1. Do you find the cursive handwriting system still useful … Continue reading
We Give Thanks for our Contributors, Indeed
At Staccato Fiction, Beth Thomas gives us More Honey. Brandi Wells offers Notes from a Landlord at McSweeney’s. Ben White is here, there, and there and everywhere. J. Bradley shares The Kama Sutra of Edward Cullen at Opium Poetry. On … Continue reading
Ask the Author: Tracy Bowling
Tracy Bowling, chronicler of the Yeti, talks with J. Bradley about mythical beasts, current projects and how her writing journey began. 1. What made you choose the Yeti as the semi-antagonist for “Pink”? A fellow MFA student, Natalie Day, wrote … Continue reading
Ask the Author: Russell Evatt
Ex-pat and writer Russell Evatt talks with J. Bradley about American jokes, Polish pop culture, and last lines. Read his Poem ending with a fragment from A Theory of Truth in the November issue. 1. You currently live in Poland. … Continue reading
Ask the Editor: Elissa Bassist, Editor, Funny Women, The Rumpus
1. How did you land the Funny Women gig at The Rumpus? I’ll begin by saying this is the first time anyone has interviewed me, so I want to be smart, clever, and charming. (ed. Consider yourself successful.) If I … Continue reading
Extras: A Mini-Interview with Terese Svoboda
Nicelle Davis who reviewed Terese Svoboda’s Weapons Grade and Trailer Girl last week, also had a few questions to supplement Neil de la Flor’s amazing conversation with Terese. 1. I am amazed at how well Weapon Grade is able to … Continue reading
Ask the Author: Roland Goity
First, read Roland Goity’s Sand Trapped. Then, enjoy his lively interview where he talks about research, consequences, and the best war movies of all time. 1. “Sand Trapped” does an amazing job of putting you in the protagonist’s boots. Â … Continue reading
It’s My Two Cents: Friendster, Frisell, Jordan, Arcangel, et Cetera
Humping a statue can be a dignified form of political protest–I logged onto my Friendster page for the first time in, like, two years–Sometimes I miss living in Camden, NJ, but not going to school there–I can’t wait to see … Continue reading
Ask the Author: David Erlewine
Lawyer, TV Star, Novelist in progress, Editor, Writer, and Rock Star David Erlewine talks with J. Bradley about the law, Shatner and music to litigate by. Read his short short story Quiet, in the November issue. 1. I noticed on … Continue reading
PANK = Productive, Awesome, Notable, Kickass Writers
This week, there’s a new issue of PANK which features really wonderful writing. Â If I had to recommend a starting place, I’d suggest Helen Vitoria’s We Were Horses and Joe Stracci’s The Fourth and Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz’s The Air … Continue reading
The Epic PANK 4 Lineup
We have finalized the lineup for PANK 4 and we’re really excited about this issue. You can order PANK 4 here.
This Modern Writer: Stephen S. Mills
Sometimes Sex Is Just Sex My conservative aunt once asked my mother, after reading one of my poems, “Why does he always have to write about sex?” My mother, trying to smooth things over, responded, “Sometimes the sex isn’t about … Continue reading
Ask the Author: CL Bledsoe
Writer and editor CL Bledsoe, whose poetry appears in the November issue, gets into matters of craft with J. Bradley. 1. How important are titles in setting the appropriate context in your work? Titles are extremely important. Titles set the … Continue reading
Terese Svoboda is Weapons Grade
An Interview by Neil de la Flor Neil de la Flor: How’s it going? In other words, what’s changed since our last interview ? Terese Svoboda: I’m on a roll. I gave up trying to get big presses and voila! … Continue reading
Terese Svoboda’s Wild Tongue: A Review of Trailer Girl and Weapons Grade
Trailer Girl works. Against all odds, it works. I hesitated reading the book, afraid I would only find a laundry list of trailer park cliches. Instead I found myself in a world of poetry and mystery. Imagine T.S. Eliot writing … Continue reading
Ask the Editor: Nate Pritts, Editor, H_NGM_N
Today, I talk with Nate Pritts, the editor of the always interesting H_NGM_N about poetry, moving online, interesting eye wear and analytic evangelism. 1. How does an interactive poetry journal differ from a poetry journal? The short answer here is … Continue reading
Give thanks for November PANK
The November issue of PANK is now live and it features some really great writing (for which we are extra thankful, get it? November, Thanksgiving, we give thanks, okay, horse, beaten dead, now glue, sticky, peeling from our palms, tasty … Continue reading
Ask the Author: Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz
Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz, a longtime PANK friend has four wonderful, quirky poems in the November issue. In today’s interview, she talks with J. Bradley about presidents, Elvis Costello and slam poetry. 1. You have a time traveling closet. Â Using this … Continue reading
New Kid on the Block
There’s a new kid on the indie publishing block—Black Coffee Press LLC. They are out of Detroit and  just released their second book entitled SHE. by Thomas Michael. Five new titles are set for 2010 – all from fresh … Continue reading
This Modern Writer: M. Bartley Seigel, Dreams
I am invited by hand delivered letter to visit the McSweeney’s office. Re: Urgent. I don’t know why. It’s a big surprise. I didn’t know they knew me. How could, why would they? I am standing outside an unmarked office … Continue reading
It’s My Two Cents: Seth, Ben, Rocksteady, LL, Barbicide
Enough of this picking on memoirs already. Many of them are in fact journalism collections or nonfiction road trips. What’s the matter with that? Why the false fiction-nonfiction dichotomy?…Speaking of memoirs, I love me some Ben Yagoda, but his new … Continue reading
Shya Scanlon’s Forecast
Chapter 35 of Shya Scanlon’s Forecast is now live: http://www.pankmagazine.com/?p=1081 Enjoy!
The PANK Posse is Prolific
In Wigleaf, Ethel Rohan tells a tale of practical, endearing romance in Gold. In Red Fez’s Editors Issue, three flash fictions by J.A. Tyler and a public apology as poem from Peter Schwartz. In the debut issue of wtf pwm, … Continue reading
AWP Table Share: Help a Publisher Out
The fine folks at Artistically Declined Press are looking for a table share at AWP 2010. If you’re interested, leave a note in the comments and we’ll put you in touch.
Ask the Author: Steve Gibbon
In his story, Black Stag, Steve Gibbon tells us of the large gentleman Daniel Barker and in today’s interview, he brings news of Maine, strange interactions with other people and bad writing advice. 1)  Is literature  about work peculiarly American? … Continue reading
This Modern Writer: Todd Keisling, DIY
“Oh, you’re a writer, huh?  Where are you published?” I was asked this question last week.  I’d ventured into the employee lounge to get another cup of coffee when a coworker walked in. The conversation which followed was typical and … Continue reading
This Modern Writer: Ethel Rohan, Potatoes
If you don’t know Sean Lovelace is in love with nachos, where are you? His obsession is bordering on perverse. Someone stage an intervention. What you can’t know is that I share a similar, but more restrained, passion. A fixation … Continue reading
Rose Metal Press Chapbook Competition
From the Editors of Rose Metal Press: Our Fourth Annual Short Short Chapbook Contest submission period begins October 15 and ends December 1, 2009. Our 2009 judge will be Dinty W. Moore. During the submission period, please email your 25 … Continue reading
It’s My Two Cents: Prog, Abdul, HTMLG, Elaine’s, Fence
I gave up on objecting sentences with “however” after reading the Language Log. Not that I feel good about it…I guess someday I will have to sit down and actually listen to the Zombies box set, rather than saying I … Continue reading
PANK People, Everywhere
Tim Jones-Yelvington has a new story in the Musical Obsession issue of Storyglossia about Adam (G)Lambert. He is joined by Anne Valente, Tracy Bowling, and many other talented writers. In the new Emprise Review, fine writing from Paula Bomer, Ryan … Continue reading
Degrees of Separation
Let us begin with  ABJECTIVE and  Juliet Cook’s “Paper Dolls.” Cook is also featured in DIAGRAM 9.5. In  DIAGRAM 9.5, we also find Ryan Teitman’s “Ode, Elegy, Aubade, Psalm.”  Ryan is also in Hayden’s Ferry Review. Hayden’s Ferry houses … Continue reading
Ask the Author: Jimmy Chen
Today, Jimmy Chen, who gives us Of Mimesis in the October issue, talks about strange eateries, robots and cliches about women, crime and war. 1) What is the strangest place  you’ve ever eaten in San Francisco? I’ll spare you a … Continue reading
This Modern Writer: Kelly Davio
In all that free time I have between the writing life, work life and home life (there really isn’t all that much social life), I get to squeeze in my editing life: I’m the Poetry and Book Reviews Editor at … Continue reading
I’ve Been Reading: Tiny Reviews
I wish I had time to do critical, in-depth reviews of everything I read but alas not during the dissertation year. Still, I’ve been reading some really great writing lately. Every time I read for ten minutes or so for … Continue reading
PANKcast!
1. The Seattle Times pours out its best writers. 2. Mmmm… Texas Book Festival is looking spicy! 3. Vampires, hit men, and God – Anne Rice will creep you out. 4. The Washington Post loves “The Man in the Wooden … Continue reading
Ask the Author: David Peak
Today, Guy Brookshire talks with David Peak, author of Helping Hands, about the meditative properties of trains, New York, violence and writing. 1) Why do you get your best thinking done on the train? I’m kind of spacey in general, … Continue reading
Ask the Editor: Dave Housley, Barrelhouse
We really enjoy Barrelhouse so we were especially pleased when one of the editors, Dave Housley, agreed to be interviewed. Today we talk about proto-celebrities, 90s television, and occasionally, we delve into matters of independent publishing. 1. Ryan Seacrest’s hair. … Continue reading