reading this wednesday (8/20) in nyc!

Hi all,

I'm very excited about this reading. It's to promote Who Can Save Us Now? the anthology of new super-hero stories I have a story in. The reading/signing/general-discussion-of-superpowers will take place at the McNally Jackson Bookstore (which is a terrific bookstore, by the way). Here are the details:

The reading will take place
August 20th, 7pm @ McNally Jackson
52 Prince St. (btw. Lafayette & Mulberry)
featuring co-editors Owen King and John McNally,
contributors Kelly Braffet, Lauren Grodstein, and me

And here's a link to McNally Jackson: mcnally jackson link...

And here are some of the good reviews the book's got so far:

...These days, even as the superhero's caped shadow envelopes mass popular
culture, actual comic books and literary short fiction are both niche
markets for obsessive fans... "Who Can Save Us Now?" has heroic virtues such
that fans of either will find a lot to love.
--The NY Post

For those who wish to avoid the crush of "The Dark Night," this fresh,
imaginative collection provides a new way of looking at the world. These
superheroes have self-esteem issues or lucrative endorsement deals, are
plagued by post-traumatic stress disorder, neuroses and televangelists.
There is a light, clever touch to these 22 stories.
--"Editor's Choice," The Chicago Tribune

Fresh and fun, this collection is sure to please everyone from the classic
comics lover to the newbie Heroes fan.
‹ Library Journal


Hope to see you there -

Currently listening : The Complete ’68 Comeback Special: 40th Anniversary Edition By Elvis Presley Release date: 2008-08-05

3:21 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

WHO CAN SAVE US NOW review on NPR

excited - this just came in!
WCSUN review on npr

6:13 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

WHO CAN SAVE US NOW? - OUT NOW!

The new anthology I'm a proud part of, "Who Can Save Us Now?: Brand-New Superheroes and Their Amazing (Short) Stories" just hit the shelves. It includes 22 stories by some terrific writers such as Jim Shepard, Owen King, Kelly Braffett, Will Clarke, Lauren Grodstein, J Robert Lennon, David Yoo, Tom Bissell, John McNally, and Jennifer Weiner, Noria Joblonsky and George Singleton. Check it out if you can - again, honored to be a part of the book. Here's a link:

buy "who can save us now"

6:10 PM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

interview on LROD

The kind folks at lrod posted a recent interview with me. if you're a writer and you're not familiar with the site, you should definitely check it out. it's a great place for writers to vent and connect and hope just a little. here's the link:

interview on lrod

and thanks again to everyone who wrote me about "The 13th Egg," the story in the Virginia Quarterly Appreciate the kind words.

5:38 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

WHO CAN SAVE US NOW?!

Friends, some exciting news. I'm going to be part of an anthology coming out this summer from the Free Press called Who Can Save Us Now? - Brand New Superheroes and Their Amazing (Short) Stories! . The book comes out in July and I'm honored to be in the company of such writers as Kelly Braffett, Owen King, Tom Bissell, J Robert Lennon, Jennifer Weiner, John Singleton, Lauren Grodstein, Jim Shepard and others. The publisher is holding a contest, too. They're giving away a Wii to the best superhero story submitted by someone out there (you!) by May 15th. Here's the site:

WHO CAN SAVE US NOW - CONTEST

Also, the story I wrote for the anthology, called "The 13th Egg" ended up being selected by the Virgina Quarterly Review. It's in the current issue. Couldn't be more thrilled. There's art by Art Spiegleman, Chris Ware, stories by some awesome writers. Check it out if you have a chance. The site's:

VIRGINIA QUARTERLY REVIEW

And the journal's available in hard-copy all over -b&n, borders... Been an amazing month.

10:31 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Reading with 3 terrific writers in Brooklyn this coming Thursdat (4/24)!

I'm reading with 3 awesome writers (and friends) this coming Thursday in Park Slope. I'm a huge fan of their work. If you don't come for me, come to hear them. Karen, Lytton and Carey are giant talents. Hope to see you there! Here's the official announcement:


JOIN US FOR A READING AT PARK SLOPE'S 440 GALLERY!

WHEN: Thursday, April 24th from 7-9 pm

WHERE: 440 Gallery, 440 Sixth Avenue (at 9th St., F to 7th Ave.)

CONTACT: Brooke Shaffner at brshaffner@hotmail.com

Admission Free

WHO:

Carey McHugh's chapbook, Original Instructions for the Perfect Preservation of Birds &c., was selected by Rae Armantrout for the Poetry Society of America's New York Chapbook Fellowship. Her poems have appeared in Smartish Pace, Boston Review, Denver Quarterly and elsewhere. She currently lives in Manhattan and teaches writing in the Bronx.



Karen Russell's first collection of short stories, St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves, was named a Best Book of 2006 by the Chicago Tribune, the San Francisco Chronicle, and the Los Angeles Times; in 2007 she was featured in Granta's Best of the Young American Novelists and Best American Short Stories. She lives in New York City where she is working on another story collection and a novel about a family of alligator wrestlers, Swamplandia!.



Lytton Smith grew up in Galleywood, England and now lives in New York City, where he studies Anglo-Saxon, travel, and poetics. A chapbook, Monster Theory, was selected by Kevin Young for a New York Chapbook Fellowship and was published this month by the Poetry Society of America. His book, The All-Purpose Magical Tent, won the Nighboat Poetry Prize, judged by Terrance Hayes, and is forthcoming from Nightboat Books in March 2009.



Scott Snyder's collection of stories, Voodoo Heart, was published in 2007 by the Dial Press. He teaches at Columbia University and Sarah Lawrence College and lives on Long Island with his wife, Jeanie, and their son, Jack Presley. He's currently at work on a novel to be published by Dial in 2009.



Todd Erickson, April's featured artist, will present a talk on his current show, Light, which focuses on his Park Slope backyard. As an environmental artist, his previous installations have documented ecosystems fromFire Island to the Gowanus Canal. Born and raised on Long Island, he received a BFA from Parsons School of Design in 1999, a Certificate in Horticulture from the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens in 2007, and has participated in two artist residencies in Hokkaido, Japan. Todd is currently weaving his artistic practice, garden design sensibilities and knowledge in horticulture into a small business called L.O.G., Leaves of Green.

About 440 Gallery: Park Slope's only artist-run gallery, a jewel box space offering an alternative venue for Brooklyn artists. 440 Gallery seeks to present surprising, unexpected art to the community through exhibitions, talks, readings and events centered around direct contact with the artist. Open Thursdays and Fridays from 4-7 pm, and Saturdays and Sundays from 12-6 pm, or by appointment.

I’M READING THIS COMING TUESDAY (3/25) IN NYC

I’m excited to be reading at the NY Mercantile Library this coming Tuesday, March 25th, at 6pm. The address is:

17 East 47th Street
New York, NY 10017
(between 5th Ave. and Madison)

and here’s the official link in case you need more info:
Here’s the link:

mercantile reading

I’m happy to be reading with Jon Clinch, author of the acclaimed novel, Finn, which tells the story of Huck Finn’s elusive father.

The Mercantile is a terrific space, too -with chandeliers and bit leather chairs. A real old fashioned library. They do a lot of fun events. Really hope you can come check it out!

Currently reading : A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (P.S.) By Betty Smith Release date: 30 May, 2006

9:29 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

I’m reading this coming Wed. (12/5) in nyc

I'm really thrilled to be reading this Wed (12/5) as part of the PAGE Series @ The National Arts Club. I'm reading with Alexander Chee (author of Edinburgh) and Joshua Clark, author of Heart Like Water - a memoir about surviving Hurricane Katrina). I'm a big fan of the series. Excited! Here's the info:


The reading is at 7pm, Wed. Dec. 5th
@ The National Arts Club,
15 Gramercy Park South, NYC.

And here's a link to the series site:
page series

Please come check it out!

4:20 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Reading @ McNally Robinson in NYC this Tues. (10/9)

I'm a bit rusty, but I'm really looking forward to this one. Reading with Bryan Charles, and Tobias Carroll, both of whom sound great. I have Bryan's book, Grab Hold of Me Tightly, and have heard lots of good things. Also, the host is Jonathan Messinger, author of the stellar new collection, Hiding Out (just came out). I have read this one and it's terrific - thrilled to be doing an event w/these guys.

And the event is a dollar store reading. Which means that we all have to write quick shots about objects sent to us from a dollar store by Jonathan. Should be fun. Please come check it out if you can this coming Tues (10/9)! Here are the details - address of the store (which is a wonderful place in its own right, too), etc.:

info on McNally Robinson Reading...

Currently listening : Magic By Bruce Springsteen Release date: 02 October, 2007

9:14 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

2 stories from VH mentioned in Best American Short Stories 2007!

Wow. So excited - 2 stories from the collection were picked to be included in the 100 notable stories of the year section of this year's BASS - "Wreck" and "Dumpster Tuesday." And the anthology was edited by none other than Stephen King. Couldn't be prouder to be chosen by him, and to included in such great company. Congrats to Karen Russell and Roy Kesey, by the way, great writers and friends! s

Currently watching : The Wire - The Complete First Season Release date: 12 October, 2004

7:09 PM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment