Gertrude Press publishes three chapbooks a year: poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Their announcement of 2018’s winners is here. My entry, a collection of short stories called “Worker Names,” is the fiction winner, and the chapbook is in production. From “Traumatic Book Review: Alive, by Piers Paul Reed”: Warner nudged him awake with a bare foot; he… Continue reading Gertrude Press announces 2018 Chapbook Contest winners
Category: fiction
“TBR: AbPPR” a 2018 #SASFEST Semifinalista 👸🏽
“Traumatic Book Review, Alive, by Piers Paul Read“, my submission for the 2018 Saints + Sinners fiction contest, made the semifinalist cut. I read Alive probably too young. I was freaked out by the fate of the Old Christians rugby team, even while longing for their camaraderie. So I grew up to write a short story… Continue reading “TBR: AbPPR” a 2018 #SASFEST Semifinalista 👸🏽
“One Nation” in OutWrite Festival Journal
My short story “One Nation” was published in OutWrite‘s rowdy collection of stories, interviews, poems, and spells. A young man with a tambourine shows up for the 2010 rally and figures out the best way he can serve the cause of social justice. #OutWrite2018 “Dangit! I missed the bus,” I awaken with a jolt the… Continue reading “One Nation” in OutWrite Festival Journal
“Love Tap” in Queer Sci-Fi Antho 🌈 out today! 🌈
My first foray into sci-fi appears in Impact, Queer Sci Fi’s fifth annual themed flash anthology. In “Love Tap”, a weary pilot has a run-in with a smug Genético bred for dimensional travel. “Sorry about that docking business, humano. Still a little groggy from subspace hibernation mode…” He stretched, threw back his shot, and roared. “Can… Continue reading “Love Tap” in Queer Sci-Fi Antho 🌈 out today! 🌈
“Miss Bensonhurst” in Ovunque Siamo
Ovunque Siamo is a journal of new Italian-American writing. The title–translation Wherever We Are–is apt for our assimilated and diffuse ethnic body. “Miss Bensonhurst” is a fictional account of my grandmother’s friendship with Marilyn Monroe. The story was first presented in nonfiction form in 2013 in Salon. She and the girls are enveloped in the warm… Continue reading “Miss Bensonhurst” in Ovunque Siamo
#Queer v. 2 now with Raunch…
Today’s the release of Volume 2 of the Anthology Hashtag Queer. My short story “Raunch Daddy” appears . Purchase print and kindle editions at the link. Loosely based on sex work experiences, the character “Dean” is based on the late Dean Johnson. “I think I’m in love with Benito,” Nick confessed over a beer. “Who’s Benito?” asked Dean.… Continue reading #Queer v. 2 now with Raunch…
Twofer! “Miss Bensonhurst” in Ovunque Siamo; “Raunch Daddy” in Hashtag Queer
Two short stories placed within a few days of each other and they couldn’t be more different. “Miss Bensonhurst,” a fictional account of my grandmother’s real-life friendship with Marilyn Monroe, will appear in Ovunque Siamo‘s July issue. OS (“Wherever we are”) is a journal of Italian-American writing so it’s a great fit for this story of… Continue reading Twofer! “Miss Bensonhurst” in Ovunque Siamo; “Raunch Daddy” in Hashtag Queer
Off the Rocks Reading in Boystown
NewTown Writers hosted this reading at the Center on Addison. Bringing New York in the 80’s flavor to Chicago: He’d been crossing through the Ramble by night for years, as Smart lived on the East Side and he lived on the West. He navigated its paths by moonlight, nodding to a few familiar huddles of… Continue reading Off the Rocks Reading in Boystown
Off the Rocks #21 Reading in Chicago
The reading took place at the charming Charmers Cafe in the Jarvis Square neighborhood of Chicago. The excerpt I read ended with these lines: Something about seeing this aristocratic British man tied to his throne with his own silk had soothed him, like the synchronized click of jail door magnets on multiple strike plates. Behold my… Continue reading Off the Rocks #21 Reading in Chicago
“Choke a Horse” (fiction) in Off the Rocks
I’ve been attending NewTown Writers workshops in Chicago. NewTown has been actively workshopping and publishing since 1982. “Choke a Horse,” a short story based on an earlier short memoir piece of the same title appears in this year’s anthology, Off the Rocks #21 : “What’s the charge?” Nick demanded as the cop handcuffed him. “Indecent… Continue reading “Choke a Horse” (fiction) in Off the Rocks