Tanzer Continues to Change Lives with His Newest

Whatever way you go, you'll want to go out of your way to get a copy of Ben Tanzer's new novel Most Likely You Go Your Way And I'll Go Mine (out from Orange Alert Press). Did you see what I did there? You see, I'm using words and diction in the title in this different way where I...

Anyway, Tanzer of This Blog Will Change Your Life and This Zine Will Change Your Life fame, has written a novel like his first, Lucky Man, focusing on the lives of four characters. The relationships are just as precisely drawn as before, but this time he displays more of his wit and humor. With the recent release of his story collection Repetition Patterns, Tanzer is busy creating an impressive body of work. Work you should check out, no matter which way you're going (sorry, just couldn't help myself).

Me on THE2NDHAND

Mere days after Heather is on Six Sentences, my story "The Fat Goths" (that's right, the fat ones, not the annoying skinny ones) is live on THE2NDHAND. Check it out, unless you're a weightist.

Heather on Six Sentences

My beautiful and talented girlfriend Heather is on Six Sentences today with her piece "Into White."

Nasty, Brutish, & Short

Geeking Out on Existential Superhero

So tonight I sat in on a colleague's class on Alan Moore's Watchmen. There's nothing better than discussing the philosophical underpinnings of free will via a naked blue superhero (and no he's not from Kentucky).

Herpetology

It's not what you think. Unless you think it's the study of reptiles and amphibians. Then it is what you think because that is exactly what it is. Good job.

Why is it on my mind? You don't ask but would if you were stuck beside me on a plane and I kept going on and on about it. I've been researching Melville lately. Why you ask? None of your damned business. God, when did you get so nosy? Anyway, I found this article on "The Herpetology of Herman Melville's Moby-Dick." It discusses his "herpetological awareness." What is your herpetological awareness?

Fear Itself

So Friday, Heather and I participated in Just Do It's unofficial Halloween show "Fear Itself." Just Do It is a bit of a variety show so there was our readings, scene readings, monologues, an improv group, and a short film. We both wrote short pieces in response to a photo we were sent. Heather wrote a sly rhyming poem a la Single White Female about two emo guys. I wrote a faux public service announcement promoting the value of fear.

All ran smoothly thinks to the host/organizer/etc. Vito Abate. The crowd was a good size and generous. My favorite, aside from Heather's, was Charles K. Meauhead III's short film The Inexpressible Horror--a mock trailer for a 50s sci-fi horror flick complete with cheating with the milkman and typical teen beatniks and bikini-clad hula hooppers.

Plus there was Halloween candy.