Unsolicited Press Releases Terry Tierney’s Poignant Poetry Collection Why Trees Stay Outside10/1/2024
 Portland, OR — Why Trees Stay Outside, the latest poetry collection by Terry Tierney, releases today through Unsolicited Press. Through evocative imagery and multifaceted voices, Tierney’s collection delves into the complex relationship between humans, nature, and society. With sharp turns of phrase and emotional depth, his poems invite readers to question assumptions and seek redemption amid social and ecological turmoil.
Tierney’s work has been praised for its vivid language, introspective themes, and masterful craft: "With a fine ear and a sharp eye, Terry Tierney soars and dives into the conundrums of living we didn’t realize but need to know. In Why Trees Stay Outside, the final waiting room, affection turned inside-out, raw wind, man disassembled, aliened, then put back together again with heart. His turns of phrase will stay with you—a masterful book of poems--Bravo Terry!" Bruce Isaacson, Emeritus Poet Laureate, Clark County, Nevada "Terry Tierney’s Why Trees Stay Outside beats an enduring pulse of loss and love, pain and wonder in counterpoint with the ecological and political chaos of this time. Delicate recollections that span across generations of experience merge with tender acceptance of what is to form a reverence as complexly layered and awakeningly clear as the oscillations of a struck bell. Tierney shows us how photographs are ghosts, how “a gopher chants recipes / from her pulpit of sifted loam”, how “islands / punch through the fog like knuckles”, how the “sappy redwood drools / pooling in ice between roots”, and how life gushes on in prismatic filagree no matter how much we might lose in the process. Like a jewel in an echo chamber, this collection of skillfully crafted poems, rich with arresting imagery and lyrical language, leaves a lingering sparkle in the mind." Maw Shein Win, author of Storage Unit for the Spirit House (Omnidawn) "Why Trees Stay Outside is a delightful exploration of innocent questions, earned curiosities, and fugitive answers. Terry Tierney plays expert words into poems." Kim Shuck, 7th Poet Laureate of San Francisco Emerita About the Author: Terry Tierney is an accomplished poet and novelist, with works including The Poet’s Garage and Lucky Ride. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. For media inquiries or review copies, contact Unsolicited Press at [email protected]. UNSOLICITED PRESS RELEASES KURT COLE EIDSVIG’S GROUNDBREAKING HYBRDI GENRE BOOK, DROWNING GIRL9/24/2024
 Portland, OR — Unsolicited Press is thrilled to announce the release of Drowning Girl, a boundary-pushing poetry collection by acclaimed writer Kurt Cole Eidsvig, available starting today, September 24, 2024. Inspired by Roy Lichtenstein’s iconic painting, Drowning Girl, this book takes readers on an unforgettable journey through the vibrant intersection of art, poetry, and personal discovery.
With his signature creativity, Eidsvig blends a variety of mediums—including text messages, footnotes, and song lyrics—into this genre-defying work. Set against the tumultuous backdrop of an approaching hurricane along the East Coast, Drowning Girl isn’t just a book; it’s an experience. Each page offers something fresh and exciting, as Eidsvig explores the history of every dot in Lichtenstein’s painting while weaving together a captivating narrative of art and connection. Eidsvig's background as an arts writer and poet shines as he pushes the boundaries of traditional poetry to create a novel-in-verse that will intrigue fans of both art and literature. Whether you're a lover of experimental writing or fascinated by how personal experiences shape our interpretation of art, Drowning Girl is a must-read that will keep you turning the pages. About the Author Kurt Cole Eidsvig is a poet, arts writer, and fiction author whose work has appeared in numerous publications. Known for his innovative style and passion for exploring the intersection between visual art and narrative, Eidsvig continues to captivate audiences with his thought-provoking works. Drowning Girl is the latest in a line of his genre-defying projects. Praise for Drowning Girl: Kurt Cole Eidsvig’s writing is noteworthy in how it synthesizes the aesthetics of pop art with street-level romantic minimalism, bound together in a worldview apprenticed at once to visual arts, poetry, fiction, and screenwriting. In Drowning Girl, Eidsvig dances through interconnected worlds—inner, outer, emotional, harsh at times, and, one feels, even joyful—to tell a story at once visceral and liminal, personal and yet deeply informed by the cultural moment. His prose-poem-novel seems to take “I don’t care! I’d rather sink . . . ” from Lichtenstein’s Drowning Girl as a starting point, an invitation, and a microcosm. Eidsvig’s work, centered at the intersection of art and life, is irrepressible, unique, entertaining, clever, and perhaps because of this, essential.--Michael Davis, author of Gravity Drowning Girl is a euphoric and melancholic meditation on existing between landscapes. How do you establish a YOU ARE HERE, when you are also there and there and there? This is the mind’s travel itinerary, dizzying as Lichtenstein’s canvas of Ben Day dots: Key West, the Berkshires, Boston, New York, Montana. How do you travel when the map is coming apart at its folds? When no landscape is drawn to scale? You orient yourself by building your own cathedrals: art, old neighborhoods, the memories of lovers, mothers, fathers, and friends. This is where you came from. This was the winding path you took. You can look back, even savor the footnotes, but you can’t stay long. A seasoned traveler knows the arrows of time are pointed, annoyingly, forward. Eidsvig welcomes us to hitch a ride in order to find out how to curate a life when your museum is ever moving. This is a painstaking cataloging of the bitter and the beautiful moments in life. The reader is invited to be, like the narrator, a “painter in a hurricane”—storm chaser, survivor, then excavator, unearthing the artful from the numbing disaster of technology and pop culture.—Wendy Erman Harvey, author of Vicinity Drowning Girl is a tour de force of poetry that alludes, scampers, plays and generously appropriates from a wide variety of sources, using the Roy Lichtenstein painting as ekphrasic inspiration, unmasking the “Brad” in the painting as bard, lover and playmaker. Replete with art and literature references, this Ben-Day dotted work emits Morse codes filled with delight.—Michel Steven Krug, author of Jazz at the International Festival of Despair Eidsvig’s Drowning Girl is an immersive and deeply evocative journey through art, addiction, obsession, and the enduring power of fleeting connection amidst the relentless tide of entropy. Cutting, profound, and at times laugh-out-loud funny, Drowning Girl is both a celebration of art and a testament to the unlikely convergence of grief and grace through which it is made manifest. It’s a wonderful book.—Aryn Kyle, author of Boys and Girls Like You and Me For more information, to request review copies, or to schedule an interview with Kurt Cole Eidsvig, please contact: Unsolicited Press Website Email: [email protected]  Unsolicited Press is excited to announce the release of THE INVISIBLE WORLD, a haunting and lyrical poetry collection by award-winning poet Matt Daly. In THE INVISIBLE WORLD, Daly’s poems lead readers into the rough beauty of the wilderness, offering keen observations and challenging conversations with his complex ancestor, Cotton Mather.
Juan J. Morales, author of "The Handyman’s Guide to End Times," says: “In THE INVISIBLE WORLD, Matt Daly’s poems guide us into the roughly beautiful wilderness with keen observations and challenging conversations with his complicated ancestor, Cotton Mather. We find ourselves by connecting, departing, and reflecting on the ghosts and gestures of mosquito pokes, bat wings, flash of mountain lion crossing our headlights, and messages delivered by crows and ravens. Daly’s poems beautifully blend together dream, the listening pines, and the wash of river so they cling to us like the burrs and seeds we carry all the way home.” Daly’s collection is a reckoning with a troubling ancestral history. His lineage traces back to Puritans like Cotton Mather, whose rhetoric cast wild lands as dark and evil places to be tamed. In response, The Invisible World seeks not to undo this history, but to understand it in the hopes of discovering how we might live more harmoniously with the natural world today. Daly’s poems are both love letters to wild places and elegies for a wounded earth, exploring how the past informs our present, and how connection with the wilderness can foster healing. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Matt Daly is the author of Between Here and Home (Unsolicited Press) and Red State (Seven Kitchens Press). A recipient of the Neltje Blanchan Award for writing inspired by the natural world and a Creative Writing Fellowship in Poetry from the Wyoming Arts Council, Daly resides in Wyoming, where he draws much of his inspiration from the landscapes around him. ABOUT THE PRESS Unsolicited Press strives to produce exceptional works of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry from award-winning authors. Unsolicited Press is based out of Portland, Oregon and focuses on the works of the unsung and underrepresented. As a womxn-owned, all-volunteer small publisher that doesn’t worry about profits as much as championing exceptional literature, we have the privilege of partnering with authors skirting the fringes of the lit world. We’ve worked with emerging and award-winning authors such as Lara Lillibridge, Douglas Cole, Amy Shimshon-Santo, Brook Bhagat, Tara Stillions Whitehead, and John W. Bateman. Learn more at unsolicitedpress.com. Find us on twitter and Instagram, @unsolicitedp. THE INVISIBLE WORLD is available on September 24, 2024, as a paperback ($16.95.; 978-1-963115-07-9) and e-book (all major retailers). Retailers, schools, and libraries can order copies through Ingram. The author is open to speaking with the media, holding readings, and engaging in other author opportunities. For more information or to request a review copy, contact Unsolicited Press at [email protected] or visit www.unsolicitedpress.com.  We’ve all heard stories about troubled teens, but Anna B. Moore’s DON’T PITY THE DESPERATE, which releases today, digs deep into the raw, unfiltered experience of growing up when the weight of the world seems unbearable. It’s a dark, gritty anthem for Gen-Xers and anyone who has ever battled with addiction, self-doubt, and the need for love.
The story centers on Myra, a self-aware teenage girl, whose life takes a sharp turn when her father admits her into an inpatient treatment center against her will. While most of us might imagine resistance, rebellion, or quick recovery, Myra’s journey is anything but predictable. Trapped under tight surveillance, she’s forced to confront not only her alcoholism but her compulsion to pull out her own hair—two addictions she struggles to understand and manage. Her story unfolds in a whirlwind of conflicting emotions and relationships. As Myra tries to make sense of the new world inside the treatment center, she meets an ensemble of peers, each dealing with their own pain. Abused, neglected, and sometimes chaotic, these fellow patients introduce her to a sobering reality: recovery isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Faith and confession become Myra’s refuge, but this sense of hope is fragile. The real beauty (and tragedy) of Myra’s story is how it mirrors the unpredictability of life. Just when things seem stable, her counselor betrays her trust, her boyfriend (maybe) rejects her, and God, in all His mystery, seems indifferent to her prayers. Myra must grapple with this uncertainty and find her own way to keep moving forward. DON’T PITY THE DESPERATE isn’t just a story about addiction; it’s a reflection on what it means to seek love and acceptance in a world that offers little in return. Myra’s raw vulnerability and the emotional complexity of her journey will hit home for anyone who’s ever felt alone, misunderstood, or desperately seeking answers. Anna B. Moore captures the intensity of adolescence with biting honesty, laced with elements of Gen-X pop culture and the universal struggle of growing up. If you’re ready for a thought-provoking, heart-wrenching, and ultimately hopeful read, this is the book you need to pick up today. Grab your copy of DON’T PITY THE DESPERATE and dive into Myra’s journey. It’s out now! https://bookshop.org/a/2655/9781963115215  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 27, 2024 Unsolicited Press is excited to announce the release of The Cabin at the End of the World, the latest poetry collection by acclaimed poet Douglas Cole. Available on August 27, 2024, this collection invites readers into a world of prose poetry that is both surreal and sharply observant, offering a powerful commentary on the state of American society. In The Cabin at the End of the World, Cole takes readers on a journey through a series of dreamlike snapshots and longer, more reflective pieces that delve into the possible futures of a crumbling empire. The collection includes shorter, vivid poems such as "Game of Chicken," "Double Tree," and "Patrolman," where Cole's keen eye captures the fractured and fragile nature of contemporary life. These pieces provide a raw and unfiltered look at the underbelly of American society, revealing the tensions and fears that lurk just beneath the surface. In contrast, the longer poems—"Notes for the Grey Man," "Casino People," and "Distances"—expand the scope of Cole's vision, offering a contemplative exploration of the broader implications of societal decay. These poems consider the future, not just of individuals, but of the nation as a whole, painting a picture of an empire on the brink of collapse. Cole's work in The Cabin at the End of the World is a masterful blend of the surreal and the real, creating a collection that is as thought-provoking as it is haunting. His prose poetry blurs the lines between the imagined and the actual, urging readers to reflect on the world around them and consider the paths that lie ahead. Book Details
Douglas Cole’s The Cabin at the End of the World is available for purchase through Unsolicited Press and other major retailers. For review copies or interview requests, please contact: [email protected] About the Author Douglas Cole is a poet and writer whose work has been widely published and recognized for its incisive exploration of contemporary life. His prose poetry is known for its vivid imagery, keen social commentary, and a unique blend of the surreal and the real. About Unsolicited Press Unsolicited Press is an independent publisher dedicated to discovering and promoting unique voices in literature. With a diverse catalog of fiction, poetry, and non-fiction, Unsolicited Press is committed to publishing works that challenge, inspire, and engage readers.  Unsolicited Press is thrilled to announce the release of I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT'S CRAZY TO HEAR THE BEAUTIFUL SONGS OF NONEXISTENT BIRDS, a mesmerizing new poetry collection by Philip Jason. This captivating book, available starting August 27, 2024, invites readers on a journey through the surreal and the imagined, exploring the intricate interplay between perception, existence, and the nature of reality.
In this collection, Jason masterfully crafts a dreamlike landscape where the ordinary blends seamlessly with the fantastical. Each poem is a vivid exploration of the boundaries between what is real and what is imagined, urging readers to question the world around them. Birds, often symbols of freedom and transcendence, are depicted as nonexistent yet singing, representing the delicate balance between the tangible and the intangible. Jason's use of vivid imagery and lyrical language brings to life scenes that are both hauntingly beautiful and subtly disconcerting. The collection serves as a meditation on the power of the mind to create and believe in things beyond physical reality. It challenges conventional notions of sanity and madness, suggesting that there is a unique beauty in embracing the unseen and the unheard. "I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT'S CRAZY TO HEAR THE BEAUTIFUL SONGS OF NONEXISTENT BIRDS" ultimately encourages readers to find beauty in the imagined and the unreal, embracing the mysterious and the unknowable. Jason's introspective and expansive voice weaves personal reflections with broader philosophical musings, making this collection a profound exploration of the human experience. Book Details Title: I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT'S CRAZY TO HEAR THE BEAUTIFUL SONGS OF NONEXISTENT BIRDS Author: Philip Jason Publisher: Unsolicited Press Publication Date: August 27, 2024 ISBN: 9781956692907 Philip Jason’s I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT'S CRAZY TO HEAR THE BEAUTIFUL SONGS OF NONEXISTENT BIRDS is available for purchase through Unsolicited Press and major retailers. For review copies or interview requests, please contact: [email protected] About the Author Philip Jason is a poet whose work delves into the surreal and the philosophical, challenging readers to reconsider their perceptions of reality. His writing is known for its vivid imagery and thought-provoking themes. About Unsolicited Press Unsolicited Press is an independent publisher dedicated to discovering and promoting unique voices in literature. With a diverse catalog of fiction, poetry, and non-fiction, Unsolicited Press is committed to publishing works that challenge, inspire, and engage readers.  If you could cook dinner for any author, dead or alive, who would it be? What would you make?
I’d love to make dinner for Ray Carver. I’d grill up some Chinook Salmon to honor his Pacific Northwest roots, along with some fiddlehead ferns and new potatoes. When I think of Carver, I imagine rivers and forests. We would drink iced tea, assuming he’s still on the wagon. What scares you the most about the writing process? How do you combat your fears? The blank page can be at once calming, exhilarating, and utterly frightening. The prospect of nothing good spilling forth is a constant concern. When the fear is particularly bad, and nothing is flowing, I remember my sister, who said that it’s all part of my process—the blocks, the dross, all of it. Who is your biggest literary crush, author or character? I admire pure nature poets like Mary Oliver and Wendell Berry. I picture them living in glass and stone houses deep in the woods. I envy what I imagine to be their monastic, Earth-bound lives. What books are on your nightstand? I just bought a new translation of Baudelaire’s “The Flowers of Evil.” I’ve promised myself to read the French alongside the translation, but it’s a challenge. For fiction, I’m currently reading “Trust,” by Hernan Diaz. I have a guilty-ish passion for financial markets, and this is a great literary salve for that interest. One more that just arrived today is Thich Nhat Hanh’s “Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet.” I’ll be studying this in my dharma group over the next two months. Favorite punctuation mark? Why? The question-mark. But isn’t that everyone’s? The look of it is sensual. Plus, my day job as a coach is to ask the right questions. Also, it serves as a reminder to live in “beginner’s mind” rather than trying to be an expert. It’s a relief. What inanimate object would you thank in your acknowledgments? The floor beneath my feet. I go to it all day long for grounding and to remind myself to get out of my head. Does writing energize or exhaust you? I wish I could say that it energizes me. And often, it does. But I am aware of a point after which a given writing session becomes a slog. I am afraid of that point because that’s when the lines feel forced and uninspired. I should probably push through that point more than I do, but fear and laziness can get in the way. What are common traps for aspiring writers? For me, the earliest trap was letting too much ride on critical feedback. My first experience in getting such feedback from a pile of poems I handed to a professor ended in me taking it so badly that I didn’t write again for several years. Learning to take good feedback is a skill that requires practice. On a related topic, getting used to rejections from journals, publishers, or in my early case, record labels, is part of the process. The sooner you can grow a thick skin about rejection, the better. As a teacher told me in coaching school, “yes lives in the land of no.” So go after those no’s! Do you think someone could be a writer if they don’t feel emotions strongly? I used to think that the suffering and angst of my early adult life were required to write good songs and poems. That is a dangerous myth that many people, including me, have used to justify all sorts of self-damaging behavior to feed the muse. Thankfully, I now find more joy and (hopefully) more craft in writing with more emotional objectivity. Like my Zen practice, the guidance is not to feel less or to suppress emotions but to gain a little space from their immediacy by observing and learning from them. For those who come to writing without a history or temperament of strong emotions, writing may bring them closer to their intimate and difficult truths. Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book? Yes, and yes. The poetry and albums should stand on their own. There is a sequence of three novels that I’m working on. These should both stand on their own and are also connected. How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have? I have an (as of yet) unpublished novel and enough poems for another book or two or three. The novel is vaguely autobiographical. I’ve sketched out two other novels in the same sequence that I’d like to get to. I have a good set of songs that could comprise at least another album. Most of my published work has been in the form of songs. Between the various bands and projects I’ve been in, I’ve released more than ten EPs and LPs. Some of these bands include Hugh, The Weather Band, Culty Smothers, and Winchester Revival. What does literary success look like to you? I’d like to keep publishing! Unsolicited Press Announces the Release of David John Rosenheim’s Debut Poetry Collection, OWL8/13/2024
 PORTLAND, OREGON — Unsolicited Press is thrilled to announce the upcoming release of OWL, the debut poetry collection by David John Rosenheim. Set to hit shelves on August 13, 2024, OWL is a profound exploration of the intersection between the human heart and the natural world, rendered with the lyrical precision that Rosenheim has honed over years as a songwriter, executive coach, and climate advocate.
In OWL, Rosenheim's poetry oscillates between the deeply personal and the universally existential, offering readers a meditation on impermanence and human connection in a world increasingly shaped by climate change. Each poem serves as a poignant reminder of our place within nature, urging us to observe, feel, and act amidst the uncertainties of a rapidly changing environment. Drawing from his rich background in music and leadership, Rosenheim’s poetic voice is both intimate and expansive. The collection invites readers to reflect on their own relationships—with others, with themselves, and with the planet. With themes of love, loss, and the fragile beauty of our surroundings, OWL is not just a book of poetry; it is a call to action. OWL will be available for purchase on August 13, 2024 at all major retailers and through the Unsolicited Press website. Preorders are now available. About the Author: David John Rosenheim is a poet, songwriter, executive coach, and climate advocate. His work is informed by a lifetime of observing the natural world and a deep commitment to addressing climate change. OWL is his debut poetry collection. About Unsolicited Press: Unsolicited Press is an independent publishing house committed to promoting new voices in literature. We publish thought-provoking books that challenge conventions and explore the human experience in all its complexity. For Media Inquiries, Review Copies, or Interview Requests: Contact: Summer Stewart Email: [email protected] Website: www.unsolicitedpress.com  Portland, OR — August 6, 2024 — Unsolicited Press is thrilled to announce the release of Shotgun Woman, a gripping and unflinching novel by Beau Bernstein. Set against the stark backdrop of rural America, Shotgun Woman takes readers on an intense journey through the life of a woman pushed to her limits, forced to confront her past and fight for her future.
About the Book From the outside looking in, Wheaton County is a picturesque little farm town on a sleepy stretch of interstate, deep in the heart of Texas. A slice of the American dream in its Golden Age. But beyond this carefully manicured façade, something sinister is beginning to surface. The year is 1953 and hot on the heels of a fiercely divisive local election, with desegregation on the ballot, the challenger to the County Commissioner has just been found dead in a roadside ditch. In the eyes of the sheriff’s department, the fatality is just an unfortunate traffic accident. But to the man’s grieving widow, Eudora Burleson, it’s anything but. To uncover the twisted conspiracy and expose the truth, Eudora must go toe-to-toe with corrupt politicians, two-faced townsfolk, and even the infamous Ku Klux Klan themselves – in a town that’s all too sympathetic to their cause. But make no mistake; Eudora Burleson is no timid housewife. Raised by a grizzled old outlaw during the Great Depression, Eudora’s upbringing was tough, so tough she became. And though she’s outnumbered, outflanked, and outgunned, with allies few and far between, Eudora’s not backing down. She’s taking the fight to them, come hell or high water. Key Information:
About the Author Beau Bernstein is a professional writer, amateur anthropologist, and terrible musician. Born and raised in Texas, he now lives in the majestic Pacific Northwest with his wife and two Portuguese Water Dogs. He was last spotted wandering in the forest somewhere west of the Olympic Mountains. Availability Shotgun Woman is available for purchase at major book retailers, including Unsolicited Press, Amazon, and local independent bookstores. Contact: For media inquiries, author interviews, or review copies, please contact: Unsolicited Press Email: [email protected] Stay updated with the latest releases and news from Unsolicited Press by following us on social media:
Unsolicited Press is a small publishing house committed to bringing unique and powerful voices to the literary world. Our mission is to support and promote authors who challenge the status quo and push the boundaries of traditional storytelling.  Hello, fellow book lovers!
We are thrilled to announce the release of the much-anticipated audiobook, In Wells' Time! This captivating tale is now available on Audible, bringing the richly woven narrative to life through an exceptional audio experience. Check it out here. Why You Should Listen to In Wells' Time In Wells' Time is more than just a story; it’s an immersive journey that intertwines elements of history, mystery, and adventure. The audiobook format elevates this experience, allowing you to dive into the world of Wells with the added dimension of a masterful performance by a talented narrator. The Storyline Without giving too much away, In Wells Time transports listeners to a world where the past and present collide in unexpected ways. It's a gripping narrative that keeps you on the edge of your seat, with well-crafted characters and a plot that unfolds seamlessly through time. Whether you’re a fan of historical fiction or love a good mystery, this audiobook has something for everyone. Narration That Brings the Story to Life' A great audiobook isn’t just about the story; it’s about how the story is told. The narrator of In Wells' Time delivers a performance that enhances every twist and turn, bringing depth and emotion to each character. The nuanced delivery ensures that listeners are hooked from the very first chapter. Perfect for On-the-Go Listening Whether you’re commuting, exercising, or simply relaxing at home, In Wells' Time is the perfect companion. Audiobooks offer the flexibility to enjoy great stories while multitasking, making it easier than ever to get lost in a good book, no matter where you are. Join the Conversation Have you already started listening to In Wells' Time? We’d love to hear your thoughts! Share your reviews and join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #InWellsTimeAudiobook. Connect with other listeners and dive deeper into the story’s rich tapestry. Where to Get Your Copy Ready to embark on this auditory adventure? Head over to Audible and download In Wells' Time today! Listen Now. Unsolicited Press Proudly Announces the Release of Raki Kopernik's New Novel, The Memory House7/23/2024
 Portland, OR—July 23, 2024—Unsolicited Press is thrilled to announce the release of The Memory House, a captivating memoir by Raki Kopernik, available now at Unsolicited Press. The Memory House is a poetic memoir based on stories about the Israeli immigrant experience, ranging from the author's grandparents leaving Eastern Europe during the holocaust, to her parents immigrating from Israel to America in the sixties, and then to her own experiences growing up between Israel and the US in the eighties. The book is bilingual and weaves back and forth through time, crossing cultural lines and making connections with ancestral lineage.
Raki Kopernik, known for her evocative and lyrical prose, crafts a narrative that is both deeply personal and universally resonant. Her characters, each grappling with their own histories and secrets, come alive on the page, drawing readers into a world where the line between the tangible and the ephemeral is beautifully blurred. Critics and early readers have praised The Memory House for its poignant storytelling and emotional depth. Kopernik's ability to capture the complexities of human experience has earned her a place among contemporary literary voices to watch. The Memory House is now available for purchase at Unsolicited Press and wherever fine books are sold. Don't miss the opportunity to immerse yourself in this unforgettable literary journey. For more information or to request a review copy, please contact: Unsolicited Press Email: [email protected] Website: www.unsolicitedpress.com Follow Unsolicited Press on social media for updates on author events, new releases, and more. About Unsolicited Press Unsolicited Press is an independent publisher dedicated to bringing bold and innovative literary voices to the forefront. Our mission is to publish works that challenge, inspire, and resonate with readers from all walks of life. About the Author Raki Kopernik is a Minnesota-based author and poet. Her work has been featured in various literary journals and anthologies. The Memory House is her latest novel, showcasing her talent for weaving intricate narratives that explore the depths of human emotion and experience.  PORTLAND, OREGON; JULY 23, 2024--Rest Upon The Flood serves as beacons, each one weaving a narrative, a rhythm, or the mere silhouette of a tale that mirrors the odyssey we all navigate. Appel’s poems delve into the pivotal instances of our existence, uncovering the genuine experiences that shape real lives. Within these traversed routes, and etched into the very fabric of each verse, lies an enduring elegance—a bastion of solace to anchor your spirit and banish desolation.
About the Author After a succession of meaningless jobs (busboy, waiter, camp counselor, etc.), Rich Appel worked in Grey's Ferry in South Philadelphia as a social worker and community organizer for five years, before studying Folklore and Mythology at UCLA. Rich has received three National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship Awards for Teachers, and worked as an eleventh and twelfth grade English teacher for over thirty years. He also was an adjunct at Delaware County Community College teaching freshman English. He has been writing poetry since undergraduate school at Penn State University, where he first met older, more accomplished writers who never laughed at the bad poetry he’d first written. ABOUT THE PRESS Unsolicited Press strives to produce exceptional works of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry from award-winning authors. Unsolicited Press is based out of Portland, Oregon and focuses on the works of the unsung and underrepresented. As a womxn-owned, all-volunteer small publisher that doesn’t worry about profits as much as championing exceptional literature, we have the privilege of partnering with authors skirting the fringes of the lit world. We’ve worked with emerging and award-winning authors such as Lara Lillibridge, Douglas Cole, Amy Shimshon-Santo, Brook Bhagat, Tara Stillions Whitehead, and John W. Bateman. Learn more at unsolicitedpress.com. Find us on twitter and Instagram, @unsolicitedp. REST UPON THE FLOOD is available on July 23, 2024, as a paperback (108.; 978-1-963115-11-6) and e-book (all major retailers). Retailers, schools, and libraries can order copies through Ingram. The author is open to speaking with the media, holding readings, and engaging in other author opportunities.  JULY 9, 2024 -- PORTLAND, OREGON: It’s 1949, the freedom granted women by the Second World War is over, and stifling social conventions are once more at play. Edith Sloan, the rebellious, well-educated heroine of An Open Door returns in The Hedgerow to pursue her dreams of owning a thriving bookstore on Harvard Square and establishing a poetry press to publish the silent and underserved. Free of her dreary marriage to Walter, she receives a proposal from Henry, a wealthy British peer and the man who made the purchase of her bookstore possible. When she accepts, is it from love or gratitude? Will being his wife help or hinder her plans? Edith soon finds herself at the intersection of free expression and censorship. Duty competes with desire, while serious endeavors are undermined by trivial pursuits. As she tries to balance the competing demands in her life, troubling facts from Henry’s past come to light. Edith also discovers that being a pioneer in publishing comes with consequences she hadn’t foreseen. The decade draws to a close and delivers one more surprise Edith must summon extraordinary courage to face.
PRAISE FOR ANNE LEIGH PARRISH'S THE HEDGEROW An elegant, character-driven novel of paradoxes, The Hedgerow reveals universal human truths.--FOREWORD REVIEWS Anne Leigh Parrish’s The Hedgerow, set in 1949, is a tale of disorienting changes in American society and in the personal life of Edith Sloan, the introspective heroine of this marvelous sequel to Parrish’s poignant An Open Door. With a brilliantly-realized metaphor at its heart—Edith, her family, ex-husband, lovers, friends, and associates are a microcosm of America—the novel foreshadows struggles between self-expression and group think, personal identity and conformity, that will characterize the imminent 1950s. Historically perceptive, current as tomorrow’s headlines, The Hedgerow is compelling fiction that crackles with honesty. --Robert Crooke, author of Letting the House Go ABOUT THE AUTHOR Anne Leigh Parrish is the author of fourteen books which include short stories, novels, and poetry. She is passionate about the environment and women’s rights. Recently, she has ventured into the art of photography. Learn more about Anne at www.anneleighparrish and at www.laviniastudios.com. She lives in the South Sound Region of Washington State. ABOUT THE PRESS Unsolicited Press strives to produce exceptional works of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry from award-winning authors. Unsolicited Press is based out of Portland, Oregon and focuses on the works of the unsung and underrepresented. As a womxn-owned, all-volunteer small publisher that doesn’t worry about profits as much as championing exceptional literature, we have the privilege of partnering with authors skirting the fringes of the lit world. We’ve worked with emerging and award-winning authors such as Lara Lillibridge, Douglas Cole, Amy Shimshon-Santo, Brook Bhagat, Tara Stillions Whitehead, and John W. Bateman. Learn more at unsolicitedpress.com. Find us on twitter and Instagram, @unsolicitedp. THE HEDGEROW is available on July 9, 2024, as a paperback (290.; 9781956692990) and e-book (all major retailers). Retailers, schools, and libraries can order copies through Ingram. The author is open to speaking with the media, holding readings, and engaging in other author opportunities (contact Mindbuck Media). Frankly, we had high hopes for the creative nonfiction anthology contest we opened up last year. We received hundreds of submissions— sadly, most of those submissions were clearly recycled (or already published elsewhere) OR had nothing to do with the topic posed. We also received so many that had not undergone editing or polishing. Someone even sent us a submission that was addressed to a cat lovers magazine. The original post is HERE. WHAT DO WE WANT This is the easy part (or maybe the hardest!!!). The theme is that there is no theme. We want essays about writing, writing life, craft, and experiences in the writing world. The only requirement is that they are well-written, researched, and honest. These essays must be original and not previously published (please do not attempt to recycle something and send it to us). We would like essays that are less than 10 pages in length. Please submit it as a Word document or PDF. Before you jump around with glee, please think about what you want to send us. Write something new. Read it. Revise it. Put your name on it (we had at least fifty subs with no identifying information). Maybe even put your email address under your name on the first page. If you know a writer who may be interested in this, tell them about it. We want high-quality pieces. When you are ready, submit HERE.  JUNE 11, 2024 -- PORTLAND, OREGON: Thirty-six-year-old Kita Fletcher is fleeing a dead marriage riddled with affairs. After a chance meeting with a small group of people headed to the Rainbow Gathering, she can go her own way or choose to embrace her adventurous spirit that was snuffed out years ago.
After receiving a devastating diagnosis, Maddy Alexander leaves her medical residency and her fiancé behind. Taking only a few belongings—including her beloved guitar—Maddy travels the US trying to live as fully as she can before it’s too late. When she hears about the Rainbow Gathering, she’s intrigued and wants to go, but that dream is crushed when her car breaks down just outside Boulder, Colorado. Twenty-eight-year-old Elaine Kennedy is living her dream life in New York City, far away from her childhood home where she and her mother lived off the grid. When Elaine’s mother dies, those worlds collide when she’s forced to go back home to settle her mom’s affairs. Once there, she’s caught in a battle between everything she loved about her childhood and all the reasons she escaped it. Just shy of his eighteenth birthday, Talon Callahan’s conservative, religious parents are sending him to a conversion program after finding out he’s gay. Tempted to end his life, Talon instead runs away to the Rainbow Gathering. But with Talon’s wealthy father sparing no resources to look for him, Talon is in constant danger, even after he meets Kita, Maddy, and Elaine, three people who would do anything to help him. ALL POINTS OF LIGHT CONVERGE is an interwoven story that explores the internal battles of four strangers drawn to something that may save them from themselves. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Beth Burgmeyer writes fiction and creative nonfiction. Her work has appeared in Ponder Review, The Ocotillo Review, Santa Clara Review, Miracle Monocle, and others. She won first place in the CIBA Somerset Awards for Literary and Contemporary Fiction and was a finalist in the Acacia Fiction Prize. Beth is a mental health counselor specializing in equine assisted psychotherapy. She lives near Des Moines, Iowa with her family and a menagerie of animals. ABOUT THE PRESS Unsolicited Press strives to produce exceptional works of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry from award-winning authors. Unsolicited Press is based out of Portland, Oregon and focuses on the works of the unsung and underrepresented. As a womxn-owned, all-volunteer small publisher that doesn’t worry about profits as much as championing exceptional literature, we have the privilege of partnering with authors skirting the fringes of the lit world. We’ve worked with emerging and award-winning authors such as Lara Lillibridge, Douglas Cole, Amy Shimshon-Santo, Brook Bhagat, Tara Stillions Whitehead, and John W. Bateman. Learn more at unsolicitedpress.com. Find us on twitter and Instagram, @unsolicitedp. ALL POINTS OF LIGHT CONVERGE is available on June 11, 2024, as a paperback (236.; 978-1-963115-16-1) and e-book (all major retailers). Retailers, schools, and libraries can order copies through Ingram. The author is open to speaking with the media, holding readings, and engaging in other author opportunities.  JUNE 4, 2024 -- PORTLAND, OREGON: SKULL KINGDOMS: AN IMAGINARY OMBINUS by Matthew Burnside offers us an oblique collection of poetic games complete with explicit instructions on how each piece should be read. A series of meditations on imagining, pretending, unsleeping, dreaming, and, ultimately, escaping by waking unto new selves, Skull Kingdoms is in communion with the vicious, big tent circus that is growing up.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Matthew Burnside’s forthcoming books include Centrifugal: Unstories (Whiskey Tit) and Skull Kingdoms: An Imaginary Omnibus (Unsolicited Press). He is the author of Wiki of Infinite Sorrows and Postludes (both from KERNPUNKT), Rules to Win the Game (Spuyten Duyvil Press), Dear Wolfmother (Heavy Feather Review), and Meditations of the Nameless Infinite (Robocup Press). He lives in Virginia and teaches at Hollins University. ABOUT THE PRESS Unsolicited Press strives to produce exceptional works of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry from award-winning authors. Unsolicited Press is based out of Portland, Oregon and focuses on the works of the unsung and underrepresented. As a womxn-owned, all-volunteer small publisher that doesn’t worry about profits as much as championing exceptional literature, we have the privilege of partnering with authors skirting the fringes of the lit world. We’ve worked with emerging and award-winning authors such as Lara Lillibridge, Douglas Cole, Amy Shimshon-Santo, Brook Bhagat, Tara Stillions Whitehead, and John W. Bateman. Learn more at unsolicitedpress.com. Find us on twitter and Instagram, @unsolicitedp. SKULL KINGDOMS: AN IMAGINARY OMBINUS is available on June 4, 2024, as a paperback (80.; 978-1-963115-02-4) and e-book (all major retailers). Retailers, schools, and libraries can order copies through Ingram. The author is open to speaking with the media, holding readings, and engaging in other author opportunities.  MAY 14, 2024 -- PORTLAND, OREGON: How to Do the Greased Wombat Slide by Pamela Miller will dance poetry lovers away to places you never knew poems could go. This fifth collection from Chicago poet Pamela Miller (author of Recipe for Disaster and Miss Unthinkable) is a constantly surprising jamboree of surreal situations (“She has teeth inside her teeth inside her teeth”), wildly inventive wordplay (“We’re the muck-it-up bungle-thumbs failure brigade”), and zany humor (“When the going gets tough, the tough yell “FOGHORN!”). Yet as poet Ralph Hamilton (Teaching a Man to Unstick His Tail) says, “Beneath their surface pleasures, these poems resonate with Miller’s generous and exuberant delight in our weird and wounded humanity.”
Praise for HOW TO DO THE GREASED WOMBAT SLIDE I’m in love all over again with Miller’s hilarity, language, unexpected images, and harrowing encounters with deep, dark reality, its caverns and tunnels illuminated by the headlamp on her hardhat. This poet of wild and precise images takes abstractions and folds them up into a jillion origami frogs to set in a circle around a shimmering pond and kiss, one by one. —Kathleen Kirk, Prick of the Spindle I’ve lost all interest in contemporary poetry except for the poems of Pamela Miller, who continues unabashedly to write beautifully and jarringly and murderously, “like a cloud of exuberant perfume.” Her trenchant invention never fails to incite my blood and excite my brain and nerves. Time after time, poem after poem, she just kills it. Her new book How to Do the Greased Wombat Slide has more great lines in it than any book since The Marriage of Heaven and Hell by William Blake. To wit: “I’m sick of all these poems / that read like walnuts with mayonnaise inside.” “O fie on your edited abandon, you poets!” “At school I was voted / Most Likely to Evaporate.” “You’re too toxic for my toboggan.” “Pay no attention to Death in his inevitable galoshes.” To paraphrase Samuel Johnson on the poetry of Alexander Pope, “If this isn’t poetry, then nothing is poetry, dammit.” —Bill Yarrow, author of Blasphemer and The Vig of Love If you fancy poems that merely “wash life’s windshield,” Pamela Miller’s new book may perplex. But if instead you long for poetry “that makes Gaudí’s towers swoon, / then claw the sky wide open,” then you have found your muse! By turns playful and eviscerating, hilarious and discomfiting, deeply perceptive and wryly discombobulating, How to Do the Greased Wombat Slide is the perfect book for our strange and trying times. Miller’s poems locate and dislocate our mortality, our lust, our fears, our stale sense of reality, with a hobgoblin of new images and keen insight. Beneath their surface pleasures, these poems resonate with the poet’s generous and exuberant delight in our weird and wounded humanity. Bless her! —Ralph Hamilton, author of Teaching a Man to Unstick His Tail About the Author Pamela Miller has been gleefully embroidering the fringes of Chicago’s poetry scene for more than 40 years. She is the author of five other books: Fast Little Shoes (Erie Street Press), Mysterious Coleslaw (Ridgeway Press), Recipe for Disaster and Miss Unthinkable (both from Mayapple Press), and Mr. Mischief (dancing girl press). Her poems have appeared in many print and online journals, including The Paris Review, RHINO, BlazeVOX, Otoliths, Nixes Mate Review, Wicked Alice, The MacGuffin, and the late, great Free Lunch, and in the anthologies New Poetry From the Midwest, How to Read a Poem, The Great American Poetry Show 2, and Circe’s Lament: Anthology of Wild Women Poetry. She has performed her work at readings in Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Detroit, and elsewhere. Ms. Miller has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize either five or six times (she’s lost count). After a frenetic 36-year career slinging content for various public relations, marketing communications, editing, publishing, and freelance writing jobs, she now lives in blissful retirement with her husband, science fiction writer Richard Chwedyk. About the Press Unsolicited Press strives to produce exceptional works of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry from award-winning authors. Unsolicited Press is based out of Portland, Oregon and focuses on the works of the unsung and underrepresented. As a womxn-owned, all-volunteer small publisher that doesn’t worry about profits as much as championing exceptional literature, we have the privilege of partnering with authors skirting the fringes of the lit world. We’ve worked with emerging and award-winning authors such as Douglas Cole, Amy Shimshon-Santo, Brook Bhagat, Tara Stillions Whitehead, and John W. Bateman. Learn more at unsolicitedpress.com. Find us on twitter and Instagram, @unsolicitedp. HOW TO DO THE GREASED WOMBAT SLIDE is available on May 14, 2024, as a paperback (80p.; 9781963115994) and e-book (all major retailers). Retailers, schools, and libraries can order copies through Ingram. The author is open to speaking with the media, holding readings, and engaging in other author opportunities.  MAY 7, 2024 -- PORTLAND, OREGON: THIS KIND OF MAN offers an unvarnished look at life in 21st Century America, excavating the complicated, tender, wild truth of what it is to be a man across generations and relationships.
These stories interrogate the pressures and tensions of contemporary life, and the ways men grapple with them, often without success. Issues such as marriage, fatherhood, aggression, alcoholism, gender expectations, generational backlash, and the inexorable dread of death, abound. Many of these stories live within a slow implosion of coping, and often failing, as well as those who refuse to succumb, addressing concerns oft-discussed, or not discussed enough, in mainstream print: gun violence, the recent history of coal country Appalachia, sports-related concussions, illegal immigration (and the jobs many of these ostensibly unwelcome folks are obliged to do), homelessness, and the inability of men to honestly connect or communicate. Far from excusing or exonerating toxic males, this collection locates their violence (toward others, against oneself) in the context of a deadening culture and the false narratives that prevail in an exploitative, zero-sum game capitalist model, where those without are encouraged to quarrel with similarly overworked and underpaid, mostly blue-collar workers. We see that our received notions of manhood and masculinity are inculcated—from the beginning and by design—to ensure willing participation in a system where the overwhelming majority are excluded from the start. We witness the way these dysfunctions are handed down like inheritance, and how every cliché, from fighting to drinking to intolerance of dissent and distrust of others, is a carefully constructed trap, preventing solidarity, empathy, and love (for others, for one’s self). Praise for THIS KIND OF MAN This Kind of Man, a suite of dramatic monologues and meditations, seems to pick up where Raymond Carver left off: anatomizing all the ways that American masculinity finds itself adrift, with a special thought for the women in the same lifeboat. Murphy sees how we live so plainly and clearly that, in the best possible way, it hurts. —Louis Bayard, author of The Pale Blue Eye The stories in Sean Murphy’s extraordinary collection This Kind of Man are swift, sharp, sometimes harsh, often sad, but so absolutely, transcendentally honest that the final effect is thrilling, a form of liberation. I know of no other eulogy for the post-war American male that so deftly captures the mingled love and anger of fathers and sons. —Robert Anthony Siegel, author of Criminals: My Family’s Life on Both Sides of the Law In This Kind of Man, Sean Murphy excavates the complicated, tender, wild truth of what it is to be a man across generations and relationships. His wistful, funny, precise honesty lights up the page and helps the reader see the complexity of the filter of maleness. An insightful and necessary book. —Karen E. Bender, author of Refund, Finalist 2015 National Book Award With its refreshing vulnerability, frankness, and insights, This Kind of Man fills a void in our literary landscape by artfully capturing both the tender and tormented sides of masculinity. Sean Murphy’s courageous stories do what groundbreaking literature should do—simultaneously comfort and disturb its readers. This is an important, indispensable read for our times. —Whitney Collins, author of Big Bad and Ricky & Other Love Stories Twenty-first-century manhood is a minefield – a terrain riddled with hidden dangers. A wrong word, a long-held grudge, even a mistimed joke can easily end in disaster. Traversing such explosive territory requires tremendous skill, a bucketful of courage, and no small amount of humor. Sean Murphy’s This Kind of Man has all three, in spades. —David McGlynn, author of One Day You’ll Thank Me: Lessons from an Unexpected Fatherhood This Kind of Man examines the moving target of modern masculinity and asks, from multiple angles, What is a man? The discourse around this question has been shockingly absent from the literary landscape, whether due to a lack of bravery or a certain paralysis that accompanies such an inquiry. Yet Murphy dives in head-first, offering stories that explore marriage, fatherhood, aggression, alcoholism, gender expectations, generational backlash, and more with nuance, humor, and an abundance of truth. His prose thrillingly invites us to think deeply. Instead of hiding from what it means to be a man today, he gives us a broad canvas from which to take in the answers, plural, to this essential question. —Cheryl Della Pietra, author of Gonzo Girl From yearnings never expressed by “strong and silent” types to competitive father/son relationships, veteran misogynists and burgeoning incels, Murphy’s new collection looks straight at the worst traits of the white American male with a view to the future where these men can do better, be better, think beyond themselves. A timely, gripping read by a courageous writer. —Courtney Maum, author of The Year of the Horses About the Author Sean Murphy is founder of the non-profit 1455 Lit Arts, and directs the Storytelling Initiative at Shenandoah University. He has appeared on NPR's "All Things Considered" and been quoted in USA Today, The New York Times, The Huffington Post, and AdAge. A long-time columnist for PopMatters, his work has also appeared in Salon, The Village Voice, Washington City Paper, The Good Men Project, Sequestrum, Blue Mountain Review, and others. His chapbook, The Blackened Blues, was published by Finishing Line Press in 2021. His second collection of poems, Rhapsodies in Blue was published by Kelsay Books in 2023. His third collection, Kinds of Blue, and This Kind of Man, his first collection of short fiction, are forthcoming in 2024. He has been nominated four times for the Pushcart Prize, twice for Best of Net, and his book Please Talk about Me When I'm Gone was the winner of Memoir Magazine's 2022 Memoir Prize. To learn more, and read his published short fiction, poetry, and criticism, please visit seanmurphy.net/ and @bullmurph. ABOUT THE PRESS Unsolicited Press strives to produce exceptional works of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry from award-winning authors. Unsolicited Press is based out of Portland, Oregon and focuses on the works of the unsung and underrepresented. As a womxn-owned, all-volunteer small publisher that doesn’t worry about profits as much as championing exceptional literature, we have the privilege of partnering with authors skirting the fringes of the lit world. We’ve worked with emerging and award-winning authors such as Douglas Cole, Amy Shimshon-Santo, Brook Bhagat, Tara Stillions Whitehead, and John W. Bateman. Learn more at unsolicitedpress.com. Find us on twitter and Instagram, @unsolicitedp. THIS KIND OF MAN is available on May 7, 2024, as a paperback (252p.; 978-1-963115-15-4) and e-book (all major retailers). Retailers, schools, and libraries can order copies through Ingram. The author is open to speaking with the media, holding readings, and engaging in other author opportunities.
If you could cook dinner for any author, dead or alive, who would it be? What would you make?
Stephen King, and I would make blood pudding. Just kidding! During a two-week trip to England, that was the only thing I tried that I didn’t like. For Stephen King I would make Puttanesca, Italian style spaghetti that's fast and easy (so there’s time to discuss killing my darlings with no remorse) made with anchovies, garlic, and mixed olives, served with a salad of mixed greens tossed with a date vinaigrette and a robust burgundy. For dessert we would have Galette Au Chocolat. What scares you the most about the writing process? How do you combat your fears? Three things: rejection, critical reviews, and having to read in front of people. The only way to combat rejection is to plow ahead– “Drive your plow over the bones of the dead” to quote the suspense thriller by Olga Tokarczuk. I’m not sure how to combat fear of public speaking, but with my upcoming book signings, I’m going with wine and dark chocolate. As for the fear of critics and bad reviews? To quote C.N. Bovee, “There is probably no hell for authors in the next world—they suffer so much from critics and publishers in this one.” We all get bad reviews, there’s no pleasing everyone if you are to write anything of value, so I remind myself, writers have the last word. As Tennessee Williams more eloquently said: “The best thing you can do about critics is never say a word. In the end you have the last say, and they know it.” Who is your biggest literary crush, author or character? This is a great question. After giving it some thought, I’d have to say Alessandro in Ramona--stoic, handsome, and tender yet brave-- the novel by Helen Hunt Jackson to protest the mistreatment of Native Americans. This tragic tale is still the only novel that made me weep. What books are on your nightstand? Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride, Eastbound, an intriguing novella by Maylis de Kerangal, and Wager by David Grann. Favorite punctuation mark? Why? The em dash. Because it interrupts politely yet firmly and demands the writer pay attention to what is “in between”. It’s better than sluggish semicolons and nondescript parenthesis. What book were you supposed to read in high school, but never did? I read everything I was supposed to and some I wasn’t supposed to. Does writing energize or exhaust you? Absolutely energizes. When I’m deep in the throes of my character’s lives, I’m more alive than when in my own middling one, and as a consequence, serves to make me a happier--more interesting?-- person. What are common traps for aspiring writers? Too much advice. Too many writing workshops, trying to follow the current rage or mirror the writings of a favorite author. Wrong wrong wrong! Find your own voice, let yourself fall into the “zone” and once you’re there, don’t stop. Never stop until you know what’s going to happen next. Do you think someone could be a writer if they don’t feel emotions strongly? Sure they could write about a sociopath. Seriously, it would be hard to write point-of-view with agency if you don’t feel emotion strongly. Can one train themself to feel emotion strongly? Put themself in another’s shoes with honesty and empathy? Isn’t that what writers have to do? I see I’ve answered a question with a question. What other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a better writer? Creative writing teacher and poet, Cathryn Essinger, because she encouraged me to write a short story and then to keep going until it snowballed into a novel which birthed another, and then another. Also, fellow author, MJ Werthman White who I’ve recently become acquainted with through mutual friend, Essinger. MJ has generously shared her marketing tips with me for that which none of us wants to do, but must. Finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention my daughter, Melissa, my most faithful reader and editor. She makes me “kill my darlings” with ruthless efficacy, and would give Stephen King a run for his money. A writer from the third grade, Melissa has more ideas for novels and works in progress than I have teeth. And I have all of them. What was an early experience where you learned that language had power? When the teacher in our one-room schoolhouse read aloud from Island Of The Blue Dolphins. It was the only time that even the boys were quiet. For myself, as a young girl in an isolated rural community where the highlight of the school year was the arrival of the bookmobile, the story of this young girl’s survival when stranded on an island all alone was captivating. What’s your favorite under-appreciated novel? Carson McCullers “The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter”. "We are all broken, that's how the light gets in." What stood out for me and still remains in my heart is how, at the end of the novel, the young girl, Mick, with a passion for music, has to give up her dream of getting a piano and taking music lessons to go to work full time at a soul-sucking job to help support her family. It’s sad because she just gives in. Loses her spunk. The universal message-- creative enterprise rarely supports the artist, so it is difficult to follow your dream, even if you live frugally. As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal? An owl. Because their voice is unique and haunting, and they fly by night and roost in warm haymows by day, and everyone loves them. What do you owe the real people upon whom you base your characters? I owe them a thank-you for letting me eavesdrop and for doing stupid shit I can fictionalize. Seriously, for the most part, my characters and their flaws are products of my imagination, and making up shit is what I do best. How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have? Four. A Vietnam Era love story I’ve worked on for so long it has become Historical, a contemporary novel of strife in farm country. “Anyone can be good in the country; there are no temptations there,” which is a loose sequel to the Vietnam one, an unfinished memoir, and a work-in-progress involving the catastrophic die-off of amphibians, the biologist who lives in the woods to figure out why, and a reporter who only wants a story but instead gets a second chance at love. What does literary success look like to you? Having an ISBN number. An agent at a writer’s conference I once attended told the participants that manuscripts are not books. “Your manuscript is not a book,” she said adamantly, “until you have an ISBN number.” That stuck with me, so when I first saw that number appended to the publisher’s marketing data I knew I had a book. It was a huge Ah-ha moment, a badge of authenticity. What’s the best way to market your books? I believe word of mouth is still the best marketing tool. But it takes a while to get beyond your immediate circle of family and friends. In the interim, Amazon can’t be ignored for its breadth and reach, but Amazon clashes with the core values of independent booksellers who support authors, readers, and their communities. They, along with libraries, are the champions of authors. From my small local Brown City Library to the New York Public Library, libraries have but one mission– to make as many books available to as many people as possible. They are a refuge for inquisitive minds and soaring imaginations. Many libraries also have local author collections. So, short answer--libraries and indie bookshops. What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex? I don’t find it hard at all. Men are easy to read. I love them, I watch them and listen to them, and I’m intuitive enough to see through them to know what they really want. What did you edit out of this book? A sex scene. Because I think one good sex scene is all you need unless you are a romance author and then you need one in every chapter. If you didn’t write, what would you do? I would work on a tree farm or in a vineyard and stomp grapes or pick apples, press cider, and dabble with fermentation. |
