Karma Of Chameleon

The July issue of PANK is now live, featuring stories by Rachel Adams, Stace Budzko, Sara Crowley, Alana Dakin, Tim Dicks, Whitey Erickson, Jen Gann, Kyle Minor, Ansley Moon, Gena Mowish, Johnsie Noel, Tia Prouhet, Laura Read, Keith Rosson, Chris Sheehan, Robert Anthony Siegel, Robb Todd, Brandi Wells, Bill Yarrow, and yours truly.

My story is called "The Chameleon Kid" and it's pretty weird. Not only can you read it, but you can also listen to me reading it (both links take you to the same page). Or, if you'd prefer to be a jerk and do neither, enjoy the video below.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEhXcEpajN0

Another Insurrection

My story "An Insurrection" which was originally published at the awesome Necessary Fiction is reprinted today at the equally awesome CellStories (which you can only read on a mobile device).

Motownphilly Back Again

As a reminder I’ll be participating in a reading at Big Blue Marble Bookstore tonight between 7-9 pm along with Barry Graham, Randall Brown, Curtis Smith, Scott Oliver, Drew Kalbach, Daniel Wallace, and Peter Schwartz. Thank you to Lisa and Jeff D. for humoring me last week and suggesting I read "Superman's Dead." I was all for it until I actually tried to read that story out loud and realized that because it's second person it will most likely be too confusing.

So what will I read? I'm not sure yet. But remember if all goes according to plan, my wife will be coming with me and will videotape my reading using the Qik application on my phone, so anyone can view it live on my Qik page. I’ll post something on Twitter and Facebook a few minutes before it goes live. When exactly, I don’t know, but sometime between 7 and 9.

Of course, if you are in the area, stop by!

Reading At Big Blue Marble

Next week I'll be participating in a reading at Big Blue Marble Bookstore (Wednesday, June 9, between 7-9 pm) along with Barry Graham, Randall Brown, Curtis Smith, Scott Oliver, Drew Kalbach, Daniel Wallace, and Peter Schwartz. Barry and Peter are currently hiking/hitchhiking/roaming the east coast, and this is one of their stops. Normally I'm not one to jump at the chance to do a reading, but Barry asked me if I'd like to read and I said sure.

Now here are my thoughts on readings -- not everything a writer writes should be read aloud. I mean, a writer could read anything they wrote aloud, but some stories are best left alone on the page. I think it was T. C. Boyle who said that he doesn't do readings; he does performances. And that's the best way authors should think about readings -- not just standing up in front of people talking in a dry monotone, but actually bringing their stories and characters to life.

So I've been thinking about some good stories to read next week and have narrowed them down to a few pieces, and I'd like to get some opinions on which you think I should go with. I figure for the setting flash fiction pieces would work best. Humor is a plus, too. So far I'm thinking one or two of the following:

• "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia"
• "The Dry Patch"
• "Superman's Dead"
• "Multiplicity"

Of course, there are a bunch of others to choose from, so if anyone would like to suggest another story or two, please do.

Because here's the fun part ...

If all goes according to plan, my wife will be coming with me and will videotape my reading using the Qik application on my phone, so anyone can view it live on my Qik page. I'll post something on Twitter and Facebook a few minutes before it goes live. When exactly, I don't know. The reading is between 7 and 9 next Wednesday evening. And I don't expect anyone to be sitting in front of their computers waiting to see this. But if you do happen to be online around that time, and see my tweet directing you to the page, feel free to click on it. I can't imagine the video and sound quality will be stellar, but it should definitely be interesting. And fun. After all, isn't that what it's all about?

This Is For All My Peeps Out There

My hint fiction piece "Peep" appeared last year at The Northville Review. Quite recently I wrote a reflective piece for the Northville Notebook, where contributors give notes on their work.

And if you haven't had a chance to check out my story "Multiplicity" yet over at Every Day Fiction, please do so. As I'd predicted, for the most part it got slammed in the comments section, which is fantastic. It seems readers are split right down the middle: either they "get" it or they don't ... or maybe there's nothing to "get"?

Finally, I just learned that both The Silver Ring and Through the Guts of a Beggar are now available at Barnes & Noble.com. The Silver Ring is listed for $0.00, and Through the Guts of a Beggar is listed for $0.99. And even better, you don't need a Nook to download them!