Hosho McCreesh's Blog, page 6

The Un-Trampled Blossom...

So…for most of 2023 it’s been…quiet. That’s because it has hardly been salad days here at the HQ. I’m a fairly private type, so no need to expand beyond that — but suffice it to say: I’ve had better days! Or, you know, years.

Of course, rough times find us all eventually, it’s a simple human truth, that, like all simple truths, contains multitudes. By that I mean, there’s good and bad in the best of times and also in the worst. It keeps our mushy brains from figuring out this crazy life, leaving us just a little bit of room to worry and wonder. Every time the world tries to break our hearts, there are still battlefield flowers that somehow go un-trampled. Somehow, in all the wreckage and chaos, some magical calculus exists that spares just enough beauty — if we’re lucky enough to recognize it. And that illuminates a dark little corner of the mind and offers us the gift of gratitude.

For instance: (and not to embarrass anyone) A few months back, “S” bought a book for a friend, ”A.” Now here at the HQ we hardly believe in the wanton ravages of Capitalism, but we can begrudgingly admit that, yes, it’s nice to sell a book every now and again.

But better than that is the idea that a reader responded to and now vouches so much for the work that they’ll send it on to a friend. That, right there, that’s the lucre there, y’all! The real dream…made real!

But when a third link in the pay-it-forward chain appear?! When “A” then orders a book for “Z,” — well, that’s enough to soften up even this ol’ world-weary pecan of a heart!

So I wanted to say thanks — publicly. You who’ve done this — both now, and before — know who you are. You’ve taken my work further and wider than I ever could’ve alone, and what’s more, you’ve reminded me why creative folks keep creating in the face of so much noise and apathy. It’s to be part of that larger confluence…part of that inter-mingled exchange of ideas and inspirations.

You all keep me going, and — in this world anyway — that’s a pretty great thing...one we could all use more of in whatever ways we can manage. I hope to find my way back to some projects that, for now, lay fallow. Until then, I won’t forget what you all have done for me.

Mixed Media over at Atticus Review...

WATCH HERE

Here at the HQ we’re really jazzed to be part of the terrific mixed media section of Atticus Review’s latest, Issue 4. It’s a cool and unique corner they’ve staked out in the larger art magazine realm, and a pretty damn fun rabbit hole to go down if you’d like to see some poetic filmmaking/writing combinations. It’s a one-stop shop for small press, auteur-like projects, ofter called ‘videopoems,’ limited only by the creator’s imaginations. Diverse, and inspiring, it’s exactly the kind of thing we here at the HQ wish everyone was getting up to…so we are humbled to join the every growing archive with a small film and sentiment we’re still in love with!

Do yourself a favor and spend some time with Atticus Review, and their Mixed Media archive. Tell ‘em DrunkSkull sent you!

Paper & Ink: Best of the First Ten Years...

Considering the top drawer work found in issue after issue of the small press gem, I’m sure narrowing down this best of the first decade issue was tough rowing, so I am really pleased to have a piece make the cut. To my eye, Scumbag Press and DrunkSkull Books share quite a bit in terms of intention, only they’re far more active and consistent that the monkeys running my ship! I’m always jazzed to hustle a piece their way, and to share the pages with one of the best stables of writers around.

And rumor has it you can order a T-SHIRT to go with yours, so long are you get it in during the pre-sale, so why not let everyone out there know that you support the folks out here doing their thang, making stuff, and keeping those artistic fires burning!

I Barely Had 3 Drinks...

Sometimes it's the SIZE of the drinks, not the number...

Walevska Perez-Herrera reads. Brody Lee musics. Lucas Schwantes animates. Hosho McCreesh did the writing (and drinking) for this, the latest in what promises to be a decade of animated drunk poems from Site 30 Studios and DrunkSkull Books.

Grab yourself a pitcher and enjoy!

Free THIRST on Spotify!

Hide your kids, hide your wife…THIRST is free to listen on Spotify!

If you use SPOTIFY, 3.5 hours of drunk poems await! Get the audio book in its entirety — all good, the bad, and the hilarious — free via the button below.

Grab a code, grab a drink, and settle in!!

Free to listen on Spotify!

In other news, DEEP SURFACE FISSURES REVEALING A FURIOUS MOLTEN CODE… is back in stock at the STORE!

Spotify...

NOW AVAILABLE ON SPOTIFY

Traveling over the holidays? This boozehound will yap your ear off for 3+ hours!

Yep, enjoy all the proverbial strikes and gutters from this autobiographical drunken opus!

SPOTIFY is just the latest in a long list of ways to listen. We even have CDs in the STORE, if that’s more your speed.

And remember, here at the HQ we never want money be an obstacle.

Songs From The Underground...

Okay, this is gonna be a hell of a collection, with work from some of the very best out there. If you’re a small press fan then I know you’ll recognize a handful of these names. And, if you’re just a reader period, chances are, you’ll still know a few…and will likely find a few more new folks to look into!

What can I say? I’m amazed to be included and truly can’t wait to sinking my teeth into this beast.

Here’s the link — in case this looks like it’s up your alley!

Get A Copy

My contribution to ‘the finest collection of underground literature to be published this century’ will be an unpublished story I’m pretty damn happy with, “Bull Calves.” It’s a working-class New Mexico yarn you can’t read anywhere else…and probably won’t be able to unless I finally get around to collecting them all someday. Fair notice: I doubt that’ll be for a while, if ever.

Shooting Stick...

LISTEN TO “SHOOTING STICK” BY BEN TANZER

Read by Hosho McCreesh

LISTEN HERE

Ben Tanzer has always been a tireless supporter of small press lit and a champion of many a writer. He’s been pivotal in the promotion of quite a few of my books, and finally I got the chance to repay the favor! When he told me he was putting together a line-up of friends and folks to read all the stories in his recently re-released collection UPSTATE, I immediately said I wanted to be a part of it — and do whatever I could to help him spread the word about a project for a change!

The story, “Shooting Stick,” is right up my alley: understated yet moving, with those familiar pangs between fathers and sons. And, you know, drinks and a pool hall! I hope I did the thing justice with my reading, and I especially hope you’ll go give it a listen, and support Ben, his books, and all his generous endeavors in the small press community.

And until the day we actually get to share a drink and maybe a game of pool, to Ben I’ll just say cheers,” and thanks for letting me be a part of it.

Listen to ALL THE STORIES in the collection, UPSTATE via the link below!

Listen to more here

Never Mind, Comrade: a 420 Interview

Never Mind, Comrade…

A 420 Interview About
Life Behind The Iron Curtain 1982-89
With Claudia Bierschenk

What the hell is a 420 Interview? It’s 7 questions, each answered in 1 minute or less (so, a total of 420 seconds, you teaheads!)! Claudia Bierschenk is the subject of our first one! She’s got a gorgeous new book out from the might Tangerine Press so this seemed the perfect opportunity to chat a bit!

Introduce yourself in 1 min or less! (Click the buttons below each question to hear Claudia’s answers!)Give us the 1 min elevator pitch for your new book. What’s a beautiful thing from that time in your life?How’d you discover the small press? Describe a perfect day that you’ve had (or would like to).Yes or No: Would you choose to be famous and why?If money was no object, what one thing would you absolutely do with you life?

We hope you enjoyed our first 420 Interview, and we especially all hope you’ll go check out Claudia’s new book!

Claudia's Book!

Arroyo Giveaway Winner!

[Insert fanfare here!]

Here we go!

Many thanks for the folks who entered, I appreciate it!

As for our winner — I’ll be in touch soon. And keep your eyes here for more free stuff from time to time!