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Mitchell R. McInnis

Goodreads Author

Born

September 14

Influences

Clayton Eshleman, Jack Gilbert, Yannis Ritsos & Lou Reed

Member Since

April 2014

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/loufoque

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McInnis is a poet, writer and editor born and raised in Montana. It was in Livingston, Montana that McInnis and artist/designer Brad Bunkers founded and ran the innovative, now-retired arts journal, HoboEye.

His work has appeared in many forms in many venues. Most recently, his poetry and reviews have appeared in The Collagist and The Southeast Review. He is proud to have first been published in Carolyn Forché’s journal, So to Speak.

In 2019, McInnis became a voting member of the National Book Critics Circle (NBCC). In April 2020, he will be traveling to promote two books: a 15th anniversary edition of his poetry collection The Missing Shade of Blue while premiering his new collection Dancing in the Neon Boneyard.

McInnis' first book The Miss ...more

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Who is your favorite fictional couple, and why?

Mitchell R. McInnis Ted and Marion Cole from John Irving's "A Widow for One Year." The mixture of pain, love and loss is so tangible in their depiction. The aching comple…moreTed and Marion Cole from John Irving's "A Widow for One Year." The mixture of pain, love and loss is so tangible in their depiction. The aching complexity that comes from that mix is entrancing. In a culture (United States) where complexity in relationships, as well as loss, is so seldom handled well or depicted with verism, this novel is rare and darkly beautiful. And then there's the conflict! It's a fiction writer's dreamscape without resorting to unicycle-riding bears. Overall, this book isn't given enough credit or attention. In musical terms, this novel is the equivalent of catching an arena rock band do a small venue, acoustic show, where you can tap out every beat and sing every syllable. This book's alternative title might have been, "Love is the Devil."(less)

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How do you deal with writer’s block?

Mitchell R. McInnis Pure apostasy. I don't believe in writer's block, and I'm agnostic about inspiration. I like what the painter Francis Bacon said, "What most people ca…morePure apostasy. I don't believe in writer's block, and I'm agnostic about inspiration. I like what the painter Francis Bacon said, "What most people call inspiration comes from regular work."

If desperate, I do exercises like free writing, erasures or even mimicry of favorite poets. That usually dislodges the cork from the ink.(less)

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Mitchell R. McInnis’s books

Average rating: 4.0 · 3 ratings · 2 reviews · 1 distinct work

The Missing Shade of Blue

really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 3 ratings — 2 editions

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* Note: these are all the books on Goodreads for this author. To add more, click here.

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Mitchell R. McInnis's Blog: Wanderer's Notebook

Confession of a Former Gun Editor: The NRA is the Problem

I was born and raised in Montana, in a law enforcement and military family. Few things feel as comfortable or homelike to me as a gun. Certainly a pen. As Irish poet and Nobel laureate Seamus Heaney wrote, “Between my finger and my thumb / The squat pen rests; snug as a gun.” Precisely.

Now, I know I’m unusual in that sentiment, especially in the liberal circles which I often travel. Snug and gun a Read more of this blog post »

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Published on March 07, 2018 19:17

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Mitchell is Currently Reading

Mitchell McInnis is currently reading

The Wisdom of the Heart

by Henry Miller

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Apr 30, 2019 01:02PM

Mitchell McInnis is currently reading

The Volunteer

by Salvatore Scibona

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Mar 04, 2019 03:19PM

Mitchell McInnis is currently reading

Such Good Work

by Johannes Lichtman (Goodreads Author)

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Mar 04, 2019 03:18PM

Mitchell’s Quotes

“You can't work in a steel mill and think small.”
― Jack Gilbert

1 likes

“When you look deeply into your anger, you will see that the person you call your enemy is also suffering. As soon as you see that, the capacity of accepting and having compassion for them is there.”
― Thich Nhat Hanh

23 likes

“Do not forget the past; forgive the past.”
― John Irving, Until I Find You

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“You only are free when you realize you belong no place — you belong every place — no place at all.”
― Maya Angelou, Conversations with Maya Angelou (Literary Conversations

tags: freedom

120 likes