Caleb J. Ross's Blog, page 93

Back from the AWP Conference in Denver, CO

So, I'm back, after four short days of writing-related debauchery. All-in-all, a great time. The highlight, of course, was the OW Press The Velvet reading, which took place on Friday, April 9th at Leela European Cafe. Fourteen readers came together to read current works, works-in-progress, or never-to-be-published works. A damn fine time. I managed to meet a lot of people I've only communicated with over the Internet, which made the trip both surreal and important.

Go to The...

The Velvet Podcast, Episode 003: INTERVIEW with Brian Evenson

A very special Episode #003 of The Velvet Podcast just went live a few hours ago. I interview one of my very favorite authors, Brian Evenson about his upcoming AWP Conference panel, Crime, Horror, Sci‐Fi, and Fantasy… Seriously. Extract below:

(Anthony Smith, Brian Evenson, Stephen Graham Jones, Tod Goldberg, Mark Smith, Seth Harwood) Six writers of genre fiction who also teach and/or have graduated from university creative writing programs discuss how they approach...

The Velvet Podcast, Episode 002: Hey, is that a copy of Kiss Me Judas on your desk, Professor Meriweather?

Episode #002 of The Velvet Podcast just went live a few hours ago. Me, Chris Deal, Bob Pastorella, and Chris Bodenstein talk about:

Why the disparity between genre fiction and literary fiction? Why are these two modes so often thought of as mutually exclusive? Though genre fiction (the big ones: mystery, sci-fi, horror) are taught at the university level, there is a palatable disinterest among much of academia. In this episode, four The Velvet members discuss these...

Our Guy is your guy at the Orange Alert Podcast

Professional Orange Alert kind gent, Jason Behrends, invited me to contribute to his weekly arts and literature podcast. I've been dabbling in podcasting lately (contributing to The Velvet Podcast and getting things in line for next week's AWP Conference, where I'll have an audio feed to document the event), so to have this additional swath of experience is nice.

For this week's episode, I read my story "Our Guy" which originally appeared at Word Riot.

I'm really happy to be a p...

Dialogue with Pablo D'Stair for Predicate #1

Someone needs to murder Pablo D'Stair. He's making all of us, who for so long have relied on passion as a vehicle for discussing literature, look like asses. I've never met a person more in love with books (possibly more in love with the idea of- and the ideas within- books than the books themselves). This guy makes me imagine a beautiful world of quiet dive bars and smokey conversation.

He recently asked me to be a part of the re-emergence of his literary journal, a

Interviewed on Blog Talk Radio

Yesterday I appeared on ASNYCNOW's Blog Talk Radio where I discussed my book, my role as an editor at the Outsider Writers Collective, my future publications, The Velvet, my upcoming AWP reading, and on top of all that self-promotion, I was inundated with compliments from the unbelievably nice Vicki S. Nikolaidis.

Though technical issues had me cutting in and out through much of the discussion, and my voice had a space echo, all in all I had a great time.

Thank you, Vicki!

Click ...

The Velvet Podcast, Episode #001: Of Members and Horse Nostrils

I've been a member of The Velvet for a few years. During that time, I've come to respect the pool of talent over there not just for their writing chops, but for their reading tastes as well. They are my taste-makers.

I am glad to now be able to share that camaraderie with you. Episode #001 of The Velvet Podcast just went live a few hours ago. Me, Gordon Highland, and Rob Parker talk about a few things writing, specifically regarding writing communities.

I look forward to the...

A reader, too?! What a double threat!

Jim Gaffigan is right (and is the source of this post's title). We admire beauty above most else in this country (this world?), despite all that's been taught by teachers (probably ugly teachers) and parents. Beauty shouldn't be all that matters. As ethical beings, we should be able to look beyond physical appeal when evaluating our various options.

But the one outlet that has for so long stood strong against the ravages of superficiality has come under attack as of late. Ugly ...

Caleb's SNIPPETS OF TOMORROW (03/04/10)

@ Blinding Loud, Sean P. Ferguson gives some great words about Charactered Pieces:

The stories don't change you because they cause you to rethink how you're living in some great respect. You're not forced on with issues that want you to decide whether or not to have an abortion, or pick a side when it comes to same sex marriage. They don't beat down your door demanding that you give all of your belongings to charity. You're presented with life and the ability to deal with what...

A Stolen Interview with Tim Hall

Right away, let me say that this interview is fake. For the real, and much more interesting interview between Tim Hall and Scott McClanahan, click here. Why fake an interview with Tim Hall? I'm procrastinating work on my current novel.

Tim Hall (TH): Your book is built around my two favorite themes of creative writing: autobiographical fiction mixed with a geographical/sociological postcard of a place. It's like a portrait of the artist in the "staycation" from hell. What ...