Jon Sindell's Blog, page 4

"Lawrence" Video - A Simple Youth Stands Against Bullies

I am so pleased to release the video of "Lawrence," the story of a simple high school youth who stands up to bullies for gays and others. The response to this story has been overwhelming and very gratifying. Please do share this video freely.

The Beast Romped at Beast Crawl

The inaugural Beast Crawl, the East Bay's (San Francisco Bay) answer to San Francisco's Litcrawl, was well worth the wait. I shared Pandemonium Press's kick-off hour at Spice Monkey (great eats btw) along with Rafael Jesús González, Sara McAulay, and George Korolog. The wonderful Leila Rae, publisher of Pandemonium Press, put the panel together. The audience were a wonderful, tuned-in group, and the material, a dark, pivotal part of the plot, connected with many. Thank you Tony Hecht for the excellent camera work and for being there. Nice night!

The Beast crawls in Oakland July 7: Mondo Lit Reading

Beast Crawl will take place on July 7 from 5 to 9. "Beast": Pig Latin for "East Bay." This is the East Bay’s answer to S.F.’s renowned Litcrawl, and I’ll be reading my fiction during the 5 to 6 “Leg” of the Beast with Pandemonium Press at Spice Monkey . It's sure to be a fabulous evening -- and I'd love to see you! Jon

New Story of Compassion Released -- "Lawrence"

Today was the release of the free ebook short story “Lawrence,” about a simple high-school boy who takes a stand for animals and gays. The story was accepted by a university lit-mag a while back, but I pulled it back because they sat on it for too long. I’m so thrilled to send this tale of compassion out into the world! Btw, don't forget to click "Like" on the book's page (if you do like it). And DO share it widely -- it's free for that reason!

Mighty Roman Pub Party June 23

The publication party for The Mighty Roman took place on June 23 and it was a fabulous evening. Heartfelt thanks to those of you were attended and those who were there in spirit!






A wonderful evening with dear old friends and new friends too.

New Story: "Treehouse"

Today was the launch of a story, "Treehouse," which considers the nature of fatherhood and manhood in America today (as The Mighty Roman does). It's a free ebook, so climb that tree! And leave a comment ... I'd love to hear from you.

Mighty Roman Pub Party

Wow, that sounds ribald. Could you imagine Romans partying at a pub?But no, The Mighty Roman publication party will be a sober affair -- but fun, much!It'll be a baseball game! And that's fun.And we have a ballpark -- Rolling Out, the new cafe at Taraval and 27th Avenue in San Francisco, where owner/master baker Bruno Tse turns out the most scrumptuous baked goods (ballpark concessions, y’all).We have pregame entertainment -- music by singer-songwriter Steven Kacsmar, the creative force behind the awesome band Phantom City ... plus a dramatic reading of baseball literature written by Bay Area author Tony Press.We have an Anthem performer -- Eli Pontecorvo, madman bassist around town, who will do an electronic bass version of The Star Spangled Banner which will have Jimi Hendrix smiling down with approval.We have a giveaway -- balloon coyotes in honor of the San Carlos Coyotes of Mighty Roman fame.And we have a game -- innings consisting of scenes from The Mighty Roman read by me.Invitations will be sent to those already following this book and my writing -- but everyone reading these words is warmly welcomed!Date and time: Saturday, June 23, 7:00 p.m. Hope to see you there! 

Contest Winner, "Apollo's Light"

God I love the ancient Greeks. And I had the chance to share a little of that love in a flash fiction contest requiring the tale to be set in Delphi. It explores the Apollonian-Dionysion divide (I use the less familiar Hellenized "Dionysos" btw) and copped the celery wreath (that's what they won in the Nemean Games at Delphi; the familiar laurel wreath is an Olympian thing). The contest was sponsored by
Doorknobs & Bodypaint; "Apollo's Light" is here.

Flash: "Insidious"

My flash fiction piece "Insidious" won honorable mention of sorts in a contest by the fine flash fiction zine Doorknobs & Bodypaint. The parameters were: 250 words max, set in 1946, had to employ the phrase "without right," major theme treachery, sub-theme insidiousness. That was almost longer than the story!  Thanks always for reading.

"Fig Tree Gazing" in Compass Rose

     Can a longtime couple get it together? "Fig Tree Gazing" touches this tender topic in the just-published annual Compass Rose, the wonderful lit mag of Chester College in New Hampshire. The editors favored the story with their Editor's Choice designation. This is really a beautiful magazine. The print and main online editions are lovely, and the iPad edition has a marvelously fluid interface. And they're wonderful lit-loving people, too. Check them out, and if you'd like to support a great college lit mag, why not order a copy for ten bucks? If you'd like me to inscribe a copy for you, shoot an email and we can arrange it: jstevensondell@gmail.com
     The title of the tale? A riff on an Emerson allusion to an Arabian proverb. Enjoy a fig now!