Ben Tanzer's Blog, page 99

Talking writing, fathering, and FOUR FATHERS with the Tom Williams at TNBBC's The Next Best Book Blog.

Like for real. Here. And excerpt. Cool? Yes.

BT: Do you think it’s possible to write pieces such as you have for this collection and not think about your own father and you relationship with him?

TW: Right now, at the risk of sounding schmaltzy, it’s the best it’s ever been, my relationship with my dad. But what’s particular to it is that we never had an easy relationship before. Here’s why, I think: My dad grew up without a father and in being my father he had no one clearly to model himself after. Now he’s a grandfather and it’s different: he did have a grandfather (even though that gentleman, my great-grandfather, was born in the 19th Century). And I’d have to say he’s warmed to the role of grandpa far better than I have as a dad.
But looking forward, and spinning off far from your question, Ben, I’m projecting into a future where my son has a son and how he’s got so much more to look back to for guidance. Not just me, but my dad. His stories. I hope I’m around then. And if I’m not, I hope Finn shares with his son my stories (the ones in this book and the ones I’ve told him), and my dad’s stories.

A TNBBC's The Next Best Book Blog Cobalt Press FOUR FATHERS Kickstarter interview series Andrew Keating introduction thing.

Truth. So please do hit it. It just might change your life. Excerpt? Yes. Totally.

"There are few subjects richer than fatherhood. I won’t lie, the first time I heard someone use the phrase fatherhood fiction or dick-lit (it was Greg Olear, a couple years ago when Fathermucker was happening), I snorted a little bit. This, of course, is the reaction of a non-father, of a son who admittedly believes that being a dad isn’t all that complicated. Then I read this manuscript. I had no idea what I was getting myself into, other than that I knew two of the authors pretty well and loved their stuff. So I read, and kept reading, and I laughed, and I felt my chest tighten with anxiety, and I might have even cried. How wrong I was.
Four Fathers, and each of its authors, delivers fatherhood in a multitude of thought-provoking, heartfelt ways: from Tom Williams’ pair of long short stories which define a man by who he is as a son in relation to his father, and who he is as a father in relation to his son; to BL Pawelek’s poetry, dedicated to his daughter, Abbey Road. Then you have Ben Tanzer's flash fiction pieces, which all seem to reflect up on the idea of "I'm a dad…what the heck do I do now?" and Dave Housley's novella begging the Osbornesque question "What the f*** is a 'Bieber?'" There are moments of absolute sweetness, and moments of perversity. There are points where you’ll want to laugh out loud, but you’ll stop once you realize you’re only laughing at yourself, your own fears, your own misgivings about what it means to be a dad."

There is Orphans NIU Press page.

For real, here, yes, wow, yes, yes, totally.

New joint. Be Cool: An L.A. Story. The Weeklings.

It is new. There is L.A. Nastassja Kinski. George Clooney. And we end-up in Canter's. Anything else? Oh yes, big thanks to The Weeklings and drinks, on us, many. For sure. Excerpt? Cool.

"HERE’S THE DEAL: Debbie is turning 30. My idea is that we will go to Los Angeles, which in my mind remains the epitome of cool; sun-drenched and languid, overflowing with celebrities, movie sets, scandals, beaches, pool parties, and fake boobs. Not to mention so much alcohol and cocaine pouring down the streets that it’s like the adult version of Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs." 

The new edition of This Zine Will Change Your Life is live. All Blue Devils. And full of Goosey.

The new edition of This Zine Will Change Your Life is live. We have new poem, BLUE DEVILS by old friend Joseph Goosey, which we are way excited about, and, (almost) as always, photo action from Adam Lawrence, music curation from Jason Behrends and Chicago aldermanic nepotism prose love from Pete Anderson. We hope you enjoy this edition and we appreciate all shout-outs and links. Finally, please note, we are hoping more of you will submit comix, and music, novel excerpts, and art, and video, yes, video, and combinations there of. And most finally, Weiner, why, seriously, yikes.

Please file under Ray Charbonneau, Amby Burfoot, and TBWCYL, Inc. spokesperson Ben Tanzer talking The 27th Mile with Wicked Local.

Yes, that Amby Burfoot. It's a childhood fantasy come to life, or print, or something. Crazy honored we are to even be in the same article with him, much less the collection itself. We are also thinking you might want to take a look, yes, maybe, cool. Excerpt? Awesome. Wicked awesome really. 

“I hope the book makes a little money [for The One Fund],” he [Burfoot] said. “But what is significant is the way that Ray gathered everyone together, the way that everyone acquiesced and enthusiastically agreed to be a part of the project. It’s just sort of a showing of how united runners are in our efforts to celebrate those who have been there for us for so long.”

"Outrageous!" Daddy Cool gets some Goodreads love. And likes it. A lot.

Really, really likes it. Many thanks to the Tim Frederick of Baby Got Books, and beers, brother, many, and on us, somewhere soon. Excerpt? Cool.

"Cool, daddy. Top shelf collection of dad/kid stories. My only reservation is that Myles and Ben Tanzer named their geek "Frederick."

Wherein we stumble onto A Primer on Failure birthday divorce poem by the J. Bradley titled "To Ben Tanzer, Regarding Your Empty Room," and despite the subject matter find ourselves sitting here smiling.

For real. Here. Beautious. That. And a stanza. Cool?

"Runner, I thought I was your sandman.
Each night, I took you to Carousel
and you returned in the morning,
your mouth giving birth to a waterfall
trickling on your pillow."

Orphans Uncorrected Proofs in the house. Review anyone?

Four Fathers. Where You Should Be. Cobalt Press. KICKSTARTER. The Olear.