An offer to you in exchange for your decision to support a lit mag (or two)

Earlier this year, I had two stories published, one in Newfound (formerly Precipitate) and the other in Consequence. They were the second and third parts of a three-part story. I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to place part one, but I’m thrilled to announce that the first part is in the most recent issue of The Massachusetts Review, which can be purchased here. The story is called “On Tender Hooks” and it’s part of a project I’ve been working on since 2008. I’m honored to have the final (yet first) piece in such a great publication.

Also, my short story, “Hera,” is in the latest issue of Curbside Splendor. The story takes place in Chicago and since the city and setting are an important part of the narrative, I’m delighted to have it appear in CS (as they’re based out of Chicago). You can buy the latest issue here.

Surely, if you’ve read this far, you’re wondering what the offer I allude to in the subject line is. It’s pretty simple–I know that it’s the holiday season. I know that there’s only so much money to go around. I know it’s hard to spend money on something that doesn’t have an immediately obvious return. So I want to give you more than a story. I want to give you the incentive to not just support these literary journals (and me), but to support the work of every writer whose work appears in these issues. Here’s my offer: If you buy a copy of one (or more!) of these lit journals (Consequence, The Mass Review, or Curbside Splendor) or if you make a donation to any of the journals where my work has appeared (or will appear) this year (any of the publications above, as well as Fourteen Hills, Newfound, The Collagist, The Good Men Project, Little Fiction, or Untoward), I’ll make a date with you (via phone, Google Hangout, Skype, or, if you’re in the Boston area, in person) and I will read you my contribution to the issue. Not only that, I’ll read another story in the issue, entirely of your choice. My reason for this offer is two-fold:

1/I know a lot of writers. I know what we do. We buy publications our friends are in, read our friends’ work, pat our friends’ backs for their jobs well done, and rarely read the rest of the issue. I want to encourage you to not only read/support my writing, but read more from the journals who take a chance on my work.

2/Reading another writer’s work aloud is an endorsement. It’s a way to discover different takes on a narrative. It’s a way to find the layers that exist within every story. It’s a way to take part in literature, which (believe it or not) is a communal artform.

To redeem your reading, all you need to do is e-mail me a picture of yourself with the journal in question. If you’ve made a donation, we’re going on the honor system here (because I trust you to be grown-ups). Either way, e-mail me (carissa AT aforementionedproductions DOT com) and we’ll iron out reading details. Regardless of which journal you decide to read/support, know this: I want you to take me up on this offer. I want you to help me make our collective holidays a little more literary (and a lot more interactive). Think of it as an Adopt A Literary Journal program or a Support A Writer program. Definitely think about it in terms of how happy you’ll make the writers who decide to look up their names in their search engines of choice to find me blabbing about how great they are. And, most importantly, think about the possibility that you might discover a new favorite writer.