Cover Letters: Gettin' Noticed

A very serious and well-made video of mine is being featured over on Ninth Letter's blog. It's a little educational film that I threw together early last year during a cold-related Sudafed binge. While you're over at Ninth Letter's site, make sure to subscribe toot sweet. They have a new issue coming out, which, though I'm not in it, still looks like it's going to be awesome.

New Blog Header by Brent Van Horne

The incomparable Brent Van Horne has created yet another killer header for this humble blog. In addition to it fulfilling my life long dream (expectation is probably a better word) of being added to the periodic table, it also hints to the fact that I will soon be a citizen of New York City.

BVH is definitely correct in assuming that my new location will significantly change the content of this blog.

Example of what my posts have looked like while living in Ohio:

"Hey everybody! I have a story forthcoming in Whatever-the-hell Magazine! Make sure to check it out!"

Example of what my posts will look like once I live in New York:

"I'm heading to The Saw Factory tonight to see The Laser Committee do an acoustic set with the trombone player from Biscuit Quake."

So yeah, get ready for that!

I Will Continue Making Trailers Until Someone Stops Me

Frost Mountain Picnic Massacre Print

Earlier this year, the brilliant Brandi Strickland created an interpretation of Frost Mountain Picnic Massacre, a short story of mine that originally appeared in One Story. Brandi generously donated her work to One Story's Literary Debutante Ball, where the original piece was auctioned off to help support One Story.

However, for all of you who were not lucky enough to attend said Debutante Ball, I'm pleased to announce that prints of the piece are now available at Brandi's site. While you're picking one up, make sure to check out all of Brandi's work, which is beyond incredible.

Book Cover!!!! Book Cover!!!! Book Cover!!!!

I am very excited to share this early book cover for my debut short story collection (coming May of 2011). There might be some slight changes in the months to come. I imagine at some point we'll be adding a hologram of me wrestling a minotaur. But as far as I'm concerned it's already pretty great.

Guest Post On Paper Whistle

I have a post up on Brandi Strickland's blog. Make sure to check it out! That is all.

The Jew of New York

Getting ready to read Ben Katchor's graphic novel The Jew of New York on the advice of a friend. Very excited to reignite my long lost love for comic b- ... graphic novels.

New Short Story Trailer? New Short Story Trailer!

Remember the other day when you were saying how you wish that Seth Fried's short story trailers would somehow involve stop motion animation? Well, your wish is about to come true. My new trailer is my most stop-motioniest to date.

The animation is by no means good, but - like a Mother's Day gift constructed out of dry macaroni and colored paper - I submit to you the notion that it is the thought that counts. Also, I refuse to apologize for my penmanship.

Misery of the Conquistador is forthcoming in StoryQuarterly:



In case you're curious, here are the materials I used to create this trailer:

1.)One drawing of a conquistador
2.)One digital camera
3.)One upside down stool converted into a vertical camera mount
4.)One felt-tip pen
5.)Five sheets of computer paper
6.)One freeware 2-D animator, which magically didn't install a virus onto my computer
7.)One unflappable desire to create a short story trailer for the ages

One more thing, you can check out all my short story trailers on my youtube channel.

Life in the Harem

I'm excited to announce that a story of mine called Life in the Harem is going to be appearing in Tin House. A lot of details are still pending, but for now I encourage you to kick back and enjoy the short story trailer that I whipped together in honor of this excellent news.

I'm pretty sure everyone is going to love this trailer. By everyone, of course, I am referring to people who spent the mid to late 80's playing video games.

Somebody should invent the short story trailer. Oh wait, I totally just invented the short story trailer.

Book trailers are pretty big right now, but do you know what's going to be even pretty bigger? You guessed it: trailers for individual short stories written by people who don't have books yet.

Check out this one that I just put together for my upcoming McSweeney's story:



On a scale from 1 to 10 (10 being I take this video seriously and 1 being I am actually aware of how ridiculous it is), this trailer comes in at about a 6.

Ninth Letter Spring/Summer Issue

The Spring/Summer issue of Ninth Letter is out, featuring work by yours truly. The magazine has a great new look. You can check out some sample spreads here.

Thanks in advance for buying dozens and dozens of copies and throwing a series of really elaborate Ninth-Letter-themed dinner parties to which only your most good-looking friends will be invited.

By the way

Have you looked at the top of this blog lately? If not, take a gander. Isn't it amazing? Isn't it more than amazing? In terms of over all aesthetic, this new header makes the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel look like a brochure for satellite television.

Of course, I can't take any credit for it. It was put together by Brent Van Horne, who's a stand-up guy. Also, Van Horne has a story in the most recent issue of The Madison Review, which I will write a proper post about once I get my grubby little hands on a copy - but the story is bound to be fantastic.

That's all for now. Keep your eyes peeled.

Paper Whistle Art Shop

Before I tell you about the new Paper Whistle blog and art shop, I have to take a moment to congratulate my blog on its new, cleaner, cooler design, which I am 0% responsible for (it is the handiwork of the matchless Brent Van Horne). Also, I would like to apologize for the new recipe feature, which I am 100% responsible for, and which, despite all the evidence against it, I refuse to think is not awesome. You can expect more absurdist recipes in the weeks and months to come.

But on to more pressing matters: artist Brandi Strickland has started a new art shop and blog (linked above) along with designer Robert Bentley. The site looks amazing, and there's tons of great art up. I urge you to take a look. I'm pretty sure I've blogged about Brandi Strickland's art before, but, if you weren't paying attention, you should really check it out. Her work is brilliant, playful, and boundlessly cool.

Also, if you join their newsletter, you have a chance to win a free print each month. This month, it's a print called Everything That Can Be Counted, an awesome piece that shows Albert Einstein looking uncharacteristically thoughtful.

Brandi Strickland at the Mahan Gallery in Columbus

Brandi Strickland, whose art rules, is going to have some work at the Mahan Gallery in Columbus next month. Those of you in the greater Columbus area (Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia, Pennsylvanian) have no excuse not to go see it.

For details, check out Strickland's site here.

You should also check out her Etsy store. In this harsh economic climate, art is a great investment (I assume).