"you're so Pilcrow"

Swoop on out this evening to The Fixx Reading Series at Fixx Coffee Bar on N. Sheffield, just south of Belmont, as one of the readers this evening is Pilcrower, Adam Deutsch. And, it's hosted by yours truly. And, I'm so Pilcrow.

Five with Jonathan Messinger

Next at bat with Pilcrow's "Five with" series is Jonathan Messinger author of Hiding Out, co-publisher of Featherproof Books and the book editor of Time Out Chicago.

1. What are you working on now?

I'm working on a novel right now. I was sort of floundering for a while there, but think that I've finally hit some sort of stride with it. Which, I think means I've just jinxed it.

2. What is your favorite part of literary festivals and why?

I like meeting readers. I find that when confronted with the people who read your work for no other reason than they felt like it, it's a much more illuminating and gratifying experience than, say, speaking with the press. Every time I talk with someone who read my book, whether they liked it or didn't—and they're always honest about that opinion—I'm astounded that someone set aside a few hours to read what I had to say. It's mind-blowing.

Also, if there's free food, I'm for it.

3. Who are your favorite small press mover/shaker types at the minute?

I'm really impressed by what Aaron Petrovich is doing over at Hotel St. George Press. There's such a wholly contained aesthetic, something I think is extremely difficult to achieve. I always like what Featherproof's good buddies Switchback Books are up to. And I think one of the great indie presses that doesn't get talked about in quote-unquote literary circles, because those circles are dumb, is Tachyon Publications, who publish some of the best sci-fi in the world.

4. Which author do you wish was coming to Pilcrow Lit Fest this year who is not?

Christian Tebordo, who's by far one of my favorite young writers around.

5. If you were in charge of picking a theme song for Pilcrow Lit Fest this year, what would it be?

There's a busker on Chicago's Blue Line who sings Donna Summer's "Hot Stuff" to a karaoke track. He keeps an old phone receiver in his back pocket, with the cord tucked down the front of his pants, and at various points in the song he pretends to dial and says, "Hello, Paris Hilton? Will you come over tonight and give me some hot stuff?" or, "Hello, Jewel Foods? Do you have Hot Stuff brand potato chips? You do? OK. I'm going to come get me some."

At Pilcrow, I'd like for that guy to be on repeat.

(You and me both, Messinger. Who wouldn't want that?)

Swag bags

Still time to add goodies from your company or organization to Pilcrow swag bags. Email us for info. Super easy. You'll have your logo or product in the hands of many authors, publishers, librarians and booky types all weekend and beyond.

Rebuilt Books, Soft Skull, Pilcrow

...and again! Soft Soft Press shows Pilcrow's Rebuilt Books some love.

The Rebuilt Book event on Saturday May 24th at The Fixx Coffee Bar on Sheffield is shaping up to be a fabulous event, with so many participants. If you're making artwork for us, make sure you send us your name, title of the book you're destroying and title of your artwork (if any), so we can accurately print up the auction placecards. Thanks!

Soft Skull gives good Pilcrow

Soft Skull gave a nice little shout-out to Pilcrow Lit Fest.

Five with Nick Ostdick

Welcome to another edition of Pilcrow Lit Fest's "Five with...". Our guest today is Nick Ostdick, editor of RAGAD.

1. What are you working on now?

Right now, I'm working on a few short stories, which is where I spend most of my time. I really love the short form, much more so than the novel or anything longer like that. I think part of this is because of length--short stories are just more compact by their nature, but also because there is more immediacy with a story than a novel or something. There is more room for fluff in the novel, more room to wander some. With a story, everything has to be matter, which is not say that everything doesn't have to matter in the novel, because it does. But stories have to be more precise--you don't have 200 pages to work a character or plot out, you have 20, and as a result the level of care and consideration has to be much greater.

The stories I'm working on right now aren't really related, but I think that maybe they could be some day. I'd like to get a collection together soonish here, either with the stories I'm working on now or starting from scratch and writing a collection without using any of my past stories, which is more gutsy, I think--to start from pebbles and make a mountain.

2. What is your favorite part of literary festivals and why?

I think my favorite part of literary festivals is meeting and hanging out with other writers. Writing is a pretty solitary act, and it's nice to get out once and a while and see that there are in fact other people out there who share your love for this odd thing you do. It's reaffirming. It's good to listen to other writers too, to listen to their stories and to talk to them about how they work and what they're working on and so forth. Plus, meeting anyone who has taken the time to read my work and likes or doesn't is pretty awesome as well.

3. Who are your favorite small press mover/shaker types at the minute?

Right now I'm digging on Chicago's own Featherproof Books. They're doing great things over there. I'm stoked that they are going to be attending the festival. BUY THEIR BOOKS!

4. Which author do you wish was coming to Pilcrow Lit Fest this year who is not?

Hmmm...off the top of my head I have to say Amy Hempel. I'm sure she wanted to come though--she cool like that (I'll give her a call later and see if she can put in an appearance). On a more realistic level, I would love to have Richard Grayson from NYC come out. He works the short form so well--it would be great to hang with him. I would also like to see the much lauded Tao Lin. Although I don't necessarily dig all his stuff, I think he's a very interesting guy and I would love to watch him sit on a panel or something...

5. If you were in charge of picking a theme song for Pilcrow Lit Fest this year, what would it be?

For some reason, the first song that comes to mind is Obama's theme song, Stevie Wonder's Signed, Sealed, Delivered For You. Maybe that's just because it's voting day in two states today, but I don't know...I think it applies.

"As the (Pil)crow flies..."

Take a moment, if you will, and look at the delightful piece posted on the Time Out Chicago blog about Pilcrow. That'll put a little spring in the ol' step.

Five With Angela Gant

"Five With..." asks five simple questions of someone involved with Pilcrow Lit Fest. For our next guest, please welcome playwright, producer, writer, comedian, Angela Gant.

1. What are you working on now?

Working on a few things. Currently, I am rewriting a current project, The Body of Eva Peron, based loosely on Juan Peron's rerise to power. The play begins with the arrival of Eva Peron's body at his doorstep in Madrid 15 years after she her body went missing. (I didn't make that part up. It's historical). I am producing a movie, Back Page, that shoots in March in Texas (you know, the friendly state). The director/ story idea man in Richard Massey. I am really excited by his reels and look forward to working with him on this one. Also, I'm developing a new play, Jesus, the Drinking Years (if he wasn't crucified), and finishing up a screen play Sins of the Father, a psychological horror movie, with William L. Bryan.

In other words, I am keeping busy by trying to keep paddling, and keeping the noggin afloat.

2. What is your favorite part of literary festivals and why?

Many writers tend to be solo artists. It's always fun to poke your head out of the shell and see there are others just like you. I think the companionship and camaraderie does everyone a world of good. It's also nice to take an artificial break, and be in another location for a few days, and put things in perspective. It's easy to get caught up in the day to day grind and lose focus. I think lit festivals are a great Jamba Juice IV to infuse a little wiggle back into your tired old keypad.

3. Who are your favorite small presses mover/shaker types at the minute?

I don't want to name names...so I'll allude. If you are small time and looking for a break, we've all been there and we are rooting for you. I like 'em young and hungry or old and ornery.

4. Which author do you wish was coming to Pilcrow Lit Fest this year that is not?

I have to go with Gary Garrison. The guy is a great motivational speaker, and a fun writer. My favorite quote of Gary's, "No one asked you to be a writer". Kind of puts a spin of the pity party we like to throw for ourselves sometimes.

5. If you were in charge of picking a theme song for Pilcrow Lit Fest this year, what would it be?

The theme song to The Greatest American Hero. If you haven't heard it in a while, give it a listen.

Not for Winehousian Purposes

Pilcrowers? Show of hands, who went to rehab and wrote about it?

Five With Zach Plague

"Five With..." asks five simple questions of someone involved with Pilcrow Lit Fest. For our next guest, please welcome Zach Plague.

1. What are you working on now?

I'm working on my debut novel, boring boring boring boring boring boring boring. It's a hybrid typo/graphic novel, which means it's heavy on the design end. I took my time writing and editing it, and the result is I kind of have to design in a panic. Beyond that I'm always working to promote the swell authors we put out on featherproof. This Will Go Down on Your Permanent Record is our latest book, and it's a YA novel, which is different for featherproof, so there are a lot of new outlets to explore.

2. What is your favorite part of literary festivals and why?

I like the schmoozing, the boozing, and the... perusing. Of good books.

3. Who are your favorite small press mover/shaker types at the minute?

A perennial favorite is Open City Books, they just do a few a year, but you always know they'll be fantastic books. The designer in me is blown away by PictureBox.

4. Which author do you wish was coming to Pilcrow Lit Fest this year who is not?

Oh, gosh, I don't know. I am excited about some of the people who are coming. Namely Pete Coco, Timothy Schaffert, and Scott Stealy. Great writers, great guys.

5. If you were in charge of picking a theme song for Pilcrow Lit Fest this year, what would it be?

Let's say 'For Whom The Bell Tolls' by Metallica, but with some minor lyric substitution:

For whom the pill crows!
Guth marches on!
For whom the pill crows!

(AG: Wow. I never thought I would ever, ever see my surname slipped into a Metallica song. That might go without saying. Rock on.)

Rebuilt Books and Pilcrow Lit Festers Are Doing Fabulous Things (volume one)

Don't forget! If you would like a spot for the Rebuilt Book auction, please drop one of us an email and let us know. Of course, you can just come and hang out and buy the Rebuilt Books, too. Everything we raise that evening (Saturday, May 24th) goes straight to help rebuild New Orleans Public Libraries. Ron Biava, campaign coordinator of of NOPL will be our special guest that evening and we hope to send him home with piles of money.

Also, in Pilcrow Lit Festers Are Doing Fabulous Things News:

Timothy Schaffert has a mini-book out with Featherproof and you can download it, assemble it yourself and enjoy it for free by clicking here.

Jami Attenberg is touring this month to promote The Kept Man. She's very likely reading someplace near you very soon, which you can check right here.

Rachel Cline's new book, My Liar, is officially out in mere days.

Matilda's/babyATLAS

Matilda's/babyATLAS might be the run by the nicest man in Chicago. Pilcrow thanks this joint and the man behind it from the bottom of our little Pilcrowey hearts for the overwhelming support. Truly. Make a mental note, all of youse, to be sure to spend your hard-earned literary dollars there often. We'll be there Friday, May 23rd for the launch party and we'll be there again Saturday morning for some of the panel discussions.

Five with Ben Tanzer

New feature, kids. "Five With..." asks five simple questions of someone involved with Pilcrow Lit Fest. Our first guest is a gentleman I've interviewed once before and had as a guest at the Fixx Reading Series. Please welcome Ben Tanzer.

1. What are you working on now?

I believe its public knowledge that I am furiously rehearsing for the Wham! reunion show this summer at Coachella. Things have definitely been stressful between George, Andrew, and I over the years, but we are really looking forward to this. It’s like a new beginning.

I am also continuing to endlessly hype my debut novel Lucky Man , which everyone who reads this should totally buy multiple copies of, and as always am encouraging people to visit my blog “This Blog Will Change Your Life”.

I’m putting the finishing touches on my new novel Most Likely You Go Your Way and I’ll Go Mine and getting ready to shop it around so anyone out there who has been dying to work with me, this is your chance. Run, don’t walk.

I also want to be sure to mention that my zine “This Zine Will Change Your Life” is launching April 1^st and people can submit work to thiszinewillchangeyourlife (at) yahoo.com. The plan is to run two pieces per month online, there is no link yet, sorry, and then create a hard copy compendium of my favorite pieces at year’s end. I am looking for pieces that run 1200 - 1500 words, 2000 if they rock, and I am open to fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and comix. I like writing that is dark and humorous, and borderline inappropriate, not so much into experimental or speculative fiction, not that I’m all that sure what the latter is.

Finally, as I seek to expand my faux media corporation TBWCYL, Inc., I have started rolling out “This Podcast Will Change Your Life” and I am currently recording podcasts with a literary bent. If anyone out there wants to pitch themselves as a possible participant, is in Chicago, has a free bed and/or is open to buying drinks give me a shout. Please also look for the launch of “This T-shirt Will Change Your Life” and “This Perfume Will Change Your Life,” the latter of which will have an airy cumin and cinnamon scent.

2. What is your favorite part of literary festivals and why?

I love the groupies of course, though please don’t print that if you think my wife is going to read this. Eh, fuck it, go ahead, it’s easier than talking to her. I also like the swag, new MP3 players and cool sunglasses are always nice, and appreciated, and though I had intended not to do any plugging here, thank you Ray Ban. More than these things though, my favorite part of literary festivals is meeting other writers, talking about their work, what they struggle with, their process, listening to them answer questions, that never gets old to me. I love writers and writing, and at festivals it’s all there to be engulfed, fully, wholly, and obsessively, a feast of words and people who love them.

3. Who are your favorite small presses mover/shaker types at the minute?

I am contractually obligated to write that my publisher Manx Media does work so groundbreaking and brilliant that one day epic poems will be written about their prowess. Though seriously, they do rock. That said, I love the kinds of things that Jonathan Messinger at Featherproof and Todd Dills at THE2NDHAND are up to, though I don’t know them all that well. There are others though, somewhat more off the radar, though not for long, that I’ve also had the opportunity to spend time with, people like the 20dissidents crew in Raleigh-Durham and Russ Marshalek at Wordsmiths Books in Atlanta, just cool people, and supportive of me, and writers in general. I also have a lot of love for Nick Ostdick at RAGAD, Pete Anderson at the PeteLit blog, and the Jasons (Behrends and Pettus) at What to Wear During an Orange Alert and the Chicago Center for Literature and Photography respectively, who are doing some great things around independent arts and culture. I also want to give shout-outs to Matt Staggs at Skullring down in Mississippi, the good gentlemen at Wonka Vision magazine in Philadelphia and the rocking Joana Topor who just co-launched The Parlor reading series/podcast love fest here in Chicago which I think is going to be great. All these people take care of and celebrate quasi-obscure, or near obscure, artists, and I love that.

4. Which author do you wish was coming to Pilcrow Lit Fest this year that is not?

I’m sorry Eric Spitznagel of Fast Forward fame won’t be there, but that is purely because I’m feeling lonely. Otherwise, I have had the chance to read five very different books recently and would be geeked to meet any or all of these authors. First off, Rusty Barnes has this short collection of short stories out called Breaking it Down, and its genius, really, the drunken, bastard baby of Raymond Carver and Breece Pancake. There’s also Sherrie Flick who has the killer flash fiction collection out called I Call this Flirting, great stories of love and longing. Jeremy Shipp who wrote the absolutely insane science fiction novel Vacation, which is crazy and awesome, though I have no idea what it’s about. Kelly Moran the author of this romantic and sort of inspirational novel When the Leaves Stop Falling, something I would normally not read, but I connected with her, we swapped books, and I have totally enjoyed it. Corey Mesler who wrote the novel Talk, he is a good friend, albeit a virtual one, and a great guy, or so he says, and Talk is a spot-on novel about male behavior. And finally, Elizabeth Crane, unless of course she’s coming that is, and if she is coming, please let me know so I can get a haircut or something.

5. If you were in charge of picking a theme song for Pilcrow Lit Fest this year, what would it be?

I’m not sure if I am supposed to pick a Smiths song here or what, but I am going to go with “When Irish Eyes Are Burning” by the Ike Reilly Assassination off his recent disc “We Belong to The Staggering Evening.” He’s a local dude and he really rocks. I’m not sure why this guy isn’t huge, but this song is big and fun and I think it would work. Here’s an excerpt:

It doesn’t matter if you’re seventeen
It doesn’t matter if you’re twenty-one
It doesn’t matter if you’re thirty-three
Forgive me baby, Jesus what I done
Forgive me baby, Jesus what I done

I belong to the staggering evening
I belong to the sweltering nights
I belong to the girl that’s leaving
But all we’re gonna do is fight tonight

Nice, right?

-BT/ag

Orange Alert + Pilcrow

Pilcrow Lit Fest, naturally, found its way into an interview I did this week for What To Wear During An Orange Alert. How fun! Click. Read. Enjoy.