New story published today @ formercactus

The new issue of formercactus was published today, and I have a short story included. The story, "Low Breeders," is about a pit bull, Appalachia, and a hillbilly named Wench.

But that's only part of what it's about. Go have a look. There are a lot of notable writers in this issue so stick around and read.

An Important Update

The Braves are literally in the middle of winning the NL East Division title for the first time in half a decade.

GO BRAVES!

My new story "The Great Ones Eat Up the Little Ones" published today @ Cowboy Jamboree

I have a new short story in the most recent issue of Cowboy Jamboree, the grit lit journal headed by the kind and talented Adam Van Winkle.

The story is called "The Great Ones Eat Up the Little Ones" and is my exploration of one possibility of how the street corner preacher becomes the street corner preacher. We have these individuals in eastern Kentucky, exclusively men in my experience who stand on the corner or just outside the down courthouse and preach and generally call out to those passing by. How does that happen? This story looks at that.

There's a lot of good in this new issue of Cowboy Jamboree. Along with fiction from the likes of my friends Hillary Leftwich and Frank Reardon, there's also an interview with Willie Davis, the author of Nightwolf, his debut novel set in Lexington, Kentucky, which I wrote an appreciation for at Enclave last week.

I hope everyone who can will read the new issue. Drop a line and let me know what you think of my story, too, if you'd like.

Finished Ben Lerner's THE HATRED OF POETRY

The Hatred of Poetry by Ben Lerner

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The first half of this monograph was so well done. It spoke of poetry, which is unspeakable, in a way that was straightforward in its failure to do so. That was cool and kind of meta. At some point, and it started when he got into political aspects of some poetry, I went into this kind of trance where I felt stupid beyond imagination for the rest of the book. Could be I'm pretty stupid; could also be that things can be stated a little more simply, even if the subject is the unnameable, indefinable Poetry.



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Finished Matthew Zapruder's WHY POETRY

Why Poetry by Matthew Zapruder
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Zapruder gets me excited about poetry, and more relaxed. That's key, really - more relaxed. This is a good one for any level of poet, I'd say. Worth the read.


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Writer's Bone interview links to listen

I was interviewed at Writer's Bone and it is available every which way but loose. Here are all the options to link and listen to me talk about writing and other terrible things:

Direct: http://traffic.libsyn.com/writersbone/Friday_Morning_Coffee_Brown_Bottle_Author_Sheldon_Lee_Compton.mp3

Website: http://www.writersbone.com/friday-morning-coffee-home/2018/9/13/brown-bottle-author-sheldon-lee-compton

SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/writers-bone/friday-morning-coffee-brown-bottle-author-sheldon-lee-compton

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0q96cejjtEB06HyaVT98rX?si=slqedO6ERySozUFZJgMnLA

Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/writers-bone/e/56253713?autoplay=true

iHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-Writers-Bone-29214187/episode/friday-morning-coffee-brown-bottle-author-29845451/

Mother glory am I grateful they interviewed me. Three people joined forces for that to happen - David Joy (who put a bug in Daniel Ford's ear about my writing) and Jay Hill (who set the interview up on my behalf). And, of course, Dan for agreeing to talk to me. You all are pure champions for real.