non-writing links

So... I finally broke down and started adding links of friends who aren't necessarily writers (or they may be, but their sites aren't first and foremost about writing). The main reason I didn't include them before is because I was being anal about handling the friends' links through Blogrolling, and one has to actually PAY to maintain more than one log. Screw that! So I'll take care of the off-topic (so to speak) links manually. I have absolutely no idea who all visits here, aside from the folks who are kind enough to comment from time to time. So if you have a site and I know ya and you'd like a link, just holla in the comments and I'll getcha linked.

Oh, and for anyone who checks out the links over there now and knows my political views, one of 'em's gonna seem awfully surprising. Yeah, I know his political views. He's been a friend of mine since 7th Grade, and a huge part of our friendship over the years has been our joy in arguing with one another. (My grandmother once wondered aloud if the police should be called when she heard us going at it, thinking we were drunk and on the verge of violence. Nope, Grandma. That's just how Don and I talk to each other.)

Opium Print

This is an amazing line-up of writers. Because my finances ain't exactly what I'd like them to be, I don't often shell out for lit mags (for shame, I know). I'll probably make an exception for this one. Look at this line-up!

Nick Antosca, Grant Bailie, David Barringer, Melissa Bell, Ryan Bird, Gary Britson, Dan Burt, Kim Chinquee, Spencer Dew, Daulton Dickey, Pia Z. Ehrhardt, CM Evans, David Fromm, Tom Fugalli, Carla Gannis, Rose Gowen, Diana Grove, Steven Gullion, Jim Ruland, Elizabeth Ellen, Michelle Garren Flye, Larry Gaffney, Susan Henderson, Darby Hudson, Nathaniel Johnson, Larry Joseloff, Heather Kelley, CJ Kershner, Roy Kesey, Darby Larson, Will Layman, John Leary, Vince LiCata, Tao Lin, Angela Lovell, Pasha Malla, Porter McDonald, Kevin O'Cuinn, Thomas O'Donnell, Amy Prior, Dunston Procott , C. Allen Rearick, Shelly Rich, Will Roby, Mike Sacks, Stephen Snipes, Claudia Smith, Matthew St. Amand, Anthony Tognazzini, Paul A. Toth, James J. Williams III, Joseph Young, Todd Zuniga

Amazing. And it's only $11.00 (plus $2.50 shipping and handling). Okay, I've talked myself into it. I'm gonna order. You should, too. (More info here.)

Gilead

I've finally found some peace and quiet recently, which has allowed me the simple pleasure of reading again. It's amazing how many of the stresses of the day can just melt away while curled up in an overstuffed chair reading a good book. For my birthday, Ellen passed along to me Marilyn Robinson's two books, Housekeeping and Gilead. I started reading Housekeeping (and loved the twenty or so pages I read), but it disappeared somewhere. I'm sure it'll turn up. In the meantime, I've started reading Gilead. Wow. Just wow. This is such an incredibly beautiful book. The premise is that the book is a letter from a minister in his seventies who is dying to his seven-year-old son. It sounds like it could be incredibly maudlin, but it absolutely isn't. The descriptions of all the simple things Reverend Ames finds beautiful... I don't know quite how to describe it, but reading this book puts me into such a serene and joyful state of mind. There are a few others I've read over the years that had similar effects. David James Duncan's The River Why and Anne Lamott's Traveling Mercies come to mind. But, as much as I adore both of those books, this is better.

I've heard a few people say that Robinson was awarded the Pulitzer for this novel because the selection committee was making up for not having given it to Housekeeping. I respectfully disagree. While the language (and again, I didn't get very far in before misplacing it) in Housekeeping is among the most beautiful I've ever read, Gilead stands very, very well on its own. I do think it's likely that it mightn't have been noticed as much without having Housekeeping to have made the committee aware of the author, but the book itself is oh so very, very worthy. One of the best birthday presents I've ever received. Thank you so much, Ellen.

gitcher pens moving

You'll wanna have a furiously fresh flash ready to submit when insolent rudder starts taking submissions again September 1. The announcement is here. Welcome back, rudder!

and another great issue of a favorite mag

Ellen Parker, Sean Farragher, and company have done it again. There's another issue of FRiGG live, and it's a beauty. Go check it out.

couple new issues with good stuff

Hobart has their latest issue online, their travel issue, and there is tons of great content within. Also, Ghoti's latest issue is up, and similarly contains lots and lots of goodies. Go! Read!

I don't think I agree with this assessment.

Is my blog shocking? I didn't think so...

Your Blogging Type is Spontaneous and Shocking

Nothing is off limits for you when it comes to blogging. In fact, your blogging style is basically "Shock and Awe." You're competitive - you strive to be an A list blogger. And with your wild writing style, you just might make it.

What's Your Blogging Personality?

The Winners

For those of you who entered (or were even just curious about) the erotica flash contest I posted about a while back, the winners are now posted here.

Wikipedia

Nifty! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SmokeLong_Quarterly

Daphne Buter

For those of you who, like me, are already big fans of Daphne Buter's writing, Elizabeth Glixman has conducted a fantastic interview with Daphne over at Eclectica. And for those of you who haven't yet discovered the wonder of Daphne's writing, do yourselves a favor and visit her blog.