wigleaf longlist and H_NGM_N

Hey, World!

A (very) short story of mine, "The O.K. Grocery Store Corral" from Knee-Jerk Magazine, made the wigleaf top 50 (very) short fiction longlist this year. I think this might be my first ever award of any kind in fiction? That's a really cool thing and I'm happy about it. I wanted to share the fact with all of you.

Also, some poems I wrote were published by poet/editor extraordinaire, Nate Pritts, and the great H_NGM_N this week. Take a gander at those, too, if you like. The issue is jammed full of other poets and all that I admire. You can (and really should) read them there, too.

Why God Why is now on Goodreads, for your information.

I'm reading several books right now but Lindsay Hunter's "Don't Kiss Me" (forthcoming from FSG) and James Tate's "Worshipful Company of Fletchers" are the most rocking of those books rocking my world right now. This is a thing I really want you to know.

My AWP Disappointments (So Few That They're Worth Mentioning)

1.) Not getting to talk to Sal Pane longer.

2.) Not meeting Nick Ostdick, Amber Sparks, Courtney Maum, Robert Kloss and Nate Pritts (among those whom I know were attending AWP and did not meet; don't get me started on those I haven't verified were in attendance)

3.) Meeting Mary Miller but not realizing she was THE Mary Miller (she was introduced to me as "Mary" which, in fairness, makes sense).

4.) Missing Amelia Gray's reading by mere tens of minutes, tops (although I believe it was less than that). (And I did get to meet her and she was wonderful and nice and that more than made up for my not getting to see / hear her read).

5.) I've still never spoken to Zach Dodson at any of these events, which is because of no good reason. He lives here, Chicago. I should really try to say hello. (sigh)

6.) Chad Redden, Shaun Gannon, DJ Berndt, Jess Dutschmann, Chris Kelly, Mike Bushnell, and Mike Kitchell's not staying forever!

7.) Josh Denslow's being unable to attend the Another AWP Reading.

8.) Faith Gardner's being unable to attend AWP.

9.) Meghan and Russ not winning the Karaoke Idol at Beauty Bar. (I demand a recount!)

10.) Peterbd's not coming to AWP and also not being someone I have ever physically seen, neither in person nor image.

All right, that's it. That's all the disappointment I can think of. Everything else was wondrous. Especially James Tadd Adcox. And even more especially Mason Johnson. And Dan Shapiro, also!

I'll come back and post more disappointments if I remember any of them. (Story of my life, right? Which is to say, disappointment.)