Recently, I was in conversation with two different Michaels’ on their extremely fun podcasts, mostly chats regarding my new book, ASKEW, writing, side jobs, and all random things in life. First, I spoke with Michael Hitchens, on his “But I Digress” podcast:
Then I spoke with Michael Wheaton, who’s podcast is The Lives of Writers:
Here is what some writing stars are saying about ASKEW:
ASKEW
My new book, Askew, has published today, March 8, 2022! It’s been five long years since FUNHOUSE (2017) appeared and so much has happened in that time, both personally, and professionally. Without getting sidetracked, here is the cover:
Artist is David Carter and layout/ design is Adam VanWinkle. Thanks for this terrific image and design!
Thanks for the terrific blurbs: Kelli, Nick, Sara, Alina and Sheldon.
And you can purchase a copy here:
We had a great time in Len Kuntz’s weekend workshop, Brave Ink: Mining Our Fears to Create Writing that Slays your Reader on October 17- 19.
Up next, we have Nina Schuyler, author of three books, who will take us through Writing the More-than-Humans!!! This will be December 12- 14, and Nina is an astute and memorable teacher, and being! More here: https://bendinggenres.com/writing-groups/
We watched “Last Words” on Netflix last night- an interview with pioneer Jane Goodall, hosted beautifully by Brad Falchuck. It was important, insightful, deep and more than we’d anticipated. I highly recommend it. R.I.P. Jane Goodall.
First of all, RIP to Robert Redford. Before I knew why, the magnetism of this naturally gifted actor was unsettling, I was an immediate fan. Partially drawn to his fatherly distance, his pretty and boyish looks, that dazzling smile, his conflicted miasma. And his inevitable Hubbel. “The Way We Were” really messed me up!
And we also lost Dan Wickett, the co-founder of Dzanc Books, among the largest and most respected indie presses, based in Chicago. Around the time I began shopping around a small group of indie, strange poems, Dan took a look, he was supportive, intrigued, and always professional with his sage advice. Eventually, Gloria Mindock offered and Cervena Barva published my first chapbook, Microtones, landing its perfect home:
http://www.thelostbookshelf.com/v.html
Dan was always quick with affirmative, concise advice, and the books that Dzanc curated have often been my indie favorites through the years. The independent book world has lost a huge and often, sage leader. RIP Dan Wickett. I’ll miss you.
We have a new music column at Bending Genres, curated by Maia Cardew. Her original article is about one of my favorite bands, Massive Attack, whom she saw live in England this past June. She went with her dad, Jonathan, who grew up in Sheffield.
Take a peak and there will be more pizazz to come from Miss Maia!!!
Bending Genres will be returning to Cedar Valley in West Bend, Wisconsin for our third time on June 7- 13, 2026. Robert Vaughan and Jonathan Cardew will be co-facilitators, and this week will be exploring new forms, experimenting with your current approach, and looking at pieces that journals are publishing in today’s literary market. Cedar Valley has 100 acres of rolling hills, a stream, Native American artifacts, horses in a paddock, and a lake. Here are some images from our former retreats at Cedar Valley, and a link to our Bending Genres website for more information:
https://bendinggenres.com/retreats
Thanks for all of your birthday wishes and presents, cake and more! I’m honored to know and share space with you. And I look forward to seeing some more of you this summer, and in the remainder of 2025. Cheers, family and friends!
Hello, friends! Thanks for registering so quickly for our August 16- 22, 2026 Bending Genres retreat at Synergia Ranch! When we opened up the retreats, two weeks ago on our Bending Genres website, I had no idea we’d sell out so fast! I’m honored, and pleased that we are able to gather a talented and incredible group so quickly. And both Nancy and I will be thrilled to see you all in the high desert outside of Santa Fe, New Mexico.
We had all sorts of summer storms this weekend- set new records for rainfall, and thunderstorms, and all sorts of crazy weather patterns throughout southern Wisconsin. One shiny gem was having family here, a spontaneous visit, and a deliciously fun way to spend the weekend. Much appreciated!
Listening to Billie Holiday’s “Stormy Weather…” feels appropriate enough!
What are you listening to today?
I’ve been using Duotrope for two decades. It’s a submission manager, and assisting website, to help writers determine where to submit their work, as well as to store their own acceptance/ rejections in terms of their submissions.
Each day they select one journal to focus as their “listing of the day,” and today we are their choice! Congratulations, Bending Genres! This is not only free press mention, but it also vaidates all of the editors hard work, and consistently selecting pieces that are aligned with our love of hybrid writing.
Here is Duotrope: https://duotrope.com and if you scroll down, you’ll see Bending Genres listed as their selection of the day!
Also here is our Bending Genres website: https://bendinggenres.com If we are new to you, you can read our 45th issue and submit something you feel might interest us! You can read about our educational offerings: Our Bending Genres Online Roundtable, our weekend workshop with Alina Stefanescu on August 15- 17, and consider joining us for our Synergia Ranch Retreat in August 16- 22, 2026. That direct link: https://bendinggenres.com/writing-retreat-at-synergia-ranch/
Hello friends! Two new upcoming Bending Genres events. First, fantastic author and authentic loving human, Alina Stefanescu, is hosting our August 15- 17 Bending Genres weekend workshop. These are asynchronous, and fast paced, and highly productive if you want that injection of nuanced, inspired blast! More information and registration here:
https://bendinggenres.com/writing-groups
Also, we have set the date! Our 6th return to Synergia Ranch, August 16- 22, 2026. Yes, a year from this coming August, both Nancy Stohlman and I will return to New Mexico’s high desert for the dream retreat of a lifetime! Set outside of Santa Fe, Synergia Ranch is nothing less than a magical setting, complete with geodesic dome, and dance studio. Peruse some images on their website. And very soon, we’ll have our Bending Genres website available, too:
And, Happy Birthday, Madonna. Her first collection was released today in 1983. Changed the landscape of music with songs like “Holiday!”
We wrote, we laughed, we sweat, we imagined. One glorious week in Chalais, France, Bordeaux region. Trains, planes, & automobiles. Our host, Emma, was generous, lovely and insightful. There are two buildings in which participants sleep: the original manor, a former champagne estate. And La Grange, the refurbished barn, which served as our workshop space also. There are also two glamping tents, positioned under that large linden tree.
We had retreat participants from France, Great Britain, Portugal, and America. Some I had met previously- Jomil, Dorothy, Tom, and Jesse. And some I knew online from various social or literary websites: Philippa, and Sandi. And then I met remaining writers for the first time- Marina, Jenny, Nicole, Holly, and Leslie. Everyone received lovely new journals & pens, and Dr. Seuss books to set the tone of our INVENTIVE week!!!
We ate all of our meals outside, despite three days of intense heat (over 100 degrees F). A saltwater pool helped to keep everyone “refreshed.”
Nancy and I decided to have a theme of experimental as backdrop. We had breakfast and coffee/ tea. My sessions were 10:00 am- 11:30 am. I had soft daily focuses around character, point of view, memoir, and abstraction. We read teaching examples from various current authors like Jacqueline Doyle, Sean Thomas Dougherty, Sabrina Orah Mark, Benjamin Niespodziany, and many others. We wrote in class with various exercises. We offered prompts. Nancy sessions were in the afternoon- 5 pm- 6:30 pm. She created a whimsical exercise in which we re-invented words and new definitions with an homage to Gertrude Stein. We also did imaginative dream work, and carried that into an abstract dream for ourselves.
There was a lot of time to write, to process. Also we were offered a Constellation workshop with Emma one evening (this literally blew my mind- profound thanks to Tom (as “James” a character in my new project) and Jomil (portrayed me). Such risk, inventiveness, and a unique energetic connection. Also each writer who attended the retreat were offered a one-on-one meeting with either Nancy or me.
Another afternoon, some participants travelled to Aubeterre, a local town with a famous sunken church. And… sunflowers!!!!!!!!!! Everywhere.
Overall, the week was sparkling, effervescent, unbelievable, extraordinary, and brilliant!!! Working with Nancy, and working in Europe were both a dream come true. Thanks to everyone for helping me to live my dreams in action.
(image provided by Leslie Archibald)
Lately I’ve been thinking about literary journals that supported my work a decade or more ago, and have gone away. Elimae, Metazen, Lost in Thought, Housefire, the list goes on and on and on…
I’m so grateful to all of those terrific zines that accepted multiple pieces of mine like In Between Altered States, Midwestern Gothic, Prick of the Spindle, The Camel Saloon, Used Furniture Review, Fix it Broken, Clutching at Straws and many, many more.
Recently with the publication of our 45th issue of Bending Genres, it came to our editors attention that a piece we accepted had been plagiarized. Of course, this was disappointing, and as we decided with our initial incidence of this same experience, we handled it as delicately as possible:
https://bendinggenres.com/uterus-lessons
This is a selfish offense and it causes magazines like ours, and many others, tons of concern. With the advance of AI, and other complicating issues we all face, this need not to be an additional problem.
I hope this writer gets her career on the right path, and continues to address how she got into this mess to begin with.
Meanwhile, dig into our latest issue at Bending Genres. What is your favorite piece?
