KIM VODICKA is “the spokesbitch of a degeneration”—“…a softer-spoken, more genteel Lydia Lunch,” according to The Houston Press—and the author of four full-length poetry collections, including The Elvis Machine (CLASH, 2020) and Dear Ted (Really Serious Literature, forthcoming in 2022). She is also the author of several chapbooks, including a poetic comic book, an EP of sound poems on seven-inch vinyl, and an illustrated book of poetry. Her poems, prose, and visual art have been featured in Spork, Luna Luna Magazine, The Thought Erotic, Forbidden Futures, Best American Experimental Writing, and elsewhere. For the past decade, she has toured the country performing sound poetry in bookstores, dive bars, art galleries, ’50s diners, pinup clubs, vintage clothing shops, rooftops, and places of worship. Originally from South Louisiana, she currently lives in Memphis, Tennessee, with her beloved cat, Lula.
My current favorite book is: …I think I forgot how to read. Maybe other writers go through similar phases and just don’t admit it? I’ll fix it. I had to force myself to become a reader in the first place, when I was fourteen and realized I was dumb and thought reading books would help me be less dumb. I can force myself to do it again but probably not today, Satan.
My current favorite film director is: David Lynch (my all-time favorite). I just said I think I forgot how to read, but I’ve slowly been reading his book on meditation and creativity by opening it to a random page every day. I’ve also been re-watching Twin Peaks for like the millionth time. I recently revisited Kenneth Anger, mostly because of the amazing rabbit holes his stuff can lead you down. He was connected to so many pre-hippie subcultural figures who would go on to become famous or infamous. I sometimes have more fun researching the people involved in his movies than I do actually watching them. He’s also a master at self-mythologizing and heavily controls his own narrative, which is full of tall tales. He and his work are fascinating to me. Watch Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome and look up everyone in it and see where you land.
My current favorite television show is: Bigmouth, a cartoon about puberty meant for an adult audience. It’s hysterical and inappropriate in a refreshing way by today’s standards. I also just started re-watching Mindhunter. I re-watch the things I love a lot, probably too much. Even if they involve very unpleasant subject matter, their familiarity usually has a calming effect. I think Mindhunter is one of the best shows of the past decade, though unfortunately it looks like the first two seasons might be all we’ll ever have. I’ve watched both of them three times. The show is a dramatized and well-researched account of the development of the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit, which is where psychological profiling of serial killers was born. Essential viewing for true crime lovers.
My current favorite song is: “I Go to Work” by Kool Moe Dee. I got a raise a couple months ago and have been bumping that shit to keep me motivated to actually do my job and not fuck up. The video is just Kool Moe Dee living his goofy-ass James Bond fantasy, and I live for it. He’s a Leo, and it shows.
My current state of mind is: hungover at the gym, because that’s the type of psychopath I am. I think I’m gonna do a dry February. I can’t keep pouring alcohol all over my anxiety and expect my demons to not fully possess me.
My current chemical romance involves: drinking and chain-smoking, but only on weekends because I’ve finally accepted that I am no longer a functional drinker and can’t do my day job hungover.
My current favorite word/phrase is: “Gumped.” As in Forrest Gump. It’s politer than its canceled counterpart and surprisingly versatile.
My current mode of transportation is: a Honda that needs an oil change. I dated a guy who was a mechanical engineer. He changed the oil for me once, and I thought that was hot, but he didn’t put the engine splash shield back on correctly, so I wound up tearing open my transmission pan on a piece of concrete while on tour in Kansas City a little while later. Had to finish the rest of that tour in a rental with no cruise control and a shitty sound system. Then had to go back to Kansas City to return the rental and pick up my car from the shop a week after I got home from tour. I brought that guy with me even though our relationship was garbage by that point. Kansas City’s not bad, though. Nice folks there.
My current favorite fast food item is: …I’m not really into fast food anymore. The guilt exceeds the pleasure. I can fuck up some hot wings though. Finally realized what all the fuss is about there, especially when both ranch and blue cheese are involved. I guess my favorite fast-ish, cheap-ish burger is Five Guys, but that’s mostly because their name sounds like a gangbang.
My current workout routine consists of: [an] elliptical machine (3-4 times weekly), yoga (2-3 times weekly), and sex (1-3 times daily).
My current regrettable decision involves: falling in love with yet another person who not only can’t commit but is terrified of love itself.
My current hopes and dreams are: to write something that doesn’t suck, become a crack shot, move to L.A., marry a rock star, but mostly for the dude I’m in love with to get his shit together and be with me.
My current projects/hobbies include: writing things that probably suck, thinking real hard about doing things I’ll probably never do, deluding myself into thinking I want things I probably don’t want—you know, the usual.
Kim Vodicka is online at kimvodicka.com.
Brian Alan Ellis runs House of Vlad Press, and is the author of several books, including Sad Laughter (Civil Coping Mechanisms, 2018). His writing has appeared at Juked, Hobart, Fanzine, Monkeybicycle, Electric Literature, Vol. 1 Brooklyn, Funhouse, Heavy Feather Review, and Yes Poetry, among other places. He lives in Florida.
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