Currents, an Interview Series with Brian Alan Ellis (Episode 78: Graham Irvin)

Graham Irvin

GRAHAM IRVIN lives in Philadelphia. His writing has been in Hello America Lit, HAD, Joyland, and other places. Liver Mush (Back Patio Press) is his first book.

My current favorite thing to read is: …I’ve been reading the bible with my mom since February. She’s way ahead of me. Sometimes we talk on the phone about what we think different stories mean. She’s very religious and I’m not very religious. It’s a fun book though.

My current favorite thing to watch is: Atlanta. I’d only ever seen the first season. So I re-watched that, then the season I missed, and caught up with the new episodes coming out. It’s cool that there are multiple episodes where characters are encouraged not to be heroes. To just take care of themselves.

My current favorite thing to listen to is: “Love TKO” by Teddy Pendergrass. His other music is really good but I’m obsessed with this song. Specifically the bass riff. And the way, about 3 minutes in, he says, “Let it go,” with this cool vocal effect. It’s great.

 My current state of mind is: depressed/tired… don’t have a lot of energy to do fun stuff.

My current chemical romance involves: Fruit Punch pre-workout mix from Walmart in a big Myrtle Beach, SC freezable cup. Dayquil. A non-tobacco nicotine pouch.

My current words of wisdom are: …I don’t know. What about: Talking to people is generally a positive experience. You should talk to people as much as possible.

My current mode of transportation is: …I ride my bike to work. That’s been nice. I get off around midnight and get to take my time riding through the empty city. It’s very peaceful and doesn’t stress me out like driving a car does.

My current favorite fast food item is: always and forever the Cheesy Gordita Crunch from Taco Bell. It can’t be beat.

My current workout routine consists of: riding my bike to work. Around 20 miles a week. It’s not much but it gets my heart pumping. I also stand a lot. Is that a work out?

My current regrettable decision involves: …a week or so ago, I had a lot of sour candy and beer delivered to my house late at night. It cost like $50. Then I ate the sour candy and drank the beer and my teeth hurt and my stomach hurt and I could have used that $50 for anything else. I really miss that $50.

My current hopes and dreams are:  to get that $50 back somehow. I’d also like to play the banjo more, maybe while my girlfriend plays Animal Crossing. That would be perfect.

My current projects include: editing a book that’s maybe a novel called Some Things I Ate. Trying to figure out how to be happy.

 

Graham Irvin is online at neutralspaces.co/graham_irvin.

Brian Alan Ellis runs House of Vlad Press, and is the author of several books, including Sad Laughter (Civil Coping Mechanisms, 2018) and Hobbies You Enjoy (serialized daily on Instagram: @hobbiesyouenjoy). His writing has appeared at Juked, Hobart, Fanzine, Monkeybicycle, Electric Literature, Vol. 1 Brooklyn, X-R-A-Y, Heavy Feather Review, and Yes Poetry, among other places. He lives in Florida.

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