DAVID SIMMONS is the author of Ghosts of East Baltimore (Broken River, 2022). He lives in Baltimore, Maryland, with his wife and daughter.
“I’m Not a Big Fan of Rules”: Hillary Leftwich on Writing “Aura”
Aura, the new book from Hillary Leftwich, is a lot of things — a mother’s correspondence with her son, a writer’s origin story, and an at times harrowing account of abuse. It maintains the same formal innovation and structural intricacies that characterized Leftwich’s previous book while also offering a candid look back at its author’s life. Leftwich and I conversed about the process of writing Aura and the act of revisiting the personal histories contained within.
Going Forth With All the Shit We Carry: A Conversation with Sara Lippmann
Last summer I met a Brooklyn-based writer from my hometown who told me about her friend Sara Lippmann and showed me the amazing cover of Sara’s (then-forthcoming) latest story collection, Jerks. After hearing it was brilliant, I eagerly sought out the collection, which was published by Mason Jar Press in March. And it lived up to the hype — the stories are funny and razor sharp. Lippmann’s prose is electric and she maintains a generosity to both her characters and her readers.
Currents, an Interview Series with Brian Alan Ellis (Episode 93: Rick Claypool)
RICK CLAYPOOL is the author of Tentacle Head (Bear Creek Press, 2022), The Mold Farmer (Six Gallery Press, 2020), and Leech Girl Lives (Spaceboy Books). His short fiction appears here and there online, including Expat Press, Heavy Feather Review, and Bear Creek Review. He lives in Rhode Island.
Currents, an Interview Series with Brian Alan Ellis (Episode 92: Paula Bomer)
PAULA BOMER is the author of the novels Tante Eva (Soho Press, 2021) and Nine Months (Soho Press, 2012), the story collections Inside Madeleine (Soho Press, 2014) and Baby and Other Stories (Word Riot, 2010), and the essay collection, Mystery and Mortality (Publishing Genius, 2017). She grew up in South Bend, Indiana, and has lived for over 30 years in Brooklyn. Her work has appeared in Bomb, Full Stop, The Cut, Los Angeles Review of Books, TalkSpace, and elsewhere.
“All Art is Borne of Desperation”: An Interview With Elisa Albert
Human Blues, the complex fourth novel from Elisa Albert, tells the story of an indie rocker through nine menstrual cycles, as she tries to get pregnant. By her side, keeping her warm and spiritually alive through the labyrinth of doctors and unsolicited advice, is none other than the spirit of Amy Winehouse. This plot and structure alone made it a radical read. But Albert goes deeper. In the singular voice of Aviva Rosner, one worthy of Mickey Sabbath, Albert takes on the foundations of our society: the mythologies of motherhood, the industrial fertility complex, medical hubris, and the barren spiritual landscape. In a voice and style all her own: at once kind, wise, scathing but always funny, Albert has created a story that will challenge all you hold dear. In this wide-ranging interview, we discuss everything from IVF, the Dobbs ruling, Taharat HaMishpacha, and trying out for Rent, among other juicy topics.
Currents, an Interview Series with Brian Alan Ellis (Episode 91: Grant Wamack)
GRANT WAMACK is the author of Black Gypsies (Broken River, 2022), God’s Leftovers (Bizarro Pulp Press, 2022), and A Lightbulb’s Lament (Bizarro Pulp Press, 2016). He has more than 40 short stories published in places such as Dark Moon Digest, The Best of Surreal Grotesque, and The New Flesh. When he’s not writing, he’s reading tarot cards, practicing Jiu-Jitsu, and smoking weed in LA.
Currents, an Interview Series with Brian Alan Ellis (Episode 90: Marzi Margo)
MARZI MARGO is a person who writes and resides in Cleveland, Ohio. Ver recent books include EMOJI REVIVAL (Be About It Press) and PINK MAGGIT AMERICA (Ghost City Press). Ver music can be heard at letsfightoh.bandcamp.com. Ve tweets @wigglytuff_pink.