PulpLit.net

The same thing we do every night, Pinky

Last night Jennifer and I successfully kicked off another key component of our "try to take over the world" strategy with Itch- The Reading Series.

This month was essentially the "meet your hosts" edition of Itch, with Jennifer and I headlining. I read the first chapter of my second novel-in-progress, Free Evenings & Unlimited Weekends, and Jennifer read from her novel #1, Sundowning.

For the first time in my life, I felt absolutely no nerves before or during my time on stage. I can't normally even watch other people perform my work without developing nausea and a migraine-like headache. But last night, nothin'-- not even stuttering or "uhm"ing or uber-fast scaredy-reading. It was actually fun. I think it's all the breakdancing that's helping. When you spend three or four nights a week spontaneously making up competitive dance routines in open spaces where everyone can watch, standing still and performing something prepared in a genre you're already comfortable with is like a breather by comparison. Also, I put a lot of thought into my selection and my outfit, which is not as shallow as it sounds (the outfit) if it gets you through the night.

Amy Pearl stood up alone to the challenge of the open-mic portion of the evening. Amy is a woman of many faces and talents and for us, last night, she was like a kind of on-coke and then off it, then on-ephedrine and off it again, formerly-stripping Stewart McLean. She showed up with a huge binder full of material and read a lengthy sort of story/personal essay on the topic of Upstairs Neighbors You Kind Of Want To Like, But Then Again, Maybe Not Really.

The Art Bar was the absolutely perfect space for exactly the event we were trying to throw-- warm, smallish, with cute little caf? tables, a hardwood floor and the one stereotypically exposed brick wall. It was full and friendly with the twenty or so people who came by. We noticed that wall looked perfect for hanging art and, in fact, already had nails in it, so next month we will also have a flash, one-night-only art exhibition of some sort.

Media coverage has been encouraging thus far thanks to Jennifer's spectacular publicity work. A few people were drawn in by listings in the NOW. A reporter from local paper, The Liberty Gleaner came out to see the show, get some photos and interview us for the next issue. Apparently Book TV is going to be around next month. We will look forward to that.