Robert James Russell

Russian-born artist Ekaterina Panikanova creates these stunning layered paintings using strewn-open books and documents creating an almost collage-like effect.

I can’t take my eyes off of them…

I had an incredible trip to Paris in late May. Stunning, relaxing, invigorating: I came back writing a storm, just totally inspired. It was exactly what I needed.

It also helped that I was able to see various bookstores as I wandered throughout the city (seriously, Paris is a very literary city!), not to mention the plethora of stalls along the Seine selling used and rare books, vintage magazines, posters…you name it.

Most impressive bookstore: Shakespeare and Company (founded 1922) – A haven for writers and readers, including some of my heroes, this place is legendary and did not disappoint.

Next on my list: Librairie Ulysse (founded 1971) – The world’s first travel bookstore that’s still alive and kicking. Quaint and crowded…but in the best possible ways.

On top of all of this, the apartment I had rented out had a working Olympia Traveller typewriter (vintage!)—I grew up on typewriters, so it was especially great to be able to channel all of these inspirations into some hypnotic clacking during the evenings. Really, I forgot how much I missed these things…

All-in-all, Paris is still at the top of my list of world’s great cities, and gave me the literary kick-in-the-pants I so desperately needed. Voila!

Michigan is bountiful and beautiful, but it can be relentlessly inhospitable too—for the first bit of Spring, anyway: it doesn’t matter who you are, you will, at some point in your stay in Michigan, develop allergies to something.

What can I say that I haven’t said before? I absolutely cannot wait for Issue 10 to release. On top of a killer cover (below), the roster is stellar…really: In addition to the fine folks that we’ll be publishing, we were fortunate enough to snag a short story by the utterly fantastic Frank Bill!

Also, I’m in awe that we’ve made it to double digits. That we’ve come so far. And I’m extremely grateful to everyone who has supported our little journal and our mission to highlight the Midwest as a hotbed of literary activity. I truly believe that we have stories worth telling and places and people worth writing about, and I’m so happy we’ve found others who share our vision.

Issue 10 is due out July 1, 2013.

Chicagoans!

(And, I suppose, any Midwesterners within driving distance!)

Midwestern Gothic will be present at this coming weekend’s Printer’s Row Lit Fest (June 8-9). We’ll be in the Small Press Tent and, per usual at these sorts of things, will be offering back issues of the journal at a reduced cost, deals on subscriptions, and more. And really, the entirety of the Lit Fest is pretty fantastic and definitely worth an hour or two of your time if you can swing it.

For more information, click here.

Call it what you will (porch, patio, stoop), we have elevated just sitting to an artform.

I’m excited to announce that I have two flash pieces in (the just-released) Issue #2 of the wonderful Gris-Gris: An Online Journal of Literature and Culture.

Direct links below for the pieces:

“Cuckoos”
“Junko Miyashita”

Tumblr blog Merchandising is Forever has taken it upon themselves to create GIFs documenting the deterioration of vintage Star Wars action figures over time. I’m equal parts blissfully mesmerized and nostalgic for all my old Star Wars toys now living happily in a landfill somewhere.

My favorites are below. No Boba Fett…yet.

I’m thrilled that the newest bookstore in Ann Arbor, the wonderfully charming Literati Bookstore, is now carrying Sea of Trees. (They’re also carrying Issue 9 of Midwestern Gothic, and MG Press’ debut This Jealous Earth.) Seriously: If nothing else, stop by and take a look at the awesomeness of this store. It’ll blow your mind.

(Location and hours information.)

I was recently asked to be the fiction judge for the inaugural contest at Slippery Elm Literary Journal, a new journal published out of the University of Findlay. It’s truly an honor, and I’m thrilled to take part.

The contest features $1000 prizes in poetry and prose (poetry finalists will be judged by the extremely talented Mary Biddinger), with a deadline of September 13, 2013. There is a $15 entry fee, and all entrants will receive a copy of the issue.

For more information about Slippery Elm, or details on submitting for the contest, click here.