At Last, the Return of the Big Novel

After half a decade of questioning fiction's relevance and assessing the demise of the novel in the post 9/11 world, it's a pleasure to see that instead of pandering and playing it safe, novelists have responded to reader ennui with exuberant risk-taking. Read the full article here...

Catch the Red Eye

My personal essay, "The Ballad of Big and Small" leads off the Summer 2007 issue of Grain Magazine (Vol.35, No.1). The issue's title, Tired of Burning, seems apt for the piece. Here's the opening:

"You woke me on December 25th, a rifle across your knees, barrel pointed toward the flickering Christmas tree. I shook my head, closed my eyes and opened them to see if you were still there. I didn't know you owned a gun. Instinct told me it was loaded. Your breath reeked of booze, but your voice was calm, reassuring.

"Bro, let's go out and shoot some shit.""