The Drunken Odyssey with John King: A Podcast About the Writing Life

In this week’s episode, I talk to fiction writer, Irvine Welsh, and share his reading from his new novel, A Decent Ride, at Miami Book Fair. Aleksander Hemon also read from his novel, The Making of Zombie Wars.

TDO Irvine Welsh
Here I am with Irvine Welsh back in 2012.

TEXTS DISCUSSED

Decent Ride" target="_blank">a-decent-ride

Trainspotting" target="_blank">trainspotting

Ulysses Complete & Unabridged As Corrected & Reset in 1961" target="_blank">Ulysses

The Making of Zombie Wars" target="_blank">the-making-of-zombie-wars

NOTES

Thanks to Pressure Wave (Jared Silvia) for his song "Two Thousand Six."

jared-silvia


Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_240.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 10:57pm EDT

In this week’s episode, I talk to the poets Rita Dove and Robert Pinsky, and share the reading they gave together at Miami Book Fair International.

 

rita-dove-mbfi

robert-pinsky

rita-dove-robert-pinsky-mbfi

TEXTS DISCUSSED

collected-poems-dove

at-the-foundling-hotel

NOTES

Listen to my previous interview with Robert Pinsky here.

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_239.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 12:34pm EDT

In this week’s episode, I talk to the essayist Sarah Sweeney about her debut collection, Tell Me If You're Lying, the impediments and the value the academy can be to writing, and the essential relevance of poetry to the prose arts.

sarah-sweeney-headshot

TEXTS DISCUSSED

tell-me-if-youre-lying

NOTES

Read Sarah Sweeney's essay about catfishing musicians here.

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_238.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 12:57pm EDT

In this week’s episode, I talk to fiction writer Glendaliz Camacho near the end of her residency at the Kerouac House in Orlando.

glendaliz-camacho
Photo by Linda Nieves-Powell

 

NOTES

Check out Glendaliz's work:

Reinaldo Arenas's story "The Glass Tower" appears in Mona and Other Tales.

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Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_237.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 1:23am EDT

On this week’s show, I talk to the literary historian Bill Savage about the re-release of George Ade's 1931 classic, breezy history of drinking culture in America.

billl-savage-headshot

George Ade

TEXT DISCUSSED

the-old-time-saloon

NOTES

Watch and hear Bill's rant against the term dive bar.

Should Prohibition be repealed? (illustration from The Old Time Saloon)

 

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_236.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 5:54pm EDT

In this week’s episode, I present an Election Day version Jesse Bradley’s prose reading series, There Will Be Words, or in this case, There Will Be Words and/or Doom. The readers included  myself,

twbw-john

Rachel Kolman,

twbw-rachel

Glendaliz Camacho,

twbw-glendaliz

And Whitney Hamrick.

twbw-whitney

Thanks once again to our host, J. Bradley.

Flash Fiction Spooktacular Jesse Bradley


Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_235.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 11:03pm EDT

On this week’s show, I talk to the nonfiction writer Sayantani Dasgupta about creative nonfiction, the romance of reading, and the powerful appeal of the in-between.

View More: http://heatherwoolery.pass.us/sd_brick_1TEXTS DISCUSSED

fire-girlTwenty-Thousand-Leagues-Under-the-SeaNOTES

Listen to Sayantani's essay about 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea here.

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_234.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 1:24pm EDT

In this week’s episode, I talk with Vanessa Blakeslee about David Foster Wallace’s “E Unibus Plurim: Television and U.S. Fiction.”

Vanessa and John 2

TEXTS DISCUSSED

Journal of Contemporary Literature

Read David Foster Wallace’s 1993 essay “E Unibus Plurim: Television and U.S. Fiction” here.

Save

Save

Save

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_233.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 12:16am EDT

On this week’s show, I talk to the nonfiction writer Pamela Skjolsvik about creative nonfiction, anxiety, and death,

plus I briefly eulogize a triumvirate of entertainers: Leonard Cohen, Robert Vaughn, and Kevin Meaney.

Leonard Cohen Anthem

Caesar 1970 5

Friars Club Roast of Chevy Chase

TEXT DISCUSSED

death-becomes-us

NOTES

Check out Pamela Skjolsvik's essay about David Sedaris back on episode 50.

Miami Book Fair International‘s amazing weekend street fair will take place on November 19th and 20th.

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_232.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 2:06pm EDT

In this week’s episode, I talk to the journalist and nonfiction writer, Craig Pittman.

craig-pittman

TEXTS DISCUSSED

oh-florida

the-scent-of-scandal

manatee-insanity

NOTES

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_231.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 4:08pm EDT

horror-movie-poetry-night-3

This week is a live show: Horror Movie Poetry Night III. The Drunken Odyssey All Stars were Glendaliz Camacho, Curtis X. Meyer, Stacy Barton, Jim Driggers, Shawn McKee, Jared Silvia, Whitney Hamrick, Teege Braune, & your host, John King.

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_230.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 12:11am EDT

Episode 229 of The Drunken Odyssey, your favorite podcast about creative writing and literature is available on iTunes, or right click here to download.

In this week’s episode, I return to Jesse Bradley’s Halloween installment of his prose reading series, There Will Be Words.

flash-fiction-spooktacular
Jesse Bradley, Karen Best, Shawn McKee, Teege Braune, John King, & Jared Silvia.
erik-deckers
Erik Deckers

Plus a final performance from The Terrible Mr. Sundrop.

Mr Sundrop

 


 

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Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_229.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 10:49am EDT

On this week’s show, I present a quartet of readings from HP Lovecraft: "The Beast in the Cave," "The Tree," "Beyond the Wall of Sleep," and "From Beyond."

Our readers are Chris Booth,

Chris Booth

Elise McKenna, and Tom Lucas.

Elise & Tom Lovecraft Roundtable

THE TEXT

the-new-annotated-h-p-lovecraft

NOTES

This episode is a companion to Episode 227, a roundtable discussion of Lovecraft.

If you like this show's readings, check out the previous literary reading episode, 123, on the year without a summer that spawned the ghost story contest between Lord Byron, the Shelleys, and Dr. Polidori.

If you are near Orlando on October 19th, come to Horror Movie Poetry Night 3.

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_228.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 1:03pm EDT

In this week’s episode, I and my inestimable guests have a fine conversation about Lovecraft and his bizarre tales and his rather strange life and his exceptionally unfortunate opinions

The participants included Elise McKenna, Tom Lucas,

Elise & Tom Lovecraft RoundtableJulian Chambliss,

Julian Lovecraft Roundtableand Dianne Turgeon Richardson.

Diane Lovecraft Roundtable
TEXTS DISCUSSED

call-of-cthulu the-dream-questthe-new-annotated-h-p-lovecraftweird-tales-july-1933-the-dreams-in-the-witch-house-and-the-horror-in-the-museum

 

An author photo can look unintentionally scarier than the horror book cover sometimes.

Save

 

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_227.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 4:02pm EDT

In this week’s episode, I talk to poet Vidhu Aggarwal,

vidhu-aggarwalplus Adelia Johnson writes about Ned Vizzini's It's Kind of a Funny Story changed her life.

adelia-johnsonTEXTS DISCUSSED

the-trouble-with-humpadoriits-kind-of-a-funny-story-by-ned-vizzini
NOTES

Check out my essay, "There, But," in the latest issue of Animal: A Beast of a Literary Magazine.

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_226.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 11:37am EDT

In this week’s episode, I talk to the journalist and historian, Bob Kealing,

bob-kealing

plus Heather Whited reads her essay, "Onigiri, Shirasagi, and Me."

Heather Whited 2

 

TEXTS DISCUSSED

life-of-the-party-coverkerouac-in-floridacalling-me-home

NOTES

 The Daytona News-JournalThe Daytona News-Journal documented Edward Albee's involvement with the Atlantic Center for the Arts.

On September 30th, Richard Blanco is coming to Valencia College for the Winter Park Writers’ Festival. Richard Blanco’s reading is FREE, but you MUST reserve a seat via the Festival’s Eventbrite page.

EVENT DETAILS

  • Location: Winter Park Campus, Valencia College, 850 W Morse Blvd, Winter Park, FL 32789, Rooms 237/2424
  • 4 PM: Community Writing Class with Richard Blanco
  • 5:30 PM: Open Mic Reading (Emceed by John King)
  • 7:00 PM: Richard Blanco Reading

You can find my interview with Richard Blanco back on episode 76.

The deadline for submissions for Condoms and Hot Tubs Don't Mix is fast approaching.

Save

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_225.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 2:44am EDT

In this week’s episode, I talk with Vanessa Blakeslee about Virginia Woolf’s "Modern Fiction" and "Mr. Bennett and Mrs. Brown,"

woolf-john-and-vanessa

plus Mingzhao Xu writes about Diana Gabaldon's Outlanders series changed her life.

mingzhao-xu

TEXTS DISCUSSED

mr-kimNOTES

Suki Kim's nuanced take on what happened in Brisbane can be read at The New Republic.

Lionel Shriver's "Identity Politics and Fiction" can be read at The Guardian.

On September 30th, Richard Blanco is coming to Valencia College for the Winter Park Writers’ Festival. Richard Blanco’s reading is FREE, but you MUST reserve a seat via the Festival’s Eventbrite page.

EVENT DETAILS

  • Location: Winter Park Campus, Valencia College, 850 W Morse Blvd, Winter Park, FL 32789, Rooms 237/2424
  • 4 PM: Community Writing Class with Richard Blanco
  • 5:30 PM: Open Mic Reading (Emceed by John King)
  • 7:00 PM: Richard Blanco Reading

 

Save

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_224.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 3:17pm EDT

In this week’s episode, I talk to the novelist Vu Tran about the appeal of detective fiction, the importance of literary substance over style, the problem with femme fatale characters, the Iowa MFA experience, and many, many other things,

Vu Tran

plus Jared Silvia sings another Woody Guthrie number in honor of Labor Day, as part of his annual Labor Day musical project.

jared-silvia

TEXT DISCUSSED

Dragonfish

NOTES

On September 30th, Richard Blanco is coming to Valencia College for the Winter Park Writers' Festival.

Richard Blanco's reading is FREE, but you MUST reserve a seat via the Festival's Eventbrite page.

EVENT DETAILS

  • Location: Winter Park Campus, Valencia College, Rooms 237/2424
  • 4 PM: Community Writing Class with Richard Blanco
  • 5:30 PM: Open Mic Reading (Emceed by John King)
  • 7:00 PM: Richard Blanco Reading

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_223.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 3:41pm EDT

In this week’s episode, I talk to the poet and novelist Ryler Dustin near the end of his residency at the Kerouac House in Orlando, after a weeklong tour of weddings.

Ryler Dustin

We speak about the horrors of what happens to poetry in educational environments, the dawning sense of contemporary poetry as a form of play and life, as opposed to some kind of stillborn puzzle. Ryler also talks about the poetic impulse overtaking him before he even knew what poetry was, and walks me through his experience in slam poetry and MFA life, and the creative writing PhD, and the drive to move beyond genres. For some reason, I bring up my favorite bit of dialogue from the movie Major League despite Bull Durham being a much better movie. The role of honesty and novelty in writing also brilliantly come up. (We were both sober.)

NOTES

  • On September 30th, Richard Blanco is headed to Valencia College for its 2016 Winter Park Writers Festival.
  • Rest in peace, Mr. Sundrop (Episode 213), or else let your caterwauls join the heavenly chorus.

Mr Sundrop


Episode 222 of The Drunken Odyssey, your favorite podcast about creative writing and literature is available on iTunes, or right click here to download.

 

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_222.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 12:20am EDT

In this week’s episode, I share There Will Be Fan Fiction 2, a special edition of Jesse Bradley’s prose reading series, There Will Be Words.

 

[gallery ids="16266,16265,16263,4775" type="rectangular"]

 

This installment features the fan fiction of Shauna Basques (Jason Todd-era Batman), J. Bradley himself (The Mighty Ducks/Fatal Attraction crossover, obviously), Brontë Bettencourt (Frozen), A. C. Warner (Star Trek: The Next Generation, as read by me), and me (Flash Gordon).

NOTES

Check out the first installment of There Will Be Fan Fiction, which featured Teege Braun writing Small Wonder, Jared Silvia writing King of the Hill, Stephanie Rizzo writing about a post-apocalyptic Lewis and Clarke, Genevieve Anna Tyrrell writing Dexter, and me, that is John King, writing a Benny Hill Show/Ace Frehley crossover that includes David Foster Wallace, Yoda, My Little Pony, and a hint of Cthulu.

Also check out J. Bradley's latest book, Jesus Christ, Boy Detective, and here us talk about it back on episode 216.

j_bradley-jesus_christ_boy_detective-front_cover

Check out Brontë Bettencourt's blog, 21st Century Brontë.

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_221.mp3
Category:Writing -- posted at: 2:48pm EDT

In this week’s episode, I talk to my friend, fiction writer Sam Slaughter, who I met back in 2014, when he wrote a little something about Denis Johnson's Jesus' Son for the show. We talk about his short story collection, God in Neon, his chapbook, When You Cross That Line (inspired by Florida Man stories), alcoholism, how we evolve as writers, and the Orlando writing scene.

Sam Slaughter
Photo by Oxley Photography 2014

plus Tom McAllister of Book Fight fame reads his personal essay, "A Brief History of World Travel (Part 8): Notes on Baltimore, MD."

Tom McAllister

TEXTS DISCUSSED

God in Neon

When You Cross That Line

The Sheltering

Bastard Out Of Carolina

NOTES

  • Check out Sam Slaughter's website.
  • Hear Sam read his essay about Denis Johnson's Jesus's Son back on episode 119.
  • Or hear Sam read his essay about his misadventures in brewing beer back on episode 126.
  • Or hear Sam reads his essay about helping himself to some sacramental wine as part of our Repeal Day 2014 show back on episode 129.
  • Read the text of A Brief History of World Travel (part 8) - Notes on Baltimore, MD, or check out Tom McAllister's other essays in this series, and his other work, on his website.
  • Consider pre-ordering Tom McAllister's forthcoming novel, The Young Widower's Handbook.

Young Widowers HandbookListen to the music of The Bambi Molesters.

 


Episode 220 of The Drunken Odyssey, your favorite podcast about creative writing and literature is available on iTunes, or right click here to download.Sonic Bullets

Save

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_220.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 12:56am EDT

Episode 219 of The Drunken Odyssey, your favorite podcast about creative writing and literature is available on iTunes, or right click here to download.

In this week’s episode, I share a recording of Loose Lips, the monthly current events literary thing hosted by the inestimable Tod Caviness.

Loose Lips_3

The line up on that evening was Ryan Rivas,

my awesome self,

 Mary McGinn,

Logan Anderson,

and Amy Watkins!

 

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_219.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 9:44pm EDT

In this week’s episode, I talk to historian and creative writer Todd James Pierce,

Todd James Pierce

plus Heather Whited reads her essay, "The General."

Heather Whited 2TEXTS DISCUSSED

Three Years in Wonderland

NOTE

Check out the Disney History Institute.

 

 

 

 

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_218.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 1:17pm EDT

In this week’s episode, I talk with Vanessa Blakeslee about On Writing, a book of selections from Charles Bukowski's letters,

Vanessa and John 2

plus poet Henry Hughes writes me a letter about his own correspondence with Bukowski back from 1989 and 1991.

Henry Hughes
TEXTS DISCUSSED

On Writing

post-office-charles-bukowski

Women

Bukowski Hughes letter 1 Bukowski Hughes letter 2 Bukowski Hughes letter 3Bukowski Hughes letter 4Bukowski Hughes letters 5Hughes 1Hughes 2Hughes 3NOTES


Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_217.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 7:27pm EDT

In this week’s episode, I talk to J. Bradley about his new novel, Jesus Christ, Boy Detective,

Jesse Bradley

plus Tom McAllister reads his essay, "A Brief History of World Travel, Part 6."

Tom McAllister Alaska

TEXTS DISCUSSED

j_bradley-jesus_christ_boy_detective-front_coverFR_40_1 - front cover

NOTES

  • For those of you who'd like to read "A Brief History of World Travel, Part 6," or follow Tom McAllister in general, go here.
  • Subscribe to The Florida Review for only $15 a year.
Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_216.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:24pm EDT

In this week's episode, I interview actor and author Lisa Wolpe about her one woman show, Shakespeare and the Alchemy of Gender, plus Mistie  Watkins reads her essay "Why I Write."

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_215.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 12:48pm EDT

 

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Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_214.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 10:41pm EDT

Episode 213 of The Drunken Odyssey, your favorite podcast about creative writing and literature is available on iTunes, or right click here to download.

In this week’s episode, I share a recording of a joint production of The Drunken Odyssey, The Functionally Literate Reading Series, and the In Between Series: an experimental show called The Pink Fire Revue.

This featured the musicians John Curtis, Derek Duda (Dudagruv), Jared Silvia (Pressurewave), and visual artist Ginger Leigh (Synthestruct),

Jared Silva

and the writers, namely myself,

John King_2

Nicole Oquendo,

Nicole Oquendo

Mary McGinn,

Mary McGinn

Tod Caviness,

Tod Caviness

&, by proxy, The Terrible Mr. Sundrop.

Sundrop 1

TEXTS DISCUSSED

Patchen BooksNOTES

Bright Light BooksIf you like in the city beautiful that is Orlando, do check out Bright Light Books, my favorite local used book store, especially for their overstock sales every Saturday.

Brighlight Books OC


Episode 213 of The Drunken Odyssey, your favorite podcast about creative writing and literature is available on iTunes, or right click here to download.

 

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_213.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 11:08am EDT

In this week’s episode, I interview fiction writer and humorist Erik Deckers,

Erik Dekkers

plus Emma Atkinson reads her essay, "The Little Maybe."

Emma Atkinson

TEXTS DISCUSSED

No Bullshit Social MediaBranding YourselfI Never Promised YouNOTES

Follow Erik's humor columns here, his professional blog here, or on twitter.

MSND NYCT 1Check out Chuck Cannini's review of New York Classical Theatre's A Midsummer Night's Dream.

 

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_212.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 10:01pm EDT

In this week’s episode, we have a roundtable discussion of Hunter S. Thompson.

The participants included Geoffe Benge, Frank Messina, Josh Dull, Shawn McKee,

 

HST Roundtable Fun
Geoff Benge, Frank Messina, Ashley Inguanta, Josh Dull, and Shawn McKee.

 

and Dianne Turgeon Richardson.

Dianne Turgeon Richardson HST Roundtable
Dianne pre-recording her bit. Notice the placement of tambourine.

TEXTS DISCUSSED

HST Hells AngelsHST The Great Shark HuntHST Fear and Loathing 2The Curse of Lonohunter thompson better than sex

The Rum DiaryHey Rube

 

 

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_211.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 1:02am EDT

In this week’s episode, I interview fiction writer and philosopher Ron Cooper,

Ron Cooper

plus I chat with actor Jeremy Palko, who many of you might recognize as Andy from season 6 of The Walking Dead.

Jeremy Palko
Jeremy Palko is the more handsome fellow on the right.

TEXTS DISCUSSED

 

Gospel Of The Twin

So Pretty

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_210.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 10:57am EDT

In this week’s episode, I share a recording of the latest live performance of The Drunken Odyssey All Stars, in The Ink Show.

TDO LOGO Ink Show

This performance included your humble host,

John King

Teege Braune,

Teege Braune

Nicole Oquendo,

Nicole Oquendo James King
Nicole with the tattoo artist, James King.

Mistie Watkins,

Mistie Watkins

Adrian Alexander,

Adrian Alexander

Stephanie Rizzo,

Stephanie Rizzo

Tom Lucas,

Tom Lucas

and Amy Watkins.

Amy Watkins

NOTES

Infinite thanks to Beyond Ink Tattoos in Winter Park.

20131118_221303

Listen to the powerful surf rock of The Intoxicators.

The Intoxicators 2

TEXTS DISCUSSED

Pen and Ink

Generation of Swine

Moby Dick

 

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_209.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 11:14pm EDT

In this week’s episode, I interview fiction writer Mark Leyner,

Mark Leyne David Plakke Media NYC, 2015
Photo by David Plakke Media.

plus Catherine Carson writes about how Kelly Groome's I Wore the Ocean in the Shape of a Girl changed her life.

Catherine Carson PhotoTEXTS DISCUSSED

Gone with the Mind

The Sugar Frosted Nutsack

Et Tu Babe

Let's Play Doctor

War Inc

I Wore the Ocean in the Shape of a GirlNOTES

The music accompanying Catherine Carson’s essay is “Wingspan” by Carlton Melton, from their album “Photos of Photos.”

Check out the music of The Tequila Worms.

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_208.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 10:03am EDT

In this week’s episode, I interview the novelist and poet Jeffrey Ethan Lee,

Jeffrey Ethan Lee

plus Heather Whited reads another travel memoir essay, "Masada."

Heather Whited 2

TEXTS DISCUSSED

The Autobiography of Somebody Else

Invisible Sister

Identity Papers

 

 

NOTES

  • Check out Jeffrey's first appearance on TDO, back on Episode 111.
  • The Pink Fire Revue is a Modular Collective Art event on June 4th at 7pm at the Gallery At Avalon Island.  Poetry by John King, Nicole Oquendo, Tod Caviness, and Mary McGinn. Visualizations by Synthestruct. Improvised electronic music by Jon Curtis, Dudagruv, and Pressure wave. The Pink Fire Revue is presented by Functionally Literate, The Drunken Odyssey, and The In-Between Series. This event is free and open to the public.
  • Follow The In Between Series here.oad.
Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_207.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 8:23pm EDT

In this week’s episode, I share a recording of latest Best Of show in Jesse Bradley’s prose reading series, There Will Be Words, in which I was a reader, along with Tom Lucas, Jared Silvia, and Karen Price.

TWBW Jesse
J. Bradley. Photo by John King.
Photo by Shawn McKee.
John King. Tom Lucas is at crotch height. Photo by Shawn McKee.
Tom Lucas. Photo by Shawn McKee.
Tom Lucas. Photo by Shawn McKee.
Jared Silvia. Photo by Shawn McKee.
Jared Silvia. Photo by Shawn McKee.
Karen Price. Photo by Shawn McKee.
Karen Price. Photo by Shawn McKee.

NOTES

If you live in the City Beautiful, that is Orlando, come see me collaborate with others in The Pink Fire Revue on Saturday, June 4th.

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_206.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:52pm EDT

In this week’s episode, I talk about Wallace Stevens's "The Noble Rider and the Sound of Words" with Vanessa Blakeslee,

Vanessa and John 2

Plus Tom McAllister reads his essay, “A Brief History of World Travel, Part 1: Notes on Portland Maine.”
 Tom McAllister

TEXTS DISCUSSED

Stevens LoA

Bury Me in My Jersey

NOTES

Check out The Two Cities Review, as well as its podcast.

Two Cities Review

If you want to read Tom McAllister's “A Brief History of World Travel, Part 1: Notes on Portland Maine,” go here.

Check out my review of Book Fight, or Book Fight itself.

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_205.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 5:15pm EDT

In this week’s episode, I throw myself into the Star Wars universe from a writer's perspective.

Darth and John

NOTE: This show was not authorized by Lucasfilm or any other company.

NOTES

Learn more about Marcia Lucas's influence on 2.5 of the early Star Wars films here.

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_204.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 4:10pm EDT

In this week’s episode, I interview poet Campbell McGrath about XX, his tenth book of poetry.

Campbell McGrath 2
Campbell McGrath (left) and John King (right). Photo by Shawn McKee.

TEXTS DISCUSSED

XXInTheKingdom_pb_cSeven NotebooksFlorida Poems

NOTES

All 7 panels from Litlando 2016 are now available on youtube here.

Read Amy Watkins's review of XX here.

My creative nonfiction piece, "Just Barely," recently appeared in the Fantastic Floridas section of Burrow Press Review.

My flash fiction, "Gentle Spirit," appeared in THAT Literary Review #1.

On May 10th, I'll be reading with Jared Silvia, Tom Lucas, and Karen Price in The Best of There Will Be Words.

Check out "The Battle Over the Sea Monkey Fortune" at The New York Times Magazine.

The Picasso film I reference is The Mystery of Picasso, from 1956, which is not actually in the 1970s at all.

Check out the music of The Bambi Molesters. Their songs "Rising East" (As the Dark Wave Swells) and "Chaotica" (from Sonic Bullets: 13 from the Hip) are heard on this episode.

As the Dark Wave SwellsSonic Bullets

 

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_203.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 11:20pm EDT

In this week’s episode, I share Litlando 2016's publishing panel, featuring Danita Berg, Lisa Roney, Raquel Henry, and Ryan Rivas.

Publishing Panelplus Chris Bedell writes about how Sara Shephard's Pretty Little Liars: Toxic changed his life.

Chris Bedell

 

TEXTS DISCUSSED

Black Fox 13The Florida ReviewAnimal A Beast of a Literary MagazineForty Martyrs

Pretty Little Liars ToxicNOTES

Check out the music of The Tequila Worms.

The Tequila WormsTDO Ink Show poster

 

 

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_202.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 3:06pm EDT

In this week’s episode, I present my lecture, Postmodernism for Creative Writers.

Postmodern books

Postmodernism for CW

TEXTS DISCUSSED

Memoirs Of A Shy Pornographer

French Lieutenants Woman

Gravity's RainbowTrue Places Never Are

Break Every Rule

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Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_201.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 3:34pm EDT

In this week’s episode, I talk to the poet and memoirist Brian Turner,

Poet Brian Turner. Photograph by Kim Buchheit.

plus Heather Whited reads her essay, "Scotland Break Up."

Heather WhitedTEXTS DISCUSSED My Life as a Foreign CountryTurner Here, BulletTurner Phantom NoiseNOTES

According to The Guardian, some readers were not amused by Calvin Trillan's "Have They Run Out of Provinces Yet?".

TDO Ink Show poster

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_200.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 3:46pm EDT

In this week’s episode, I talk to the New York Times bestselling novelist Ridley Pearson from Walt Disney World,

Ridley Pearson and Meplus Mistie Watkins writes about how The Night Circus changed her life.

Mistie Watkins

TEXTS DISCUSSED

Return Book Twokingdom keepersPeter and the Starcatchers.png

Choke PointNight Circus

 

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_199.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 3:33pm EDT

TDO LOGO Country MixtrapeTEXTS DISCUSSED

 

Residuum

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_198.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 1:35pm EDT

In this week’s episode, I talk about Carole Maso's Break Every Rule with Vanessa Blakeslee,

Break Every Rule John and Vanessa

plus Jeremy DaCruz writes about a lucky day on the Econlockhachee River.

Jeremy Da Cruz

TEXTS DISCUSSED

Break Every Rule

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_197.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 1:38am EDT

 

Episode 196 of The Drunken Odyssey, your favorite podcast about creative writing, literature, and drinking, is available on iTunes, or right click here to download.

In this week’s episode, I interview the actor Joe Vincent,

Joe Vincent

Plus John McMahon writes about how Moby Dick changed his life.

John McMahon

TEXTS DISCUSSED

Riverside Shakespeare
Moby Dick
 NOTES

Check out Orlando Shakespeare Theater's current offerings, and use the discount code mentioned at the beginning of this week's episode.

See my reviews of OST's Tempest and Pericles.

Check out C.T. McMillan's blog, McMillan's Codex.

 

CT McMillan 1

 

Check out Lisa Marten's blog, On Top of It.

 

Do not climb on rocks
 
I am so proud to share this wonderful Kerouac House/Burrow Press event from last month, My Queer Valentine, starring Ashley Inguanta, Claire Robin Thorne, Amber Norman, and Sarah Viren.
 

 Episode 196 of The Drunken Odyssey, your favorite podcast about creative writing, literature, and drinking, is available on iTunes, or right click here to download.
Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_196.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 1:30pm EDT

In this week’s episode, I interview the creative nonfiction writer Sarah Viren,

Sarah Viren

Plus Amy Oestreicher writes about a book that changed her life.

Amy Oestreicher B&W 2006

TEXTS DISCUSSED

Sarah Viren's My Murderer's Futon.

 
The Courage to Heal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTES

Learn more about Sarah Viren here.

Learn more about Amy Oestreicher, including upcoming dates of her one-woman show, Gutless and Grateful, here.

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_195.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:07pm EDT

In this week’s episode, I interview the poet J. Scott Brownlee,

J Scott Brownlee

plus Dan Lauer reads his memoir essay, "Helen of Troy."

Dan Lauer
TEXTS DISCUSSED


Requiem for Used Ignition Cap

Sex Drugs and Cocoa Puffs

Break Every Rule

 

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_194.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:04am EDT

In this week’s episode, I interview fiction writer Mary Gaitskill, and share her reading from Miami Book Fair International,

Mary Gaitskill

plus Beverly Army Williams and I discuss Mary Gaitskill's new novel, The Mare.

FullSizeRender-5

TEXTS DISCUSSED

The MareVeronicaNOTES

Check out Beverly Army Williams's site, Mothershould.

Litlando-PosterGet tickets for Litlando here.

The music used in this show was by Michael Hearst. "Alprazolam" (Songs for Fearful Flyers) and "Nicht Lustig Fight" (Film Music and Other Scores, Vol. 1) appeared in the opening, and "Theme From Magic Camp" (Film Music and Other Scores, Vol. 1) at the close.

Check out his wonderful music.

Film Music and Other ScoresSongs for Fearful FlyersIf you live in Orlando, check out Orlando Shakespeare Theater's 2016 production of The Tempest.

Greg Thornton (Prospero) and Lisa Wolpe (Antonia) star in Orlando Shakespeare Theater’s production of William Shakespeare's The Tempest. (Photo by Luke Evans.)
Greg Thornton (Prospero) & Lisa Wolpe (Antonia) in OST's The Tempest. (Photo by Luke Evans.)
Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_193.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:47pm EDT

Erotic Poetry Night IV

This week features our 4th annual Erotic Poetry Night, featuring Jesse Bradley, Teege Braune, Stephanie Rizzo, Danielle Kessinger, Amy Watkins, David James Poissant, Ashley Inguanta, Sarah Viren, and (ahem) John King.

 

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_192.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 11:00pm EDT

In this week’s episode, I interview poet Erin Belieu,

Erin Belieu

plus I share the Miami Book Fair International reading she participated in with Carl Phillips, Rowan Ricardo Phillips, and Kevin Young.

TEXTS DISCUSSED

Slant SixReconnaissance Carl PhillipsHeaven PoemsBook of Hours

NOTES

  • Check out my first interview with Erin Belieu back on episode 44, when we talked about VIDA and the count.
  • On Superbowl Sunday, February 7, 7 P.M., The Drunken Odyssey will be Super Balling at Writer’s Atelier. More info is here.

Litlando-Poster

Get tickets for Litlando here.

 

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_191.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 12:29am EDT

In this week’s episode, I interview Adrian Todd Zuniga, the host of Literary Death Match,

Adrian Todd Zuniga

plus Heather Whited writes about how Susanna Clark's Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell.

Heather Whited

TEXTS DISCUSSED

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell

NOTES

Learn More about Literary Death Match here.

Litlando-Poster

Get tickets for Litlando here.

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_190.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 8:00pm EDT

In this week’s episode, I talk about Lawrence Ferlinghetti's Poetry as Insurgent Art with Vanessa Blakeslee,

Vanessa and John 2

Plus Alice Lowe writes about how Virginia Woolf's A Writer's Diary changed her life.

Alice Lowe

TEXTS DISCUSSED

Poetry as Insurgent binding

A Coney Island of the Mind

A Writer's Diary

NOTES

Coney Island was much more interesting in 1907 than it turned out to be in 2007 when I visited.

DSC03368
The line for food was onerous. And no funnel cake.
DSC03369
His philtrum is a bit too feline for someone serving food.
DSC03371
This was not as much fun as it looked.
DSC03372
This ride was, disappointingly, all facade. It covered half-a-ring at most, with mostly tetanus to frighten you with.

Parachute Literary Arts managed a much better poetic experience at Coney Island.

gorgeous shot of wheel for poem-a-rama
Wonder Wheel, photographed by Jim McDonnell.

 

 

RaymondAdams-AmandaDeutchat the podium
Amanda Deutch hosting the night of poetry in and on The Wonder Wheel.
RaymondAdams-9682
Emcee and Coney Island Hysterical Society co-founder (on the left, outside the car) Richard Eagan.
RaymondAdams-9162
Julie Ezelle Patton.
RaymondAdams-9063-2
Wanda Phipps reading.

 

 

 

Litlando-Poster

_____

Episode 189 of The Drunken Odyssey, your favorite podcast about creative writing and literature is available on iTunes, or right click here to download.

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_189.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 3:59pm EDT

In this week’s episode, I interview memoir writer J.J. Anselmi,

JJ Anselmi

Plus Patty Hawkins eulogizes David Bowie.

Patty HawkinsTEXTS DISCUSSED

Heavy A MemoirLowNOTES

20914481839_d2db57ea30_oCheck out Drew Perlmutter's kickstarter campaign for his upcoming documentary, US Highway 98: The Florida I Never Knew. He was my cinematographer for The Drunken Odyssey's first documentary, The Weeki Wachee Spectacular.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7Cg6lFnfl4

Patty Hawkin's recommends Bowie's Jazzin for Blue Jean.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXvAaNcXNzI

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_188.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 12:25am EDT

In this week’s episode, I interview fiction writer Kelly Link,

Kelly Link

Plus I share the reading she participated in, "Short Stories, Tall Tales," also featuring Adam Johnson and Padgett Powell.

TEXTS DISCUSSED

Get In TroubleNOTES

Kelly Link Get in Trouble

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_187.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 3:41pm EDT

In this week’s episode, I interview the poet and memoirist Nick Flynn,

Nick Flynn

Plus I share the reading he participated in about 45 minutes after our interview, a reading that also included Ed Skoog and Denise Duhamel (Episode 134).

 

TEXTS DISCUSSED

My FeelingsAnother Bullshit NightRough DayCaprice


 

Direct download: The_Drunken_Odyssey_Episode_186.mp3
Category:Arts/Culture/Writing -- posted at: 4:51pm EDT

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