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Category Archives: Florida Literature

Episode #342: Linda Buckmaster!

24 Saturday Nov 2018

Posted by thedrunkenodyssey in Episode, Florida Literature, Literature of Florida, Memoir

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Episode 342 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 talk to poet and memoirist Linda Buckmaster about how our subjects sometimes choose us, the wondrous weirdness of Florida, and how the find form in the flux of composition.

Linda Buckmaster

TEXT DISCUSSED

space heart


Episode 342 of The Drunken Odyssey, your favorite podcast about creative writing and literature is available on iTunes, or right click here to download.

Episode 262: David James Poissant’s Keynote from Litlando 2017!

27 Saturday May 2017

Posted by thedrunkenodyssey in Episode, Florida Literature, Literature of Florida

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Episode 262 of The Drunken Odyssey, your favorite podcast about creative writing and literature is available on iTunes, or right click here to download.

On this week’s show, David James Poissant reads his keynote at Litlando, from February 25th, 2017.

David James Poissant Keynote

TEXTS DISCUSSED

The Heaven of Animals

 


Episode 262 of The Drunken Odyssey, your favorite podcast about creative writing and literature is available on iTunes, or right click here to download.

Episode 220: Sam Slaughter!

20 Saturday Aug 2016

Posted by thedrunkenodyssey in Episode, Florida Literature, Literary Prizes, Literature of Florida, Memoir, Travel Writing

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Tags

A Brief History of World Travel (Part 8): Notes on Baltimore, Bastard Out of Carolina, Denis Johnson, Dorothy Allison, Florida Man, God in Neon, Jesus' Son, Mark Powell, Orlando, Sam Slaughter, The Bambi Molesters, The Young Widower's Handbook, There Will Be Words, Tom McAllister, When You Cross That Line

Episode 220 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 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.

Sonic Bullets


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

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Buzzed Books #36: When You Cross That Line

02 Tuesday Feb 2016

Posted by thedrunkenodyssey in Buzzed Books, Florida Literature, Literature of Florida

≈ 1 Comment

Buzzed Books #36 by Chris Blanchard

When You Cross That Line

Sam Slaughter’s chapbook, When You Cross That Line, was published as an award for the reading series There Will Be Words based here in Orlando. At a mere 41 pages, this little chapbook can fit right in your back pocket. The cover is minimal, just the title and author name over a white background. Something about the simplicity and size instantly stirred my curiosity. This unassuming book was carefully planned and executed, its formatting tight, and overall appearance highly professional. What’s inside doesn’t disappoint, either. There are five stories within, all based off Florida Man, a parody twitter account highlighting crazy news accounts of people committing various crimes in Florida.

When You Cross That Line

Most of the stories were subtly surprising. The best example, She’ll Never Hurt Me Again, takes an interesting approach to the classic post-relationship heartbreak story by showing two beefy redneck brothers coping with a relationship that recently turned sour. Seeing two rough n’ tough Southern bad-asses so distraught over a heartbreak serves a refreshing reminder that even the tough guys are liable to get their hearts crushed into dust. Based on the context of the story, we assume these two brothers are drinking to forget, to run from their emotions (that’s the point, right?), but towards the end, the subversion of our expectations comes from the realization that instead of grieving, the brothers are taking action. They aren’t drinking to run, they’re drinking to face the truth, and the task they need to perform: she’s gone, and this tattoo’s gotta go.

Another great example is When You Cross That Line, the story for which the chapbook is named. This story does a great job subverting the traditional role of the main character. The antagonist wins, getting away with holding the main character at gun point, and forcing our hero to take illegally obtained ‘gators in broad daylight before fleeing the scene in a puff of engine exhaust. The whole time, you’re expecting some type of action from the main character, or even a positive resolution to this royally awkward situation, but when the story ends without either, the reader is left with one shocked question: “Did he just get away with that?” These types of tiny tweaks to expectations are present throughout all five stories, adding just enough uncertainty to make them compelling.

Additionally, each story starts off with a high-concept sentence that let’s you know enough to jump right into the action, but not enough to guess what’ll happen. A good example is Neighborhood Watch: “The landlord was ten minutes late, and my girlfriend and I sat on the hood of my car, waiting.” This sentence establishes character and through minimalist diction, creates a false sense of comfortable simplicity. This comfort is soon shot to hell, as the couple, expecting a casual meeting with a prospective landlord, are greeted instead by a senile neighbor, threatening them in his wrinkly birthday suit. Another example, from A Solider Fights for Freedom: “Paul ate lunch at Applebee’s everyday since his wife died five months earlier.” This type of high-concept sentence is worthy of a Disney logline. It perfectly sums up the main character, showing his routine-oriented mindset, only to have the old-timer turn around and beat up a douchebag spouting obscene comments about women at the drop of hat. Sam Slaughter understands how to layer each sentence, utilizing preconceived connotations only to undermine them through zany characters and crazy situations.

All in all, this chapbook kicked ass, and solidifies the fact that There Will Be Words is something to pay attention to. Sam Slaughter’s When You Cross That Line is poignant in its brevity, and obviously well thought out. Writing compelling short-form fiction is tough in and of itself, so when you find a writer that manages to juggle good storytelling with strict word-count limitations and obscure formatting, you know you’re onto something good. If you’re looking for well-balanced prose, go for Sam Slaughter.

If you’re looking to get your hands on some illegally obtained ‘gators, stop by any 7-11 in Central Florida. Tell ‘em Chris sent ya.

_______

Chris BlanchardChris Blanchard grew up in rural Colorado, where the dramatic landscape inspires many of the set pieces in his work. His short stories and screenplays are heavily influenced by Kurt Vonnegut, the Cohen brothers, Stephen King, and GZA The Genius. Currently cooped in Central Florida, his free time is dedicated to reading books, honing his craft, and pretending to be a viking.

Episode 183: Mary Karr!

13 Sunday Dec 2015

Posted by thedrunkenodyssey in Episode, Florida Literature, Memoir, Poetry

≈ 3 Comments

Episode 183 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 interview Mary Karr,

Mary Karr

and share her talk at Miami Book Fair International 2015, plus I share a Miami Bookfair Event I was in, Tiffany Razzano’s Saved by the Sunshine State.

Tiffany Razzano

Tiffany Razzano ruling over The Swamp!

NOTES

Check out our latest video on our youtube channel: J.C. Sevcik’s farewell reading at the end of his residency at the Kerouac House.

 TEXTS DISCUSSED

The Art of MemoirSinners WelcomeMary Karr LitA Sky the Color of ChaosJuventudSofritoHello American Lady Creature


Episode 183 of The Drunken Odyssey, your favorite podcast about creative writing and literature is available on iTunes, or right click here to download.

Episode 157: Shane Hinton!

13 Saturday Jun 2015

Posted by thedrunkenodyssey in Craft of Fiction Writing, Episode, Flash Fiction, Florida Literature

≈ 1 Comment

Episode 157 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 talk to fiction writer Shane Hinton,

Shane Hintonplus Sayantani Dasgupta writes about how Jules Verne’s Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea changed her life.

Sayantani DasguptaTEXTS DISCUSSED

PinkiesTwenty-Thousand-Leagues-Under-the-SeaUlysses

Although of CourseNOTES

Tuesday, June 16th, is Bloomsday. Celebrate wherever you are by listening again to a bang-up, in-studio, Bloomsdaying production on episode 104,

Bloomsday 2014 Posteror if in NYC celebrate the day on which Ulysses is set in person with Colum McCann, Aedin Moloney, and quite probably Chris Booth at Ulysses Folk House.

Bloomsday NYC

_______

Episode 157 of The Drunken Odyssey, your favorite podcast about creative writing and literature is available on iTunes, or right click here to download.

Episode 130: Jaquira Díaz!

14 Sunday Dec 2014

Posted by thedrunkenodyssey in Episode, Florida Literature, Miami Book Fair

≈ 1 Comment

Episode 130 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 interview author and editor Jaquira Díaz.

Jaquira Díaz

TEXTS DISCUSSED

15 Views of MiamiRead Jaquira Díaz’s “Cami” at Story South.

Read Jocelyn Bartkevicius’s “Out of the Garden” at The Missouri Review.

To hear more of and about 15 Views of Miami, check out this episode of Functionally Literate Radio.

Things Fall ApartDrownNOTES

Pre-order Nathan Holic’s new novel, The Things I Don’t See, here for only $6.

The Things I Don't See _______

Episode 130 of The Drunken Odyssey, your favorite podcast about creative writing and literature is available on iTunes, or right click here to download.

Episode 110: Ryan Rivas and Nathan Holic!

26 Saturday Jul 2014

Posted by thedrunkenodyssey in Episode, Flash Fiction, Florida Literature

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Tags

Burrow Press, Florida Literature, Jonathan Kosik, Karen Best, Matt Peters, Nathan Holic, Orlando, Ryan Rivas

Episode 110 of The Drunken Odyssey, your favorite podcast about creative writing and literature, is available on iTunes, or right click here to download.

On this week’s show, I talk to Ryan Rivas and Nathan Holic about the publication of Forget How You Found Us: 15 Views of Orlando, Volume III,

Nathan and Ryan

plus I share readings from stories by Karen Best, Matt Peters, and Jonathan Kosik from the collection.

15 Views Authors

TEXTS DISCUSSED

15 Views Volume III

NOTES

Learn about the great youth programs offered by Page 15 in Orlando.

Amazon is having a bad quarter, according to The New York Times.

Next month, Third Man Books, the new print publishing wing of Third Man Records, will release an anthology called Language Lessons, Volume 1.

Quentin Tarantino will be filming The Hateful Eight after all, according to Kurt Russell and the L.A. Times.

Check out the amazing surf rock revival of The Bambi Molesters.


Episode 110 of The Drunken Odyssey, your favorite podcast about creative writing and literature, is available on iTunes, or right click here to download.

Episode 100: Mailbag Episode 5 (The Dream Child)

24 Saturday May 2014

Posted by thedrunkenodyssey in Craft of Fiction Writing, David James Poissant, Episode, Florida Literature

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

David James Poissant, Rose Tran

Episode 100 of The Drunken Odyssey, your favorite podcast about creative writing and literature is available on iTunes, or right click here to download.

On this week’s show, I answer some mail with my friend, David James Poissant,

PoissantPlus Rose Tran shares a memoir piece about her unpleasantly Proustian relationship to Florida weather.

Rose Tran

TEXTS DISCUSSED

Mary Gordon’s essay Moral Fiction.

Frederick Barthelme’s list of writing tips, 39 Steps.

Darin Strauss’s Notes on Narrative.

Elmore Leonard’s Ten Rules of Writing.

introducing Cultural Studies

The Mysteries of Pittsburgh

Class

The Restraint of Beasts

Harlan Ellison’s I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream.

On Episode 2, Jaroslav Kalfař and I discussed John Gardner’s The Art of Fiction.

On Episode 6, Jaroslav Kalfař and I discussed Stephen King’s On Writing. 

NOTES

Amazon is acting so dickish with Hachette that even USA Today is reporting on it.


Episode 100 of The Drunken Odyssey, your favorite podcast about creative writing and literature is available on iTunes, or right click here to download.

Episode 97: Lu Vickers!

03 Saturday May 2014

Posted by thedrunkenodyssey in Craft of Fiction Writing, Episode, Florida Literature

≈ 1 Comment

Episode 97 of The Drunken Odyssey, your favorite podcast about creative writing and literature, is available on iTunes, or right click here to download.

On this week’s show, I talk to the fiction writer and historian of Florida attractions Lu Vickers,

lu_vickers

Plus Joe Marchia writes about Haruki Murakami’s Norwegian Wood.

Joe Marchia

 TEXTS DISCUSSED 

Breathing Underwater

weeki_wachee_mermaids_rgb

Cypress Gardens

WeekiWachee

NOTES 

Check Out our new videos:

St Marks BookshopCheck out this indiegogo crowd-sourcing effort to bring St. Mark’s Bookshop to a new home in the East Village.

Sheman Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is given away to students in an Iowa district in which the novel is banned from schools.

On May 13th, I will participate in The Best of There Will Be Words 2013 show. If you’re in Orlando, join us.

 __________

Episode 97 of The Drunken Odyssey, your favorite podcast about creative writing and literature, is available on iTunes, or right click here to download.
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