Mutt goes home

to celebrate Darcey Steinke's new book at Francis Kite Club

I’m writing this on the plane back from LA after two strange weeks, a reading and a trip to the desert. My tiny nervous dog is out of his carrier and is sitting in the middle seat like a human being, his snout resting on my thigh.

This evening is another Mutt, this one in support of Darcey Steinke’s newest book, This Is the Door: The Body, Pain and Faith.

I read it this weekend in the middle of the desert and it’s beautiful. I wrote my college dissertation on artists who incorporated illness into their work - people like Bob Flanagan, Kathy Acker, Hannah Wilke (who is heavily referenced in Darcey’s book) and so this felt very similar to texts I was studying back then. Before this book I’d only ever read Darcey’s fiction work - but her non-fiction weaves personal anecdotes into her research in a way that makes the outcome feel very similar to her novels. I loved the writing in Suicide Blonde because it was felt like the character was bleeding out in front of you but also spitting in your face. Somehow that same tension is here as well, despite it being such a different sort of book. I’m just a huge fan of Darcey’s and I’m honored to have her back. We’ll have the book available for sale as well.

The rest of the lineup is really strong, everyone has a lot going on. Harold Roger’s second book, Humpty Dumpty, is coming out this November. Sam Farhi’s debut novel - The Sapsuckers, is out on August 1st. Tom Ianelli of Peter Books (here he is talking to Harold) (and Mikayla) just started Peter Books Press and is making what I’m sure will be a really special new publication. And Mikayla Bryant just got her Masters Degree last week. Boom. Everyone’s up.

I’m honored to be on a stage with all these people, and to call them friends, and to do this every month and sometimes even a couple times a month. Thank you thank you.

Hope to see you there <3