brianrayfiction.com Blog

The Post & Courier reviewed my novel on Sunday. Hurray. That makes three big-venue reviews between my Booklist starred review, AJC, and this new one. The latest review completely neglects the role of Sarah’s father, steel mill incarnate and counterpoint to her crazy mom, while dismissing the importance of the industrial setting. But that’s fine. People get what they want or need out of what they read.

Hanging out at NC Lit Fest this weekend. Wish I had more time to go to the evening events. By then I’m wasted and still have to slug through postmodern and 18th-century rhetorical theory.

Did get to attend a reading by Fred Chapell and Robert Morgan. Before reading with his wife to celebrate their 50th anniversary, Chapell asked, “Can creative writing be taught?” No, but it can be learned, inspired, and-most importantly – edited. I found myself wondering what kind of spouse is overjoyed by reading poetry as an anniversary gift. Whatever kind of spouse that is, I’d like that kind of marriage very much. “Honey, I spent my last paycheck all on books. So I thought instead of that dinner at Al’s Upstairs we’d go to this poetry slam down at Art Bar. Sound good?” And she’d jump into my arms and say, “Why, that sounds even better. I love you, dearest!”

I’ve never mentioned my good war reporter friend on this blog before. But I will now. David Axe has written for The Guaridan, the Village Voice, Washington Times, Popular Science, World Politics Review. He also does documentary pieces for Voice of America and C-SPAN. Not to mention he has a slew of nonfiction books and graphic novels either published or in the works.

Axe is going to Afghanistan again followed by a trip to some god-forsaken place in Africa (my words, not his.) Of course, Afghanistan is pretty god-forsaken as well by our standards. The economy is getting better, but the recession has wasted the publishing industry and hasn’t been kind to freelance writers, either. So if you have, like, $2 to contribute to his fundraiser campaign then do it and save democracy and journalism.