Aloha Everyone,
It’s that time of the month again - time for the Monkey Puzzle Press Newsletter! If you’d like to dig it, click here.
Features:
Flash Fiction Contest!
On the Road with Nancy Stohlman
Speakeasy
Neal Cassady Birthday Bash!
Kentucky Swami
Writer’s Studio
Submission Information
Holoholo,
Nate Jordon
“I think that if we are going to reform the world, and make it a better place to live in, the way to do it is not with talk about relationships of a political nature, which are inevitably dualistic, full of subjects and objects and their relationship to one another; or with programs full of things for other people to do. I think that kind of approach starts it at the end and presumes the end is the beginning. Programs of a political nature are important end products of social quality that can be effective only if the underlying structure of social values is right. The social values are right only if the individual values are right. The place to improve the world is first in one’s own heart and head and hands, and then work outward from there. Other people can talk about how to expand the destiny of mankind. I just want to talk about how to fix a motorcycle…”
- Robert Pirsig -
Open Mic at the Speakeasy, hosted by Baobob Tree Press and Illiterate Magazine - sign up starts at 7:30 - show begins at 8!
Special JD Salinger/Hunter S. Thompson Death Day Anniversary Reading - bring some JD and HST to read - SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL ARTISTS - SEE YOU THERE!
Where?
At the unnamed secret bar next to Cosmo’s on The Hill.
Questions?
E-mail Rob: rob_geisen@illiteratemagazine.com
Here’s some highlights from the January 19th inaugural event:
Poet/Performer Extraordinaire Jonathan Montgomery drinks something with alcohol in it.
In the speakeasy…
Rob Geisen opens the night. After strangling Helen…
Marcus Palmer berates the crowd.
The crowd, berated… Jonathan with mic in hand, at the bar.
Rob reading Helen’s eulogy.
The bar.
Ben Kaufman and guest.
Jessie Thayer and Rob Geisen belting blues.
Nate Cook with a sudden case of Bell’s Palsy…while his better half stretches her tricep.
Nate Cook and guest back Albums on the Hill owner, damnit, I forgot his name…
The following review of Searching for Suzi was featured in The Griffon News on January 20th:
Written by Daniel Donan
I love strippers. The whole concept is wonderful. When I think about the low lights and the bumping bass and constant motion of a strip club I smile. Maybe it is just because I am a guy but the idea of a dozen or so women in various states of undress writhing and grinding in wanting ways for just my arousal is one of the top five things I can picture for any day’s plans. I really love strippers. But outside of dating a few in my early twenties, I never really stopped to think about the mental landscape they must live in. Then I read Searching for Suzi by Nancy Stohlman.
This book is a fast firing flash fiction about womanhood, sexuality, exploitation, emotional evolution and the world of stripping. It is the tale of Natalie, a thirty-something mother who retraces the steps of teenaged beauty pageantry and stripping to search for the first woman she slept with. The trail takes the reader on a ride through time that reveals a life of emotional abuse, squalor and eroticism.
It makes the reader think about the lives of strippers and the esteem issues inflicted on women in a world that tells them that they have to be beautiful. It asks serious questions about the effects our sexuality has on our lives.
Without becoming porn, this book looks truthfully at the world of strippers and gets quite saucy. The shifting point of view keeps the reader feeling like they are flowing in and out of the consciences of the narrator. It forces you to wonder how you would feel if you were 17 and your high school principal just walked into the strip club you work at. It keeps a dark subject light in the right places by reviewing stripper tips, like stripper tip #6: underarm deodorant glows under black light or stripper tip #11: smoking pot in the bathroom only makes the night drag on forever.
Sure there are plenty of dirty words to keep your attention and at least two sex scenes that will make you look around to make sure you are alone while you read it, but better than that is the underlying understanding of the story. It is a story about the scars sexuality can leave on us, and how those scars shape us into the sexy little beasts we become. It is also about the connections that you make in life and how things change over time. It is a story about real life and I am glad I read it.
For the source article, click here: Dark Stripping Secrets Revealed
My grandmom Betty passed away this morning. She was a unique lady who took pride in being an independent Texas woman, a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She will always remain close to my heart.
Grandmom’s high school senior photo.
Grandmom & Grandad’s wedding photo.
Grandmom, Grandad, my mom and uncle on Easter 1958.
Grandmom in the 70s.
First picture of Grandmom and I, 1974.
Grandmom and sis, 1991.
The fam at Christmas, 2004.
Grandmom and great-grandson Timothy, 2008.
The funeral is on Tuesday, so I’ll be out of the loop for a few days.
Peace,
Nate Jordon
At Stanford University, primatologist Robert Sapolsky offers a fascinating and funny look at human behaviors which the rest of the animal kingdom would consider bizarre.
Nancy Stohlman, author of Searching for Suzi, recently did a few readings/signings in Omaha, Nebraska:
Andrew Baran and Nancy - Andrew is the photographer who graced us with the cover for Searching for Suzi - to dig more of his incredible photography, click the following: Scarlet Magazine
From Poet Extraordinaire Rob Geisen:
1. Eulogy For The Wed Night Poetry/Open Mics at The Burnt Toast
December 23, 2009, bore witness to the last Baobob Tree Press/Illiterate Magazine Open Mic hosted by Olatundji and myself that will ever take place in the rest of the history of everything at the Burnt Toast. They’ve sold the place. We did not discover that they’d done this until we showed up to run the reading that night, otherwise we would’ve spread the word and thrown the series the big swan’s song going away bash that it deserves. That said, we’d like to thank the owners of the Toast for having us there for the past couple years and everyone who’s shown up to perform. It’s been a blast.
We had a good run at the Toast, and if you didn’t get a chance to come down and perform while we were there, or if you’re feeling bad because you missed the last reading and was thus denied the opportunity to say goodbye: fear not. For the reading series isn’t finished, for we are wise in the ways of the Romero and know a thing or two about coming back from the grave. We’ve already found a new spot for all you talented fuckers to hang out, drink, and perform. Which leads into this next bit:
2. Announcing the Brand New Tuesday Night Poetry/Open Mic Speakeasy Reading Series
We’ve found a new space on the Hill, next to Cosmo’s Pizza (1325 Broadway, near University Ave). It’s a nice looking space, with a bunch of wood and an enormous bar and a little stage area. The actual place doesn’t have a name. It was set up to be like an old time speak easy, with one of those doors with the sliding glass peek-holes and all that. Hence the new name, The Burnt Toast Reading Series will now be known as the Speakeasy Reading Series. Still brought to you by Baobob Tree Press and Illiterate Magazine. Still hosted by Tundji and myself. Same great all-of-you. The only thing that’s changed is the space.
The first reading will be taking place Tuesday, January 19. We’re doing a little trial period with the owner, to see how it works out, so we’ll need everyone who used to come to the Toast to show up on the 19 and bring some friends with you if you can, so we can show this place that we have an army and are mighty and can fill up the space.
How to get there: Go to Cosmo’s on the Hill. And then walk a couple stores west. It’s in the same building Cosmo’s is in, but it’s sort of back in the corner. Like I said, the place doesn’t have a name but there will be a “We’re Open” sign on the big dark door, and we’ll throw a flyer on there or something too. You can’t miss it.
Thanks again to everyone who’s supported the reading series. Come on down and check out the new space on the 19th and let us know what you think. Sign up at 7:30. Show starts at 8:00. Happy Hour Drink Specials until 9:00.
if you have any questions, send me an email.
iloveyou,
Rob
rob_geisen@illiteratemagazine.com
“Patriotism does not mean support for your government. It means, as Mark Twain said, support for your country.”
- Howard Zinn -
Hope everyone had a great holiday season and is enjoying getting back into the swing of things - we at Monkey Puzzle Press sure are - and as this is the first blog of 2010, we’re stoked to make the following announcement:
Join us for the FIRST ANNUAL NEAL CASSADY BIRTHDAY BASH!
On Sunday, February 7th from 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM Carolyn Cassady and the Cassady Estate, in conjunction with Cerebral K-neeval and Art Resource Television, will celebrate one of Denver’s most famous sons!
Sponsored by My Brother’s Bar, Great Divide Brewery, Monkey Puzzle Press and Colorado Public Television 12.
Sunday, February 7th
Free Admission and Open to the Public!
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
My Brother’s Bar
2376 15th St.
Denver, CO 80202
Members of the Cassady Family will meet and greet!
Readings!
Entertainment!
Drink Specials!
Guest Appearances!
For a poster of the event, click here.
See you there!