For the May installment of our Poetry Corner, host W. Joe introduced us to the wonderful Cindy Huyser (pictured below, with W. Joe).
Cindy Huyser is a poet, a computer scientist, and a former power plant operator—worthy endeavors all, but I assume you’re here for the poetry rather than, say, linear programming chitchat, in which case… check out the footage below! And be sure to keep an eye on our events calendar for details of W. Joe’s upcoming guests.
On Sunday afternoon we played host to something rather… Brill-iant (sorry, you knew it was coming): an afternoon with author Larry Brill and the frolicsome folks from the Next Chapter improv group. Let’s take a look at some footage from their assorted escapades…
First up, Larry Brill introduced us to his new novel, The Patterer, a satirical tale set in the murky world of 18th-century London journalism. Brill spent twenty-five years as a news anchor, and his experiences in the newsroom inform his comic take on Dickensian media mores. The main character of the novel, the excellently named Leeds Merriweather, is the eponymous “patterer,” someone who sells newspapers by standing on a busy street corner shouting out the horrifying headlines of the day to passersby. To read the part of Mr. Merriweather, Larry called on his friend Bobby Post, who did a suitably tip-top job of channeling the charming Leeds.
Next up, our team of intrepid improvisers explained their process: writers in the audience would be selected at random to read a short excerpt from their work, and Next Chapter would then improvise a skit inspired by the material. First name out of the lucky red cup? Austin icon John Kelso, who has been writing a humor column for the Austin American-Statesman since 1977.
For rounds two and three, please welcome Lester Morris, followed by Janet Christian.
And last but assuredly not least, we have Angela Smith, who read from her forthcoming book, Women Drummers (working title: Badass Lady Drummers). Her piece focused on the legendary Teresa Taylor, aka Teresa Nervosa, a drummer for the Butthole Surfers. It’s safe to say Next Chapter had a lot of fun with their take on Ms. Nervosa…
One doesn’t like to play favorites concerning installments of one’s reading series, so let’s just say that this month’s Everything is Bigger shindig was especially good. Here’s the post-match report…
We had three lovely readers join us for Wednesday’s event: Tim Earley, Jess Stoner, and Will Clark (pictured left to right above, with host Tyler Gobble in red). You can check out more photos on Facebook, and watch all three of them in action below. You may notice that our camera person places the lens cap back on the camera at the start of Jess’ reading—please rest assured that this was not an act of arrant madness. You see, Jess had to come to the reading straight from work, wearing her Postal Service uniform, and apparently USPS workers are not supposed to be filmed while in official garb. Photos are allowed, though, so here’s one of Jess mid-reading, so you can get an idea of the set up:
And of course it wouldn’t be a Bigger reading without the giving away of assorted whimsical raffle prizes. Sadly, this month’s sack of swag did not include the coveted homemade Everything is Bigger tank-top—the dye ran on the lettering of Tyler’s latest creation, producing an “ErrrtBrrrisigger” tank-top, which did not meet his exacting apparel standards. Fortunately, we still had a whole heap of whatnots to dispense to lucky winners, including a dice game called “Spicy Farkel” (“a silly game played by silly people,” says one reviewer); a Whoopie Pie! candle (an often overlooked prize pick, despite being described on the Yankee Candle website as “Mmmmm! Creamy vanilla frosting meets moist, rich, chocolate for a treat that is so real you may want to lick your fingers!”); and, best of all, steak coasters! Coasters shaped like steaks!
But enough about prizes! Go watch some videos—and stay tuned for news of future Biggers. (We may or may not be taking a summer hiatus; our Events Calendar will keep you in the loop.)
Malvernite Adam has written about his musical predilections and given us a story suggestion—and now he’s back with a dramatic recommendation for y’all…
Two Lost in the Filthy Night is an edgy, suspenseful play by Brazilian writer, actor, and journalist Plínio Marcos. The play portrays the type of life that working class people in Brazil must endure. The play only consists of two characters but the script is so well written that there’s never a dull moment throughout the story. There is a constant feeling of anticipation as to what will happen next as the reader goes through the chaotic events with the two characters who are living in extreme poverty. These life conditions cause the two characters to commit a robbery, thinking it will help their situation, only to find that it is the beginning of even more serious problems. Two Lost in the Filthy Night is a disturbing account of how a life of poverty can affect a person’s sense of morals and their value for human life. It is definitely worth recommending to any reader who is looking for a play with a gripping story and dynamic character and dialogue. (The play can be found in 3 Contemporary Brazilian Plays, which also features the work of acclaimed playwrights Leilah Assumpção and Consuelo de Castro—ask us for a copy next time you’re in the store!)
On Sunday afternoon we were delighted to host a lively reading from the charming folks at Hothouse Literary Journal (including Malvern staff member Schandra, pictured below with a hot-off-the-press Hothouse and our ever watchful pirate).
Hothouse is the official literary journal of UT Austin’s English department. It’s lovingly assembled by a team of English majors, who manage every step of the production, from layout to choosing submissions. And they’ve done an exceptional job—the journal is beautifully designed and chock-full of fantastic poetry and prose by talented students (including Clarissa Riojas, pictured above, reading to a full house). We were thrilled to see them launch their Spring 2014 issue on our fair stage, and we thoroughly enjoyed hearing their work.
With National Poetry Month behind us, we decided it was time to add a lil’ prose to our busy reading schedule…
On Saturday we welcomed Austin writer (and coeditor of the excellent American Short Fiction) Adeena Reitberger to the Malvern stage. Adeena read from a story in progress called “Dreamers” (which, as she noted, is a name with some historical significance to Malvern Books).
Adeena was joined by Gregory Robinson, who read from All Movies Love the Moon, a collection of prose poems that explores how silent movies made use of words. (All Movies is published by Rose Metal Press, a fantastic indie publisher that specializes in hybrid genres and more experimental work… ask us about them next time you’re in the store!)
For more prose and poetry, be sure to join us next Wednesday, when Tyler Gobble returns to host another round of Everything is Bigger. This month’s indomitable readers are Tim Earley, Jess Stoner, and Will Clark.