February 2014 – Robert Vaughan

A reading, An Indie Press Preview, and An AWP Conference

Addicts & Basements, my new full length collection from Civil Coping Mechanisms. I’ll be opening for Gina Frangello who is touring with her new novel, A Life in Men. We’ll be at Boswell Books at 7 p.m., Monday, February 24th! Here is a link for more information: Upcoming Events | Boswell Book Company My latest publisher, Michael Seidlinger, worked endless hours on this massive and incredible Indie Press Preview for 2014: The Great 2014 Indie Press Preview | The Outlet: the Blog of Electric Literature. Published at Electric Literature, it has many wonderful choices from leading writers in the indie community. Thanks to Brian Allen Ellis for mentioning Addicts & Basements. And so, AWP, the largest annual writer’s conference descends: February 26- March 2. I will be available at the Civil Coping Mechanisms booth, L15 most mornings. Please come by, chat and shop: “Well I don’t know why I came here tonight, I got the feeling that something ain’t right, I’m so scared in case I fall off my chair, And I’m wondering how I’ll get down the stairs, Clowns to the left of me, Jokers to the right, here I am, Stuck in the middle with you.” Stealers Wheel from “Reservoir Dogs” I am also reading in these four events: Feb 26, 5- 10 p.m. A Festival of Language, Rock Bottom in Seattle Feb 28, 1-5 p.m. HEAT: Burning Down the House (Proceeds to benefit VIDA), Daily Grill; also Hot Pillow Reading (TBD) Mar 1, 7-9 p.m. Left Bank Books: Civil Coping Mechanisms/ Lazy Fascist Press/ Broken River/ Two Dollar Radio reading There are some great sites with suggestions about what to expect if this is your first AWP, including this from Roxane Gay: Association of Writers & Writing Programs And these tips from writer Mitch Parker, nail the entire experience: “My AWP survival tips: show up, talk to people you don’t know. Talk to people you do know. Attend a couple of events. Go to a couple of readings. Have a few drinks. Go to the book fair. Don’t worry much about much.” See you in Seattle! Hopefully not sleepless, but you never know! ]]>

Writers Round-Up: How to Organize a Fiction Collection

Writers Round-Up: How to Organize a Fiction Collection, Part 1 « Flash Fiction Chronicles Also, I’m teaching a workshop for Red Oak Writing on April 26th, (9:30- 12 noon) called Publishing Your First (or Next) Collection. Here is the course description: Publishing Your First (or Next) Collection « Red Oak Writing. ]]>

Rumjhum Biswas reviews Diptychs + Triptychs + Lipsticks + Dipshits at Flash Fiction Chronicles

Book Review: Diptychs + Triptychs + Lipsticks + Dipshits by Robert Vaughan « Flash Fiction Chronicles One of the things I appreciate most about this review is how Biswas does not shy away from citing two or three pieces in Diptychs + Triptychs which did not move her, or was not “one of the better pieces.” I feel this information is equally useful to any writer as are compliments, or ‘what works’ in a collection. In addition, two other talented authors have given reviews at Goodreads, and I’d like to share them here for those of you who are not Goodreads members: ‘The stories Robert Vaughan wrote in this chapbook are delightful, funny and heartbreaking, “life affirming, desirous, and melodic.” I recommend this beautifully written and surprising collection. As soon as you open the cover, “the never heard song begins to play.”’ – Helen Cardona ‘It is the people that were once in our lives that make us who we are. We carry them with us when they aren’t here anymore. And that’s the secret: they never really leave. I wasn’t prepared to ache so much when I read this collection. To be perfectly honest, I haven’t been able to read more than a couple of pieces in one sitting. It took me a few weeks, this slim, slim book. Seven Shades of James and Elements of K. My God, the words cut like paper. So surgically precise that I didn’t feel the blood until I was wiping tears from my eyes in silence, at once seeing and missing everyone I have every lost.’ – Erin Parker Thanks so much, Helena and Erin, for your lovely words! I really appreciate them, and you both!]]>

Addicts & Basements (Civil Coping Mechanisms) publication day!

Best cover shot ] You can order the new book here: Addicts & Basements: Robert Vaughan: 9781937865238: Amazon.com: Books And to think, at this time last year, MICROTONES had not yet been released. And DIPTYCHS + TRIPTYCHS + LIPSTICKS + DIPSHITS was just a quadrophonic idea. And yet, both chapbooks are available also! You can look under My Books for more information! Life is good. Please help me spread the word. It’s how books get noticed, purchased, shared… read. I so appreciate the support. Eternal thanks to Michael Seidlinger and Civil Coping Mechanisms. ]]>