Tag: published

Bending Genres Cedar Valley Retreat: 2022 and more

We held our first of two Bending Genres Retreats at Cedar Valley in West Bend, Wisconsin on July 18- 24. Meg Tuite and I were joined by Dr. Bob, Kellie, Joe, Michael, John, Bill, Jennifer, Martha and Al. We had so many moments of inspiration, including flash floods, and thunderstorms, incredible writing, a new coffee machine, and much more. Thanks to everyone at CV and all of our writers for making the week so memorable.

My all new musical playlist is published at Large Hearted boy, thanks editor David Gutkowski: http://www.largeheartedboy.com/blog/archive/2022/07/robert_vaughans.html

Also, an incredible review by Ian Maloney, “Off Kilter and Tilted” is live at Vol 1 Brooklyn Mag: https://vol1brooklyn.com/2022/07/25/off-kilter-and-tilted-a-journey-through-robert-vaughans-askew/

And, today, ASKEW is mentioned on Darrell Laurant’s generous column, Snowflakes in a Blizzard: https://snowflakesarise.wordpress.com/2022/07/26/askew/

In three weeks, August 21- 26, we will be hosting our second Bending Genres Retreat at Ojai Retreat Center in California. SO EXCITED!

Hope your summer is jamming. Here are some Cedar Valley images:

Two New Podcasts

Recently, I was in conversation with two different Michaels’ on their extremely fun podcasts, mostly chats regarding my new book, ASKEW, writing, side jobs, and all random things in life. First, I spoke with Michael Hitchens, on his “But I Digress” podcast:

Then I spoke with Michael Wheaton, who’s podcast is The Lives of Writers:

Candy Crushes in ASKEW

Today, a first piece from my new book, ASKEW, is published at the innovative Atlas and Alice Journal. Thanks so much, EIC Ben Woodward and Fiction Editor Cathy Ulrich, who chose this one.

I wrote the first draft in Jonathan Cardew’s Bending Genres February weekend workshop. It coincided with the final edits on ASKEW that I made with Adam VanWinkle of Cowboy Jamboree.

Here is Candy Crushes at Atlas and Alice: https://atlasandalice.com/2022/04/14/fiction-from-robert-vaughan/

And also, another first for ASKEW- my first published review, from Leigh Chadwick. Full of fun, insights, heart and magic, published at Identity Theory:

https://www.identitytheory.com/review-robert-vaughan-askew/

For more information about ASKEW including where to order, visit my publisher’s website: http://www.cowboyjamboreemagazine.com/books.html

It’s so exciting to have a new book, my first in 5 long years.

Thanks everyone for either purchasing ASKEW, offering to review it, or planning on reading it.

Take care,

Robert

Askew (Cowboy Jamboree Press, 2022)

Here is what some writing stars are saying about ASKEW:

ASKEW

My new book, Askew, has published today, March 8, 2022! It’s been five long years since FUNHOUSE (2017) appeared and so much has happened in that time, both personally, and professionally. Without getting sidetracked, here is the cover:

Artist is David Carter and layout/ design is Adam VanWinkle. Thanks for this terrific image and design!

Thanks for the terrific blurbs: Kelli, Nick, Sara, Alina and Sheldon.

And you can purchase a copy here:

http://www.cowboyjamboreemagazine.com/books.html

I'm Back!

We have some more exciting workshops to check out in our Bending Genres monthly weekend workshops, including Nancy Stohlman on August 23- 25; Robert Russell on September 20-22, and Steven Dunn on October 18-20. More information is available here:

https://bendinggenres.com/monthly-workshops/.

And on July 21-27, we will be back at Mabel Dodge Luhan House for our second Bending Genres retreat. There is more information about that here: http://retreat.bendinggenres.com. We’ve added our very first MIDWEST RETREAT for August 16- 22, 2020. More details are forthcoming! Needless to say, we are so excited.

And we will have our July/ August issue of Bending Genres available at the beginning of August. Some terrific writers are submitting, and we are still taking more fiction, poetry and CNF. Send us your best! www.bendinggenres.com

I hope your summer is rocking your world. Wasn’t it so great to see our Women’s Soccer USA team win the World Cup? Terrific for young girls and boys everywhere. For everyone, really.  ]]>

New Online workshops

  • Published ten solid issues of fiction, poetry, CNF, art, and VOICES
  • Our first Flash Fiction Contest with guest judge Kathy Fish; vetters Len Kuntz, Dianca Potts, and Nicholas Cook (winner was Quinn Madison)
  • Held three other postcard contests, (winners were Kara Vernor, Meghan Phillips, and Becky Robison)
  • Three readings at different venues in Milwaukee (with hosts Dora Diamond, Jonathan Cardew). Many of our magazine contributors read at these events.
  • Opened our new offices in Walkers Point, added our exceptional intern, Corey Holzman. Thanks, Ricco!
  • And to our amazing staff, some who remain, some who’ve moved on, I am eternally grateful: Meg Tuite, Chelsea Laine Wells, Jamal Parker, Caitlin Scarano, Samuel Fox, David O’Connor, Jessica Mehta, and Corey Holzman. Your hard work and editorial skills have made it the magazine for so many writers and diverse voices: over 30 different countries, a multitude of cultures represented, outstanding risk-taking writers.
    • In 2018, we will be launching our all new Bending Genres ONLINE WORKSHOPS!!! Beginning January 19-21, with Meg Tuite teaching Fast Flash Fiction: Close to the Edge. More information is here: http://boinkzine.com/january-fast-flash-fiction/. You can take this workshop from anyplace in the entire world! Don’t wait too long to nab your post, we are already filling up! Also we are adding to our current magazine staff: Fiction Editors Meg Tuite and David O’Connor; Poetry Editor Samuel Fox and our new Poetry editor Jessica Mehta; all new column curated by Jonathan Cardew called Microviews (might include reviews, interviews and more), and our inimitable intern, who does so much more than any intern, Corey Holzman. All this, and these are just a tip of the entire journey. I’m indebted, and so grateful to you all. Thanks for the amazing year. Sincerely, Robert Vaughan, Editor-in-Chief, Bending Genres]]>

    Iowa Summer Writing Festival and more, more, more…

    Sudden Fiction) and were lead into a handful of writing “triggers” (prompts) by Kyle. I enjoyed the casual conversational tone, and the insights we discovered in the writings by creative authors. We workshopped our own short pieces the second day and gave one another feedback. I read two stories: “Liminal” and “Triptych.” This week I am in the throes of teaching the Red Oak Young Writers program with Kim, Laurel, and Allison. It’s been a fun week thus far, held at 10 Chimneys. We have 20 students ranging in age from 7 to 11 grade. We’ve focused on poetry, story, flash, dialogue, and various other fun activities. They love free writing time and roundtables for feedback the best, so we fit those in daily. I had several more pieces published  and you can find them here: “Nodding” and “Cat Scan” at Thunderclap Press: Thunderclap Press (also available in print form, see website for details) “Mirage” at New Wave Vomit: 84 “Transition” at Orion Headless: Transition | Orion headless “What’s the Story, Morning Glory?” at S.S.F.: SLEEP. SNORT. FUCK.: What’s The Story Morning Glory? “The Black Sea” at S,F,D: The Black Sea – Short, Fast, and Deadly “Detour” at Clutching at Straws: Detour « Clutching at Straws “Bed Post” at Amphibi.us: 2010 July 22 | amphibi.us My short fiction piece, “Terminal” was selected for the MIND GAMES anthology at 6S and you can purchase it here: 6S, Mind Games I also published my second piece of non-fiction writing at The Nervous Breakdown, called “I Had a Dream”: The Nervous Breakdown Please feel free to comment at any or all of these websites for writers! And thanks to the editors for supporting my work: Joseph, Shannon, Shawn, Amanda, Margaret, Tannen, Ana, Sara, and Brad. My former boss, Judy Bridges of Redbird Studio is getting close to publishing her instrumental and insightful Shut Up & Write book. I can feel the excitement building around this project that she has pored herself into. I can’t wait to hold my very own (signed) copy! Hearty congratulations, Judy! We went to the Milwaukee Brewers game on Monday night, and they WON! It was a close game, 3-2. Also ate a meal on the Hollander patio for the first time all summer. We had a blast. I have a friend from high school visiting this weekend. That ought to provide a nice experience! What are you doing for the first time (that you might have never done before?) Or have you been someplace new (Iowa was for me) this summer? I hope more than anything that you are having fun.]]>