Republicans live a mythologic lie which corrupts their thinking and clouds their judgment. The lie is this - God helps those who help themselves. That may be the God of the Old Testament, but it certainly isn’t the Christian God. And the Old Testament God has no place in society, except in the very closed rigid isolationist groups of Hassidic, extreme orthodox and fanatics.

It is no coincidence that the absolute line of demarcation between Old Testament God and Christian God is the parable of the Good Samaritan; the concept - not of helping yourself, but of helping those in need. It is the primordial philosophical split between Jaweh and Jesus, whether we are to be a society of individual self-servers, or a community of people who care about one another. Republicans take the former position, and that what’s wrong with them.

There are very serious problems with that position. One, most Republicans are Christians, many are even fanatical psycho-Christians, but none of them follow the teachings of Christ. That means they’re all hypocrites; or they don’t know or understand what they believe in. Jesus is the Good Samaritan, and Republicans absolutely repudiate that philosophical concept.

OPINION

I added some new zines to my list. So now I have to ask the question - what's the best lit zine? This is terribly important to me, because I do wanna publish my books, want them to be best sellers, motion pictures, talkies even. So it behooves me to not only keep up with the best literature, but also to try ta sneak a story or poem into one of ‘em from time to time.

How about you? Where do you go first to find the best lit to read - 3AM, Storyglossia, Word Riot, The New Yorker, Outsider Writers? You tell me. I only list about fifty of ‘em and I’m sure more could and should be added. But time being the essent of our mortalness, I only gots time to read stuff that quick grabs my eye. Like somebody on myspace says they got a new story or poem somewhere’s, likely I’ll check it out, if’n I read their stuff before and really liked it.

OPINION

THIS IS OUR WORLD

We are the few, or the many, depending upon how you look at it. We are powerless to
impact change upon the world, or all powerful, depending upon what we do with it. I say - writers of the world, unite! And if you can do that...if you can see the scope of this vision, we will run things; and governments of the world will tremble at our feet.

I’m reminded of the film The Warriors. The opening scene has Cyrus extolling the assembled multitude to unite and take the power into their own hands, to run New York City. It’s an interesting concept. Now we have the opportunity to do the same thing. We are writers, editors, publishers, web designers. Individually we can reach hundreds or even thousands of followers. Together...we can reach millions.

*******Breaking News Offbeat Video.*******

OPINION

I just finished my novel. Which is interesting. Was a hard re-write, months and months of doing. The previous novel was so easy, just a joy to work with. This one was tougher, more of a back burner. But I like it, it’s good. Feels good to get that done; done the way you want it. Leaves you...pleased. The big one checked off the to-do list. But now what? Like I’ve nothing to do all of a sudden. Don’t have to work on that book, it’s done.

I suppose there’re a dozen or so short stories, begun and never finished. I need to finish them. And five, six more books that need the re-write. And of course, phase two of the book writing process is - now to start hawking it to agents, publishers, and so forth. That’s always harder, the ‘work’ part of being a writer. Plus there’re still no takers for the previous novel, the one that was so easy and fun.

Opinion

Where’s the best lit discussion? Me, I like to talk writing. How it’s done and why. Helps me to focus on what I’m doing. Others like to talk about writers and books, and that’s okay too. Keeps me informed, like Lit 500 - intro to world lit for post grads. Now I don’t know Jack Shit, but I know some pretty good writers.

For my money, hands down, thumbs up, the best lit discussion is at The Guardian books blog. This very impressive site is run by the exquisite Sarah Crown, and features (features, mind you) such impressive contributors as Tony O’Neill, Ben Myers, Lee Rourke, Joseph Ridgwell, Andrew Stevens, Sam Jordison, Andrew Gallix, and many others. And these folks know their stuff. Even the regular commenters clearly know their stuff, like they all been to lit grad school or something.

New news - New litzine Beat the Dust is now LIVE and broadcasting to the nation.  The first edition has some interesting writing from across the world, including a poem by Dan Fante and other poetry and short stories about drugs, young love, mental illness and the apocalypse to amuse and abuse readers.  To read Beat the Dust online and add comments on the writing, go to www.melissamann.com/beat-the-dust.asp.  There is a printable Chap-book version to download, as well as the Beat the Dust Podcast to play or download.  Beat the Dust is continually on the look-out for inventive, hard-hitting, intelligent and thought-provoking writing.  Send work at any time; there are no set deadlines.  Now that Beat the Dust is live, if the writing is good, it will go straight on the site.   Short stories, poetry and flash fiction that involves some kind of contradiction or breaks a rule in some way, is particularly welcome.  Go here to open the Beat the Dust submission guidelines www.melissamann.com/downloads/beatthedustsubmissionguide.pdf for full details on how and where to submit work or alternatively, follow the links on the site.

<

Please add to this - any news, opinion, links, etc., that you want to share with the world. Believe me, they want to hear from you. And for more Lit News, please visit our previous issues.

News

The new issue of Straight From The Fridge is here. Always magnificent in style and content (and they were kind enough to include one of my stories in this issue).

Issue 23 of Storyglossia - the fiction prize issue - is now available. These are the winning entries in the annual short story competition. That’s gotta be pretty good stuff.

Issue 18 of SmokeLong Quarterly is online. A great flash fiction magazine.

GUD Magazine is offering a copy of The Apocalypse Reader for the best comment on their review of this great short story collection.

Issue 96 of Zygote In My Coffee is now live.

This week we’re gonna feature The World of Don Eminizer which is exploding in all directions like a ceegar in a fireworks factory.

Where do I start? Let’s see... Don’s latest book Midnight in America has just been released. The story of John Sterling’s journey to the top of the rock n roll charts; and the real meanings he finds there. I've always liked Don's writing, and I think you will too.

Don’s band, 99Burning has just released a new CD under the same title as the book. Cuts from the CD are topping the charts at Pure Volume. The CD and book are available together as a package. Great writing, great music; enjoy.

This week I wanna talk Lit Fests, writers conferences, gatherings, launch parties, you name it. Please send any and all info you have on the subject. And as always, any other news, info, plugs, or promotions you can come up with. That’s why we here.

First some News and Notes

Katherine Arnoldi's All Things Are Labor has won the Juniper Fiction Prize. A previous novel of hers is being transposed to the big screen. (Now that’s the way to do it.)

Interview of Andrew Gallix at The Great Small Fishes. Also Tom Bradley reviews two of Gallix’ short stories in Nth Position.

Timothy Gager (tkg for you Litkicks fans) has a story in the anthology Santi: Lives of Modern Saints, due for release in December. Tim has had 27 stories and poems published this year, including a finalist in the Binnacle Ultra Short Competition. His "Punchless Jimmy Collins" was a notable in Story South Million Writer Awards.

This site is intended for use by all literary critters who have news, links, personal websites, and whatever for to share with all the peoples of the world. Please feel free to use it accordingly.

News:

Steven McDermott has announced the winners of the  Storyglossia Fiction Prize. Hearty congratulations to Stephanie Dickinson for 'Watch the Flashlight Girls Run' and the other finalists! What a momentous feeling to earn such prestigious recognition. I am very glad for you. Last year’s winner Kristen Tsetsi, was featured in ‘Storyglossia ’06’ along with a lot of great writers. I especially liked 'Waxing Razal' by Theresa Boyer, and Vacancies by Gabrielle Idlet.