Shya Scanlon

I’ve posted my novel FORECAST in its entirety. If you’re interested in reading some/all of it, you may do so in two* ways:
1) by clicking the link in the main nav bar above and reading all 105k words in the blog format (designed to display perfectly on iPhones)
2) by clicking the link in the main nav bar above and then downloading a .pdf of the book, nicely laid out by Drew Burk
I know I’ve said other things about what would become of this novel, and maybe those things will still happen, but I’m not interested in waiting any longer. I’ve wanted to make the book available to whosoever wants to read it, and now it is.

*Actually, I guess there’s at least one other way. You could also grab the text and paste it into another file. Hey, I’ve got a good idea: try putting your name on it and submitting it around! If you get it published I’ll totally buy a copy.

Amidst the hype Opium 8 is already receiving, Timmy Waldron has some very nice things to say about the issue in his review over at Word Riot. In addition to pointing out the fine design and high concept of the thing, he singles out three stories to receive quick approving nods. The Peacock is among them. Thanks Timmy!

Not to be outdone by, well, themselves, Team Opium has made its next issue something for which the technical term, I believe, is “doozy.” The layout is, as usual, impressive work by the miracle that is David Barringer, and the cover is a piece of extraordinary conceptual art by a fellow named Jonathan Keats. You should really see it for yourself. And then of course you should order it. These will be collectible. Families will pass them down, generation to generation, just to find out the end of the story. Don’t get it? Go here and you will.

Full disclosure: I have a story in there from my collection Look No Further.

Indie lit powerhouse Dan Wickett has included Sick, a story of mine up at elimae, in his fascinating Short Story Month project. You can read his quick, kind review here.

The second of three consecutive issues of New York Quarterly to include a piece from my forthcoming book, In This Alone Impulse, is currently available for purchase. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop to… wait, no, that’s not it. This is it: Raymond Hammond does a bang-up job of editing these dang things. If you want a broad view of vital contemporary poetry, get yourself a copy.

Friend and excellent writer Matthew Simmons posted something about my interest in Tom Drury over at HTMLGIANT today. Influences abound.

It’s like a pinky toe, but further along in its path to obsolescence. It’s also a journal created by a writer from Seattle named Evelyn Hampton, whose first issue may now be pre-ordered here. Now, I know that this blog is mostly read by friends of mine, so I entreat you, friends, to pre-order. The first issue of this journal has been largely solicited by a person (Evelyn) who, in addition to being a solid writer, has excellent taste in writing. So although she made the mistake of including a longish piece of prose poetry by me, you should forgive her momentary lapse and have faith in the quality of all else in this issue. Please, lay down the ten bucks and buy something beautiful.

Hey, I’m participating in a Noemi Reading in New York City on May 2nd, at 7pm, in Brooklyn. The full press release is linked to above, but you can get basic info on the Noemi site.

I’m not sure why I began this post with “Hey,” but I’ll leave it in. Spice up this blog with a little informal vernacular. I know, right? What is next, contractions?

I’m very happy to announce the very first publication of a story from the collection of stories* I’ve been working on recently. The Fish is up at Spork today. Please read and send the link to anyone you think may enjoy it.

*more info on the collection here.

This piece was, I think literally, the final work I turned in during my final workshop at Brown. It wasn’t critiqued, per se, (it’s not attempting more than it set out to, being as it’s more an obvious tribute to Providence (home of Lovecraft and Poe) than a piece of original art), but I have a fondness for it, and I hope you might too.

P.S. I will be hosting an elimae reading in NYC next month–probably the last week of May–and if you’re a contributor and you’ll be in the area, I’d love to hear from you. I’m looking for as many readers as I can reasonably fit in the space/time.