Slap Season
Happy Spring Equinox even though we’re knee-deep in Aries Season. That explains Will Smith’s outburst at the Oscars and Jorge Masvidal hitting Colby Covington at a steakhouse in Miami. Violence and aggression is in the air. How pleasant.
The last time I slapped someone was in the military. Had a Sailor who had a tendency for starting shit try me on the worst day possible. Next thing you know he caught a mean backhand. They called me Wasmack after that. I haven’t got into a physical altercation since.
I’m almost done writing Black Gypsies once and for all. Planning to turn it into JDO in next couple of days. Feedback has been great so far. My crime fiction novella was originally supposed to drop in early 2017. I had cold feet, second thoughts on the way I portrayed the characters, and went to back to working on it on and off during the last 5 years.
Anyone who knows me, knows I love pulp, hardboiled fiction, noir, and crime fiction in general. I’ve felt somewhat constricted by the bizarro label in the past so this may be a bit of a shocker for my usual fanbase. It’s a literary meditation on Chicago, gang violence, thieves, and political commentary sprinkled in for good measure. There’s a lot of personal experiences weaved in here…
This is the first time I’ve ever used beta readers on a book. I’m hitting myself for waiting this long to do it. The notes and suggestions have been golden, and have already helped the narrative become a lot stronger and more stream-lined.
Here’s a clue to what I’ve been working on outside of BG. Let’s call it Project S. It’s a collaboration with me, JDO and Kelby Losack. A really fun project that could be coming your way via Broken River Books.
I’m whipping up some short stories, working on a horror novella that we’ll call Project Bullet Baby, and another collabo with Kelby. So my writing plate is super full, but that’s the way I like it… I intend to make a splash this year.
Currently Reading: Hunger for Death by Joshua Marsella.
Finished Reading: Spontaneous Human Combustion by Richard Thomas
Currently Watching: Euphoria Season 2 & Atlanta Season 3
Currently Smoking: Animal Gas by CLSICS
Musically, I’ve been listening to Denzel Curry’s new album Melt My Eyez See Your Future along with singles from Kanye’s protege KayCyy.
KayCyy aligns with the electrifying French DJ Gesaffelstein on this experimental single. The beat is magnificent & hypnotic, and the fact that the song has zero drums is mind-blowing to me. I wish more artists would make bold moves like this especially in the rap scene.
midwxst is a fascinating yet young artist I stumbled across recently. He’s captures the emo angstyness of youth and combines with a moody rock aesthetic that hits in all the right ways. I’m excited to see what type of artist he grows into as he gets older and more mature.
Pusha T is on a lyrical rampage of sorts and I love it. I like to think of him as my spirit animal. I try to bring that raw ferocity into my crime fiction. He’s been a huge influence on my writing as of late and he packs so much visually into this song in 2 minutes and some change.
“This coke speaks to my soul like a medium…”
The sheer artistic consistency of elite rapping over 44 years on this Earth is something I aspire to. And the coke bars are immaculate. Can’t wait for the album to drop.
In other news, I published a new edition of D.F. Lewis’ book Weirdmonger through my own press Mirage Publishing House. It’s only available on kindle, but you can buy it here. This was a short story collection that had a heavy impact on me in college and really was a part of my foundational years as a young writer. I used to read his stories over and over, finding new meaning each time. Do yourself a favor and buy a copy.