Literature for the Halibut is BACK with a terrific episode on some of our favorite themes: collaboration, badass publishers, breathtaking poetry and what happens when two genres collide. Ann & Nicky talk to two literary editors, Dusty Freund from Natural Bridge and Jessica Rogen from Boulevard. The two have joined forces to present a party and reading that celebrate their magazines' spring issues. Jessica & Dusty talk about their collaboration, print vs. digital and what it's like to meet readers face-to-face. Midway through, the group is joined by National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize finalist Adrian Matejka. Adrian reads his poem, "Famous Negro Athletes," published in the latest issue of Boulevard. He tells us about writing a script for a new graphic novel based on the life of boxer Jack Johnson. The graphic novel is a continuation of Adrian's book of poems, The Big Smoke & we are dying to read it.    Listen up! AND, if you're local, check out theses three live and in person on May 25 2016, 6:30 PM at Dressel's Pub.      

Literature for the Halibut

023: Lit mag collabo! Featuring: Boulevard & Natural Bridge editors & poet Adrian Matejka

A Jewish con sells himself out by getting a swastika tattoo.  A young woman finds a strangled guy on her first day of work at a synagogue.  A turn of the century Jewish bootlegger (the last man legally hanged in Illinois) asks for a black hood at his hanging -- as one final jab at the KKK.  All this (not to mention Moses himself) is Jewish Noir, a collection of all-new short stories published in 2015 by PM Press. In this episode, Nicky speaks with two St. Louis fiction writers published in the collection, Jedidiah Ayers & Tasha Kaminsky.  The two read excerpts from their stories & talk about the seedy side of fiction, the Jewishness of noir & the background behind their narratives.  Midway through, the group is joined by Kenneth Wishnia, editor of the collection.   

022: Jewish Noir, featuring Jedidiah Ayers & Tasha Kaminsky

 In 2016, what are the limits of what a magazine can do? Please Hold Magazine is a quarterly digital publication founded by Kristie Wickwire one year ago. Each issue collects multimedia pieces built around a different theme, the most recent issue's being "Home". Expanding the idea of literature beyond the written word, Please Hold compiles pieces poetry, video, audio, and even GIFs to accomplish what a print magazine cannot. Pictured: Mohsen Zare's contribution to the "Home" issue, a GIF titled "DVLottery to Home", which is discussed in the episode.   Also discussed in the episode: to hear the rest of Michael Ridge's Found Home Recordings, click here.

021: Kristie Wickwire

Nicky talks with poets and musicians Susan Trowbridge Adams and Ted Moniak about their collaborations, and the intersections between music and spoken word art.

020: Susan Trowbridge Adams and Ted Moniak

Former Literature For the Halibut co-host Stefene Russell comes home to discuss her latest work, The Possum Codex, the latest in her series of Dante-inspired poetry collections. Stefene discusses  her view of the "mythical midwest", and the unusual combination of influences that led to her documenting Middle America in the style of Inferno.

019: Stefene Russell

Nicky discusses the poetic process with Emily Grise, organizer of the Natural Bridge Debut Writers' Series, and Natural Bridge's latest guest, New York Poet Joshua Mehigan. Mehigan also reads pieces from his most recent collection, 2014's acclaimed Accepting the Disaster.

018: Joshua Mehigan and Emily Grise

 Nicky talks publishing with Jen Tappenden, the chief editor at Architrave Press, the publisher that takes the "iTunes model" when it comes to selling poetry-- as their site introduces, "Why can't we we buy individual poems like we do songs?"

017: Jen Tappenden

Ann and Nicky talk with poet Treasure Shields Redmond about her powerful new book Chop, a series of kwansabas about Fannie Lou Hamer, the brilliant, brave, and under-appreciated civil rights leader.

016: Treasure Shields Redmond

Nicky chats with graphic novelist Sacha Mardou about her latest work, a trippy coming of age story called Sky In Stereo. 

015: Sacha Mardou

Nicky talks with publisher and author Jared Rourke and Bryan Borland from Sibling Rivalry Press about how the work they've written and published has helped spotlight under-represented LGBT voices.

014: Jared Rourke and Bryan Borland

How does the nature of DIY formats like zines and mini-comics liberate artists? Zine and comic artists Julia Vogel and Jack Probst join Nicki to discuss that very question, and the emotional roots of their work.

013: Julia Vogel and Jack Probst

Michael Castro, Poet Laureate of Saint Louis, and Cheeraz Gormon, St. Louis poet and Halibut's first podcast guest, return to share some more of their work as well as discuss the upcoming Brick City Poetry Festival. How can St. Louis' disparate artists from different generations come together? How can we grow as an artistic community? The Brick City festival is here to help.

012: Michael Castro and Cheeraz Gormon

Steven Reigns, the first City Poet of West Hollywood, calls in to talk with Ann about how activism and social issues have influenced his work, what's he learned from teaching writing workshops, and his exhibition The Gay Rub. The Gay Rub is a collection of rubbings from several LGBT landmarks from all over the country, including tombstones, plaques, cenotaphs, and monuments.

011: Steven Reigns

Ann and Nicky talk with Michael Castro, the poet laureate of St. Louis, about his work, the state of the local poetry scene, and pieces that couldn't be shared on live broadcasts.

010: Michael Castro

Nicky talks with Sarah Barasch-Hagans and Shoshana Williams about the Fargesn Media Project, a recently launched video series focusing on people in Saint Louis telling their stories about their experiences with race relations in Saint Louis.

009: Sarah Barasch-Hagans and Shoshana Williams

Literature for the Halibut is a weekly literary program featuring your favorite living and dead writers, some of whom you may not even know you love yet. Join hosts Ann Haubrich, Nicky Rainey, and MK Stallings for conversation and in depth information about the written word. Produced in the studios of KDHX Community Media in St. Louis, MO.

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Literature for the Halibut

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