My latest story 'An '80s Tenement Love Story' has just been published in the hallowed pages of Bourbon Penn. This time in edition 31.
It's only the second time that I've had stories in different editions of the same journal/magazine and it''s a fab feeling. The previous time was in Overland; a journal close to my heart in terms of provoking political discussion and sociocultural debate. 'Reading Coffee' was published in Overland 204 and 'Submerging' in Overland 214, with different fiction editors: Jane Gleeson-White for 204 and Jennifer Mills for 214. 'Reading Coffee' went on to be short listed for an Aurealis Award, and also reprinted in The Year's Best Australian Fantasy & Horror Vol. 2 and 'Submerging' was reprinted in The Best Australian Stories 2014. And the two stories have been very giving ever since with ongoing anthology homes, both in the the US and Australia.
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'Anthropophages Anonymous (AA)', my previous Bourbon Penn story in edition 25 was in Ellen Datlow's Recommended Reading List for the year, and also earned a mention in her introductory essay for her Best Horror of the Year Vol. 14. Ellen Datlow has an eclectic sense of the genre, which I think helps educate many beyond the misconceived notion that horror stories have to reflect either slasher films or gothic ghost hauntings.
For those interested in 'An '80s Tenement Love Story', it's another longish story at a little over 6000 words. And although Bourbon Penn is a US publication, the story itself is set in Perth, and there's also a small part set in the rural town of Northam.
Naturally, This is a work of fiction and all characters portrayed in the story are fictitious... but I'll have to divulge that I've broken the rule here: the dog in the story is based somewhat on a friend's canine, Jen Jansen's. So if you know or see Jen at all, a wonderful English teacher, who is often accompanied by her dog on her Swan River promenades, get Sandy to sign a copy by paw, claw or maw.
The editor of Bourbon Penn, Erik Secker, always provides innovative cover art and this time around the work is called 'On Va Fluncher' by arnus.
I'd additionally like to shout out a big congrats to the fellow contributing writers: Naomi J. Williams, author of the acclaimed novel Landfalls, whose short stories have appeared in numerous luminous 'literary' homes, including Zoetrope, A Public Space, One Story, Ninth Letter, and The Southern Review. Williams is Pushcart Prize nominee five times and also once a winner. E. Catherine Tobler, whose work has appeared in exceptional speculative fiction homes such as Clarkesworld, F&SF, Beneath Ceaseless Skies and Apex Magazine. Tobler has also been a finalist for the Nebula and Sturgeon awards, and currently edits The Deadlands. Alexia Antoniou (συγχαρητήρια) is a newcomer. It's always refreshing to read a writer's debut story, so kudos to Erik Secker on unearthing a new talent. Let's hope Antoniou has plenty more stories to come. Apparently Antoniou is also in member of the folk duo 'Gawain and the Green Knight'. Corey Farrenkopf, whose story homes include Three-Lobed Burning Eye, Smokelong Quarterly, The Southwest Review and, most importantly, in a previous edition of Bourbon Penn (BP 22). Nico Montoya, who lives in Northeast Minneapolis, also has speculative stories appearing in a variety of homes. And Shane Inman has had a story in The Forge and a number of other places.
Anyone who knows me, knows the thrill I get in seeing writers who I have been anthology or journal mates with before, and this time around it's a privilege to have another story alongside E. Catherine Tobler. We miraculously shared story homes in Bourbon Penn 25. It's wonderful to touch base again.
Although an American publication, those good people at Planet Books in Perth (getting parochial now), stocked and sold out of Bourbon Penn 25, and guess what?.... Suppose it's a rhetorical question, but Bourbon Penn 31 willl also be on the shelves at both their Northbridge and Mt Lawley bookstores soon.
Bourbon Penn is my favourite place for stories at present. But don't just listen to me, Jeffrey Ford stated that it's: 'One of my all time favourite magazines.' It's hard to find a better recommendation than that from the author of The Shadow Year.
The book details on Goodreads relate to Bourbon Penn's quality: "Stories from Bourbon Penn are regularly selected for Year’s Best anthologies and have been reprinted in Stoker Award, Shirley Jackson Award, and New York Times Notable collections."
Currently Reading:
A collection by a veritable master of the narrative craft, Joyce Carol Oates, called Give Me Your Heart. As you might well imagine Give Me Your Heart is replete with wicked tales of dark intrigue, suspense and mystery.
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A Rare Sporting Interlude:
2023 AFL: My footy team, The West Coast Eagles, received the wooden spoon this year. Yazz sings it all:
We've been broken down
To the lowest turn
Bein' on the bottom line
Sure ain't no fun
....Hold on, hold on, hold on,
oooh, ooh, ahh.
The only way is up, now, baby...'
Three true champions of the era were farewelled: Norm Smith medalist and twice fairest and best, captain Luke Shuey, was a player which every forward would want to have the ball in his hands. Boots was an excitement machine, who weaved and raced through midfield packs and never surrendered. Ironically, although a grand final hero and a super finals-player in general, he was never rewarded an All-Australian guernsey, and he deserved more than a few. One of my earliest memories of Boots was at a live game at Subi Oval with my dad. Although midfielders are often judged by their possession tally, Shuey sprinted over 100 meters from the play to mark a player, who was three kicks away, which really was emblematic of his team-first mentality.
Shannon Hurn, the premiership captain, and one of the most lethal kicks in AFL history –and the other Eagle player who you wanted to have the ball in his hands– farewelled the side as twice All-Australian (and he was worthy of plenty more). Bunga also ended his career as the Eagles games record holder at a colossal 333 games.
And Nic Naitanui, whose physical presence around the ball was the fiercest I've seen. Although as ferocious as a Cape buffalo bull in ruck contests, his gentle hands were softer than eiderdown, allowing for wizard-like hitouts. Nic Nat retired with three All Australian guernseys, two best and fairests, and a mark of the year.
A huge thanks to all three for an abundance of highlight reels. Along with last year's retiree, Josh Kennedy, and current defender, Jeremy McGovern, they were really the best Eagles players of the modern era. Hopefully, Oscar Allen and Liam 'Flying' Ryan will continue to create mercurial moments for the next generation of players and fans.
Cricket: The Ashes Test Series was cricket at its entertaining best. Whether you appreciate Bazball or not, the English strategy brought out some exquisite batting and bowling from both teams. Mitch Marsh's century in the Ashes, after being twelfth man for an eternity, was the stuff of myth. Let's hope his limited over form continues to reap dividends too. Speaking of limited overs, I'd love Stoinis a little higher in the batting order.
And elsewhere, the aging Indian stroke player, Virat Kohli, is still majestic to watch, and Rohit Sharma in the limited overs form seems able to hit boundaries off any ball.
Soccer: The Matildas getting through to the semi-finals in The Women's World Cup was an epic moment, enrapturing the nation.
And I know this sounds like a terrible betrayal, deserving of walk-the-plank punitive measures, but I've jumped ship in the Premier League from Manchester United to follow Tottenham Hotspur (COYS!), and it's solely because of 'Big' Ange Postecoglou. I've tracked his career since his playing days at South Melbourne, and then his coaching career in Australia, Japan, Scotland and now the biggest league in the world. What a legend! But don't condemn me until you condemn Robbie Williams:
And in the Natural World:
In the Dryandra Woodland and Perup Nature Reserve, numbats are clinging to survival. The Perth Zoo is doing a fabulous job in breeding this striking marsupial, and The Numbat Task Force, in turn, are performing marvels by both raising awareness and by aiding in conservation measures. Check the group out on their Facebook page. Whether we like it or not, we are custodians of the natural world, and this gang are doing all they can to ensure that Australia's egregiously criminal extinction record won't include the numbat.
Although an American production, for fellow local Perthites, Bourbon Penn 31 is available in the Anthology/ Collection Section at both of the Planet Books stores (Mt Lawley & Northbridge)
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