As everyone’s favorite cop John McClane said, “Welcome to the party, pal.” If you missed some of this nonsense a year ago, enjoy this series of throwbacks; if you’ve been with me all along, thank you, I love you, and don’t forget to tell a friend!
i. Flashback: May 7, 2024
This Kind of Man, my first collection of short fiction, is officially live TODAY.
Yes, the process of publishing a book is kind of like a marathon, if the training includes countless hours tinkering, revising, despairing, feeling the rare pangs of insight and accomplishment, and mostly worrying less about what ultimately happens with the book because the writing itself is the point of all this effort and occasional anxiety. (In other words, it’s nothing at all like a road race, except you’re tired at the end and hopefully feel, crossing the finish line, that all that time spent preparing was productive.) It’s also (mostly) fun and fulfilling—or else why bother? I invite you to the launch: get a copy, buy one for a pal, write a review, share the news and please accept this metaphorical cigar from a proud papa on his baby’s birthday.
One of the stories in this collection was first drafted in an undergraduate writing workshop (shout out to Steve Goodwin); another is loosely based on an actual trip to West Virginia, in 1997, to attend a girlfriend’s ten-year high school reunion; another came out of too much experience in hospital waiting rooms while my beautiful mother battled cancer in the early 00’s, one was inspired by a devastating article about CTE in high school football; and several stories were written in the extended hangover of 2016, when the sociopolitical dial of American discourse seems always dialed to HATE. This collection, in other words, represents an extended period of time and development in my own life, and reflects many things I’ve seen or heard or learned (and/or imagined) along the way. It’s a meditation on angry, sad, lonely men and the damage they sometimes do (to others, to themselves)
Special acknowledgment to my own beloved father, without whom none of this could have happened, on literal and figurative levels. Though he’s very much from the old school, in mostly all the best ways, he deserves so much credit for imprinting positive behavior patterns in his impressionable son. He cared much more about good sportsmanship than whether I scored a goal or won the game; this brilliant man of science worried less about what grades I brought home than whether I was giving my best effort; this kid from blue collar Boston roots has an instinctive compassion for the underdog and imbued in his creative kid an indefatigable sense of justice and fairness. Put simply, there are a lot of less than admirable fathers featured in my collection; let the record be unequivocally clear that a book like this could never have been written if it sprang from actual experience.
This collection seeks to pose a rhetorical question: how much of the anger and miscommunication that prevails in America is the result of an outdated and dysfunctional notion of masculinity? How does not being taught to communicate openly or honestly, or show vulnerability, or cultivate empathy result in an inevitable feeling of alienation, loneliness, and despair? The stories are an extended meditation on the toxicities that fester in a late-stage capitalist society, where aggression, competition, and selfishness breed violence and abuse. We see that our received notions of manhood and masculinity are inculcated—from the beginning and by design—to ensure willing participation in a system where the overwhelming majority are excluded from the start. We witness the way these dysfunctions are handed down like inheritance, and how every cliché, from fighting to drinking to intolerance of dissent and distrust of others, is a carefully constructed trap, preventing solidarity, empathy, and love (for others, for one’s self).
William Carlos wrote “It is difficult to get the news from poems/yet men die miserably every day for lack of what’s found there.” That’s always worth remembering. All of my writing seeks to locate those stories that help us better understand lives different than our own, voices we may not otherwise hear, narratives that equip us to unite around shared urgencies, feelings that promote dialogue and connection.
Thanks to everyone who reads the poems, stories, and updates I occasionally share in this digital space. Writing is—and has to be—its own reward, but if one can’t share the words and feel enriched in the process, it’s not only lonely, but incomplete work. Word of mouth is still the unimprovable way to spread awareness and enthusiasm, so anything you can do to help me connect with more readers is greatly appreciated!
Much more info about me and This Kind of Man here.
Links to purchase paperback and Kindle versions here.
Friendly and obligatory reminder: leaving a review is immensely appreciated and really does help with the dreaded Amazonian algorithms. (Goodreads, apparently, is still a thing, too.)
ii. This Kind of Man Virtual Launch with Jenna Blum
How do I love Jenna Blum? Let me count the ways…
She’s a brilliant writer, full-stop—itself a ceaseless source of joy and inspiration (for me, for any author). She’s an indefatigable champion for writers, walking the proverbial walk by always showing up, being ever willing to shine a light on fellow scribblers, and advancing our collective cause (this may sound like a minor thing but believe me, it isn’t). And she’s a special human being: she clearly sees the ways our world weighs on us and is always trying to lighten the load, with her art, her advocacy, her spirit.
There is, in short, no one else I’d have rather spent time with to virtually launch my forthcoming collection This Kind of Man. Jenna and I go way back (to when we were both unpublished authors, sharing MS doc drafts) and I’ve watched her awesome trajectory with pride and relief — a sense that sometimes the good gals really do win.
It was wonderful to be in conversation with my friend who, as cofounder/CEO of A Mighty Blaze, is a seasoned interlocutor. This also was not our first rodeo; we’ve locked horns to talk shop many times, including when she was the 1455 StoryFest Keynote. Enjoy our past exchanges here, here, and here. Jenna is based in Boston, teaching at Grub Street Writers, where she has been running master fiction and novel workshops for over 20 years; she earned her M.A. in Creative Writing from Boston University and was the fiction editor for AGNI Literary Magazine. For more information about Jenna and to share her real-time adventures, please follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
The ostensible purpose of our conversation was to chat about the themes and topics I explore in This Kind of Man, but inevitably we talked about puppies, Boston, the literary community, and how to make America kind again. So, while I invite you to learn more about my book and spread the word (also pre-order your copies here), I hope you enjoy seeing Jenna in action or, if this is your first exposure to her greatness, I’m happy to facilitate the connection!
iii. Unsolicited Press: Q&A with Sean Murphy
THIS KIND OF MAN by Sean Murphy offers an unvarnished look at life in 21st Century America, excavating the complicated, tender, wild truth of what it is to be a man across generations and relationships.
Sean’s book releases on May 7, 2024. Before you buy the book, read an interview with Sean. Learning about his process is really special.
If you could cook dinner for any author, dead or alive, who would it be? What would you make?
I would love to make some chowder for Herman Melville and talk to him about the finer points of whaling & writing (and why Nathaniel Hawthorne didn’t do more to help him).
What scares you the most about the writing process? How do you combat your fears?
The immature writer fears their genius won’t be properly recognized; the maturing writer fears their work won’t reach a proper audience; the mature writers concern themselves only with getting the work done as well as humanly possible.
Who is your biggest literary crush, author or character?
I’d love to see John Self, from Martin Amis’s “Money” in action. A night on the town with him would be epic. I’d also love to drink some vodka with poor Raskolnikov and discuss the finer points of both crime and punishment, and convince him to put down the ax and write a memoir.
What books are on your nightstand?
Too many to list!
Favorite punctuation mark? Why?
You can remove the em-dash and semicolons from my cold, dead hands!
What book were you supposed to read in high school, but never did?
I read all the assigned texts for every English class, but I probably would have had a better time if I’d spent the necessary time suggested for understanding the Periodic Table of Elements!
What inanimate object would you thank in your acknowledgements?
Whatever impulse makes any creative person summon up the inspiration and courage to share their work with the world.
If you could write an inspirational quote on the mirrors of aspiring writers, what would you write?
The best stuff happens when you’re alone, putting in the work, and respecting both your ability and the intelligence of your future readers.
Does writing energize or exhaust you?
I suspect the ideal balance is when you start out energized, and end up exhausted–in all the right ways.
What are common traps for aspiring writers?
Social media. Illusions of fame & fortune. Following trends–for all the wrong reasons. Assuming talent is more important than dedication. Also, that being published (or becoming rich and famous) will make all their fears and worries go away.
What is your writing Kryptonite?
No serious writer will acknowledge or accept any excuses for why they are not writing.
Have you ever gotten reader’s block?
No, but I constantly fret that we’re only given so much time to read, and there are way too many books to absorb in a single lifetime. Part of eternity, if it exists, should include the necessary time on the celestial desert island to catch up on all one missed (and that would take a long, wonderful time).
Do you think someone could be a writer if they don’t feel emotions strongly?
It’s hard to imagine anyone writing anything worth reading if they didn’t first feel it, believe it, and do their best to share it.
What other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a better writer?
Way too many to list, but I’ve spent the last few decades shouting out sources of inspiration, many of whom can be found at bullmurph.com or 1455litarts.org
Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?
I think both goals are attainable, and desirable. I’ve published poetry about obscure jazz musicians, written fiction about the dot.com bubble, and tons of essays and criticism on books, movies, and politics. Each piece, hopefully, is convincing in its way, but taken together, they illustrate the world of the person who wrote them.
How did publishing your first book change your process of writing?
It gradually taught me that it’s a long game, and there’s always more to do. We see very talented writers fail to accept this, and fall by the wayside.
What was the best money you ever spent as a writer?
Buying books by friends and being an active literary citizen.
What authors did you dislike at first but grew into?
Sadly, in our info-overload world, it has to be love at first sight, or it’s on to the next writer.
What was an early experience where you learned that language had power?
My early reading of Edgar Allan Poe (the poetry and the short stories) proved that someone could conjure up scenarios that were at once out of–and completely part of–this world. That’s how the magic happens. I still read “The Cask of Amontillado” and can pick it apart, line by line, and explain why it works as narrative, but part of me actually believes it all happened. Because, in important ways, it did.
What’s your favorite under-appreciated novel?
In all seriousness, I’d say Moby Dick. The great American novel is also the most woefully underread and appreciated text.
As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal?
Charles Mingus–about whom I’ve written a great deal–is my ceaseless source of comfort, inspiration, and solace.
What do you owe the real people upon whom you base your characters?
Such a great question, and I actually wrote in detail about that, here: https://theweeklings.com/32816/
How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?
My first novel is still unpublished (mostly for the right reasons). Lots of projects in various states of progress. Stay tuned….
What does literary success look like to you?
I talk about that at length, here:
What’s the best way to market your books?
Alas, we’re in an age where writers have to be expert marketers and salespeople, two skills most writers not only lack, but loathe. I–like every writer I know–is in search of an answer to this question! (That said, I’m always happy to recommend my friend, the great Jane Friedman’s book “The Business of Being a Writer.”)
What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex?
If you know, you know.
What did you edit out of this book?”
Hopefully, all the bad parts.
If you didn’t write, what would you do for work?
Exactly what I’ve always done: pay the bills so I can write.
