Tomorrow VouchedATL will be setting up at the ARTLANTIS FESTIVAL! This year we’ll be in booth 22 with Hyde Atlanta. Here’s a handy map for you to find us with:
Things you can anticipate in our booth:
• Fun
• Lemonade
• New titles galore! (from places like Featherproof, Octopus, Artifice, and more!)
• Myself & Jayne O’Connor
• Impromptu readings from Atlanta-area authors throughout the day!
Hope to see you there! Read more about the fun-filled fest at their facebook page.
You probably remember Molly Brodak because last time she was Awfully Interviewed we discovered she was not only a Molly Brodak but also the last Unicorn (aka: Amalthea). Molly Brodak is still a revelation, and probably, yes, still the Unicorn. Since we last spoke she has been surrounded by a flurry of words, confectioner’s sugar, sprinkles, and glitter. These experiments resulted in her latest chapbook Essay on Parts of Day (Horseless Press) – a really stunning collection that will cause something to bloom inside you as you read. Molly will be reading at the Animal Bodies Release Party at Youngblood on March 14th.
So Molly, your latest chap is called Essay on Parts of Day. What’s your favorite part of day?
Hhhm, probably the morning is the best-looking part of day. But the part where I sit on the couch with a blanket is the best-feeling part of day.
Which can really be any time of the day, right? Are you a fan of naps? If so- do you prefer couch naps to bed naps?
Couch-blanket time can be anytime, which makes it, like, outside of time. BEYOND time. Naps… naps are hard. Sometimes I feel much worse after taking naps, sometimes better, so it seems like a real gamble. This is how I gamble. With naps. My life is full of danger and excitement.
Casinos would be much more tempting places if they incorporated blanketed couches- don’t you agree?
Yes that would be bad for me. Plus with a buffet nearby always that would be really, really bad for me. They could set up “nap roulette” rooms where you could take your chances with a nap, then eat some buffet, win or lose. I hope no one who is into investing in concept casinos is reading this.
That’s actually Vouched’s exact target audience. Buffets are really intimidating to me. Have you ever been to a Golden Corral?
Have I…ever…Been…to Golden Corral?? The Trough? You are now talking about my favorite restaurant. How could it possibly be intimidating? It’s true that buffets can be kind of stressful in some ways. But I always seem to manage.
Is it called the trough? I hadn’t heard that before! What’s your first go-to at a breakfast buffet? I usually go straight to the Belgian Waffles, when they’re available.
The Trough
Well I think just my sister and I call it the Trough. I feel like a pig knocking against other pigs in the chute when I go there! Yes Belgian Waffles are a good choice. Pancakes get sort of rubbery if they sit for too long. Sausage gets filmy and resistant. Eggs get glacial and start to feel doomed. The large tub of yogurt giggles when you walk; no one wants it. Bacon is okay with difficulties. Biscuits think of themselves as asteroids. The syrup winds up under a protective sheet of itself.
Wow, that’s really beautiful, Molly. Do you feel that your relationship with your writing is similar to your relationship with your cooking, or are they different beasts entirely?
They are pretty different beasts. I really like writing recipes for baked goods because I like codes and patterns and proportions, so there’s probably some similarity in poetry but I try to not think about that too much because it seems corny. I like to bake because I want to make these weird things exist in the world that don’t exist yet, so probably that is like poems too.
What’s the most innovative thing you’ve ever baked?
My boyfriend Blake is always trying to come up with difficult baking challenges for me, which I love. So the weirdest things I make are usually responses to his challenges. Once he asked me for spherical cookie so I made a mold by wrapping foil around a baseball and filling the mold with dough with a marshmallow baked inside (the marshmallow melts away during baking, leaving a hollow center I injected with frosting). One of my favorite weird cookies is a variation on a tuile cookie where I take really thin batter and “screenprint” it across shapes cut out of foam. They come out incredibly thin, then I stack them with frosting to make a sort of 3-d shape. Last spring I made strawberries this way, maybe this year I’ll make little bananas.
If you were to describe the upcoming reading as a confection- what would it be?
A parfait! Duh! With a LOT of layers so you need a LONG spoon.
Running a Vouched table has its restrictions- Christopher & Tyler can attest to this. It is a labor of love that would prove cumbersome otherwise- lugging a table and an oversized rubbermaid of books into different venues, setting up and tearing down. Often, when I side-shuffle with the rubbermaid back to my car after an event, I ponder the limitations of the guerrilla bookstore – how restricted we are by the size, portability, and durability of the books we carry.
Opening a bookstore would contradict the heart of Vouched. It is SO key that we’re nomadic. We have no overhead! No bills to worry about! No employees, really, aside from ourselves! We can keep our price points low and set up the table on a whim if we like. Often, in the Spring and Summer, I contemplate just setting up with some lemonade (+bourbon) on any ol’ sidewalk. We have the freedom to do that.
Still, it is a vexation that certain titles just don’t work with the nature of our guerrilla bookstores. It’s something I’ve struggled with since launching here. That is until Youngblood Boutique approached me a few weeks ago about carrying some of our wares permanently in their store.
Youngblood is a staple here. Located right along the main drag of the Poncey Highlands, they’ve been kicking ass since 2003 by offering a broad variety of fresh work from local and national artists and artisans. Really, their mission is a broader version of our own. They’ve been fervent supporters of Vouched since we launched here in Atlanta- going so far as to donate their space for our launch reading in July 2011. Here’s a picture from that.
As of March 14th a special run of Vouched Books will be regularly available at the boutique. Being there opens up a whole new realm of possibilities for what can be sold- it’s a thrill to bring a whole new body of literature to the city through this partnership.
To celebrate- we’re throwing a party- a release party taboot! We’re also celebrating the release of David Courtright’s beautiful chapbook of poetry Animal Bodies- lovingly designed, hand-sewn & assembled collection of poetry from Two Steps Press in Athens, GA. It will stir your insides! Our readers for the evening? David Courtright, Molly Brodak, Bruce Covey, and Maggie Ginestra. Plus, there will be music from Christ, Lord! All of this goodness will take place on Thursday, March 14th. Readings will commence at 7:30 p.m.
Here’s a promotional video for the chapbook.
The next few weeks will be full of reviews, interviews, etc. to get you as pumped as I am!
I know everyone is as feverishly thrilled for this evening’s reading as I am. Look how feverish this book is- it’s burning! *
More details about the reading on facebook.
*No books were harmed in the making of this reading. Who do you think I am, Guy Montag?
I’m really excited to be setting up the Vouched table at Creative Loafing’s Fiction contest again tonight. Last year’s party was full of shenanigans, and there’s no doubt this year’s will have more of the same. You may wonder what makes me so confident. Well here’s a list.
See you tonight! 7pm at the Highland Ballroom.
It’s the return of the Holiday Hangover! You may recall the event that HydeATL and I threw last year to cope with our post-holiday blues. Well, we’re going to battle with them again. Once again, here is a medley of responses to Holiday-themed Awful Interview questions from some of the evening’s readers. It’s kind of like a casserole, but with more words. The Holiday Hangover will take place at the Highland Ballroom this Saturday, January 5th at 8pm. Hope to see you there!
Where do snowmen go when they die?
Lauren Traetto: I’m pretty sure snowmen live forever in a dormant state until you put a top hat on their heads and they begin to dance around. Or until you pretend that one is a parson who will marry you and your sweetheart, like in the song “Winter Wonderland.” Have you ever looked into the lyrics of that song? The couple actually pretends that a snowman is a specific clergyman from their community and have a two way conversation with it. That’s fucked up. Later they have a delusion that he is a circus clown who the neighborhood kids beat to a pulp.
Julian Modugno: The water cycle.
Tony Jenkins: All the melted snow is used by mixologists in seasonal, period-correct cocktails that will set you back $15 each.
What winter warmer does Santa keep in his flask?
Noah Gardenswartz: The blood of Jewish children.
Tony Jenkins: A single-malt scotch that is at least 18-years-old. Santa is more sophisticated than people give him credit for.
Jayne O’Connor: Peppermint schnapps. He’s not the hard ass you think he is.
What is that cranberry stuff anyway?
Julian Modugno: This seems to be the sort of question better asked to a Christian.
Lauren Traetto: Holiday art. A delightful sculpture that is at once delicious, nutritious, AND beautiful–all while delivering a biting commentary on emotional manipulation, consumption, and production during the holiday season. But as for the ingredients, it’s quite possibly made out of snowman pulp after the neighborhood kids have gotten to them. Or reindeer hooves.
If you were a character in a classic holiday movie, who would you be? Why?
Noah Gardenswartz: I’d be Tim Allen in The Santa Clause because Tim Allen gets all the pussy.
Laura Straub: Howard Langston, obviously
Who would win in a Christmas-Carol-off: Frank Sinatra or Bing Crosby?
Lauren Traetto: Jon Moskowitz once made a great mashup of Frank Sinatra and Notorious B.I.G. songs. Anybody with Biggie in his corner wins. No question.
Tony Jenkins: Bing Crosby was great, but I’m not sure I could ever pick against Sinatra, no matter the competition.
Jayne O’Connor: Frank Sinatra is the Chairman of my board.
What’s your most uncomfortable Christmas memory?
Julian Modugno: Watching all those horny hens peck at the corpses of Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby.
Tony Jenkins: Christmas 2012 was uncomfortable as hell, since I had ear surgery three days before. Nothing like singing “Here Comes Santa Claus” as blood drips out of your ear and down your neck.
When Santa was in trouble Rudolph used his nose to guide Santa’s sled. Which of your attributes would be helpful if Santa was in trouble?
Jayne O’Connor: I have a pretty nice set of headlights myself.
Noah Gardenswartz: I’m usually high, and could eat whatever milk and cookies he doesn’t want.
Julian Modugno: Whichever trait of mine Santa trusted, I can assure you it would lead to his eventual downfall.
Explain the game of Dreidel in 200 words or less.
Tony Jenkins: You spin the Dreidel really hard and whoever it lands on has to take off their clothes. La’ Heim!! Wait. I’m wrong. It’s actually “whomever.”
Jayne O’Connor: You spin it and win chocolate gold!
Name three additional uses for fruit cake.
Lauren Traetto: 1. Ballast 2. Jack stand 3. Castaway-style imaginary friend
Julian Modugno: 1. thing that takes up space in your fridge to make it more efficient. 2. easy punchline on a three-camera sitcom 3. homophobic slur
Noah Gardenswartz: 1. Give it to your worst enemy. 2.To give your neighbor’s dog diarrhea. 3. Throw it in the middle of the street and surround it by caution tape and make it a residential dada art exhibit.
Here’s a list of this week’s literary happenings up at Creative Loafing! The VouchedATL table will be set up at two of the seven events listed: this Wednesday at Write Club Atlanta ch. 18: Turkeys and other Foul Things and WE AIM TO MAKE YOU SO EXCITED! (Kill Your Darlings and VouchedATL present readings from Nick Sturm, Molly Brodak, Jenny Sadre-Orafai, Kory Oliver, Laura Straub, and P.I. Navarro).
Everyone knows about that whole AWP thing, right? The huge conference where we all go and lose our voices and pulverize our livers and generally wish those few days could be our life-at-large?
Well, there are smaller versions of that throughout the year, and one of those is coming up next week in Philadelphia, and it is much more affordable than AWP, and there are awesome panels, and Stewart O’Nan is keynoting, and on top of a really kick ass time, your registration fee gets you a subscription to a literary journal, a book from one of the speakers, and a “speed dating with editors” session.
This year, Ol’ Dave Housely has asked me out in my Vouched capacity to manage book sales during the conference, and of course I’m going to say yes to that.
So, I’ll be there, and I hope to see you there, too. It’d be rad to see you there. I’ll be standing behind a red clothed table with a bunch of books on it. Say hello. Let’s be friends.
This weekend, Saturday, September 1st and Sunday, September 2nd Vouched Books Atlanta will once again be set up at this year’s Decatur Book Festival! This year we’ll be sharing a booth with our good friends from The Wren’s Nest, booth 612. Here’s a list of the other great vendors and exhibitors you should visit. Here’s a map:
As always though, there will be plenty of other things to do and see at the festival. I’ve compiled a list of events below that may help, but I heartily suggest you take a peak at the full schedule of events here. For updates on events throughout the weekend you can check out VouchedATL’s twitter page, and of course, the Decatur Book Festival’s twitter page!
SATURDAY, September 1st:
10a-1p: The Wren’s Nest Publishing Co. has compiled its sixth annual literary journal, entitled Flyaways, which is comprised entirely of pieces by Atlanta-area high school students. Student editors, contributors, and their friends and family members will join to mingle, congratulate each other, and exult in their accomplishments with lemonade, popsicles, games, and coloring at Core Studio. Pull out your inner child and come share in the revelry!
11a–12p: James Nichols reads at the Experimental Writer’s Asylum.
11:15a-12:15p: Author Margot Livesey, author of The Flight of Gemma Hardy will be reading. Introduction from Laura Straub (hey, that’s me!) at the Decatur Library.
12p-1p: Boviniad author Nathan Jerpe reveals new stanzas of that ongoing and steampunk-inflected epic poem at the Experimental Writer’s Asylum.
1p-2p: John Harkey, a postdoctoral fellow at Georgia Tech, discusses and recites verse by Objectivist poet Lorine Niedecker (1903–1970) at the Experimental Writer’s Asylum.
2:30p-3:30p: Gina Myers will be reading at the Local Poetry Stage
1:45p- 2:30p: ”A Different Kind of Love Story“: Rachael Maddux will be moderates a panel with Lydia Netzer and Lisa Zeidner discussing their new novels at the City Hall Stage.
2p-3p: Poet Laura Carter reads at the Experimental Writer’s Asylum
3p-4p: Members of the Atlanta Poets Group engage in their “disjunctive and disruptive linguistic practices at the Experimental Writer’s Asylum.
4p-5p: Rabbit Tales librettist and multidisciplinary artist Madeleine St. Romain performs some of her recent polyphonic material at the Experimental Writer’s Asylum.
5–6 pm: Yale graduate and self-taught conceptual artist Nikita Gale—dubbed a “Superstar of Southern Art” by The Oxford American—discusses her work, which often incorporates text at the Experimental Writer’s Asylum.
SUNDAY, September 2nd:
12p–1 p: Comedian Brian Bannon (Rolling Stephen Hawking Up a Hill) and musician Bill Taft (Superlocalhellfreakride) re-create some of the music, historical anecdotes, and fabulations they have crafted in honor of the Krog Tunnel’s centenary at the Experimental Writer’s Asylum.
1p-2p: Historian and academic Hester L. Furey, whose first chapbook is titled Little Fish, shares her poetry at the Experimental Writer’s Asylum.
2p–3p: Atlanta native Amy McDaniel, who helps run the Solar Anus reading series, presents her poems in bringing XWA 3 to a close at the Experimental Writer’s Asylum.
2:30p-3:30p: The KIPP Scribes have crafted the stories with the help of their mentors and will release their book, Read After Burning, at CORE Studio (133 Sycamore Street Decatur, GA 30030). The book launch will feature readings from the KIPP Scribes and their mentors.The KIPP Scribes is a collaborative writing and publishing program between The Wren’s Nest and KIPP STRIVE Academy, a West End charter school. 
3p-4p: Poets Bruce Covey, Gina Myers, Jericho Brown, and Molly Brodak will be reading at Emory’s College Showcase at the Local Poetry Stage.
5p-6p: Myke Johns introduces Rob Reid, author of Year Zero at the Decatur Conference Center Auditorium.
Also, throughout the Saturday and Sunday daylight hours of XWA 3, passersby can again enjoy the free verse stylings (and, often, the free-verse stylings) of Jimmy Lo and company with Free Poems on Demand outside the gallery.
Hope to see you there!
After blitzing the internet with Single Sentence Reviews, Raffle Prize Announcements, and other promotional things for about a month,, I realize you may have some questions about the upcoming festivities. So here’s our first ever Vouched Presents FAQ.
When does this shin-dig start?
7pm, approximately. I estimate readings to begin between 7:15 and 7:30.
Is there a cost for admission?
Nope, you can attend for free! That being said, there will be things for sale: food from the Good Food Truck, drinks, popsicles from the King of Pops, t-shirts, books, etc. so it would be very wise of you to bring money with you in case you may get hungry, parched, etc.
I heard there’s an art opening involved too, can you tell me more about that?
Happily! We’re lucky enough to have the very talented Atlantan sculptor, Duncan Shirah, host the opening evening of his exhibition ‘Tools’ in conjunction with our party. He’s even been kind enough to donate his sculpture “Wood Pecker Awl” as the grand prize of the evening. Here’s what that looks like:
You can learn more about Duncan Shirah at his website or in these interviews with Dashboard Co-op and Scoutmob.
How do I win those totally sweet raffle prizes?
Great question! Participants in our raffle will receive 1 raffle ticket for every $5 donated or spent on WINK, Wren’s Nest Publishing Co., or Vouched merchandise. So say, for instance, you buy a book from me that costs $10. For that you will receive not only your book, but 2 raffle tickets! Which could win you all sorts of amazing prizes!
Where do my donations go?
Donations will be split evenly between the Wren’s Nest Publishing Co. and WINK. Vouched Books will not be keeping any of the money donated.
Where can I learn more about the Wren’s Nest Publishing Co. and WINK?
Both organizations have really splendid websites, which give background information on both of their tutoring organizations, the work that they do, and other information about how to get involved.
You can learn more about the Wren’s Nest Publshing Co. here!
You can learn more about WINK here!
I only attend parties where there are photo-booths. Will there be a photo-booth?
YES! Our good friends at Smilebooth have been kind enough to donate us a photo-booth for the evening to better capture all of the debauchery.
Can I win multiple raffle prizes?
No. Sorry, but that just doesn’t seem fair. Winners will be collecting their prizes at the Vouched Books table throughout the evening where we will be keeping track of who wins what. One prize per attendee.
What’s the Goatfarm, are there goats?
In their own words: The Goat Farm Arts Center is a major visual & performing arts center in Atlanta. What was once an underutilized historic site went through a major expansion and was given new form in 2009. Part of the expansion opened up 20,000 square feet dedicated to five new performance and exhibition halls and spaces. The Center now hosts classical & contemporary music concerts, traditional and experimental theatrical performances, film screenings, contemporary dance performances and art exhibitions.
And yes, there are real-life goats!
The poster has a lot of balloons. Will there be balloons?
Yes, there will be at least 1 dozen 3′ circular balloons. There will not be bears.
If you love what we do here at Vouched, please consider showing your support by donating. We will love you forever.
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