The Drunken Odyssey with John King: A Podcast About the Writing Life

On this week's show, I talk to the poet and memoirist Henry Hughes about how to get over rejection, poetry, the freedom of ekphrastic work, memoirs, and fishing, Plus Todd Boss reads his poem, "One of the Joys of Dry Fly Fishing."

In this week's episode, I curate more blues music that has sustained me in this summer of working too hard.

In this week's episode, I talk with Curtis X. Meyer and Caleb Zachary Matthews about the Slam Nationals that Team Orlando will be attending, the upsides and downsides of Slam Poetry, plus they perform their work! Caleb Zachary Matthews, Raquel Henry, John King, and Curtis Meyer. NOTES Help send Sherdes Leona, Caleb Zachary Matthews, Faith Elizabeth, Curtis X. Meyer, & Kira Calvaresi to the Slam Nationals here. On July 28th, I am hosting a reading by Jaimal Yogis at the Kerouac House.

In this week's episode, I talk with Vanessa Blakeslee about Robert Paul Lamb's Art Matters: Hemingway, Craft, and the Creation of the Modern Short Story. Five years in, TDO finally devotes a show to Hemingway, and Bob's discussion of Hemingway's craft is profoundly illuminating to how effectively extraordinary Hemingway's aesthetics were. I somehow manage not to tell the story how in my Purdue years, my roommates and I dubbed the more rustic of our two bathrooms as The Ernest Hemingway Memorial toilet, with a lot of great photos of Hem in it.

On this week's show, I talk to the poet and novelist Kathleen Rooney about the flaneur as geographic narrator of imaginative space, the aesthetic pleasures of walking, writing about New York City, the value of elderly characters, the dramatic provocations of history, and the structure of the novel of memory. TEXTS DISCUSSED NOTES On June 16th, I am hosting a fundraiser for the S.A.F.E. Words poetry slam at Writer's Atelier. On July 28th, I am hosting a reading by Jaimal Yogis at the Kerouac House.

On this week's show, I talk to my friend Nathan Holic, who is an Orlando writer and editor of the 15 Views of Orlando anthology series. While in situ at The Contemporary Resort, we discuss the stressors of theme park-going, the uses of such postmodern settings, and the odd counterbalances of melodrama and dark satire in Stanley Elkin's The Magic Kingdom. TEXTS DISCUSSED NOTES Mary Cottle's room? The equivalent of room 822 now, but perhaps not back in 1986. (No, we didn't knock on the door.) Check out Nathan's books! On June 16th, I am hosting a fundraiser for the S.A.F.E. Words poetry slam at Writer's Atelier. On July 28th, I am hosting a reading by Jaimal Yogis at the Kerouac House.

On this week's show, I talk to fiction writer, Shasta Grant, the Kerouac House resident from the spring of 2017. NOTES Shasta's chapbook is now available from Split Lip Press. On June 16th, I am hosting a fundraiser for the S.A.F.E. Words poetry slam at Writer's Atelier. On July 28th, I am hosting a reading by Jaimal Yogis at the Kerouac House.

On this week's show, I talk to Todd Boss, whose new book, Tough Luck, includes a poem sequence inspired by the disaster of the I-35W Bridge's collapse in Minneapolis, plus Malcolm Kelly reads his poem, "Visual Vignettes of Some Gay Shit." TEXT DISCUSSED NOTES Check out The Drunken Odyssey's classic Bloomsday show, episode 104. Read Nicole Oquendo's poem, "Binding We," over at The Florida Review.

In this week's episode, I talk with Vanessa Blakeslee about Jhumpa Lahiri's experiment in becoming an Italian writer, In Other Words.

On this week's show, I talk to Missy Barnes, Lena Barker, and Nicholas D'Allesandro about their production of Urinetown. NOTES Follow the Annie Russel theatre here. Check out Episode 119 for Sam Slaughter's essay about Denis Johnson.

David James Poissant reads his keynote at Litlando, from February 25th, 2017! TEXTS DISCUSSED

Episode 261, I interview the prose writer Sarah Gerard about her essay collection, Sunshine State, and her novel, Binary Star.

260 shows equals a fifth anniversary, I've decided, so it was a pleasure to talk to someone who was here at the very beginning. Jaroslav Kalfař was my occasional co-host to talk about craft books, during those last days of his being an undergraduate at the University of Central Florida. Five years, one MFA, and one novel later, Jaroslav is an international literary phenomenon. We try to catch up and manage to talk about writing along the way, plus Heleen Sikorski reads her poem "Autoerotic Alliteration."

On Episode #258, I am joined by Julian Chambliss, Dianne Turgeon Richardson, Tod Caviness, and Kevin Hutchinson to talk about Star Wars in honor of May the 4th. We talk about the questionable genius of George Lucas, the role of Disney in anticipating the needs and desires of the SW audience, the imposition of romance in war narratives, and the profound role of play in our development of self. A lot of beer was drunk. We made fun of each other.

In this week's episode, I talk with Vanessa Blakeslee about Margaret Atwood's In Other Worlds and The Handmaid's Tale.

In this week's episode, I shut up and let Ephraim Scott Sommers, Vanessa Blakeslee, and David James Poissant discuss how to get published in lit mags, plus Tiffany Fussell discusses how The Secret Garden changed her life.

In this week's episode, I talk to fiction writer Holly Tavel about the urge to experiment in fiction, the need to subvert grand narratives, and the joys of the avant-garde and children's schlock and obsessions of all kinds, Plus I chat with Michael Martin about the fascinating ways poetry finds itself entering Miami during the month of April. Photo by Gesi Schilling. TEXTS DISCUSSED NOTES Learn more about the O Miami Poetry Festival, including its schedule of events, here. Photo by Gesi Schilling. Special Thanks to The Children's Trust and Miami-Dade Transit.

On this week's show, David James Puissant and I offer words of advice for new writers and answer some of their questions, in the equivalent of our 8th mailbag episode, almost 2 years after the 7th... plus Ramona Pojoga writes about a book that changed her life!

In this week's episode, I talk to animator Barry Temple about his extraordinary professional experience in show business. We cover career highlights like The Mouse and His Child, Ralph Bakshi's animated version of The Lord of the Rings, and the arc of Disney animation in the 1980s (from Don Bluth's defection to the renaissance of Disney filmmaking). We discuss the role that perseverance and adaptation play in a successful career, and what it is like to create animation before a theme park audience. TEXTS DISCUSSED NOTES On April 15th, check out this amazing fundraiser for Exodus United at The Geek Easy. Save

In this week's episode, I talk to Gary Evans, Brian Crum, and Adam Watson of The Intoxicators about writing music, working collaboratively, fast tempos, and staying fired up! ALBUMS

In this week's episode, I talk with the poet Ephraim Scott Sommers. TEXTS DISCUSSED NOTES Litlando 2017 will take place on March 25th at The Gallery at Avalon Island. Buy tickets now here. Check out Ephraim's music here. Come to Ephraim's book launch, if you are in Orlando.

Episode 219 of The Drunken Odyssey, your favorite podcast about creative writing and literature is available on iTunes, or right click here to download. In this week's episode, I share a recording of Loose Lips, the monthly current events literary thing hosted by the inestimable Tod Caviness, with special guests Josh Dull, Racquel Henry, Darlyn Finch Kuhn, and me.

In this week's episode, I talk with the poet Ashley Inguanta, plus Daniela Chamorro writes about how Sandra Cisneros's The House on Mango Street changed her life.

In this week's episode, I talk with Vanessa Blakeslee about E. L. Doctorow's Creationists. NOTES I'll be appearing at Lil Indies, in Loose Lips on March 7, the Henao Contemporary Center, in the Second Saturday reading series ($5 cover), on March 11th, a new Modular Collective Art show on March 23rd, and at the Gallery at Avalon Island in Litlando on March 25th.

This week's episode is an eclectic mix of poetry, fiction, and an interview on the subject of the American presidency. This show features Jennifer Berne, Shawn McKee, Karen Best, Christopher Booth, Jeremy DaCruz, & Lauren Camp. NOTES On Monday, February 27 at 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM, at Bookmark It in The Lovely, Vanessa Blakeslee will lead a discussion of Sinclair Lewis's It Can't Happen Here. Save

This week features our 5th annual Erotic Poetry Night, featuring... Naomi Butterfield Ephraim Scott Sommers Diane Turgeon Richardson Wilson Santos Stephanie Rizzo Brian Downes Rachel Kolman Lisa Roney Madison Strake Bernath & your host, John King.

In this week's episode, I talk to the novelist and memoirist Tom McAllister about structuring long-form fiction, the mystery of love, the addictive horrors of football, and other important matters. NOTES Follow Bookmark It on Facebook to learn more about Brave New Book Club, which is led by Vanessa Blakeslee. Save

In this week's episode, I talk to the novelist and memoirist Lily Brooks-Dalton. TEXTS DISCUSSED NOTES According to Buzzfeed, Roxanne Gay has pulled her forthcoming book, How to Be Heard, from Simon and Shuster.

In this week's episode, I talk to the poet Joy Harjo, the poet and fiction and creative nonfiction writer Kim Addonizio, and the memoirist Paul Lisicky. NOTES On Sunday, February 5th, The Drunken Odyssey will be hosting its annual erotic poetry night at Vinyl Arts Bar in Orlando, Florida. 7 PM.

In this week's episode, I talk to fiction writer Ann Hood, and the graphic novelist Art Spiegelman. TEXTS DISCUSSED Book That Matters Most" target="_blank"> An Italian Wife" target="_blank"> Si Lewens Parade An Artists Odyssey" target="_blank"> Complete Maus"> NOTES Monica Crowley, Donald Trump's choice for senior director of communications for the National Security Council, is a plagiarist. On Sunday, February 5th, The Drunken Odyssey will be hosting its annual erotic poetry night at Vinyl Arts Bar in Orlando, Florida. 7 PM..

In this week's episode, I talk with Vanessa Blakeslee about Jennie Jarvis's Crafting the Character Arc: A Practical Guide to Character Creation and Development. Plus Scott Hoffman reads his essay, "I read Ethan Frome every January." TEXTS DISCUSSED Crafting the Character ARC"> Ethan Frome" target="_blank">

In this week's episode, I talk to fiction writer, Irvine Welsh, and share his reading from his new novel, A Decent Ride, at Miami Book Fair. Aleksander Hemon also read from his novel, The Making of Zombie Wars. Here I am with Irvine Welsh back in 2012. TEXTS DISCUSSED Decent Ride" target="_blank"> Trainspotting" target="_blank"> Ulysses Complete & Unabridged As Corrected & Reset in 1961" target="_blank"> The Making of Zombie Wars" target="_blank"> NOTES Thanks to Pressure Wave (Jared Silvia) for his song "Two Thousand Six."

In this week's episode, I talk to the poets Rita Dove and Robert Pinsky, and share the reading they gave together at Miami Book Fair International. TEXTS DISCUSSED NOTES Listen to my previous interview with Robert Pinsky here.

In this week's episode, I talk to the essayist Sarah Sweeney about her debut collection, Tell Me If You're Lying, the impediments and the value the academy can be to writing, and the essential relevance of poetry to the prose arts. TEXTS DISCUSSED NOTES Read Sarah Sweeney's essay about catfishing musicians here.

In this week's episode, I talk to fiction writer Glendaliz Camacho near the end of her residency at the Kerouac House in Orlando. Photo by Linda Nieves-Powell NOTES Check out Glendaliz's work: Pigeons (short story) Full Battle Rattle (personal essay) Dominoes (short story) Reinaldo Arenas's story "The Glass Tower" appears in Mona and Other Tales. Save

On this week's show, I talk to the literary historian Bill Savage about the re-release of George Ade's 1931 classic, breezy history of drinking culture in America. George Ade TEXT DISCUSSED NOTES Watch and hear Bill's rant against the term dive bar. Should Prohibition be repealed? (illustration from The Old Time Saloon)

In this week's episode, I present an Election Day version Jesse Bradley's prose reading series, There Will Be Words, or in this case, There Will Be Words and/or Doom. The readers included myself, Rachel Kolman, Glendaliz Camacho, And Whitney Hamrick. Thanks once again to our host, J. Bradley.

On this week's show, I talk to the nonfiction writer Sayantani Dasgupta about creative nonfiction, the romance of reading, and the powerful appeal of the in-between. TEXTS DISCUSSED NOTES Listen to Sayantani's essay about 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea here.

In this week's episode, I talk with Vanessa Blakeslee about David Foster Wallace's "E Unibus Plurim: Television and U.S. Fiction." TEXTS DISCUSSED Read David Foster Wallace's 1993 essay "E Unibus Plurim: Television and U.S. Fiction" here. Save Save Save

On this week's show, I talk to the nonfiction writer Pamela Skjolsvik about creative nonfiction, anxiety, and death, plus I briefly eulogize a triumvirate of entertainers: Leonard Cohen, Robert Vaughn, and Kevin Meaney. TEXT DISCUSSED NOTES Check out Pamela Skjolsvik's essay about David Sedaris back on episode 50. Miami Book Fair International's amazing weekend street fair will take place on November 19th and 20th.

In this week's episode, I talk to the journalist and nonfiction writer, Craig Pittman. TEXTS DISCUSSED NOTES On November 8th, come hear me, Gelndaliz Camacho, Rachel Kolman, and Whitney Hamrick read at There Will Be Words at The Gallery at Avalon Island. Watch The Drunken Odyssey's latest video: Craig Pittman, Tod Caviness, Jesse Bradley, Susan Fallows, and David Thomas Moran read in the Loose Lips reading series. Miami Book Fair International's amazing weekend street fair will take place on November 19th and 20th.

This week is a live show: Horror Movie Poetry Night III. The Drunken Odyssey All Stars were Glendaliz Camacho, Curtis X. Meyer, Stacy Barton, Jim Driggers, Shawn McKee, Jared Silvia, Whitney Hamrick, Teege Braune, & your host, John King.

Episode 229 of The Drunken Odyssey, your favorite podcast about creative writing and literature is available on iTunes, or right click here to download. In this week's episode, I return to Jesse Bradley's Halloween installment of his prose reading series, There Will Be Words. Jesse Bradley, Karen Best, Shawn McKee, Teege Braune, John King, & Jared Silvia. Erik Deckers Plus a final performance from The Terrible Mr. Sundrop. Save

On this week's show, I present a quartet of readings from HP Lovecraft: "The Beast in the Cave," "The Tree," "Beyond the Wall of Sleep," and "From Beyond." Our readers are Chris Booth, Elise McKenna, and Tom Lucas. THE TEXT NOTES This episode is a companion to Episode 227, a roundtable discussion of Lovecraft. If you like this show's readings, check out the previous literary reading episode, 123, on the year without a summer that spawned the ghost story contest between Lord Byron, the Shelleys, and Dr. Polidori. If you are near Orlando on October 19th, come to Horror Movie Poetry Night 3.

In this week's episode, I and my inestimable guests have a fine conversation about Lovecraft and his bizarre tales and his rather strange life and his exceptionally unfortunate opinions The participants included Elise McKenna, Tom Lucas, Julian Chambliss, and Dianne Turgeon Richardson. TEXTS DISCUSSED An author photo can look unintentionally scarier than the horror book cover sometimes. Save

In this week's episode, I talk to poet Vidhu Aggarwal, plus Adelia Johnson writes about Ned Vizzini's It's Kind of a Funny Story changed her life. TEXTS DISCUSSED NOTES Check out my essay, "There, But," in the latest issue of Animal: A Beast of a Literary Magazine.

In this week's episode, I talk to the journalist and historian, Bob Kealing, plus Heather Whited reads her essay, "Onigiri, Shirasagi, and Me." TEXTS DISCUSSED NOTES The Daytona News-JournalThe Daytona News-Journal documented Edward Albee's involvement with the Atlantic Center for the Arts. On September 30th, Richard Blanco is coming to Valencia College for the Winter Park Writers' Festival. Richard Blanco's reading is FREE, but you MUST reserve a seat via the Festival's Eventbrite page. EVENT DETAILS Location: Winter Park Campus, Valencia College, 850 W Morse Blvd, Winter Park, FL 32789, Rooms 237/2424 4 PM: Community Writing Class with Richard Blanco 5:30 PM: Open Mic Reading (Emceed by John King) 7:00 PM: Richard Blanco Reading You can find my interview with Richard Blanco back on episode 76. The deadline for submissions for Condoms and Hot Tubs Don't Mix is fast approaching. Save

In this week's episode, I talk with Vanessa Blakeslee about Virginia Woolf's "Modern Fiction" and "Mr. Bennett and Mrs. Brown," plus Mingzhao Xu writes about Diana Gabaldon's Outlanders series changed her life. TEXTS DISCUSSED NOTES Suki Kim's nuanced take on what happened in Brisbane can be read at The New Republic. Lionel Shriver's "Identity Politics and Fiction" can be read at The Guardian. On September 30th, Richard Blanco is coming to Valencia College for the Winter Park Writers' Festival. Richard Blanco's reading is FREE, but you MUST reserve a seat via the Festival's Eventbrite page. EVENT DETAILS Location: Winter Park Campus, Valencia College, 850 W Morse Blvd, Winter Park, FL 32789, Rooms 237/2424 4 PM: Community Writing Class with Richard Blanco 5:30 PM: Open Mic Reading (Emceed by John King) 7:00 PM: Richard Blanco Reading Save

In this week's episode, I talk to the novelist Vu Tran about the appeal of detective fiction, the importance of literary substance over style, the problem with femme fatale characters, the Iowa MFA experience, and many, many other things, plus Jared Silvia sings another Woody Guthrie number in honor of Labor Day, as part of his annual Labor Day musical project. TEXT DISCUSSED NOTES On September 30th, Richard Blanco is coming to Valencia College for the Winter Park Writers' Festival. Richard Blanco's reading is FREE, but you MUST reserve a seat via the Festival's Eventbrite page. EVENT DETAILS Location: Winter Park Campus, Valencia College, Rooms 237/2424 4 PM: Community Writing Class with Richard Blanco 5:30 PM: Open Mic Reading (Emceed by John King) 7:00 PM: Richard Blanco Reading