QUICKIES! Chicago
QUICKIES! Chicago - October 13
QUICKIES! Chicago – October 13, 2009:
JAC JEMC
ELIZABETH WYLDER
BEN TANZER
KATE DUVA
CAROLINE PICARD
AARON PLASEK GRAY
CASEY BYE
ZACH DODSON
RICHARD THOMAS
AARON BURCH
BLAKE BUTLER
AMELIA GRAY
Wow, so what a great night. I was thrilled when Mary and Lindsay invited me to read at QUICKIES! Chicago, but little did I know that I’d be part of this fantastic FUNdraiser and mini Dollar Store Tour event. GO here to their blog to get more information on QUICKIES! and all of the authors that read. QUICKIES! Chicago
For the second night in a row I hopped in my car and fought traffic to get to the city. Last night it was to the Inner Town Pub in Wicker Park (my old stomping grounds) only to find the bar empty, but for one barfly and the bartender. I guess 7 pm is only a suggested starting time. After conversing with several Columbia students, including Casey Bye who also read some awesome fiction, and Jacob from ACM, I realized that it never starts until almost 8. Oh well. Gave me time to hang.
Lots of great talent on hand. Our hostesses Mary and Lindsay were HILARIOUS and I loved their stories as well. They were totally prepared to blow the whistle at the 5 minute mark and had no problem escorting Aaron and Amelia off the stage mid-sentence. Didn’t matter that we were in the middle of a hot dildo story by Aaron or that Amelia was on fire spewing voracious insults at the crowd. HOOKED. And pulled.
I read my story that is up at Opium called “Animal Magnetism”. I mean, if you have a story that involves a guy getting an elephant penis, you have to read it. Right? It got some good laughs, and several people afterwards told me they really liked it, so I’m happy with the results. Stiff competition. I need to get my open mic mojo back.
Some of the highlights for me were the aforementioned Aaron Burch of Hobart. He’s always entertaining, and his story was funny and a bit sad, and somehow kind of hot. Amelia Gray was hilarious, her voice is one that I’m really getting into. Like I mentioned in my last post about the SCORCH ATLAS reading, she’s a great mix of sexy, dark, and funny. Wearing a tight black dress with fishnet stockings never hurts either. Blake Butler read another great story that was dark all the way up to the end, and then twisted into something bittersweet and funny. I’m really digging his style. Jac Jemc had a really strange and dark little story that I really loved. I’ll have to check out more of her work.
Thanks to everyone that chatted me up before, during and after. I had an excellent chat with Ben Tanzer, who also read. So many great local writers.
For sure check this event out if you can in the future. I had so much fun. Thanks Nik for the encouraging text, so very cool of you. And I got to meet a Cult buddy Golding (Gus Moreno) as well, thanks for coming out to see me read and support the group, such a cool guy Gus, and another really talented writer.
Peace,
Richard
- Richard Thomas - 
Count me insanely jealous. One day, we’ll be on stage giving the same sort of blog-grist for other writers.
Hahahahahaaha…I hope so. Wish you were there, bro. But it sounds like Denver AWP will be a great convergence of talent.