What a long, strange trip it’s been this past year. And as we post our 17^th edition and leave 2010 behind, I am reminded of how brief this life is fast becoming, what a joy it is to do what I do here at Connotation Press, and how grateful we all are here on the magazine to be able to bring you the kinds of outstanding artists we publish every month.

 

Last month, you might remember, I headed out on yet another career directing the electronic press kit, basically a documentary, for contributor Charles Evered’s new film A Thousand Cuts from Wonderstar Productions & Ordinance 14. And I must say the entire experience was outstanding. I’ve been privileged in my life to work with a lot of talented artists collaboratively. I was a musician, and as the Editor-in-Chief of this magazine I am surrounded by a powerful set of artists. But nothing could have prepared me for the sheer volume of talented individuals it takes to create a feature film.

 

Nothing, it seems, could have prepared me for the incredible lack of sleep one gets doing this sort of thing, either. I added up my sleeping hours and in the first 11 days I managed to get about 11 hours of sleep. Ha! Seriously, talk about brain fry. Still, I know my unbelievable crew managed to get some wonderful footage, and we’ll soon have the editing process well underway. I’m very excited to see how this thing comes out, but I’ve had a blast so far.

 

Which leads me to this month’s issue. So without further ado, let’s kick this pig and see what it’ll do.

 

The reason all this leads me to this month’s issue of Connotation Press is because after pulling a 20 hour day on the last day of shooting the film in Palm Springs, California, I managed to catch up with the force of nature that is author Susan Straight. Ms. Straight was in Palm Springs for a low-residency MFA program at a nearby hotel, and she took some time out of her busy schedule to sit down for an interview with me on the release of her new novel, Take One Candle Light A Room (Pantheon 2010).  Another in a string of off-the-hook brilliant books, in addition to the interview Ms. Straight was kind to give us the opening pages of the novel to publish as well. Under rather trying conditions for shooting an interview, and we do apologize for places where it gets a bit dicey, we believe this is a MUST SEE video for any fan of Ms. Straight’s work. Our deepest gratitude goes out to Susan and to Pantheon Books for their kindness and generosity. We hope you enjoy it.

 

Hoppenthaler’s Congeries this month starts off with John’s preface, which is a deeply interesting piece and well worth the time spent, and then features Irish poet Leanne O’Sullivan, Elizabeth Spires, John B. Lee, Terese Svoboda, Hayan Charara, Katrina Roberts, Glenn Shaheen, Katherine Soniat, and Chard deNiord. Another stellar post from Connotation Press’ own in-house poetry guru. Great job, John!

Ever look into your fridge and wonder how what you see reflects on you as a person? Amanda McGuire did. Frankly, I’m starting to worry about her a bit. HA! This month in From Plate to Palate our food diva gathers a group of her friends to discuss the insights one can glean from the contents of their ice boxes. As Amanda puts it, “The inside of someone’s fridge says more about that person than their choice of car, clothes, or music ever could.” Sounds like fun to me. All thanks to Amanda and her crew. Now, where’d I put the mustard?

 

Drama editor Joshua Fardon brings us Past Time, by Padraic Duffy this month. And as always, the play is accompanied by an interview with the artist. And Travel editor Nicholas Baker brings us part two of his trip to South America with this month’s offering, “Las Cataratas del Iguazu Discovered”. I confess, up until now I had no idea this place even existed, but after reading Nick’s column it is now on my MUST VISIT IN MY LIFETIME list. Gorgeous!

In addition to all that, Joseph DeMarco joins us with a wonderful piece of flash fiction, and Roxane Stafford joins us with an intense piece of creative nonfiction. Yes!

 

Before I go back to the editing room to obsessively focus on making a compelling documentary with about a 5^th grade AV geek knowledge of what I’m supposed to be doing, I’d be remiss if I didn’t remind you not to forget to join us on the 15^th of the month when our regular Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, and Book Review columns come out, and be sure to catch the launch of our new movie review column “You Gotta See This" with Robin Russin. Oh, and don’t worry if you’re a little late, we’ll save you a seat.

 

 

Connotation Press: Bat Chain Puller

 

This addition of Connotation Press: An Online Artifact is dedicated to the memory of one of the most important, daring, and influential musicians California ever produced: Don Van Vliet. Captain Beefheart lost his battle with multiple sclerosis on December 17^th at the age of 69. One of the true innovators of modern music, with rabid-dog devotees like Frank Zappa, Ry Cooder, The Beatles, Devo, any punk band that ever mattered, Chris LeRoy, John Hickman, and just about anyone that I listened to as a teenager. Tom Waits said of Van Vliet’s passing, “[He] was like the scout on a wagon train. He was the one who goes ahead and shows the way…He drew in the air with a burnt stick. He described the indescribable. He’s an underground stream and a big yellow blimp.” Van Vliet recorded 12 albums with his group The Magic Band, including the disturbingly brilliant Trout Mask Replica. He was also an accomplished painter working largely in abstracts, which makes perfect sense to me. Mr. Vliet, his art, and his attitude will be sorely missed.