Call for Submissions: Queer Episodes

Hello You Gorgeous, Wildly Creative Creatures!

Deal is? The deal is this:

I’m co-editing an anthology with the phenomenal Lucie Barât—founder the publishing house, social network
& international non-profit Little Episodes, an organization that “promotes the arts…”

[ get it? got it. good! ]

— & —

we’re eager to check out your visual art & writing.

Entitled Queer Episodes, Lucie describes the anthology as “a celebration of queer literature: loves gained,
loves lost, loves shared, coming out, staying out, & how the world looks from a queer eye.”

In Catalyzed vernacular? This one’s for the rest of us. As in: the eccentric, unconventional, out-of-the-ordinary, marginalized, unique…

Wondering about the phrase ‘queer’? While I’ve no interest in regurgitating opinions I’ve been vocal about in the past, a veritable [AHEM!] Clint’s Notes version goes something like THIS:

Do you identify as trans?

Are you in a heterosexual relationship but aren’t, you know, ‘straight’?

Do you feel that your sexual orientation isn’t a viable option among the standard choices available on the drop-down menu of this Scantron test we know as our day-to-day?

For example: When creating one’s profile on a social networking site? [ A source of great consternation, personally. I've either opted to not answer—which made me feel like a closet case—or I've acquiesced & selected "gay," cringing from all the connotations I know accompany it: I'm not "Happy!"; I don't spend a minimum of 30 hours/week at the gym; I hate musicals; tl;dr / et cetera]

Sparing [further] snooze-fest from excessive elaboration:
Ultimately, I believe queer is a far more inclusive term than ‘gay.’

EDIT : Upon receiving numerous questions regarding the [not so] great Queer versus Gay Debate, I’ve changed my mind about “sparing the snooze fest,”  Or rather  : you’ve changed my mind, most inquisitive little chilins. . .

If the Q word is still a query, Mary, please scroll to the bottom of this post, where the hodgepodge of quotations, references, and links I’ve gathered will communicate more effectively. [ I hope! ]

As for now, about that anthology . . .

T H E     P A R T I C U L A R S

First & foremost?

Submissions are only accepted from members of the Little Episodes on-line community.

[ quotation about LE ]

Before you get your bowels in an uproar, or commence the requisite whiny “But I Don’t Want To Have To Sign Up For Another Social Network” response I’ve been known to espouse, short of the long is this:

Little Episodes is an excellent resource for artists, including a Notice Board where information regarding visual & verbal-based competitions / various calls for submissions is posted [that's information is, grammar police—don't try me!]; a collaborative group in digital story-telling, discussion groups for Creative Writing, the Visual Arts, Performance Arts—even On-Line Promotion.

Moreover, there’s really no reason for trepidation. I mean, what are you thinking: someone’s gonna show up at your front door if you haven’t logged in in three days? Umm, yeah—sure thing.

Moving right along…

N O   P R E V I O U S L Y   P U B L I S H E D   W O R K

As in: not only other anthologies, but also magazines, ‘zines, journals, any sort of on-line anything.

You will retain the rights to your work upon the release of Queer Episodes;
we simply don’t want a book that’s full of repeat performances.
[ This ain't no "K-Tel Presents"; know what I'm sayin'? ]

S I M U L T A N E O U S    S U B M I S S I O N S
A C C E P T E D

However, you must designate them as such.

R E G A R D I N G
M O N E T A R Y      C O M P E N S A T I O N

At this time, there isn’t any.

Before you ask…

Your work will appear in a perfect-bound, professionally-printed book—as in: the kind that’s all certified & bona-fide, complete with an ISBN-listing & a downloadable electronic companion [read: Kindle Edition] available.

In addition to bragging rights, there will be promotional events, at which you’ll have the opportunity to perform your work— or perhaps have your work performed by others.

Plus, the following might also be of interest . . .

“Little Episodes donates all profit to its outreach side: promoting awareness, & destigmatising depression & addiction through the arts. There is also a ‘Mental Health’ group on our social network that is for people affected by depression or addiction to chat & find helpful support information. We provide visits to residential units or day centres. Little Episodes is keen to reach out to people who can’t get to other Little Episodes events. These visits can include art, drama, music & writing therapy workshops, readings from the books, performances &/or a general Q & A.”

W H E R E   ,   W H E N  ,  &   H O W   ?

Prose, poetry and narrative non-fiction should be submitted in Word (*.doc/rtf) format

H E R E

Curious in terms of word count?  Aim for a max of 3K.

☆ ★ ☆ The deadline for submissions is March 31, 2012. ☆ ★ ☆

W H A T    A B O U T    A R T W O R K  ?

To celebrate the launch of Queer Episodes, we are inviting artists, photographers & illustrators to submit a piece of visual work to be used as the cover illustration on the theme of  ’Celebrating the Different.’

All visual submissions should ideally be submitted in pdf, jpg, gif,png or tiff format, resolution should be set to at least 300dpi, & suitably sized for a 7 x 9″ (17.8 x 22.9cm) printing page.

Zap us those retinal treats

HERE

[ please & thanks! ]

Other queries, Marys?
Contact us at submissions@littleepisodes.org

&
DON’T FORGET!

☆ ★ ☆ The deadline for submissions is March 31, 2012. ☆ ★ ☆

Read more

Cottonmouth Kisses Review — The Bellingham Herald

July 23, 2000

with mad gratitude to Ara Taylor

Either click image to enlarge,
or

http://picturepush.com/public/4729559

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In Circulation: Two New Stories

&
nope, of clicky-links to URLs with disappearing ink I do not speak. Au contraire, I’m talkin’ bout publications— the tactile experience of fingertips brushing against pressed paper.  The tender crease of a spine. The stink of ink spiraling up one’s nostrillus maximus & connecting with receptors in the limbic area, stimulating electrochemical signals.

My favorite words come bearing risk of paper cuts

Vorsicht! Consider yourself hereby forewarned:
it seems I’m particularly fond of italics this fine day…

All/Same

Royal Proclamation Number One:
(a fanfare is appropriate)

The latest issue of the rad-ass, bad-ass literary journal Gertrude

is OUT—&
includes my short story “Sugar Rush”: a tribute to
C U L I N A R Y . P E R V E R Y

That’s right, baby—we’re gonna get baked, & then you get  C a k e d…

A H E M !
So anyway

[from the publishers]:

“To commemorate this milestone release [issue 15 of Gertrude],we put out a call for writing & visual art
that explores, celebrates or subverts queer stereotypes. ‘The Gay Issue’ represents the diversity & talent
of the LGBTQA community.”

¤ THE PARTICULARS ¤
80 perfect-bound pages of flamboyant wit, 19 verse-slingers serving noteworthy lit, &
seven shades of wickedawesome visual artistry on eight full-color inserts that
one prancy fagocytosist went way gay over, on the tip of the APA
that’d be numbers & statistics; thank.you.ever.so

featuring

Michelle Auerbach, David Brennan, Wayne Bund, Clint Catalyst, Nicole J. Georges,
Jeremy Halinen, Daniel W.K. Lee, Kirsty Logan along with nine other lesbi-luminaries &
rump-wranglin’ Cult Icons-In-The-Makin’ that any cool-enough-to-singe-flesh-upon-contact
member of the cognoscenti c/should expect to find included among the impeccably-edited
roster of a journal esteemed as such/such as this…

Nonetheless, not unlike the dry ice to which I alluded a mere skip backwards o’er single perioddical: that’s a
scavenger hunt I’ll leave for you & your ducats to embark upon, darlin’

☆ G E T ± S O M E ☆

[though as an ápertif, an excerpt of my story]:

As the adage goes, ‘A Don’t Is A Delicious Invitation To Do.’  In the sexual practice known as “caking,” it’s particularly true.

I can’t take credit for coming up with this deviation of the old in and out, though unlike the lot of other subversive acts referred to as the stuff of urban legend—the Dirty Sanchez, Blumpkin, Cleveland Steamer, Chili Dog, et al—I’m honored to say I can vouch for its point of origin, and am a mere one degree of separation from its source.

“Caking” came about during the darkest days of that carb-counting craze when solo patties of beef were the new burger, and a demeanor bitter as Susan Atkins was the new black. It was socially acceptable to have breath that smelled like a fresh slaughter, so long as we weren’t seen consuming anything in a public setting that bore even the faintest traces of Evil Incarnate: refined sugar.

:: yes bitches, shit gets good up in thurr ::

— However! —
THIS IS NOT OVER YET

Royal Proclamation Number Two:
(not only/but also)

Baby, I’ve Got Some More Good Word For You…

From the publishing house, social network & international non-profit, Little Episodes—an organization that “promotes the arts as a therapeutic tool & platform to incite empathy and understanding”—comes the anthology Brainstorms

© Little Episodes Publishing, 2010 • ISBN 978-0-9565003-1-1 • Edited by Fawn Neün

“featuring work by Melvin Burgess, Todd Swift, Sadie Frost, Nina Antonia & Clint Catalyst, Brainstorms is the second volume in the ‘Expression of Depression’ series, a collection of poetry & short fiction from established & emerging talent.”

[from Little Episodes founder Lucie Barât]:

“The launch of our second anthology is a statement of intent. We aim to de-stigmatise depression and promote compassion & understanding rather than fear and embarrassment. The opportunity to create and subsequently publish art will give people a sense of well-being which could aid in their recovery.”

&
[from the printed matter]
an excerpt from my short story “Breaking Up With Tina”:

Whenever I hear recovery folks recite the slogan that their ‘worst day sober is still better than [their] best day using, ‘ I can’t help but feel my eyes rolling.  For that I have four words: They Needed Another Dealer.

Oh!  & H-e-ey Old-Schoolers, spot check how that paragraph comes to a Grinding Halt:

…And in the words of The Cure’s vocalist, Robert Smith, the further I got from the things I care about, the less I cared about how much further away I got.

MMM-HMMM,
G E T ± YOURS

H E R E :: via ::  H E R E

&
peek at the back flap*
down…

Read more

New Short Story/Anthology Exclusive Out Now!

In the premiere release from Little Episodes, an international collaborative art project:

(Click Image Above To Order)

:: information about ::

“Depression, addiction and mental illness are common problems in the modern world, with one in four people likely to experience a mental health problem every year. Established in 2009, Little Episodes is a not-for-profit organization consisting of professional writers, artists, musicians and actors with two prongs to its mission statement. The first, to destigmatize depression, addiction and mental illness, whilst raising awareness and providing empathy. The second is to provide a platform for talented, emerging and established writers/artists to find community and recognition. We combine the two by giving our participating writers and artists the first statement as their theme.”

Founded in the U.K., Little Episodes also curates ‘Late Night Episodes,’ a recurring event featuring spoken word, performance, music and visual art.  Late Night Episodes is held at the Novas Contemporary Urban Centre (London) on the last Saturday of every month.

Read more

CFF – Two Awards For Catalyst In 2008

“Renaissance Man Of The Year” and “Author With Most Anticipated New Release” from outré arts journal CFF

(Oh, and about that ‘new release’? I’m getting a bit impatient myself, thankyouverymuch…)

Read more

Pills, Thrills, Chills and Heartache — Review by Charlotte Cooper

[ Source ]

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Cottonmouth Kisses Review — Lambda Book Report

[ April 2001 : Archived ]

Props, Ever in Order
to both Richard Davis and LBR, a publication through the Lambda Literary Foundation !

Read more

Review of Pills, Thrills, Chills and Heartache — Atomic Books

2004-2009 (as appears on website):

Stories

“tl;dr” Overdrive…

Well, actually:

Yes, I wore the soles off my 20-e Doc’s many an eve
dancing to the 12″ mix of Ministry’s “Everyday is Halloween”
in back-alley nightclubs where I was years away from years from
being ‘of age’ to attend in the first place

(translation: the main thing that made it fun–
or at least that’s how it seems, looking back)

back in ancient history, also known as
my bereaved degenerate youth

I’ve been revisiting some of the more
dynamic moments from what could aptly be filed away in memory
as ‘The Clintagious Chronicles’ due to
the current book project on which I’ve been working

Degeneracy: A Love Letter.

// R.I.P., oh Long Lost Love…despite the toxic goulash of highlights,

lowlifes and embarrassingly awkward good times, how

exhilarating it seems your freedom was //

Whatever the case, here’s a recent update “from the set,”

featuring the inimitable beauty of actress/model Mageina Tovah

in the first of her two looks for the day:

Copious detail/commentary is provided on the clip’s YouTube page,

including info on the other peeps present who

deserve some serious ‘propers’ of their own.

(Irene Urias from Hairroin Salon, Genevieve Lamb from Dior, and

of course my co-conspirator, Amanda Brooks :

childhood f(r)iend/former ‘partner in crime’-turned-responsible mom)

Maendi and I lived by the edict that everyday presented

a new opportunity: the chance to become whomever/whatever we want

by dressing up.

To this day, I’m a tremendous advocate of the belief–

I mean, it was a mere three weeks ago, yet

I’m already missing Halloween.

With an outfit as genius as what Jared Gold concocted on my behalf,

how could I not?

and for the more detail-obsessed

FASHION DIE-HARDS OUT THERE,

here’s a considerably more comprehensive 5 minute clip in which

The Master of Delicate Decadence

shares everything from the costume’s “reveal”

to secret compartments ensconced within:

As for All Hallow’s Eve ‘proper,’ I gotta tell ya: generally speaking,

I was stoked to see so many Alice in Wonderland characters runnin’ around…

There were a slew of them both at the ‘Bitches Brew’ party, as well as a hearty smattering of Mad Hatters afterwards

when we hit the Brite Spot for some “fine” (enough) dining.

Seriously now: being a “Glad Hatter” myself–how could I not adore them? Despite accusations that I’m a ‘camera whore,’ (harumph!)

there aren’t many pictures of me from the evening. Nonetheless, I managed to snap one
of that dang adorable little Janine Jarman

& face-beater extraordinaire Noel Nichols within the first few minutes of our arrival; then cheers as other guests followed suit…

Q: Ever “spanked the monkey”? (Effing genius coincidence captured, that…)

As for me, I danced to the phenomenal tuneage spun by D.J.s Marta & Jen,

workin’ my ‘Demented Barber, Circa ’99…1899, That Is’ accessories for all they—

& the accompanying attitude in which I came “dressed”—were worth

(looks like SOMEONE needs a hug, hrmm? Just call me ‘Mr. Congeniality!’)

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Hence the “Not My Best Look” oilslick on my gesicht

(Hand on a Merrir breast, though Mr. Gold seems unimpressed…)

Rockin’ TWO TYPES OF CLEAVE…

Thanks for the mammaries, Miss Sarah Merrie!

[Ampersand.Hearts.Semicolon]

Another shot from the evening:

Kaiden as “Epic Fail: Scene ‘LOL’,” Stevie Ryan as a pretty version of Pee Wee Herman,

and Adam Paranoia throwin’ Teen Wolf in a most serious way…

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

And speaking of serious,

I was seriously surprised to learn that when my pal Brandon came to town for a visit

he comped me a frickin’–well, really expensive Madonna ticket.

9th row front, 3rd center of the ‘T-shaped’ stage

for one night

vs.

more than an entire month’s rent?

Can’t say I would’ve made that one happen myself…

* Thanks again, B! *

(I love how undeniably excited he is…)

& of course, via his iPhone we’ve got

“Pics or It Didn’t Happen”

O.K… so Home Skillet put on a phenomenal show.

I won’t make any references about how “I would hope so”; moreover,

I’ll refrain from utilizing any clichéd monikers in my commentary.

(Seriously journalists: by this point, any hack who refers to Mz. M as “The Material Girl”

should be force-fed the Oxford English Dictionary One. Page. At a time.)

but let me just tell you: when she threw down some DOUBLE DUTCH…

Well, let’s just say… despite another ’80s ricochet (nod to Keith Haring notwithstanding)

I was seventeen shades of impressed. It’s no secret I’ve been trying to assemble my own double-dutch squad

capable of weaving our way through the ropes while dressed in elaborate couture for quite some time… So until ‘The Swingers’ come to fruition,

I’ll cease this gargantuan post with the note

What I’m really dying to know is:

Has anyone else heard the rumor that Alexander McQueen will be designing a limited-run for Target?

They’ve scored some outstanding talent in the past but McQueen?

Truly: it’s a shame Isabella Blow isn’t here with us to share her thoughts on the topic (not to mention her opinions in general–but that’s a given)

& on a final rash note about fash: Did anybody rack up any great merch among the H & M/Comme Des Garcons collabo?

I wasn’t able to devote the entire morning of the 13th to waiting in line

in an attempt to score at least one piece of the instant collectibles.

(Different story altogether with the Viktor & Rolf launch from…hrmm… Two years ago, wasn’t it?)

However, thanks to my dear pal Pedro, I didn’t completely miss out on the goods that were gone in…what? Something like 17 minutes?

& though you might have thought it’d never happen, this is me, waaaay all kinds of outta here!

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“Reader of the Week” for Clint Catalyst’s Cottonmouth Kisses

“sorry it took so long clint! But here it is =)”

- jakkblood

Read more