Cooper Renner‘s Disbelief, a novella in prose and verse about Samuel Taylor Coleridge, has just been published by Ravenna Press, and a selection of his illustrations The Amores [and] The Sorrows of Young Hemdlos will be included later this year in a Ravenna Triple, along with poetry by Alek Lindus and fiction by Brandon Hobson. He edits poetry, interviews and reviews for elimae.com.
Cooper Renner’s Editor’s Eye choices:
1. Anthony Van Hart, “77 Words About Nothing (Triad)“
Fiction so micro that it works equally well as poetry, and may indeed be intended at poetry. Short paragraphs or short lines? It doesn’t matter. Lean vignette-ish looks at despair and hard times.
2. Nathaniel Tower, “WWJRD“
A sly and light touch on an issue that’s almost incendiary in America the Belligerent.
3. Larissa Shmailo, “Kalinivka“
Flash fiction tackling one of the toughest subjects: the Holocaust. Quiet and austere.
4. Jeffrey S. Callico, “No Trip“
A micro of the final moments before a crash.
5. James Claffey, “odd-sized legs“
Lonely childhoods are common in fiction (and reality), but black humor redeems this one.
6. Barry Basden, “South Oak Cliff“
The title caught me, since I grew up in a part of Dallas called Oak Cliff. His story is tiny, tight, focused, like the focus of a kid terrified of getting beat up.
Editor’s Eye is a new blog series that aims to highlight noteworthy work that might have slipped through the cracks of Fictionaut’s automated list of recommendations. Every two weeks, a distinguished visiting editor scours the site for lost treasures and picks outstanding stories.
Mar 6th, 2012 at 11:26 am
thanks for choosing “odd-sized legs,” for the list. much appreciated acknowledgment from a fine writer/editor.
Mar 6th, 2012 at 11:43 am
thanks for choosing “odd-sized legs,” cooper. it’s gratifying coming from such a fine writer/editor.
Mar 6th, 2012 at 1:05 pm
very excited to be chosen for the list by such an excellent writer/editor.
Mar 7th, 2012 at 12:06 am
Nice work, Cooper. I look forward to this weekly feature. Your comments explaining your picks is also interesting. Good selection.
Mar 8th, 2012 at 1:09 am
What an enormously talented bunch we have here at Fn. Another deserving group of writers. Well-chosen. Congratulations to all.
Mar 9th, 2012 at 3:07 pm
Great job, Cooper. You have picked some excellent pieces here (especially #2, wink, wink). Seriously though, thanks for selecting these stories.
Mar 11th, 2012 at 7:31 am
Great writing, Barry. I could almost feel that fistful of asps.