Imaginary Friend Press is / I am doing things!

 So over at the Imaginary Friend Press website, I've been busy. I've put out three chapbooks this year, and I still have one more chapbook and a full length project. It's super exciting. IFP has reached it's 10 book mark, so I should bake a cake to celebrate!

IFP also has a chapbook competition going on. It's our first. Check out the guidelines here.

There's also an editor's choice sale. Two books for ten bucks. Check it out here.

I'm also giving 2 readings.
On October 20th I'll be in Chicago reading here.
On October 28th I'll be in Milwaukee reading here.

New poems up!

The lovely folk over at Souvenir Lit Journal have decided you should read two of my poems. I concur with them. Here is the link.
https://souvenir-lit.squarespace.com/dan-nowak

the hows and whys of my failures

Good news everybody! Hyacinth Girl Press has agreed to publish my latest chapbook! I'll have more news, updates and attempts at being socially media non-introverted soon!

The Next Big Thing Self-Interview

11.      What is the working title of the book?

The working title of the current book is bar time. I know that needs to change, but I’ve yet to come up with any better names, so that is filler. Perhaps I should just use the filler from my first book in hopes that it’s a lucky title, The Melting Aquarium.

22.      Where did the idea come from for the book?

This book came from that moment of manic desperation when the lights flicker on at the bar and there’s only so much time between getting kicked out alone or kicked out with someone else. This isn’t to say it’s all a hookup book, but a book about getting in and out of connections with others. Also, I felt as though I lost my voice for a while, so this is a rediscovery.

33.      What genre does the book fall under?

Oh this is totally poetry.

44.      What actors would you choose to play a movie version of your book?

In the movie version I would have it be a real life documentary. Because of this, I will have a poem where James Franco gives me money and apologizes for his crimes.

55.      How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?

The first draft is still taking place. It took me one of those 30 day challenges to hammer out a draft of a chapbook that is the basis for the book though.

66.      What is the one-sentence synopsis of the book?

Man exists in both poem and inebriation.

77.      Who or what inspired you to write this book?

This book was inspired by my need to rediscover my voice. I spent too much time falling into other’s edits and other’s opinions that I forgot how to have fun while writing. Most of these poems make me laugh.

88.      What else about your book might pique your readers’ interests?

I’ve done more research on armadillos than I thought was possible.

99.      Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

I want this and all of my books published by small, independent presses. This is the reason I started my own press, to publish others who are incredibly talented. This is also why I encourage others to begin their own press. Yes, there are already too many small presses out there to read everything produced, but that’s no excuse to not contribute to the market you wish to engage in.

110.  My tagged writers for next Wednesday (3/20) are:

Noel Pabillo Mariano, S’Marie Clay, Crystal Hoffman, Jeremy Paden

Tupelo Press 30/30 Project

Hello All,
So in addition to going to AWP and having a contest for Imaginary Friend Press, I've decided to take part in the Tupelo Press 30/30 Project. What happens is everybody taking place writes a poem a day, and then they put those poems up to see how everybody starts suffering later in the month. Well, not suffering, but running out of things to say. It's a fund raiser, too. If you've any interest in following my progress (or slow decline into insanity) here's the link: http://tupelopress.wordpress.com/3030-project/
If you're so inclined, please, donate to Tupelo Press.

My Imaginary Friend

So, Imaginary Friend Press, the tiny, super press that I run is holding its first full length book contest. If you're interested, you should check them out. It's www.imaginaryfriendpress.com

The deadline for that is March 15th.

I've also just put out the first book of 2013. It's Jeff Alessandrelli's People are Places are Places are People. There's also been an influx of chapbook submissions since switching to submittable and actually advertising (who knew?). That's been keeping me busy. I'm incredibly impressed with the quality coming through my electronic door. I'm hoping to secure one or two new titles soon.

And since it is right around the corner, I will be going to AWP. I'll be jockeying the table with New Sins Press and Winged City Press. So stop buy and give me money, I mean, say hello and browse our wares.

Oh, hello there

So I was reminded last night (perhaps after several beers and someone googling me on not my almost Zach Morris flip phone) that I'm more than an editor or teacher. While, yes, those are very important facets to me, I also write. In fact I have several poems forthcoming as well.

My poem 'a slight retelling of Greek mythology with bourbon' will be a part of Two Cups Press's bourbon anthology. Two Cups Press is a little firecracker of a press out of Lexington. Plus, when I was down there for Holler Poetry Series they totally saw me double fisting bourbon and PBR because I had to represent my two homes. (Ok, Toledo is also a home, but I've no idea what they're bringing to the table.)

I also have a poem coming out from the burntdistrict. This one is extra sweet to me because I read it up in Minneapolis/St. Paul and it was supposed to be a part of anthology. Well the editor didn't necessarily like it and he didn't tell me that it wasn't going to be a part of the anthology because there wasn't enough time at the brunch we had the following day. Or something. Anyways, it feels damn good to be validated over a piece you know to be good.

Imaginary Friend Press is still doing wonderfully. I put out four killer chapbooks last year. I'm starting this year off with another doozy in Jeff Alessandrelli's "People are Places are Places are People." Look for that around Valentine's Day because we always need more heart. Imaginary Friend Press is also throwing a book contest. The very first one. Ever. I'm hopeful that the turn out is spectacular and I can publish more than one book. That would be a great start to our contest life.