Grady Hendrix Made Me Cry (Again)
Currently reading:
The Sapling Cage by Margaret Killjoy
Tiny Nightmares: Very Short Stories of Horror, edited by Lincoln Michel and Nadxieli Nieto
Sunset Gun by Dorothy Parker
Books finished this week: 2
★★★★☆
Where this book came from: I’m so sorry to be lazy, but I have no idea when I bought this and I can’t find the post where I wrote about buying it lol.
Why this book: I found myself let down by my last poetry attempt, so I wanted to return to someone I enjoy.
Thoughts: I definitely enjoyed Averno more, but Louise Glück is still a favorite! I especially gravitated toward the last few poems in this collection, and I’ll always enjoy how accessible and still beautiful Glück’s work is.
★★★★☆
Where this book came from: A gift from an agent when we met IRL!
Why this book: It was described as feel-good sci-fi, and that sounded perfect right about now.
Thoughts: And it was incredibly feel-good, and chock-full of emotional ruminations on life and death and our place in the universe! Despite being a short book, it did feel a little slow at times, because it was definitely more meditative, but there was a lot of wisdom to take from these pages. (And also, I would die for Pumpkin, obviously.)
Library updates:
Despite living near an absolutely fantastic and community-oriented independent bookstore, we don’t always get the biggest names in my neck of Queens. So a few weeks ago, when I went to pick up my latest Kew and Willow order, I almost collapsed when I saw a flyer in their window announcing that Grady Hendrix was coming to town. I immediately texted my friend and fellow Hendrix fan, Meg (hi, Meg!), and I think we were both freaking out.
If you know me at all, you know I love Grady Hendrix (he’s popped up twice in the Library, so far——write more books, Grady!!). I’ve read all his novels (and I own Paperbacks from Hell——it’s still on my list!!) and he’s the number-one author I cite when friends ask for recommendations and literary agents ask for “books or authors you wish you’d had the chance to acquire and edit.” He makes me want to throw up and laugh and cry, and, in my humble opinion, he does the touching and the silly stuff just as well as he does the horror stuff.
I got to meet him last night, when he presented a one-man show about the history of spiritualism, especially the Fox sisters. I have to admit, I had no idea what to expect going into this, but the show was excellent and I learned a lot. And, like almost every time I read one of his books, I ended up crying in the dark. (He turned the lights off at one point and told a sad story about death. I am also, famously, Sensitive™.)
Anyway, I won’t spoil the show, because I hope you all get to see him perform it at a cemetery near you, but it was my best Saturday night in a while, tears and all.
Here’s a nice photo of me and my best friend Grady, featuring two of his books and also my excellent VHS horror sticker earrings from Reb’s Rainbow Haus, which, yes, my best friend Grady (and also a random stranger) complimented.
Queries sent: 27 | Rejections: 10 | Requests: 2On the query front, two fresh rejections, but also two requests for a full manuscript!! Granted, in both request cases, I’d already spoken to the agents in my capacity as an editor, but I’m very excited to share Amp with new readers.
Closing thoughts:
Let it all out.
