The PEN Center USA Emerging Voices Fellows took the stage on Saturday, April 29th to read from the works in progress. Tongue & Groove is a Los Angeles based literary reading series hosted by Conrad Romo. Photos by Wes Kriesel  

The 2017 Emerging Voices at Tongue and Groove Saturday, April 29 at 6 PM – 7 PM The Hotel Cafe 1623 1/2 N Cahuenga Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90028 5:30 PM Doors | 6 PM Reading $6 cover (21+)P PEN Center USA and Tongue and Groove present a reading by the 2017 Emerging Voices Fellows… Continue reading PEN USA Emerging Voices Reading: Saturday April 29

Pete’s short story “Asleep For Days” was published today in F(r)online, the online imprint of F(r)iction Magazine. “Asleep For Days” is a pseudo-utopic 2nd-amendment after-life love story. In other words, it’s weird. Here’s an excerpt: Day 7 I’m at home, cleaning my gun. I unintentionally fire a bullet. The bullet goes through my hand, through my… Continue reading “Asleep For Days” published today in F(r)online

PEN Center USA asked their 2017 Emerging Voices Fellows to answer the question: “What does Freedom to Write mean to you?” Each EV Fellow discusses the role that freedom of expression, the keystone of PEN Center USA’s mission, has played in their lives as writers, readers, and literary citizens. From Soleil David: I come from a people who believe that words can change the… Continue reading PEN USA Freedom to Write Essays

Every year, PEN Center USA asks the five Emerging Voices Fellows to answer the question, “What does Freedom to Write mean to you?” Over the next five weeks, each of the Fellows talks about the role that freedom of expression, the keystone of PEN Center USA’s mission, has played in their lives as writers, readers, and literary citizens.… Continue reading What Does Freedom to Write Mean to You?

January 31, 2017. Readings, drinks, and art at Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions.  Readings by the five 2017 EV Fellows: Kirin Khan, Chinyere Nwodim, Peter HZ Hsu, Jessica Shoemaker, & Soleil David. With the support of our mentors: Ashaki Jackson, J Ryan Stradal, Dana Johnson, Amelia Gray, & Jade Chang.  I read an excerpt from my… Continue reading PEN USA Emerging Voices 2017 welcome party

My short story “The Gift” is out today in PINBALL Issue 11! You can read the story for no charge online, or buy the ebook (which includes 7 other pieces of fiction, non-fiction and comics) for just $2.99.    “Dad put The Enforcer in park and turned back to us. We were still little, both of… Continue reading New Story in PINBALL Issue #11

Big news. I just got the PEN Center USA Emerging Voices Fellowship for 2017! It’s a great honor and includes a local literary mentorship, classes at UCLA Extension Writers Program, three sponsored readings, and a nice little stipend!      

This year’s Lorian Hemingway Short Story Contest is in the books. The winner is Toby McCasker of Sydney, Australia for his story “All Gone,” which will be published in an upcoming issue of Cutthroat: A Journal of the Arts.  My story, “Drogheda,” received honorable mention, which doesn’t include publication or a cash prize, but is still an honor. Lorian… Continue reading 2016 Lorian Hemingway Short Story Contest Results

My short story “The Gift” has been picked up by Pinball Literary Magazine. It’ll come out in their fall issue (October 15th). Keep an eye out for it! In the meantime, Pinball’s latest issue is out and can be read online. Lots of great stories in there, among them Lucie Britsch’s “Me Michael and Ben and Janet and… Continue reading “The Gift” to be published in Fall issue of Pinball