RHONDA.

There are actually three Rhondas (that I know of) wandering the fictive literary galaxy and all three can actually be found in one book: Joshua Mohr's debut novel, Some Things That Meant the World to Me. There is little-boy Rhonda, old-lady Rhonda, and Rhonda (a 30-year old man).

As Donald Ray Pollock mentioned in his blurb for the book, "[Rhonda] is one of the most troubled and heartbreaking people you will ever encounter in literature." Though which Rhonda in particular he refers to is uncertain. Read the book and find out.

The author got the name tattooed on his arm.

New Some Things Cover.

P.S. Some Things That Meant the World to Me, the debut novel from the Joshua Mohr, is due out June 1 but is now available for pre-order through our site.

P.P.S. Check out that quote from Donald Ray Pollock!

Gary Indiana's Blog.

Gary Indiana has started a blog where he has posted a boat-load of his writing, most of which appears to be previously unpublished : stories, essays, musings, interviews, etc.

There even appears to be much/most/all of the manuscript for his forthcoming book, Andy Warhol and the Can That Sold the World available for your perusal.

Indiana's first novel in six years, The Shanghai Gesture, is coming your way soon...

The Rudy Wurlitzer Renaissance.

"There is something of a Rudy Wurlitzer renaissance going down in the pop culture zeitgeist; not only through the Criterion releases [Walker; Two Lane Blacktop] but also through a well-deserved re-examination of Wurlitzer's long-forgotten work as a masterful novelist."

So says Rodger Jacobs in his thoughtful interview with the author for PopMatters. Jacobs approaches some seminal works, such as the film Wurlitzer co-directed with Robert Frank, Candy Mountain, and his classic novel, Quake (which we'll be reissuing Fall '09 in a comp edition with the equally nihilistic Flats). Jacobs continues:

"[The Drop Edge of Yonder is] a rousing adventure tale that is far more compelling than any narrative the reluctant guru from Lowell, MA, could have arrived at."