Month: August 2015

LECLAIR ON FRANZEN

Interview

The topic of conversation this week in the established literary world is the publication of Jonathan Franzen’s latest big novel, Purity— one of those sporadic books meant to justify the existence of said literary world. No American novelist over the past fifteen years has received the same level of critical attention combined with media hype.

Is the hype justified?

To answer that question, NEW POP LIT’s Karl Wenclas questions the esteemed author and book reviewer Tom LeClair, who reviewed Franzen’s novel last week at The Daily Beast. Now LeClair amplifies his thoughts; holding nothing back as he examines Franzen, other reviewers, and the current state of American literature and publishing. Read our exclusive interview with him now!

–the critics who go along with Time’s assertion that Franzen is a “Great American Novelist” will be found out and mocked. . . .

Coming Attractions

Announcement

What’s up? Been having a dynamite summer?

We have! Among the writing we’ve published here has been baseball pop, noir pop, experimental pop, creepy pop, political pop (same thing), pop poetry, plus an interview with one of North America’s best and most controversial writers.

We promise that more exciting fiction and poetry will follow. We’ve lined up many weeks of terrific work. Our only criteria is that the writing be readable and good– so sometimes we receive amazing writing which no one else will touch. That’s our mission, if truth be told.

We’re also lining up more provocative interviews. We’ll also do much more to promote pop writers and we continue to search for outstanding pop writers.

What of our publishing endeavors, you ask?

They’re moving along, at snail’s pace maybe, but they’re moving. The first real printing of NEW POP LIT The Print Version aka Issue #1 will happen. Target date is before October 1. We thank those writers and artists included for their patience. We’ll be selling the issue and other publications– and future publications– at our website and through other venues.

In the meantime we’ll have remaining copies of our “Sneak Preview” printing of NEW POP LIT #1 for sale at Detroit’s biggest street fair September 12– along with zines, t-shirts, and books. Stay tuned for more news about that.

Before all this takes place, please explore this site– especially our Coffee House page, where we have links to:

-Fun stuff at New Pop Lit Interactive. Currently we’re asking, “Who’s the Greatest Pop Personality of All Time?” (Not the biggest. The greatest.)

-Lit-world news at our News page. At the moment we ask questions regarding the promotion of Jonathan Franzen’s well-hyped new novel. Read our report and stay current!

-A Detroit literary blog which will track our attempts to build new publishing in this tough but opportunistic town. We deal here in big ideas only.

Which could be the theme of this entire project.

-Karl Wenclas

 

The Caseworker

Pop Lit Fiction

Bureaucrats! Washington bureaucrats! Bureaucrats and more bureaucrats!

Politics has been much in the news of late, with scores of candidates– of every egregious personality type– hustling for public attention. But what’s inside-the Beltway, inside-D.C. really like?

Far be it from NEW POP LIT to miss a trend. We have the scoop in the form of a story, “The Caseworker,” by Tom Ray. Lobbyists; legislative assistants; administrators; American apparatchiks; congressmen and their mistresses– Tom Ray gives you all of it in a tightly-wound little tale. Get educated! Read how the political machine operates.

Madison was a legislative assistant in the office. She’d been having an affair with the Congressman for several months, which Warner hadn’t figured out yet. “So, who will they fire?”

Two Pop Poems by Lara Dolphin

Poetry

We’ve published some terrific writing of late. For instance, these two pop poems by Lara Dolphin. They exemplify pop lit: readable, witty, and entertaining. This is poetry for the people– for everybody.

No way will we ever publish bland, meaningless, inscrutable, unmusical, New Yorker-style poetry. Give us Lara Dolphin poems instead!

Finally, toss in

chopped up raw peanuts to make the product impossible

to spread without ripping a hole in your bread.

Call Me When You Get Home

Pop Lit Fiction

Today we hit readers with a definite change-of-pace from previous stories. “Call Me When You Get Home” by Eric Lutz is a different kind of mystery– a different kind of story. Like a tale from Hemingway, this narrative is most impactful for what it leaves out of the story. For what’s offstage. Unsaid. There’s a tone to the story of impending– what?

It’s highly readable but it’s also a story which begs to be re-read– at least once– and thought about. We ask YOU to read it here. Then, if you’ve figured it out, please let us know what you think!

In another world where everything’s fine, you and I live on the second floor of a three story walk-up. We get along with the neighbors, and in the summer we entertain on the deck out back.

 

Speech Therapy

Pop Fiction

Zombies!

A zombie story?

It was inevitable that at some point we would publish a zombie story. We want to be at the epicenter of the culture. Zombies are very “pop” right now. Very in. Far be it from NEW POP LIT to miss out on a trend!

“Speech Therapy” by Heidi Nibbelink might be the strangest story we’ve ever presented. It might be the most hilarious. (Speech therapy for zombies?) You the reader must judge. Plunge into the story here.  But be cautious! Be forewarned. Be sure to wear latex gloves as you take the narrative journey.

Soon my schedule was booked for nine hours a day with all-zombie clients. I started running evening conversation groups two nights a week where those who graduated from my ten-week course could continue practicing and refining their skills. And the money!