b(OINK) is here

With my tiny micro "The Blackout."

I got two rejections from b(OINK), first when I failed to win their terrific postcard contest (the postcard and the winner Meghan Phillips were great; loved Kara Vernor's winning entry in July too), then when I sent a hybrid flash I really like and got a tepid response. When I lamented online that I’d never be one of the cool kids published in b(OINK), Meg Tuite suggested that I submit to the “Voices” section that she edits, but it had to be right away and address the prompt about alcohol. I dashed off my micro “The Blackout” on the spot. Sometimes that’s the best way to write.
 
Still not one of the cool kids, but it was interesting that the desire to be cool emerged as a “lifelong affliction” when I wrote the flash. Clearly a desire that has led me astray more than once.
 
James Claffey, one of my favorite flash writers, has creative nonfiction in this issue, there's also stunning cnf from Alina Stefanescu, and lots of other great work this time around. In just eight issues b(OINK) has published flash greats like Kaj Tanaka, Jonathan Cardew, Hilary Leftwich, Anne Weisgerber, Ilana Masad, Meg Tuite, Ashley Hutson, Christopher Allen, Justin Lawrence Daugherty, Tara Isabel Zambrano, Cathy Ulrich, Jad Josey, Jan Elman Stout, Stephanie Hutton, Kathryn McMahon, Tommy Dean, Melissa Goode, Lori Sambol Brody, Monet Patrice Thomas, Santino Prinzi, Chelsea Voulgares. I know I’ve missed some in this long list. And those are just the writers whose work I regularly follow. There are many other good writers that were new discoveries for me.
 
(Confiding my dejection about the b(OINK) rejection on Facebook inspired a lot of responses and spirited dialogue. Who knew?)