Smoking With Rolli by Nik Perring Smoke Stacks by Ed Luschei via Creative Commons license Rolli, first off, I love your story, "The Man With The Ridiculously Huge Coupon" — where did it come from? You know, I just can't remember, Nik. I'm not forgetful. But it's like dreaming. When you wake up, remembering the dream, and an hour passes, and — nothing. Ideas come from The Other Place, and the frustration of The Other Place is you're driving, but you just don't know the address. You have a memory of a lane, maybe, or a certain crooked tree, if anything. With no address and no one to ask for directions – it's an obscure road, and no one takes it — all you can do is keep driving. And the frightening thing is, there's no guarantee you'll ever get there again. For me, one of the most important aspects of Story is the voice, and that's something that's very strong in this story. Could you talk about that? Nothing profound here. I stagger between three main voices in my fiction, for reasons that resist analysis: a street-smart New Yorker (as in the Huge Coupon); a frozen, punctilious butler; and a breathless old man/woman. All of the stories in my upcoming collection God's Autobio fall into one of these categories. Except for the one about the frenzied electric chimp. Which came first, voice or story? And how do you think each influences the other? It all just comes out in one plop with me, Nik. No idea about influence. I try not to muss things up by thinking too much. There's too much thinking going on these days. It's really overrated. I just try to drink a whole lotta coffee, and keep up with myself. What does the word "coupon" mean to you? (blushing) And if you had a ridiculously huge coupon, where would you keep it? I'd give it to others, for safekeeping. Read The Man With the Ridiculously Huge Coupon. Issue Thirty-One (March 28, 2011): Kapha by Joanne Avallon «» Wound Glue by Michael Cooper «» Natural by Julie Draper «» Everyday There is So Much about Elephants by Timothy Gager «» Renewables by Abe Gaustad «» We Walk Away, the Three of Us by Tracy Gonzalez «» Other Sons by Casey Hannan «» The Mystery of Water by Zin Kenter «» The Lives of Alligators by Robert Kloss «» A Turkey Baster Is Just Like a Penis by Rachel Levy «» Three Bodies by Mike Meginnis «» God, Two Girls by Adeena Reitberger «» Gestures by Megan Roberts «» Moons by Ethel Rohan «» The Man with the Ridiculously Huge Coupon by Rolli «» A Walk in the Woods by Robert Schladale «» The Way We Speak Now by Angi Becker Stevens «» Interviews: Joanne Avallon «» Michael Cooper «» Julie Draper «» Timothy Gager «» Abe Gaustad «» Tracy Gonzalez «» Casey Hannan «» Zin Kenter «» Robert Kloss «» Rachel Levy «» Mike Meginnis «» Adeena Reitberger «» Megan Roberts «» Ethel Rohan «» Rolli «» Robert Schladale «» Angi Becker Stevens «» Cover Art "Lady Gaga Dada" by Marty D. Ison «» Letter From the Editors Interested in subscribing to SmokeLong's weekly newsletter? Click here. An email should be created. Send it as is, and you'll be subscribed. If the link does not work for you, send an email to imailsrv@smokelong.com with Subscribe slq-info in the body of the email (no subject is necessary). You'll receive updates detailing the release of new issues, new reading periods, contests, etc. We do not make our mail list available to anyone else.