SmokeLong Quarterly

What are some of your favorite books and authors?

Being Dead by Crace, Even Cowgirls Get The Blues by Tom Robbins, Henderson The Rain King by Saul Bellow, Catch 22 by whazzisname. The list is much longer than my memory.

What inspired this piece?

Ever notice how they ‘water’ the produce at those grocery stores? Sprays come on, and it rains all over the veggies? I thought about the produce man wearing saran wrap to keep dry. I thought about his hands in a baggy…I can’t do mundane things without going ‘off’ in my head. Then his hands were off…And everything’s a sign. Right?

Follow up question: The produce man wearing saran wrap…yes, who DOESN’T think about that? So, is the character in your story really you, Bev?

Nope. I don’t eat meat.

An uncanny number of writers I’ve met say they knew they would be writers right around fourth grade. What is it about fourth grade, do you think?

Self awareness and a need for Johnny Foster to notice me, me, ME.

If you discovered that you lost your magic touch with words, which persecuting hobby would you take up instead, or would you just continue writing until it killed you?

I might try those isolation tanks where you lay naked in body temp water in pitch darkness until you transform into Buddha or Esther Williams.

Beverly, we know and love Lit Pot. Would you like to tell us what is new on your website? Here is your chance (So don’t blow it):

Lit Pot Press, Inc., a nonprofit small press, is proud to be introducing a brand new print literary journal, Ink Pot, which will be the headliner publication, sold in single issues and subscriptions. From its pages, all work will be passed on to its free sister ezine, Lit Pot — the existing 2-year-old ezine, Literary Potpourri. AND we have a 2-year anniversary celebration CONTEST (short story & flash) with big cash prizes. Check it out at http://www.literarypotpourri.com.