Some of Our Favorite Stories from 2011

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So, remember on Friday when we said we’d have a new issue on Wednesday? Well, it turns out it’s not quite June yet, so that would be the next next Wednesday. Sorry about that. We’re taking a course over the summer called “Introduction to Basic Calendar Reading” to help us avoid similar mistakes in the future. Gregorian? Julian? Who can keep that shit straight? But we will have a new issue up on June 6th, aka The Longest Day, aka next Wednesday.

Now probably wouldn’t be a good time to ask you to support our Kickstarter, right?

Probably not, but it is a good time to do something we’ve been meaning to do for a while. We already mentioned that Michael Sions story, “Jolly Roger,” was named a Million Writers Notable Story, and while we’re quite happy for Michael, just because storySouth doesn’t say you’re notable, doesn’t mean you’re not super-cool. So here (in no particular order and mostly off the top of our heads) are some of our favorite stories that we published last year. Check ’em out while you wait for the new issue to be released…on next Wednesday.

Chimp by Ann Capozzoli
Brown and Green: A Love Story by Hobie Anthony
Armageddon’s Jester by Andrew S. Williams
Eli and the Empty Lot by Alex Koplow
Julia and Raul by Ben Nordolilli
Mammy’d Give Me Minds to Eat by Graham Tugwell
Exposure by Claire Joanne Huxham
Conversation with My Vestigial Tail by Russell Bradbury-Carlin
Red Hot Panda Love by Danger_Slater
and, of course, Where Did My Balls Go, or The Story of Oliver: A Canine Memoir by Shannon Derby, which cannot be finished dry-eyed.

Three Bad Things That Could Happen If Our Kickstarter Fails

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1. We’ll show Monty Python and the Holy Grail for free and then interrupt before the really funny bits to badger you about supporting quality television. (And if you grew up watching PBS pledge drives, you’d know how awful that can be.)

2. The universe will collapse under the weight of our existential angst and all-encompassing sense of futility at operating in a cruel literary world that just doesn’t care.

3. The tiny, tiny plastic dinosaurs? Microwave.

Who wants any of that? So help us out, if you can.

And on a slightly more serious note, if you were thinking of buying Eirik Gumeny and Ryan Werner’s new books anyway – and really what sane, literate, democracy-loving person wouldn’t? – the Kickstarter has a couple of options that essentially function as pre-orders for either or both books, with extra swag on top. Check ‘em out.

A Second Helping of Shawarma

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So, you’ve seen The Avengers more than once, why not read the special issue we put together in its honor one more time? Don’t be afraid to force your friends and loved ones to read it while you’re at it. They’ll thank you.

And speaking of The Force…it was 35 years ago today that Star Wars premiered at Mann’s Chinese Theatre. In its honor, go read “CPA of the Sith” from Issue 23. It might make me feel marginally better if you do.

And speaking of past JDP stories…when we did our post last week letting you know what some of favorite contributors were up to, we omitted an important one: Ansley Moon. Her story, “Navels,” appeared way the heck back in Issue Four. It’ll be included in her new fiction chapbook, All Seemed Foreign, which is forthcoming from Cervena Barva Press.

And speaking of congratulations…a round of applause for Michael Sions. His story, “Jolly Roger,” from Issue 22 was named a Million Writers Notable Story. Well done.

Finally, do you like time travel? Because last week in Barcelona, Bruce Springsteen played the extended version of “Prove It All Night” for the first time since 1978 and listening to it I pretty much warped back to the early Eighties when we needed strange vinyl platters (obtained through shady independent record store sources) to listen to Springsteen concert recordings. But you’ve got the Internet now. Go listen to this Darkness-era classic. Warren Zevon may be our patron saint, but Bruce remains the pagan god to whom we commend our ritual sacrifices.

And, that’s it. We’re closing up the palatial JDP offices early for the long weekend. Have a good one yourself and check back Wednesday for a new issue.