Issue Twenty Now Online

Posted on May 5, 2011 by Jersey Devil Press

Well, we’re here in New Mexico and so is our stuff, so hooray for that. But, more importantly, we’re a week late with this issue, so let’s keep this short.

We’ve got five new stories this month and they’re all terrific. We start with the great Gavin Broom’s sock puppet parable, “Socko and Roy,” followed by “A Discourse on the Impending Apocalypse,” by the always awesome Aidan Ryan. Next is “Detachment” by the radiant and ravishing Rachel Cordasco, and then “Eli and the Empty Lot” from the amazing Alex Koplow. And we close with an epic love story for the ages, “Julia and Raul,” by Jersey son Ben Nardolilli.

The online issue can be found here, and the .pdf can be downloaded here. And, while you’re at it, be sure to check out last week’s special love letter to New Jersey from Rebecca Camarda here.

Now, if you’ll excuse us, we’ve got to finish unpacking.

Baby, We Were Born to Run

Posted on April 27, 2011 by Eirik

In a coincidence that lends credence to the belief that we’re all just characters in a rough draft of the Flying Spaghetti Monster’s screenplay, we received an essay about leaving New Jersey just as Monica and I were, in fact, leaving New Jersey. And, as happy as we are to be off to the sun and uncongested highways of New Mexico, we can’t help but feel a little sad about leaving the Garden State.

Jersey, I love you, but I’m not in love with you, not anymore. I’m too comfortable within your borders, and I have to face the unknown that you made attractive. From the moment we met you’ve been my home. I’m a product of your experience, I thank you for that. Like a guy in an old leather jacket with a bad reputation and a heart of gold, you’ve shown me that you’re more than fake tans, big hair, and oil refineries. You’re so much more than that, from your mountains and beaches to your farm lands and ghettos. You’re beautiful and gritty, elegant and raw. I wish you’d never change.

“To Your Memory: New Jersey,” by Rebecca Camarda, is a love letter to Jersey that sums up our feelings almost precisely. Apparently we’re not the only ones looking past the end of the Parkway.

New Jersey, I love you for so many reasons. And most of all I love you because I know you understand that I need to leave you. … Our twenty one years together have been fantastic, provocative, even awe-inspiring, but if there’s anything your messiah has taught me, it’s that tramps like us, baby we were born to run.

So long, Jersey.

The Fifth Apocalypse

Posted on April 20, 2011 by Jersey Devil Press

She said she also saw at least four accidents on the interstate, one of them a guy we work with. And – and she’s not sure about this – she thinks she might have seen a polar bear too.

“Famous Last Words,” the second prequel set in the Exponential Apocalypse universe, is now available for your reading pleasure.

Speaking of reading pleasure, there’s a new review of Exponential Apocalypse itself over at The Hat Rack.

And speaking of hats, Monica and Eirik are in the process of hanging theirs in a new home — packing boxes and selling furniture and all that — so the next issue of Jersey Devil Press probably won’t be out until the first week of May, rather than the last of April. We apologize for the inconvenience.