In sleepy, rural North Wales, Frankie Gibbs, a recently laid off, aimless twenty-year-old on Universal Credit, wants nothing more than to keep his younger brother out of the care system. He single-handedly takes this upon himself while their alcoholic, cocaine-addict, single-parent father, Guy Gibbs, heaps misery on their lives through systematic abuse and his never-ending wild parties. After Guy is sent to prison, Frankie is coerced into opening his home to Justin, an acquaintance from his school days now turned drug dealer, while his own addiction and self-worth spiral beyond recognition.
1: Tell us a little about yourself and what got you in to writing? –
I was born in Hastings but grew up in North West Wales, mainly living rurally. I started writing when I got the urge out of nowhere to learn how to write screenplays. One of which morphed into my first novel ‘One Visit’.
2: Do you have a favourite time and place where you write?
Any time I can focus on writing without outer world responsibilities gnawing away at me is a good time. Am not picky in that regard.
3: Where do your ideas come from?
A lot of my own experiences of living in poverty, seeing people routinely being let down by the system and different mental health issues I’ve both suffered and seen others suffer with.
4: Do you have a plan in your head of where the story is going before you start writing or do you let it carry you along as you go?
I mostly have most of the key beats mapped out in an outline beforehand.
5: What genre are your books and what drew you to that genre?
Crime drama and literary fiction, mainly wanting to highlight important and often misunderstood stigmas around mental health and addiction.
6: What dream cast would you like to see playing the characters in your latest book?
Stephen Graham as Guy Gibbs without a doubt. Bobby schofield could play a number of the different characters, he’d have to be in it as well.
7: Do you read much and if so who are your favourite authors?
Not as many novels as I should, but I read a lot of screenplays and watch loads of TV and film. My favorite author is Irvine Walsh and my favourite screenwriters are Jimmy McGovern and Shane Meadows.
8: What book/s are you reading at present?
Knocking out my demons – Ex professional boxer Paul Huggins’ autobiography.
9: What is your favourite book and why?
City of God blew me away because of its fascinating portrayal of the favelas, have never read anything that describes organised crime and poverty so well.
10: What advice would you give for someone thinking about becoming a writer?
Make time for it every day if you can. Even if it’s just an half an hour.
11: What are the best Social Media Sites for people to find out about you and your work?
I grew up in rural North West Wales, where hardships and a lack of opportunities spurred my passion for tackling tough subjects, such as poverty, addiction and mental health. Currently studying a masters degree in screenwriting at the University of South Wales, I’ve written and directed three short films. One Visit was the first feature-length screenplay I ever wrote, and through the exposure of this novel, I hope to garner interest and funding to turn it into a film one day. For news regarding my future novels and films, follow @vecks_gems_productions on Instagram.
The Wallace House of Pain is a portrait of troubled family relations, modern social justice issues and deeply personal choices.
Activist Xander Wallace and his straitlaced father do not have an easy relationship. Jim’s views on race, immigration, gender, sexuality and even millennials alienate his son no matter how hard Xander tries to find common ground. Toss in Jim’s second marriage ten months after Xander’s mother died and it’s a volatile cocktail. How, against this backdrop, will Xander dare to bare his soul and reveal his greatest secret?
Social justice issues have touched the life of every American in some way over the past few years. The Wallace House of Pain explores the differences in generational attitudes toward these social justice issues, in parallel with exploring a difficult father-son relationship. The novelette delves into that age-old question: Can two people meet in the middle without sacrificing their own beliefs and convictions?
As a novelette, it is longer than a short story and shorter than a novella.
“Have you ever talked to your dad about your mother’s death?” Charley asked.
Xander shifted to face Charley. “What’s that got to do with anything?”
Charley shrugged. “It seems like maybe you have to deal with the elephant in the room before you can move on to other things.”
Xander’s blue eyes studied her for so long she dropped her eyes momentarily.
“We’ve had years in which to talk about it so it’s reasonably safe to assume no one wants to. He’s never asked how I felt. Not once.”
This time, he looked away from her steady gaze.
“I don’t think you’re desperate for your father’s approval. I think you’re desperate for his love. I feel guilty because I’m not sure I loved my parents enough when they were here. And I feel sad because I’m not sure they loved me enough.”
“You have to stop concerning yourself with that. What we have has to be enough.”
“I know. But what if you don’t know how much you have? And you can still find out?”
About the Author:
Stevens began writing fiction during back-to-back health crises: a shattered pelvis and ovarian cancer. Her books include the novelette The Wallace House of Pain, full-length novel Horseshoes and Hand Grenades (both Contemporary Adult Fiction), Shannon’s Odyssey (Middle Grade), and the Bit Players series (Young Adult) for musical theatre-loving teens. Her forthcoming novel, Beautiful and Terrible Things, addresses social justice issues and will be published by TouchPoint Press in early 2023. When not writing fiction, she provides marketing and PR for solar energy companies.
Beautiful and Terrible Things features the same cast of characters as The Wallace House of Pain. The novelette presents one of the key story lines cut from the full novel for length reasons. So if you like the characters, you can spend more time with them when the full novel is released.
In a society where predators are always the ones doing the celebrating, Jennifer Fliss’s debut collection of short stories, THE PREDATORY ANIMAL BALL, crashes the party. These stories are about the people left in the predators’ wake, and the large and small ways in which their grief and fear manifest. Predators appear in the places we least expect it, and this collection turns the previously accepted hierarchies upside down in a series of flash fiction that are often absurd, but always cutting.
1: Tell us a little about yourself and what got you in to writing?
I got into writing as a way to process my childhood experiences. I lived in a home filled with abuse and neglect, and I felt so lonely, both during my childhood and in my young adulthood. As a twenty-something year old, trying to figure out my life (and in the aftermath of my father’s death), I began to write fictionalized versions of my experience. They were close to the truth, but I wasn’t yet comfortable with writing it all out so plainly. After doing this, I realized I loved writing, creating. So, I then moved on to writing all kinds of short stories and my fiction took off. My mother says I wrote stories as a kid; I don’t remember that. But I did create worlds: drafting maps of made-up towns that covered the floors of my living room, creating entire school rosters of made-up people, etc. It was elaborate, and not something I told people until recently. I know that was storytelling in a way and certainly must have had an impact on my writing later.
2: Do you have a favourite time and place where you write?
I wish I could say I write in the early hours at a desk by a window looking out into a wood, but I just write when I feel inspired. This is, fortunately, often enough for good output, but I don’t have a writing routine. I do my best writing on my laptop in bed or in a cozy chair. Ideally, it’s raining out and I have the window open, a mocha beside me and the cat — always the cat — in my lap.
3: Where do your ideas come from?
They truly come from all over. Quite a few are sourced from my dreams, which are vivid — often wretched and terrifying, but interesting. I find inspiration almost everywhere. Back of a cereal box, an advertisement on the subway, an overheard snippet of conversation, the tilt of a crow’s neck.
4: Do you have a plan in your head of where the story is going before you start writing or do you let it carry you along as you go?
I let the story carry me. My work generally starts with a word, idea, or sentence. I put that down and then see what happens. If my brain and fingers can see a path, it just flies out. If it’s harder, sometimes I close the file. I may or may not return to it. Hence I have a zillion partially-done stories and ideas.
5: What genre are your books and what drew you to that genre?
My writing is literary fiction. I love ghost stories, mysteries, and thrillers. I am a big fan of when these three genres merge, as in Carmen Maria Machado or Helen Oyeyemi’s work. I’ve always been drawn to the dark: ghosts, haunted houses, abandoned places. I am a sucker for setting. Give me any of the aforementioned settings and it almost doesn’t matter what the story is. I love to immerse myself in place.
6: What dream cast would you like to see playing the characters in your latest book?
Melissa McCarthy. She’s an incredible actress. She is hilarious, yes, but she can also hit so many layers of humanity. I think she would service many of my protagonists well, who are often women in dire but absurd situations. As for the supporting characters? I don’t know. Maybe it’s Melissa McCarthys all the way down.
7: Do you read much and if so who are your favourite authors?
I read lots. I used to read more before smart phones! (I really hate that invention.) But I read about a book or so a week. I’m always on the hunt for mysteries that are well written and not formulaic. I utilize my library a LOT. I’m the one with an entire shelf labeled with my name in the holds section. I don’t have one or two favorite authors per se, but there are authors whom I’ll always read a new book of theirs: Yoko Ogawa, Dara Horn, Samantha Irby, Kiese Laymon, Karen Russell. Of late, I’m excited about Morgan Jerkins, T Kira Madden, VE Schwab, Nafissa Thompson-Spires, Deesha Philyaw, and Diane Cook. I could go on and on actually. I’m certain I’ve missed some names here.
8: What book/s are you reading at present?
The People of Paper by Salvador Plascencia. It was recommended by a great writer peer, Dana Diehl. It’s magic realism written mostly in triptychs using different narrators. The entire novel uses really unusual narration and style. I love fabulism and magic realism. I love unique styles of writing. Reading it is fun and makes you realize that writing is truly an art (even when it’s straight prose). Writing in an experimental/hybrid style is a great way to expose the absurdities of the world we live in and the possibilities are endless because your imagination is the limit.
I also just finished a graphic work called Seek You by Kristen Radtke. The subtitle is “A Journey Through American Loneliness,” but I think most people in the world can relate to it. It was so poignant and timely. It’s amazing what people can do with fewer words and visual elements. Highly recommend!
9: What is your favourite book and why?
I don’t have a favorite book and I don’t reread books. There are just too many good books to read. I only have so many years in my life! But E.L. Konisburg’s From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler was probably the most influential book on me. It’s a middle grade book about siblings whose parents are divorcing, so the kids go off to live in a museum in New York for a while. The setting was such a huge part of that book that I’ve never forgotten the images in my head — that stayed with me as a writer and impacted how I write setting and probably is connected to why I love setting so much. It was an escape for these children, and I was reading it at a time when I desperately could’ve used such an escape. It was literal escape coinciding with the escape that good literature can provide.
10: What advice would you give for someone thinking about becoming a writer?
Writing is a compulsion for so many of us. I don’t know many — maybe any that I know of — of folks who think about doing it or not. You just…do it. One is a writer if you write. It doesn’t necessitate a list of publication credits. For someone who wants to publish their writing, there are myriad paths. My suggestion is to start reading literary journals (most are online now) and get a feel for where their own writing might fit. There are journals that skew straight narrative, some love pop culture, some like a good ghost story, or experimental styles. Figure out where your writing fits and then click “submit!” Rejections are part of the game; you have to expect them. Even the very best writers get turned down. But as you move on, keep writing, learning, and submitting, then you should have success with publishing. As a writer, be open to learning. If you submit and get rejected over and over, it could be that your work isn’t a good fit, but it also could mean you could stand to learn a few things. Don’t get cocky. There’s always more to learn, more that can enhance your work. And of course, the best teacher is to read, read, read.
11: What are the best Social Media Sites for people to find out about you and your work?
Twitter. Hands down. At first, I didn’t get it. But it’s been integral for learning about other writers, editors, journals, and opportunities. Just be sure to mute or block liberally and cultivate your own feed. Twitter is my only public social media account and it works for me. I’d love to see y’all there!
Jennifer Fliss has been nominated several times for both the Pushcart Prize and the Best of the Net, and her work has been selected for the 2019 Best Small Fictions anthology. Her stories and essays have appeared in print and online at The Citron Review, F(r)iction,, Jellyfish Review, Necessary Fiction,PANK, The Rumpus, The Washington Post, and elsewhere. She was a 2018/2019 Pen Parentis Fellow, a recipient of the 2019 Artist Trust GAP award, and is currently working on her first (and second) novel.
The boy’s name is Tesfahun. Nestled in the vastness of Ethiopia, he lives among an ancient tribe untouched by modern civilization. His people live an isolated life where revenge killings are required and ruled by superstitions where mingi or cursed babies are thrown into the river for the sake of the tribe.
As friends are forced to avenge the tribe and children disappear in the night, Tesfahun begins to question his people and his beliefs, growing further from his grief stricken mother and hardened father. After his initiation into manhood, Tesfahun discovers a terrible secret about his family and himself.
Fearing for his life and the demons he tried to flee, Tesfahun crashes headlong into his blood-soaked fears and must come to terms with the violence inherent in his bones in order to find salvation.
The Blood of Bones is a mythic, coming-of-age tale that speaks to the struggles of humanity across cultural boundaries. Themes of belief vs. violence, community vs. the individual, and, above all, the quest for peace are imbued in the narrative. Based on actual, current practices among tribes in the Omo Valley, The Blood of Bones is a testament to the resilience of hope in even the most hostile circumstances.
1: Tell us a little about yourself and what got you in to writing?
I’m originally from northern California but recently made the permanent move to the Big Island of Hawaii. One of my goals was to, at some point, live close to the ocean. Both for therapeutic reasons and for fishing. I received my MA in Creative Writing from CSU-Sacramento, have had several publications and a couple books published. I’ve been married to my wife for 17 years and have three amazing daughters who are growing up too fast and we frequently threaten to send them to Neverland so they will slow down.
When I’m not with my family or teaching college courses, I enjoy fishing, playing and watching basketball (Go Dubs!), reading and being in nature in some capacity.
I was never much of a reader or writer when I was a child or as a teenager. However, I always had an affinity with stories. My reading habits didn’t take shape until my first year of college. I came home for the weekend and my wife (then girlfriend) was engrossed in John Grisham’s The Testament and I, being a non-reader, sat twiddling my thumbs while she turned the pages. I thought, “Maybe I should read a book” so I jumped into Palahniuk’s Fight Club and off I went.
What drew me to be a writer was a couple events. One was the birth of my oldest daughter. It seemed to awaken the writer within me and I started writing since then. The other was reading a bunch of bad literature during my undergraduate program and thinking, “I can write better than this.” Couple those together and my writing aspirations began.
2: Do you have a favourite time and place where you write?
I find I’m more productive in the mornings than any other time during the day. Mainly because my mind is fresh and I’ve had coffee. Other parts of the day, I can write but to get in the right mindset takes longer and I’m more easily distracted. In terms of a specific place to write, anyplace works but I enjoy sitting in coffee shops or at my home. This may seem a bit contradictory but it is what it is.
I guess I enjoy coffee shops or public places because it has the potential to inspire some facet of my writing. Whether it be a character, hearing a conversation or any small minutiae of life that lends to the creative process. When I’m feeling antisocial, then I head home and write.
3: Where do your ideas come from?
Robert Olen Butler talks about fiction emerging from our subconscious or “from where we dream” and I agree with that to some extent. To be honest, real life is the greatest inspiration. My first novel, Between Lions and Lambs, was inspired by my experience growing up in a Pentecostal subculture. I have a work-in-progress where the premise came from a radio news story about a woman who bought a used dresser and found a note saying where buried treasure could be found. My new novel, The Blood of Bones, came from hearing a non-profit speak at our church about the Omo Valley tribes which sparked the novel into existence. So I would attribute interactions, stories, and the coincidences of daily life are the muse of my ideas.
Music also plays a vital role in inspiring my ideas and the writing process. Often, I have a soundtrack in my head and I will play music as I write that is integral to the story. For example, when I was writing Between Lions and Lambs, I would play songs from Johnny Cash’s My Mother’s Hymn Book along with southern gospel tracks from Hank Williams and George Jones. For the work-in-progress I mentioned earlier, the protagonist is a jazz pianist so Bill Evans usually plays as I write. I even wrote a short story called “Porcelain” (published in Story Teller magazine) that was based on a track by Ben Gibbard called “Lady Adelaide.”
4: Do you have a plan in your head of where the story is going before you start writing or do you let it carry you along as you go?
Yes and no. I usually have a plan for how the story will begin and end but how they reach the end is a mystery I try to follow. Even with this preconceived idea of beginnings and endings, it is all fluid and malleable. The end of The Blood of Bones changed about three or four times before settling on the right ending. When writing fiction, there is a zone you get swept into once the elements of the story take shape and following the natural sequence of the story simply happens. Doug Rice, my mentor during my grad program, often said, “Your stories are smarter than you.” I may have mentioned this before but it still sticks with me today every time I am surprised at how the drafts turn out.
5: What genre are your books and what drew you to that genre?
I kind of hate genres and labelling but I understand it makes diversity more palatable for the readers. I lean toward literary fiction which is character driven rather than plot. I guess complex characters fascinate me more than non-stop action. For example, Daniel Plainview in There Will Be Blood is far more engaging and fascinating than anything Marvel has to offer. In my opinion, anyway. But I do enjoy Marvel films so I like to think of myself as not pretentious. But I also am not a fan of Harry Potter which automatically puts me into the pretentious category and puts me on the bad side of my daughters who love Harry Potter. All this to say, I write literary fiction.
6: What dream cast would you like to see playing the characters in your latest book?
To be honest, I can answer this question fairly easy with Between Lions and Lambs but my latest novel, The Blood of Bones, is a bit trickier since it is based in Ethiopia. My knowledge of Ethiopian and African actors is quite limited so I would have to go with actors I know so here it goes:
Tesfahun, the teenage protagonist: His age changes but the older version might be Jaden Smith. He has the look and build and I’m sure he could do a good job.
Kelile, his father: Mahershala Ali
Wagaye, his mother: Lupita Nyong’o
Dawit, his best friend: Jharrel James
Ogbay, his uncle: Daniel Kaluuya
The Old Man, recluse in the mountains: Delroy Lindo
Demissie, the vigilante warrior: Idris Elba
Any filmmakers think this is a good idea, feel free to let me know. Nudge, nudge, wink, wink.
7: Do you read much and if so who are your favourite authors?
My reading has slowed a bit lately but I try to always be reading a book. When I think of favorite authors, they have to have written several books I enjoy and not just a single book. With that being said, some of my go to writers are Cormac McCarthy, Marilynne Robinson, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Kurt Vonnegut, Percival Everett, Shusaku Endo, William Faulkner, Mario Vargas Llosa and others I can’t think of at the moment.
8: What book/s are you reading at present?
I just finished Gilead by Marilynne Robinson which was an extraordinary book. It’s amazing how a story with little to no plot can captivate the reader and I guess it is a testimony to why Robinson is such an incredible writer. Ted Chaing’s Stories of Your Life and Other Stories was another mind-bending collection that redefined science fiction for me earlier this year. Recently, I read several non-fiction books including a Bobby Fischer biography, a book on Michael Jordan and some others. This very moment, I am rereading The Road by Cormac McCarthy but I may put it off and jump into Home by Marilynne Robinson.
9: What is your favourite book and why?
This isn’t a fair question. It’s like choosing which is your favorite child. I can list a few books which stand out and I have read multiple times.
The Bible is one since it is a staple of my faith and morality as well as having fantastic stories and characters. Blood Meridian or The Evening Redness in the West by Cormac McCarthy is a book I love and hate. It’s brutal and beautiful all at once and Judge Holden is a character of nightmares who you want to hear every word he has to say. It’s quite a dilemma as a reader. Silence by Shusaku Endo is another book whose form and content speaks deeply to me. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez is another fabulous book.
10: What advice would you give for someone thinking about becoming a writer?
Accept rejection. Learn from it but don’t let it stop you from writing, sending your work out and letting others hear your story. One reader will say hurtful, cruel remarks at what you’ve poured hours, months and maybe years into while another will praise it as life changing. You’ll get rejections by literary magazines, publishers and agents and others will publish it. My point is don’t allow rejection to define you as a writer. Yeah, it sucks sometimes and you might sulk around for the day, eating gallons of Rocky Road and watching syndicated episodes of Seinfeld. But don’t stay there. Get back to submitting, keep writing and do what you love.
In terms of feedback, take it with a grain of salt. Some people you allow to read your work will get hung up on a few misspelled words or misplaced commas and define your entire story based off a few errors. Those people aren’t worth your emotions. Find readers who give solid, constructive feedback on the good and the bad of your manuscript. Reviewers will do the same. Take what is helpful and shake off the dust and move on.
11: What are the best Social Media Sites for people to find out about you and your work?
N.T. McQueen is a writer and professor in Kona, Hawai’i. His novels include The Blood of Bones (Adelaide Books) and Between Lions and Lambs (City Hill, 2010). He earned his MA in Fiction from CSU-Sacramento and his writing has been featured in issues of the North American Review, Fiction Southeast, Entropy, The Grief Diaries, Camas: Nature of the West, Stereo Stories, and others. He has done humanitarian work in Cambodia, Haiti and Mexico and teaches writing at several colleges and universities in California. For more info and events, visit http://www.ntmcqueen.com or follow him on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Devastated by the death of her husband and sons, Hannah Mercer sells the family farm and creates a store and living quarters in a delivery truck. As she travels several circuits selling her wares, Hannah becomes the heart of a network of interlinking lives: Nathan owns the motel where Hannah often parks her truck. Darla is a young and talented deaf artist, whose parents let her accompany Hannah on her rounds. Wanda, the sassy receptionist at a hardware distribution center, has larger ambitions. Naomi, wife of the pious Mennonite deacon, entertains fantasies of sexual freedom. Frank, a gentle farmer with a chronically-ill wife, harbors great affection for Hannah, but has troubling biases. LeRoy is a black farmer and talented singer, yet his family is subjected to racial terrorism. Velma owns a woodworking shop. Is she a good match for Vivian, Ronan County’s elegant, lesbian librarian?
Larry… Maddie … Tom… Molly. As time passes and Hannah’s relationships deepen, her faith diminishes but her vision of humanity expands. Hannah Mercer is a clever problem-solver, a shrewd schemer, a spinner of tender lies, an advocate for justice, and a dream weaver.
1. Tell us a little about yourself and what got you in to writing?
I was trained in theatre and was a university professor for thirty years. During that time, I directed and designed numerous plays and wrote about a dozen plays that were produced in university setting, regional venues and Off-Off-Broadway. Analyzing and composing dialogue was a significant part of my theatre craft. After retiring, I decided to try my hand at prose. ZERO was originally a play; GOODS & EFFECTS was originally a screenplay.
2. Do you have a favourite time and place where you write.
For the most part, when writing I lounge on the sofa with a clipboard and several sheets of paper. My first pass is hand-written. After composing several pages, I then move to the computer and type out the text. After completing the first draft, the remainder of my work — revision and polishing — is done at the computer. I find I do my best work in the morning.
3. Where do your ideas come from?
Ideas come from every aspect of my life — from the events I experience, the books I read, the ideas I research, the things I imagine. I especially enjoy writing dialogue. Also, I am a fan of implying, not outright stating, subtext. Many times during my solitary mountain walks I conceive ideas for developing a story. I’ve written several plays inspired by actual persons. These people tend to be female visual artists and/or activists. Examples include Käthe Kollwitz (beloved German artist and activist), Peggy Guggenheim (art collector) and Ivy Bottini (LGBTQ icon and co-founder of NYC Chapter of NOW, National Organization for Women).
4. Do you have a plan in your head of where the story is going before you start writing or do you let it carry you along as you go?
I’ve tried writing using both methods. In most cases, I begin with a place, a set of characters and an inciting incident. Sometimes I outline a plot prior to writing. At other times I let the writing be a journey, letting the characters take me where they wish to go, letting events unfold and organically inspire new events.
5. What genre are your books and what drew you to that genre?
I write in a wide variety of genres: biographical, literary, women’s fiction, political satire, reworking classic Greek myths, fantasy. Currently I am interested in exploring gentle stories filled with acts of kindness that celebrate diversity and inclusion.
6. What dream cast would you like to see playing the character in your latest book?
Two novellas were released in Spring 2021: ZERO and GOODS & EFFECTS. My ideal cast for ZERO is Bette Midler, Nathan Lane, Alan Cumming and Helena Bonham Carter. For the role of Hannah in GOODS & EFFECTS, I would select Kate Winslet.
7. Do you read much and if so who are your favourite authors?
I tend to read in spurts. I may read 3 or 4 novels within several weeks. Then, I will go for a spell of non-reading, instead, spending time painting or being consumed by other projects. I am a fan of Fredrick Backman, Anthony Doerr and the Greek tragic playwrights.
8. What books/s are you reading at present?
At the moment I am spending most of my time promoting my books, so I’ve taken a hiatus from reading.
9. What is your favourite book and why?
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. This author captures an invisible magic on many levels. It shows the goodness and horror of humanity. The chapters are impeccably crafted, always ending with a perfect sentence, one that may reflect on the past, summarize the scene and set up further action.
10. What advice would you give for someone thinking about becoming a writer?
Be prepared for rejection. “No” to one’s work is a large part of a writer’s life. One must persevere, hoping to connect with the right people who connect with the material. Listen to your editor; try not to get defensive. An editor has your best interest in heart.
11. What are the best Social Media Sites for people to find out about you and your work?
Al Schnupp is a retired faculty member of the Theatre and Dance Department of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Mr. Schnupp studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City and holds a doctorate from UCLA. He performed in summer stock and directed or designed approximately eighty productions for academic and professional theatres. For two years he was scenic designer for Wichita State University Summer Theater.
Mr. Schnupp was the recipient of the Margo Jones National Playwriting Award for the play My Body, awarded by Texas Women’s University. His play, Censored, about the life of artist Käthe Kollwitz, was produced professionally at The Invisible Theatre. His improvisational game book Bravo! was published by Meriwether Published Ltd. The Stone Circle, a full-length adult puppet show, was co-authored and designed by Mr. Schnupp; the show was produced at the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta and won an UNIMA International Citation of Excellence. Zero to Infinity, in its original form as a play, was selected to be performed at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, Region 8 Festival and was produced at Cayuga Community College. The Site was produced at the American Theatre of Actors in New York City and at Walkerspace in New York City. Living Stones was produced at Cal Poly and showcased in Los Angeles. Antigone and Letters to Soldiers Lost was produced at Cal Poly and in New York by Auburn Players.
He is the author of The MerryWinkle International Troupe of Vagabonds Performs a Delicious Potpourri of Fantastical Fairy Tales and Astonishing Folk Legends. His play CrossRoads won an Art Inspires grant and was produced in New York at Cayuga Community College. The Collection, a play about art collector Peggy Guggenheim that featured fifty interactive paintings, toured Central California. inclusivity – the Ivy Bottini Story was produced at Emerald Theatre in Memphis, Tennessee.
GOODS & EFFECTS, a novella, has been published by Golden Antelope Press. As a visual artist, Al participates in a variety of art and craft festivals in California and has shown his work in several galleries. Zero, a novella based on the play, Zero to Infinity, is published by Cabal Books.
Reading Nook 