The Borrower in Russian
Here it is: The Borrower in Russian! At least I think it’s The Borrower. How would I know, really? (A side note: I will henceforth only answer to the name Pebekka Makkan.)
News
Makkai in Imaginary Oklahoma
Despite never having set foot in Oklahoma in my life, I gladly wrote a short piece for This Land Press’s collection Imaginary Oklahoma, billed as “46 of today’s most important and influential writers combine with artists to provide a fictional take on the 46th state.” Many thanks to the Paris Review for the shout-out on my story, “Rich Rice from Tulsa.” Watch the Vimeo trailer for the anthology here!
“Cross” wins Michigan Quarterly Review’s Lawrence Foundation Prize
I’m pleased to announce (tardily) that my story “Cross” has won Michigan Quarterly Review‘s Lawrence Foundation Prize, awarded by their editorial board to one story appearing in MQR each year. “Cross” appeared in their summer, 2012 issue.
New Stories from the Midwest
My story “Peter Torrelli, Falling Apart,” originally published in Tin House in 2011, is included in the New Stories from the Midwest anthology, available now from Indiana University Press.
An ancient interview with the late Isaiah Sheffer
Isaiah Sheffer interviewed me over three years ago for the radio broadcast of my story “The Briefcase” on Selected Shorts. It was my first real interview as a writer, and I don’t think I fully understood at the time how lucky I was to be on the receiving end of questions that were so deeply insightful and patient. When he passed away in November, I realized I’d never linked to this here. The broadcast of the story itself, being read at Symphony Space by the amazing Victor Garber, is available as an MP3 download here.
Interview for The Short Form
I was thrilled to talk to the folks at The Short Form about short stories, dead raccoons, and serial adultery. And I get to be an illustration! How cool is that? Read the interview, complete with my short story recommendations, here.
Two nominations for 2013 Pushcarts
Many thanks to both New South and Michigan Quarterly Review for nominating short stories (“Our Plastic American Brethren” and “Cross,” respectively), for the 2013 Pushcart Prize!
Spanish edition and book trailer
The Borrower is now available in Spanish from Ediciones Maeva, as El Devorador de Libros (The Devourer of Books). And even if you don’t speak Spanish, you can enjoy the fabulous trailer they made.
Reading in Chattanooga, 10/25
I’ll be reading on Thursday, October 25th in Chattanooga, as part of the Meacham Writers’ Workshop series. The joint reading, with Tom Balazs and Earl Braggs, is at 7 pm in the Chattanooga State Health Science Center. Open to the public. More information is here.
New Story in Michigan Quarterly Review
My latest short story, “Cross,” is out in Michigan Quarterly Review, both in print and online. Read it here… and please read the rest of this fabulous journal too!
