Understanding the Undead: Tackling "The Other" in The Walking Dead

I wrote this for "Comic Book Wednesday" on the Caustic Soda blog. When Shane initially asked me to write this piece, I was unsure how to approach it. How could I attempt to say something new about such a wildly popular comic (and television) series? I decided to get a bit intellectual about it, and I think what I've come up with is probably worth considering. Check out my thoughts here:

http://causticsodanarcoromance.com/

(If, for whatever reason, you see this post long after its initial posting, just go into the archives for November to check it out)

Writing Lessons Piece Published on Ploughshares Literary Magazine Blog

I wrote a short piece that was just published on the Ploughshares Literary Magazine blog. Ploughshares has been including a weekly "Writing Lessons" series where "writers and writing students will discuss lessons learned, epiphanies about craft, and the challenges of studying writing." Mine is on The Art of Discipline, and I'm pretty pleased with how it came out. You can read it here:

http://blog.pshares.org/index.php/writing-lessons-chad-stroup/

Reading at the Brewyard Saturday November 9th

I'll be doing a reading on November 9th with a few of my fellow MFA peeps (both from the fiction and poetry factions). Here's the address and time:

The Brewyard (this is actually a house)
5256 La Jolla Blvd.
La Jolla, CA 92037

Doors at 6:00 PM, first reader begins at 7:00. After the six featured readers are finished, there will be an Open Mic.

I'll be reading an excerpt from my novel-in-progress. Come check it out if you so desire.

Fiction International #46: Real Time/Virtual Now Available

Fiction International #46: Real Time/Virtual is available for purchase. I edited and co-wrote a collaborative text that was published in this issue. The piece is titled "Art-Making in the Technosphere," and it has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize.
Other writers featured in this text are Andy O'Clancy, Natalie Quave, Randall Lahrman (whose two sections are directly linked to mine), Ryan Forsythe, Jo Ellen Aragon, Carla Wilson, and Francois Bereaud. It's a really interesting and somehow cohesive text despite the small groups working somewhat independently before I dipped my editorial mind into the mix. Those of you already familiar with my writing will probably be able to tell which sections are mine, but just in case—my first section begins with "Dear Sirs..." and the second with "I wanted to rip my eyes out."
You can purchase the new issue at Amazon. Here is the link:

http://www.amazon.com/Fiction-International-46-Virtual-Volume/dp/0931362121/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382381311&sr=8-1&keywords=real+time+virtual+fiction