A personal take on a day of national remembrance

by Derek Alger

Originally published on September 3, 2011

Of course, all that changed in an instant on 9/11, with no one even thinking of the Democratic primary for Mayor in New York City. much less voting, after the first plane hit the World Trade Center.

Alan Cheuse

interviewed by Derek Alger

Originally published on September 1, 2011

Cheuse is well-known as a book commentator, and a regular contributor to National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered.” His short fiction has appeared in numerous publications and literary journals, including The New Yorker, Ploughshares, The Antioch Review, Prairie Schooner, The Idaho Review, and The Southern Review.

Pensive pondering about childhood past

by Derek Alger

Originally published on August 2, 2011

The woman gazed across the table at a young man and uttered a phrase I will never forget. “Chad, you look pensive,” she said.

Lou Rowan

interviewed by Derek Alger

Originally published on August 1, 2011

Lou Rowan is the author of the novel, My Last Days (Chiasmus Press, 2007), and the short story collection, Sweet Potatoes (Small Press Distribution, 2008). He’s currently finishing another novel, in the mystery form.

Gloria Mindock

interviewed by Derek Alger

Originally published on July 1, 2011

Gloria Mindock, author of the poetry collections, Blood Soaked Dresses (Ibbetson St. Press, 2007) and Nothing Divine Here (U Soku Stampa, 2010), is editor and publisher of Cervena Barva Press, and in 2007, became the editor of the Istanbul Literary Review, an online journal based in Turkey.

You are Mayor Koch!

by Derek Alger

Originally published on July 1, 2011

The adrenaline and exhilaration of declaring freedom from a situation perceived as oppressive was soon replaced by increasing panic when I realized I would no longer be getting a paycheck.

William Trowbridge

interviewed by Derek Alger

Originally published on June 3, 2011

William Trowbridge, whose most recent poetry collection, Ship of Fool, was published earlier this year by Red Hen Press, currently teaches in the University of Nebraska low-residency MFA writing program. He is also a Distinguished University Professor Emeritus at Northwest Missouri State where he was co-editor of The Laurel Review, one of the Midwest’s leading literary journals.

You never know what you might see

by Derek Alger

Originally published on June 1, 2011

I stood frozen in the aisle when all of a sudden, a man in jeans with a gun drawn appeared in front of me and another guy, also with gun drawn, came flying over the shelf to my right, knocking canned goods and cardboard boxes all about.

Walking the Dog – A Matter of Life and Death

by Derek Alger

Originally published on May 2, 2011

I can’t imagine how they felt — shock, paralysis, disbelief. It was an ordinary day, a Thursday, nothing special, and then, all changed in a second.

Mindy Greenstein

interviewed by Derek Alger

Originally published on May 1, 2011

Mindy Greenstein is the author of the widely-praised book of personal essays, The House On Crash Corner, published and released this month by Greenpoint Press, a division of the not-for-profit New York Writers Resources.