His name is Harvey Pekar.

1939-2010

Cleveland.com

Instigatorzine 5

Five issues. I never thought we'd make it past the first issue.

I'm kidding. I'm really proud of the product we put out (now). Just seeing the bare layouts make me excited to be working on something like this and inspired by the work encased within it's paper-thin borders.

Really, check it out.

Cover Art by Kristen Chiappone

The July issue features literature:

"Anasthesia" by Liz Vosk

"AM" by Michael Weems

"Master" by Krystal Sital

"Just Like High School" by Amanda Halkiotis

"In Praise of Honey" by John Biscello

"Tarred and Feathered" by Mark Blickley

"Apples to Oranges" by Daniel O'Connor

"Small Amusements" by Ben Nardolilli

"A Day Spent with Words" by Kate Giusfredi

"The Stink-Eye" by David Sansevere

"There's a Where" by Nathan Fuller

"Language as Play" by Nicole Contreras

"Old and New" by Jacqueline Nigro

"The Weary Lacrymosa" by Dana Facchine

"Misunderstandings of the Third Kind" by Daniel Shebses

...And art from:

Stephanie Herrera

Kelly Cuenca

Elias Jimenez

Madelynne Dela Rama

Steven Defendini

Chazz Jogie

Kristen Chiappone

and more!

Instigatorzine

Really, check it out.

10 Awesome Painters

Halloween Contest Clarifications

So, I was talking to my friend about the Halloween story and poetry contest and she said something interesting to me. When I asked her if she planned on entering, she said, "Well I can't write scary stories, so most likely not."
I was startled by this response. To this, I replied, "Well, it doesn't have to be scary."
I think a lot of people think when there's a Halloween contest, it has to be scary. However, this is not the case. I explained to my friend that she could write a story or poem about trick or treating, about dressing up, about picking out the costume, about a costume contest they participated in, a costume gone terribly wrong, a particular memory just vaguely associated with Halloween, a significant event that happened around Halloween, an experience with a scary movie or Halloween movie, etc. The possibilities are endless. I remember, during Halloween, when the McDonald's on 25th on Broadway in Bayonne would give out Happy Meal goody bags. I remember, when with one of my ex-girlfriends, we took her little brother to his cub scouts Halloween meeting. I could write a whole story describing this event.
So remember: When you write your story or poem for this contest, think outside the box. It doesn't have to be all ghosts and goblins!

In case you didn't know...

Almost all the instigatorzine editorial staff try to maintain blogs of their own, and since only Keith and I (well, really, just me lately) post here. Maybe you'd like to look at something else. Something more personal (and more frequently updated).

• Goats from the Underground -keithpchia.blogspot.com
• KEZZART - kezzart.blogspot.com
• tenebroso - elias-s-jimenez.blogspot.com
• Mad's Blog - madelynne.blogspot.com
• nar/esp - nar-esp.blogspot.com

I was going to put everyone's tumblr's and personal websites down, but I think I'm the only one who has those two things and it would be gratuitous.

Enjoy.