...The photo is from Roxane Gay, founder of PANK, who is publishing xTx's new collection, "Normally Special." The top image is a clearer shot of the book cover. You should get the book. I'm certain you'll like it. Go to PANK's website or click on xTx's link here in "Writers to Like." xTx is crazy good. Raw, and writes like a slice of lightning just took half of your face off.

You know how some people are afraid of clowns? I'm afraid of dolls. They creep me out. I once saw an old "Twilight Zone" episode about a doll named Mrs. Beasley who ended up killing an entire family (this was long before Chucky) and ever since dolls of any make or model tend to give me the heebie jeebies (does anyone say "heebie jeebies" anymore?) Seeing the headless baby doll holding xTx's book sent a shiver through me. My wife and daughte once happened about a country road where a slew of mangle Barbie's sat strewn in some gravel. Naturally, I wrote a story about it (called "Bones" here under "Words In Print") that so scared me as I wrote it, I nearly stopped. Seriously. And yeah, I know I'm a wimp.

…I was in Border's the other day. Outwardly, the building was impressive--two stories tall, lots of rust-colored brick and glass. Inside it was like a dentist looking at a mouth filled with missing teeth and decayed molars. In the section entitled MUSIC AND MOVIES the slots contained clearance Christmas Cards. There was one little wagon-looking thing with discounted, ancient cd's by Bad Company and Tony Bennet. There were two rows of Blu-Ray DVDs. Under the subtitled section saying "MUST SEE MOVIES" there were triple features of Shirley Temple or Jimmy Stewart or black-and-white fims about Al Capone and his posse.
…Border's made me sad. Someday soon that whole building will be a solitary shelf with a couple of Kindles on it.

"Writing a novel is a terrible experience, during which the hair often falls out and the teeth decay." Flannery O'Conner

"Writing is a dog's life, but the only life worth living." Gustave Flaubert