Tag: nonfiction

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New Nonfiction coming in New England Review and an interview

My latest bit of nonfiction will be appearing in the upcoming winter issue of New England Review. It is an excerpt from my memoir that involves GI Joes, my parents’ divorce, and my father’s failing health. More than anything, in my mind, it is a letter of appreciation to my brother, Rye.

I’ll let you know when it is out. For now, I am in the depths of the quest for representation of this memoir.

In other news, I had the pleasure of interviewing Chelsea Hicks (WahZhaZhe), author of a Calm and Normal Heart, for Boulevard Magazine. We discuss writing while Native, land acknowledgments, language, and The Killers of the Flower Moon, among other things. It should be arriving in the next issue, so be on the lookout for that. It’s a good conversation.

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“Nathan” in Best American Science and Nature Writing 2024

I am humbled and grateful to announce that “Nathan” has been selected by the amazing Bill McKibben to appear in the next volume of Best American Science and Nature Writing. Appearing in a Best American anthology has been a lifelong dream. The fact that it was this essay, about a person I miss every day who I wish more could have known, and it was selected by a writer whose work I routinely teach in my classes, makes it all the more sweet. The support of Carolyn Wells, Cheri and the rest of the editorial team was invaluable throughout the process. I also want to thank the series editor, Jaime Green, for her support.

To read my essay before it’s in the book, visit Longreads.com.

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“Nathan” Pushcart Prize Nominated

While eagerly awaiting the proofs for an upcoming publication in Reckoning, a journal of writing on environmental justice, I have received other good news. I am humbled and grateful to announce that “Nathan” has been selected by Longreads as a Pushcart Prize Nominee. A big piece of my heart is in this essay, and I’m so glad it is out there for all to read about and know my friend, Nathan. The support of Carolyn Wells, Cheri and the rest of the editorial team was invaluable throughout the process.

To read my essay and the other nominees, check out Longreads.com.

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“Nathan” live in Longreads

After a time of few updates, owing to a heavy focus on teaching and raising my daughter, I have some writing news to report.

“Nathan” is live at Longreads. I could make the case that I began this essay in June 2009. The first actual draft came about in 2017. I submitted it to one contest, was a finalist, and then did not even look at it for the next 5 years. It wasn’t until the last year or so that I was able to revise it again and start submitting. Over a decade of thinking about it and it is still so fresh in my mind. I miss him a lot, but I’m grateful to share a little bit of him with the world.

Soon, I’ll have another link for everyone. I also have an essay (about being raised in a house of guns) coming out in Consequence Forum this month. I hope it contributes (constructively) to the dialogue we’re having about firearms.

The last update worth noting is that I will be returning to Vietnam at the end of the month with my father and younger brother in the hopes of completing everything we could not get to the first time around. All while the country is experiencing its worst heatwave on record.

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“In the Petrified Forest” live at Ruminate

My latest essay, about a little nothing marital spat and the way it sent me full on relativistic, is now live at Ruminate’s website. It is featured along with other wonderful work related to the theme of “Regeneration”. If you detest screens, there’s good news and bad news. Bad news is you’re already using a screen so you may as well head over and give those good folks some views. Good news is this essay will also be included in a DOUBLE-STUFFED print issue that you can pre-order now. So double the content, a physical object you can put on your coffee table, the admiration and respect of your guests, and you also get to support a good lit mag. A win-win, win-win all the way around.

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New Essay coming in Ruminate’s next issue

I have an essay coming out in the newest issue of Ruminate Magazine. Pre-orders are live and go a long way to supporting this excellent journal. You can find it at Ruminate Issue 63/64 orders. It’s a double issue, so you’re going to get your fill of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry on the theme of Regeneration.

My essay, “In the Petrified Forest”, details a nothing fight my wife and I got into on a roadtrip through the Southwest. I do manage to dive millions of years into the past in the exploration of this totally insignificant and forgettably momentary disagreement.

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“Secondhand” is Pushcart Nominated

Humbled and grateful to announce that “Secondhand” has been selected by New Letters as a Pushcart Prize Nominee. I am so happy this little essay got a chance. The support of Christie Hodgen, Ashley Wann, and the rest of the editorial team was invaluable throughout the process.

To read my essay and the other nominees from this fine journal, check out NewLetters.org.

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“Secondhand” in New Letters

As noted in earlier posts, my essay, “Secondhand,” was recently published in New Letters. Since publication in the print journal, we’ve worked together to make the full text available online. You can now read the essay here: Secondhand. It was important to me that this piece, in particular, be made as easily accessible as possible.

Additionally, as a follow-up to the essay, New Letters has a Special Feature wherein I answer some questions elaborating on the context and craft of the piece. It also includes some of my photography from our return trip to Vietnam with my father, John Musgrave. The feature can be found here: Getting Ahold of the Heart.

Lastly, in not-my-writing-news, my father’s memoir is now available for preorder. I recommend it for a whole host of reasons, perhaps most of all because it’s a really good book that has important things to tell us all about war and the costs we pay to wage it. The Education of Corporal John Musgrave.

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Dole Institute Program– Youtube link

Thank you to all who tuned in live to view the program “Marines Return to Vietnam” via the Dole Institute of Politics. Given 2020, and my father’s allergic reaction to modern technology, this was the first time I got to ‘see’ my father since December (2019).

For anyone who may have missed the program or who wants to view it again and/or share it with others, the Dole Institute has created a permanent recording of it on their Youtube channel. I have embedded the video below or you can visit the link directly at: Marines Return to Vietnam (on Youtube).

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Dole Institute Panel Discussion- “Marines Return to Vietnam”

John Musgrave at Con Thien, 2018

This Thursday, Sept 10, I’ll be part of a panel discussion about the trip I took with my father, John Musgrave, for his first return to Vietnam in over 50 years. The program can be accessed and watched live at 3:00 CST via the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics at KU. It will also be made available via their Youtube Channel to view asynchronously. Though the talk will be moderated, we’ll also be taking questions from the live-stream. I don’t anticipate speaking much, but a selection of my photographs from the trip will be part of the presentation.

The talk is well timed, as I have a short narrative nonfiction piece coming out in the Summer 2020 Issue of New Letters (arriving soon). The piece, “Secondhand,” is about the ways being raised by a combat veteran influenced me both explicitly and subconsciously. It focuses on three periods of my life when the interaction between his past and my future felt most tangible. And, perhaps also, most dire.

If you get a chance, stop by the stream and ask a question. I assure you you will not be disappointed, though you may experience deep emotions.