One of our favorite alums, JD Clapp, has a new story collection available from Cowboy Jamboree Press!
CJP is a publisher of “grit lit,” which sounds really sexy in a tank-top, trailer-park kind of way, but I would describe Clapp’s work as “good lit.” Good lit in a world much-deprived of such.
And I should know - I’ve worked with JD on two of our favorite pieces, including the nonfiction “Drinking in the Shadow of Bukowski” from our early days.
Drinking in the Shadow of Bukowski
“When you drank the world was still out there, but for the moment it didn’t have you by the throat.”[i]
We also published his short story a couple years ago, “Justice for Dick & Maynard.” The man can do, and does, it all.
Justice for Dick & Maynard
On the late summer morning they dragged the river for Maynard Wilson’s body, Mary Jo Combs put rat poison in her husband, Dick’s, eggs. She knew he took his eggs scrambled, seasoned heavy on the salt and Tabasco; he wouldn’t notice.
What I love about Clapp’s work is the straight-forward, no-nonsense style. As one perpetually covered in frills and flourishes, I’ve always admired those able to strip (!) things down to their essence and let the scenes breathe without a lot of prattle.
There’s a very real lack in contemporary fiction of stories about ordinary or regular folks. JD Clapp is minding the gap and mapping these underbelly worlds for us with clean, honest prose - as Papa Hemingway advised we all should.
Check out our interview:
Drinks with JD Clapp
This one is extra-long because this writer had such a good time and didn’t want to cut anything. If you haven’t yet checked out JD’s story, you can here:
I reckon we should do some more of those at some point. Maybe we will. Until then, order a copy of JD’s collection, Poachers & Pills, and enjoy your damn self, Jesus Christ, #yolo, and you know.