Here's where we stand with this project. There have been 52 different authors (or author combinations) posted about--my thoughts about their work and then David explaining in great detail as to where I headed down the wrong path, and why exactly the work fit into Unsaid. If all goes right, we'll finish up with another 13 posts and do so fairly soon as Unsaid 5 is coming out any day now. You should order that one and begin reading now so you'll be ready.
Eugene Marten - Jelonnek, an excerpt from Firework
I loved Waste and so I was excited when I saw that this was in this issue and I think Marten shines again for many of the same reasons I enjoyed Waste so much - a spareness in the writing, topics not typically written about, and an eye for details.
I'd love to hear what it is about Marten's work that excites you, but as this is an excerpt, I'm also curious as to whether or not Unsaid has a stance on excerpts--does it matter to you what stage the novel-in-question stands in? Can it be from a book that's been published already? Or one that has just been completed and has no planned home yet? Or, is it simply about the writing, and the fact that the piece is an excerpt doesn't matter?
David McLendon
I prefer to publish previously unpublished work. I have published many excerpts from works in progress, and feel the ones that appear in Unsaid stand as self-contained pieces. I love Marten’s sense of detail. I was especially impressed with how well he described the “jail scene” of this excerpt. Having spent a few nights in the hole myself, I felt the need to ask Marten if he had done time as well. He said no, which surprised me, as his details of life behind bars are spot on. Marten is a very thorough and as serious writer. I highly recommend reading the entire novel from which this excerpt is taken: Firework, published by Tyrant Books.
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