WHY ARE YOU TELLING ME THIS

2011-03-05T17:31:00.000-08:00

Praise for Nothing or Next to Nothing:

In a world in which nothing or next to nothing matters anymore, Barry Graham's hero Derek is doomed because he hasn't erased his last shred of decency yet. He suffers abuse, heartbreak, beatings, and ultimately the loss of the only person he ever cared for, because he can't believe in a world where a McDonald's restaurant might be the last church, and an okay BigMac our last prayer. Graham's book is an elegy to something we've lost without noticing or caring. It's a mean punch to the chin; it floors you, and still you'll be glad you took it.
-- Stefan Kiesbye

Barry Graham's Nothing or Next to Nothing takes an unflinching look at the land Whitman once lauded, a land now pimpled with Golden Arches and populated by heads full of American Dreams turned rancid. No illusions here, friends. No redemption, either. Just the bones and gristle of a hard life. Graham's distinctive prose illuminates those things usually left in the dark corners of American culture, places Uncle Walt could never have imagined.

-- Christopher Kennedy

Nothing or Next to Nothing works. It doesn’t try to be too clever despite the non linear storytelling. It is as gentle-paced as amphetamine and inhabits a universe diametrically opposite from the Waltons.
-- Martin Macaulay

With its seamless juxtaposition of tenderness and violence, absurdity and cruelty, Nothing or Next to Nothing is a well executed experiment in 21st century American Naturalism.

-- The Examiner

2010-11-05T14:33:00.001-07:00

Nothing or Next to Nothing
a novella by
Barry Graham

ISBN: 978-1-59948-290-3
Cover price: $9.95

Projected release date: May 31, 2011. The Advance Discount price of $5.50 will be available until May 17, 2011.

About the Author

Barry Graham received his MFA from Rutgers University, where he currently teaches writing. He is the author of The National Virginity Pledge, which was a finalist for the NGI Book Award for Short Story Fiction. One of the stories therein was awarded the 2009 Jumpmettle Award for Excellence in Fiction, and two other stories were nominated for the Pushcart Prize. Graham is the flash fiction editor for DOGZPLOT.

Synopsis

After finding their mother dead at the breakfast table and subsequently being abandoned by their father, half-brother and sister, Derek and Daisy Kehoe are left to fend for themselves. Their relationship quickly suffers from patterned violence, abuse, and neglect, until Daisy herself disappears under curious circumstances. Derek slowly gets his life in order, finding stability through college, a steady relationship, and money he inherits through a series of botched armed robberies. But of course, nothing stays stable for long. Everything and everyone in Derek’s life has an ulterior motive, reasons for embracing him and reasons for throwing him away.

Comments

In a world in which nothing or next to nothing matters anymore, Barry Graham's hero Derek is doomed because he hasn't erased his last shred of decency yet. He suffers abuse, heartbreak, beatings, and ultimately the loss of the only person he ever cared for, because he can't believe in a world where a McDonald's restaurant might be the last church, and an okay BigMac our last prayer. Graham's book is an elegy to something we've lost without noticing or caring. It's a mean punch to the chin; it floors you, and still you'll be glad you took it.
--Stefan Kiesbye

Read the prologue in its entirety HERE

ORDER HERE

2010-11-05T13:47:00.000-07:00

INTERVIEWS

W/ BENJAMIN GROSSMAN @ FLASH FICTION NET

W/ BL PAWELEK @ FLATMANCROOKED

W/ BRAD GREEN @ DARK SKY MAGAZINE

W/ BEN TANZER @ THIS PODCAST WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE

W/ JEN MICHASKI @ JMWW

W/ ANNE VALENTE @ STORYGLOSSIA

W/ STEFANIE FREELE @ SMOKELONG QUARTERLY

W/ SAM PINK @ ORANGE ALERT

W/ SCOT YOUNG @ MIDWEST POETS

W/ CYNTHIA REESER @ PRICK OF THE SPINDLE

W/ JULIA BOHANNA @ THE SHORT REVIEW

W/ LAURA ELLEN SCOTT @ VIP'S ON VERY SHORT FICTION

W/ RAVI MAGLA @ RECOMMENDED READING

W/ COLUMBIA COLLEGE @ AWP 2009

W/ ROB PIERCE @ FIVE STAR LITERARY STORIES

2008-10-26T20:17:00.000-07:00

SMALL PRESS REVIEWS
MARC SCHUSTER

THE COLLAGIST
PAULA BOMER

PANK
MARTIN MACAULAY
BG

PLUMB

LAVINIA LUDLOW

SMALL PRESS REVIEWS

MARC SCHUSTER

BOOKMUNCH

NATE TYREE

EMERGING WRITERS NETWORK

DAN WICKETT

THE SHORT REVIEW

JULIA BOHANNA

MATT BELL

MDBELL.COM

PRICK OF THE SPINDLE

KADZI MUTIZWA

OUTSIDE WRITERS COLLECTIVE

SCOT YOUNG

PANK

ROXANE GAY

2008-10-24T14:50:00.000-07:00

Barry Graham received an MFA in Fiction from Rutgers University, an MA from Eastern Michigan University, and a Graduate Certification in Composition, also from Eastern Michigan University. While at Rutgers, he was the founding editor of their annual graduate student anthology, Slush, and an Assistant Editor for their literary journal, Storyquarterly. Additionally, while at Rutgers, Graham taught a variety of English courses, including sections in their Honors College.

While at Eastern Michigan University, Graham was the founding editor of their annual graduate student anthology, 50/50, and served as Vice- President of their Creative Writing Graduate Student Organization. He also served as an Assistant Editor for their literary journal Bathhouse Magazine and was awarded the university's highest honor for fiction writing, the Jumpmettle Award.

Barry Graham is the author of the novella, Nothing or Next to Nothing and two collections of short fiction, Not a Speck of Light is Showing and The National Virginity Pledge, which was a finalist for the NGI Book Award.

Barry Graham has taught Composition and/or Creative Writing at Rutgers University, Madonna University, Adrian College, Monroe County Community College, Willow Run Middle School, and Ypsilanti High School as a Writer-in-Residence for Dzanc Books.

Barry Graham is a national Tic-Tac-Toe champion, food critic, horror film screenwriter and enthusiast, spiritual advisor, editor/publisher, McDonald's propagandist, father of two amazingly intelligent, kind-hearted, creative, beautiful daughters, and the current Emperor of DOGZPLOT.

If you have any other questions, holla.

2008-10-24T13:41:00.000-07:00

PERCY'S PURSUITS
EXQUISITE QUARTET

BEAUTY FOREVER
CORIUM

TYLER, THE CREATOR - I AM SO FUCKING STOKED RIGHT NOW NIGGA TWITTER REMIX BITCHES WITH ASS LIKE WHOOMP
POETRY BY EMILY DICKINSON

TRAIN TALES: CARSON CITY

EVERYDAY GENIUS

THE DRY YEARS

WIGLEAF

THE SAME STORY

FLYWHEEL

DRUNK TEXTING

THE NORTHVILLE REVIEW

A SNOWBALL FOR VESUVIUS
FIX IT BROKEN

THE WET YEARS
FIX IT BROKEN

IT'S NOT ME; IT'S ALL FUNCTIONAL

SLEEP.SNORT.FUCK

SMOKE
ELIMAE

THE GREAT WALL
ELIMAE

THE DEAD ROLLING SNOWBALL
SLUSH

(W)HOLE
ELIMAE

ORIGINAL
ELIMAE

DOWN
ELIMAE

DEATH TO SUPERMAN: on sherman alexie
SENTENTIA

OUR MOTHER, LIGHT AS THREAD
QUICK FICTION

WHATSOEVER A MAN SOWETH
STORYGLOSSIA

13 WAYS OF LOOKING AT A ROADTRIP
EVERYDAY GENIUS

SEPTEMBER GOLD or DAISY'S SONG
EVERYDAY GENIUS

MINIMIZE ME; I'D BE TERRIBLE
EX CATHEDRA

LISTEN HARD AND HEAR THE OCEAN
WRITERS BLOC

THE END IS EASY, WHERE DO WE START
KILL AUTHOR

TIGHTENING THE LEASH
PANK

PUNK ASS BITCHES
THE LEGENDARY

GHOST WHITE WAILING
MAD HATTERS REVIEW

CLOSING TIME
LOS ANGELES REVIEW

MOUNTAINS
TEMENOS

PRIMARY CLASSIFICATION OF THE FAMILY SCIURIDAE
BRANDI WELLS REVIEW

THE COMPLETE IDIOT'S GUIDE TO SELLING YOUR OVARIES ON THE BLACK MARKET
PUBLISHING GENIUS

STAMP STORIES
ML PRESS

THE SAME STORY
PEAR NOIR

THE SAME STORY
FRIGG

THE SAME STORY
ORANGE ALERT AWP CHAPBOOK COLLABORATIVE

THE SAME STORY
50 TO 1

LATE OCTOBER
GHOTI

RIP ME APART
MUD LUSCIOUS

BOMB FACTORY
ROBOT MELON

BIRDSONG
PRICK OF THE SPINDLE

A HALF GRAVE OF RETREAT
PRICK OF THE SPINDLE

A QUESTIONABLE USE OF THE WORD PERPETUAL IN CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE
YANKEE POT ROAST

NOT TOUCHING THE BREAKS
TULIP

STALEMATE
FRIGG

SURVIVAL
FRIGG

A PERFECT E FLAT
FRIGG

ANOTHER STRATEGY
ELIMAE

BY THE ARM
KEYHOLE MAGAZINE

WE GREW UP TO BE ASTRONAUTS
DOGS: WET AND DRY

CAVED IN
SMOKELONG QUARTERLY

SHE NEVER ASKED
OCTOPUSBEAKINC

DICKEY DEW
WIGLEAF

MOUNTAINS
PEQUIN

NINE ELEVEN
DECOMP

A SUMMATION OF ALL THINGS OBVIOUS
BEAT THE DUST

BLACKHORSE
LIT N IMAGE

APOLLO 77 (1986)
LIT N IMAGE

BAD BEAT
HOBART

THE CIGARETTE STORY
STORYGLOSSIA

ON THE EDGE
STORYGLOSSIA

THUMBS UP SEVEN UP
ELIMAE

THE LONE RANGER AND TONTO FISTFIGHT IN HEAVEN
TITULAR

PRESSED
PINDELDYBOZ

THE NATIONAL VIRGINITY PLEDGE
PRICK OF THE SPINDLE

TOOTHBRUSH
PRICK OF THE SPINDLE

CATS AND DOGS; LIKE RAIN
THIEVES JARGON

INDEPENDENCE DAY
LIT UP MAGAZINE

TOO PRIVATE FOR WORDS OR FINGERS
CELLA'S ROUND TRIP

TIME IS LONELY
DICEY BROWN

BOOKS
DICEY BROWN

DRIPPING WET
INSTANT PUSSY

FALLEN
YA SOUL REVIEW

I AM UNABLE
YA SOUL REVIEW

IMAGINARY GARDENS
YA SOUL REVIEW

KEEPING YOUR PROMISES
UP THE STAIRCASE

EVERY TIME I WIGGLED
NIMBLE

COUNTRY HOUSES
TUESDAY SHORTS

JUST TO GET HERE
CAUSE & EFFECT

CHEAP MOTEL TALK
GLOOM CUPBOARD

EVEN CLOSER
ASKEW REVIEWS

CHECK THE MAIL
CELLAR ROOTS

WARM HANDS
CELLAR ROOTS

THE WAY HE PREFERRED IT
CELLAR ROOTS

TOO BIG
IMAGES

CERTAIN FACTS ABOUT SQUIRRELS: BROWN, BLACK, OR OTHERWISE OR WHAT BLACK HISTORY MONTH MEANS TO BLISSFIELD, MICHIGAN
SECRET PRESS USA

13 WAYS OF LOOKING AT A SQUIRREL
51/49

ALL HIS CHIPS
50/50

THEY WON'T LEAVE
WEATHERVANE

OUR FINAL HOUR
RUSTY TRUCK

RELOCATION
RUSTY TRUCK