Nik Korpon

There are some new banners I put on the Press page, courtesy of the wicked talented Boden.Steiner. He has a bunch of fantastic art on his website, a few of which are below. Check them out, give him a shout, find something cool.

I owe a gigantic, sweaty thanks to everyone who came out last Friday for the Stay God Release Party. We had a fantastic time and I was totally overwhelmed by the great turnout. I consider myself very fortunate and humbled to have friends who are incredibly talented. So, thank you. I’ll try to write up something in the next couple days, add pictures and the like.

On a side note, I just did an interview with Lillian Cauldwell on Internet Voices Radio and, despite my nervousness, it went pretty well. The wine might’ve helped a bit. Either way, Lillian was great to talk to and I owe her a large ‘Thank you.’

I feel like there’s something else I was supposed to say but it’s totally escaping me at the moment (EDIT: The Press page is updated. That’s what it was.) So instead, I will say that I just got the Fall and Winter issue of Needle Magazine and can’t wait to dive in. You should order them. I’m also about to hit up Young Junius by Seth Harwood, after I finish Yellow Medicine from Anthony Neil Smith. ‘Tis a merry Christmas indeed.

More coming when I remember it.

Godspeed
Nik

This could be a really long post, so in the spirit of the Dude, I’ll err on the side of brevity and just make a list:

-One day till STAY GOD drops!

-Today is the last day to use the CYBERMON code to save $5 off your order.

-This review of STAY GOD at Ransom Notes, Barnes&Noble’s mystery blog, should make you want to buy the book, then go read Jedidiah Ayres‘ work.

-Tomorrow night, you can hear me babble on about the book and all things noir on Internet Voices Radio with Lillian Cauldwell from 7.55-8.25 EST.

-Friday night, come out and party with us at The Hexagon for the STAY GOD Release Party. There’ll be reading by myself and Goodloe Byron, music from The Garnet Hearts and Sweatpants, a short film by Chris Wiezorek and paintings from Kevin Hayden. Gig starts at 8PM, $5, BYOB. Should be a good time.

-I’ve got a story in you’re dead and I Killed You, a new anthology from Brown Paper Publishing. It’s a really cool twist on traditional anthologies, where each author wrote a mini-essay introducing another author’s story (which we were sent blindly.) I’ll post up my essay in a few days.

I think that’s it for the moment.

Godspeed
Nik

I assume that most of the four people who actually read this thing already know what The Velvet is, but if not, brother are you in for it. The Velvet is an online community of writers, designers, vagabonds, musicians, artists and riff raff of all stripes. Bound by more than just a love of dark writing, it becomes a family in the way that, four years ago, I would’ve said, ‘Meet people in real life, losers!’

Alas, for years later, I’m reaffirming my loser status.

For myself and many others, The Velvet has literally changed their lives, be it through writing, art, friendship or a ‘liberated’ essential organ. I would not be half the writer I am today (which isn’t saying much, but still) without it, be it from technical knowledge to networking to breadth of reading material to ‘shut up, stop whining and just write.’

All that being said, The Velvet is in need of help. The skeleton crew who for the last six years has been pumping the billows to keep our air flowing, and they’ve reached the limit of what they know. Through fundraising with IndieGoGo (similar to Kickstarter) they’re hoping to get someone who actually knows what they’re doing to not just keep the site running, but expand it into the thriving art hub they’ve always envisioned. Like Kickstarter, there are various perks depending on the level of donation. Any amount of donation is much appreciated.

I’ll be bringing the new noise (and possibly fanning the flames of discontent [any Refused fans out there?]) in an interview with Lillian Cauldwell at Internet Voices Radio next Thursday, 16 Dec, from 7.55-8.25EST. Tune in. It should be fun.

Also, there’s an excellent new review of STAY GOD at Day Labor, the CrimeFactory blog. If you’ve been living with a plastic bag over your head for a while, then I’ll give you the inside scoop that CrimeFactory is one of the most exciting crime magazines out there. Needless to say, I’m incredibly stoked to have my name sully their reputation. Gigantic bloody thanks to Chris Deal for the beautiful words. You can also do yourself a favor by picking up Chris’ stunning micro-fiction collection CIENFUEGOS.

Godspeed
Nik

Very, very cool (as well as strange) to be holding in my hands something that had previously just been conceptual, abstract, ether. And as a hardcover, no less. You too, friend, can have one by going here or coming to the party next Friday.

Too, I’ll be doing an interview with Lillian Cauldwell at Internet Voices Radio next Thursday form 7.55-8.25 EST. We’ll be discussing the book, with probably some talk of Star Wars and The Simpsons, with possibly some Bruce Campbell tossed in for good measure.

Godspeed
Nik

Hey Baltimore (and surrounding areas)! Come out and party with us. We’ve got a bunch of fantastic local artists or all persuasions, from rock and roll to rockabilly to David Lynch to whatever it is that Goodloe writes. And STAY GOD, too. Best of all, it’s a night of good time for just $5! So pick up a six of Boh (the venue is BYOB) bring all your friends of discriminating tastes and come hang out.

Scene of the Crime: The Hexagon. 1825 N. Charles (North Ave and Charles St)
Time of the Crime: 8pm

The Perps:

Word- Nik Korpon. Goodloe Byron.
Musical- The Garnet Hearts. Sweatpants.
Film- Chris Wiezorek.
Paint- Kevin Hayden

Gregory Frye did an awesome interview with me at 3:AM Magazine. We talked about Spaced, Baltimore, and getting someone pregnant in the back seat of a car. It was pretty much exactly like the above picture.

Big thanks to Greg!

Axel Taiari’s review of STAY GOD will be posted soon. Keep yo eyes open, keep they heads ringin.

Godspeed
Nik

Like free books? Write for a magazine, lit site or some other type of organization that deals with books, crime and/or pop culture? Want to get a free book and review STAY GOD?

STAY GOD drops in less than a month (scary, I know) and we need people to spread the word. If you’d like to get a review copy, please email me (nkorpon at hotmail dot com) or leave a comment below and I’ll put you on the list. Eternal, sweaty thanks from both myself and Otherworld.

Speaking of Otherworld, they’re running a monstah wicked awesome sale until Wednesday 15 Dec. Use the code CYBERMON at checkout and save $5 on your order. You can order TRANSUBSTANTIATE, STAY GOD, OUT OF TOUCH, STRANGER WILL, or WE ARE OBLIVION, or just pick up the whole lot and have a really cheery holiday. Really, you can’t lose.

Godspeed
Nik

The inimitable (not that you’d want to) Caleb J Ross, author of STRANGER WILL and I DIDN”T MEAN TO BE KEVIN (both coming in 2011) wrote a beautiful review of STAY GOD that just went live at The Nervous Breakdown. Thanks for the kind words.

Less than two months until release!

Godspeed
Nik