"Ice Cream Headache" author Jeffrey Miller has something to say about Grand Slams: A Coming of Eggs Story

Customer Review

Absolutely Brilliant!, February 7, 2017 By  Jeffrey Miller Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Grand Slams: a coming of eggs story (Kindle Edition) Early in Grand Slams: A Coming of Eggs Story, one of the main characters, Maura, says to Woody, a new employee, “You should be grateful that Grand Slams gives you another chance in life. It saved my life.” At that very moment in this brilliant novel by Timothy Gager, he has in two sentences established the critical mass for the story. From that moment in the story, Gager introduces a colorful assortment of characters who have ended up in Grand Slams, for whatever reason, and then delves deep into their lives and personal relationships—of all who are connected to the restaurant. In many ways, the restaurant itself becomes a microcosm of life through the individual stories of these employees. Gager is brilliant the way that weaves the stories of the employees throughout the story and how each one is inextricably linked to other characters in the novel. From Maura, the veteran food server who has been with Grand Slams from the very beginning to Woody Geyser who is only working part-time during the summer, the interactions between these characters as they unfold are what makes this novel a treat to read. While reading this novel, I was reminded of that classic American cyclical novel, Winesburg, Ohio and the way that Sherwood Anderson linked the characters and their individual stories with each other. The same can be true about Grand Slams with each chapter having its own title as if each one could be a stand alone story. This is by far, Gager’s best work. He’s a writer of extraordinary talent and one we should all read. Jeffrey Miller, Ice Cream Headache

Sitting and talking with Robin Stratton where we talk about Grand Slams, 1980's Massachusetts Clubs, Dire Series and Walking Erect

The other day I sat down with Robin Stratton, who is the CEO of Big Table Publishing, the head of The Newton Writing and Publishing Center and the publisher who accepted "The Thursday Appointments of Bill Sloan" and "Grand Slams: A Coming of Eggs Story". She also edits The Boston Literary Magazine.








 

The interview appears in Boston Literary Magazine, Writers in the Spotlight 
HERE but also can be read right here, below, in this blog




Welcome, Tim!
Hey Robin. Nice to see you.

Congratulations on your new novel, Grand Slams, which of course we at Big Table had the pleasure of publishing. For those who haven’t read it, can you tell us a little bit about it?
Well if you’ve ever worked at a restaurant, you’d understand these characters and if you haven’t you’ll find them amusing and endearing. The main focus though is on the two younger characters, each a year out of high school. One, the independent Sugar, works full time at Grand Slams while the other is working there during the summer on his college break.

I worked at Friendly’s for a while when I was in college. I stunk at waitressing. Do you want to talk about your experience of working at a restaurant between semesters?
I can talk about mine…(laugh). Back then it seemed like the summers lasted much longer, so for three long months it seemed like a brand new life, you had to fit it and become part of restaurant culture. During winter breaks it was more like seeing your friends and working a few shifts.

Yeah, what was up with summers back then? You felt like you had a huge chunk of time ahead of you! I could relate to so much of this book, and especially for someone my age, it’s a fun read. And since it takes place in the Boston, I knew a lot of the places you talked about... that dive in Billerica! I remember going there to see a band called Private Lightning. There was another band around that time... Rage, was their name. Did you ever hear of them?
Yeah, The Web Brook was one of the first places I would go when I moved to Boston. I was a fan of that dive. I think Private Lightning was playing when Woody and Bobby went there during the novel too. Some Pat Benatar covers, sure and some sugary originals—while you popped some back. I think you can find their stuff on youtube.


You were in a band at one time, right?
Which one?

Can you name any?
The Zippers, The Maytags, The Wake, Walking Erect, Country Roberto and the Durans—any of these ring a bell?

Walking Erect, Jim Gass, Tim Gager, Robert Mitchell, Glenn Reid and a different drummer every time

Ummm... no
So maybe I wasn’t, ha!—But that’s pages and pages of stories and tales, successes and failures. Funny, some people I knew in Delaware still see me as a music guy and know nothing of my writing. That experience helped so much with knowing promotion—it’s all the same-you need to make a big noise.

When did you move to Massachusetts?
In 1985, after I stopped playing music where the bands centered in Delaware, two years after graduation from the University of Delaware. I worked the summers at Denny’s, oh shit, now I’ve identified them, of well. I worked summers after my Sophomore and Junior years there.

We never would have guessed it was at Denny’s! ;-) One of your main characters, Kayak Kenny, had to be based on someone you knew, right?
Yes. I don’t remember what his real name was, but all he did was talk about the waitresses and kayaks. It was all kind of innocent and sweet, actually.

This novel takes place in the 1980s, whereas your other novel, The Thursday Appointments of Bill Sloan, takes place in the present. Did writing about the past impact your process at all? For instance, I find that when I am working on a novel that takes before there were cell phones I keep forgetting and I have characters call each other – then remember that we couldn’t do that back then.
I loved the process. Of course, I’m a bit sentimental but hell, I still miss the Tasty in Harvard Square and the Orson Wells Theater, Jack’s, TT the Bears. I loved remembering the types of cars my friends and I drove. The challenge was to try to keep the book within the correct year, for example, I researched The Red Sox roster and game by game log so that the game Keating and Sugar go to is an actual game around the exact date the novel took place. Also the music had being played in cars or the bands in the clubs had to exist during those years. I may have cheated with Scruffy the Cat but I wanted them to be the band at Jack’s.

I love hearing about the research you did for the Red Sox game. I’m not sure I think that most writers would take the time to do that.
They should. A reader with knowledge of your subjects will notice, then your book loses validity for that reader. Negative word of mouth possibilities do a writer no good, so don’t be lazy.

Good advice from someone who is well known around the local scene... actually for a while you were mostly known as a poet, but one day I think I overheard you say that you’re not planning to write any more poetry. Did you say that, or did I make it up, or what?
Ha. I say a lot of things, like I’ll never go to Mike’s in Davis Square again. I am planning on just writing longer work, but you never know when a poem hits—then I’ll have to write it.

You are also a great supporter of the local literary scene. Can you talk a little bit about your venue, the Out of the Blue Gallery?
Well it struggles, first of all. It has a high rent. I started Dire Literary Series in 2001 at a small gallery on Brookline Ave, which became the small gallery on Prospect Street, which became the large gallery on Massachusetts Ave. Tom Tipton has been there owning and overseeing it the entire time. He’d make, and the place would make great material for a novel. Funky, welcoming to all, sometimes to a fault. People that struggle, that are desperate, which you can find at a setting like that can be unpredictabl—and have been historically so. Tom glues all the readings, the music and the mental components all together to make it work. If only people would buy more art.

What about other venues in the area—what’s the scene like for an author trying to promote a novel?
There are readings nearly every night. There are great independent bookstores---the Dire Series still is perhaps the only independent fiction/poetry series in the area. Others have popped but, but it’s hard to start something and to keep it going because at times, interest wanes or venues die, or hosts get sick of it all. Independent small press writers have a tough time, honestly, as bookstores want and need big names, big sales to make the evening worthwhile. It’s business. It makes sense. At Dire, we can be more fun—that’s how I’ve always looked at it.

Yeah, you have to. If you go into it thinking you’re going to get rich, you’re in for a big disappointment.
I know it’s not about that but it’s about people and connecting.

So what’s next for you?
I’m tossing ideas around in my head for a few novels and I have manuscripts or flash fiction and poetry which are already done. Let’s see what happens.

Where can we buy copies of your books?
Go to your favorite store and look, ask them to order it for you, and of course all of the usual on-line suspects. Better yet, e-mail me and I’ll set you up—mail you one or we’ll meet under a bridge and make a suspicious deal. That is if you want to be shady. Books: the new crack (laughing).

Ha! Maybe if we made reading illegal, more people would do it! Hey, Tim, thanks SO much for stopping by. I’ll be seeing you around!

Always willing to talk, Robin. Thanks so much.

Honored that two poems of mine published in Tao Journal of International Poetry and Art-one reflects upon Alton Sterling

Today's Quiz

Question:

What is the Tao Journal of International Poetry and Art?














a) A town in New Mexico




b) (in Chinese philosophy) the absolute principle underlying the universe, combining within itself the principles of yin and yang and signifying the way, or code of behavior, that is in harmony with the natural order.

c) An international and beautiful journal with writers within this current issue hailing from  California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wyoming; internationally from Albania, British Columbia (Canada), Crete (Greece), Mexico, and Minna, Niger State, Nigeria.
======================================================================
Answer:

If you answered c, then you would see a great line-up of poets, writers and artists. Excited that two of my poems "Loose Flowers" and "Throw Certainty Out in the Air like a Lasso" made the cut.

a is wrong, but the editors come from that town.

b is cool, but wrong.
======================================================================

Now the story behind the poems


"Loose Flowers" is a poem reflecting on the fading luster of something new...the breath turns sour, the walk becomes longer.

"Throw Certainty Out in the Air like a Lasso" reflections on Alton Sterling.

is a reflection by a Caucasian poet on the atrocity of the shooting of a Black man, Alton Sterling  by the hands of the Baton Rouge Police Dept. The graphic video below is for your own horror closet..



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For the rest, I commend the participants chosen by Cathy Strisik, Veronica Golos, and William Barnes, lifted from their introduction for this issue:

This outstanding issue includes poets Anya Achtenberg, Rachel Blum, John Brandi, Lynne Burnett, Stephen Dunn, Saddiq Dzukogi, Jennifer Foerster, CMarie Fuhrman, Khédija Gadhoum, Timothy Gager, Ani Gjika, Julia Gjika, Aaron Graham, Renée Gregorio, Phyllis Hotch, Rosa Jamali, Sarah Kafatou, Ariana Kramer, Mike Lewis-Beck, Juan Morales, Robert Okaji, Natalia Treviño, Ian Randall Wilson, and Erika Wurth.

In our Book Review & Essay section, you’ll find two essays written by William Barnes and Leslie Ullman.

In our Art section, Sasha Raphael vom Dorp honors Taos Journal of International Poetry & Art with his creative, Sound Bending Light series, photographs of sound encountering light as seen through the medium of water.

Each editor has recently published a book with 3: A Taos Press. According to the press, The Mistress, by Catherine Strisik , Rootwork, by Veronica Golos, and The Ledgerbook, by William Barnes (who recently joined TJOP as Essay & Book Review Editor), “illuminate history, both universal and private, reaching for the highest level of art, both in the poetry and book design. 3: A Taos Press remains true to the beauty of the word and the beauty of the work.” Issue Nine highlights these books and Library of Small Happiness by Leslie Ullman. (www.3taospress.com)

Book Launch Party: Somerville Ma, 1/26/17 Rusty Barnes and I

Also of note, even though we are serving treats/drinks…Highland Kitchen is across the street and will be open 5-7 PM

ČERVENÁ BARVA PRESS STUDIO
THE CENTER FOR THE ARTS AT THE ARMORY

Arts for the Armory
Basement, Room B8
191 Highland Avenue
Somerville, MA

Cervena Barva Press Reading Series
Reading and Book Launch
January 26, 2017 at 7:00PM

On Broad Sound by Rusty Barnes (Nixes Mate Books, 2016)
 
Grand Slams: A Coming of Eggs Story by Timothy Gager (Big Table Publishing, 2016)

Featuring: Rusty Barnes | Timothy Gager

Rusty Barnes grew up in rural northern Appalachia. He received his B.A. from Mansfield University of Pennsylvania and his M.F.A. from Emerson College. His poetry, fiction and nonfiction have appeared in over two hundred journals and anthologies. His flash fiction appears in Best Small Fictions 2015, edited by Tara Masih and Robert Olen Butler. Ridgerunner is his last novel. On Broad Sound, his book of poetry, is published by Nixes Mate Press.

Timothy Gager is the author of twelve books of short fiction and poetry. His latest Grand Slams (Big Table Publishing) is his second novel. He's hosted the successful Dire Literary Series in Cambridge, Massachusetts since 2001 and was the co-founder of Somerville News Writers Festival. He has had over 400 works of fiction and poetry published and of which eleven have been nominated for the Pushcart Prize. His work has been read on National Public Radio. Timothy is the Fiction Editor of The Wilderness House Literary Review, the founding co-editor of The Heat City Literary Review and has edited the book, Out of the Blue Writers Unite: A Book of Poetry and Prose from the Out of the Blue Art Gallery. A graduate of the University of Delaware, Timothy lives in Dedham, Massachusetts.

Admission is FREE. Refreshments served.

Here's a literal launch party

The making of a novel trailer. A little success, a little failure and a little humor

          I heard book trailers are important. Here's what I came up with for my novel, Grand Slams: a coming of eggs story.

          Total cost $0. Total budget $0 Time 2:42 or less than the time it'll take to read this blog post.

          The original idea was to go to my old stomping grounds Denny's in Lexington. Instead it was a Margueritas now. So where to find a Denny's...

Denny's Leominster, Ma

          How about Leominster, Ma.?  Perfect. It was even attached to a Motel 6, the same way Grand Slams was attached to a Super 8. Not a huge find, most of them are like that. So I have some ideas about questions to ask, using some of the over the top activities I wrote about. I went into the Motel 6 to ask the desk person if they ever traded meals for rooms--a barter used by Joe Keating to score overnight parties with waitress. Besides not getting an answer, she ran away. Motel 6 charges for wifi anyway.

Gosh, golly and jeepers.



          Then I went next door and ran into the typical Denny's tool bag--their manager, a Keating, Tribuno and Dye-haired Bob in training. This guy represents the people who work jobs they hate and take them way to seriously. There is no sense of humor, which, in a way holds the company line. Even their twitter account has a sense of humor. All I got out of him on film, was him stating his discomfort. I had a whole slew of questions too. He got really paranoid when I asked to film out back in the dishroom, which was denied and then especially paranoid when I asked if he would do it.

          I decide a coffee at the counter. I filmed some wide shots, but then the very important manager told me he would ask me to leave if I kept taking pictures because "customers were complaining". Actually, there were no customers in sight, so basically, it was him exerting the little power he had, because he cold. I told him I wouldn't film anymore. I was done anyway

          Back to coffee, checking my e-mail and doing phone things. Then boy manager stands about ten feet from me and asks what I'm doing. I say, "what I'm doing, at this point, is being harassed, while I'm trying to drink my coffee" Ah, apparently making friends is tough in the film industry, if you doubt that, ask a right winger about Michael Moore.

          So, failing on my goals, I on to Lexington and Margueritas. Look at that make over---looks like a Denny's with clay roof tiles. At Margueritas,  I planned to film various sections of the restaurant formerly known as Denny's and talk about what happened in each within Grand Slams. I was able to riffle off a few questions to the hostesses (SUCCESS) who had a large repertoire of answers, most of them, the word know, "no". To give them credit, they had no idea what I was doing. I asked for the manager, to get a tour of the dishroom and was rejected rather coolly by her. What a surprise. When I asked if she could do the filming and have control of all the content, there suddenly were two muscle tools in the hostess area. Strong looking dudes, unlike my protagonist, Woody Geyser I, like Woody Geyser have seen my share of hair trigger bouncers, so I took the visual prompt and decided to leave. I was going to buy chips too. Damn.

          Anyway, I saved the footage I had and made this grand slamming trailer. It has no mention of any book characters,situations, or conflicts, which would have been an actual hook. It does have some cheesy music and story plaques to follow along with the film--a bit of humor and please excuse the poor sound quality.

          Oh, by the way. Below  is a real trailer to compare with mine. Not much difference, right?It's cinematic, in case you missed that part in the tittle.

           Happy Grand Slamming.

5 Star reviews of "Grand Slams: A Coming of Eggs Story" trickling in

Read the crits a few 5 star bits-click here- how to buy it.  Here's a rating system I located for references purposes only...

Top Customer Reviews

Absolutely Brilliant!

ByJeffrey Milleron February 7, 2017

 

 

Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase

Early in Grand Slams: A Coming of Eggs Story, one of the main characters, Maura, says to Woody, a new employee, “You should be grateful that Grand Slams gives you another chance in life. It saved my life.” At that very moment in this brilliant novel by Timothy Gager, he has in two sentences established the critical mass for the story. From that moment in the story, Gager introduces a colorful assortment of characters who have ended up in Grand Slams, for whatever reason, and then delves deep into their lives and personal relationships—of all who are connected to the restaurant.

In many ways, the restaurant itself becomes a microcosm of life through the individual stories of these employees. Gager is brilliant the way that weaves the stories of the employees throughout the story and how each one is inextricably linked to other characters in the novel. From Maura, the veteran food server who has been with Grand Slams from the very beginning to Woody Geyser who is only working part-time during the summer, the interactions between these characters as they unfold are what makes this novel a treat to read. While reading this novel, I was reminded of that classic American cyclical novel, Winesburg, Ohio and the way that Sherwood Anderson linked the characters and their individual stories with each other. The same can be true about Grand Slams with each chapter having its own title as if each one could be a stand alone story.

This is by far, Gager’s best work. He’s a writer of extraordinary talent and one we should all read.

Jeffrey Miller,
Ice Cream Headache

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

funny, tense, and even tender

ByD. S. Atkinsonon December 8, 2016

Format: Paperback|Verified Purchase

I do have a soft spot for pancake house centered fiction, but I also have high standards. Gager puts together a beautiful one in this book though. It seems so realistic of that kind of place at the time that it's funny, tense, and even tender. I cared about these people and what would happen to them as if they were really people I knew well. Very well done.

 

Great story

ByW. Mahoneyon January 6, 2017

Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase

Having worked in a restaurant very similar to Grand Slams, I love how Mr. Gager captures the lives of those poor, struggling souls, floundering along in a nothing job yet trying to find some meaning. Mr. Gager gives us characters we come to care about, and he brings them to life with sparkling dialogue that is at once witty, engaging, and even poignant. You will laugh, enjoy, and become absorbed in this story about every day people and the stories that bond them. Well done.

 

Kayak Kenny!

ByRusty Barneson January 2, 2017

Format: Paperback|Verified Purchase

Anyone who's worked in a restaurant will recognize characters like Kayak Kenny, as well as Gager's description of the hot stink of the dishwashing station, among other things. This is a great book by Tim Gager, whose novels keep getting better.

 

 

As I said last night at Dire, writers love the praise, but they really love book sales, so thank you in advance!

Top Ten most viewed blogs posts of 2016

My annual joke, which is might as exciting as the below Top Ten. Who's talking about these?

Here's the list and the reasons for their rank-in actual order.

• 
• 1.Grand Slams reviewed by Mignon Ariel King in Boston Small Press and Poetry Scene

    Boston Small Press and Poetry Scene has been reviewing books since 2004. The site was
• Reason: Lots of hits because it's the ONLY review of Grand Slams 
• 

  2. Great early blurbs for Grand Slams and hey, wait, an Amazon review for "this old thing?" Thursday Appts. of Bill Sloan

  Chains like Grand Slams usually get burned by customer reviews: Disgusting By Someone - 11/01/2015 ...
• Reason: Blurbs are like reviews, right?
• 

  3. Poem, "When I Think Of My Childhood" published in Ibbetson 39

   This is what the poem is about, me at about the age of 16, 140 pounds. When I posted it on Facebook, some of the comments were,"...
• Reason: People wanted to gain insight. My parents and family clicked this 400 times each.
• 

  4. The road started, accelerated at age 17----Newark, Rt. 896

  It was the way it was. My latest published piece is the first story in a long while. Let's call it a pre-recovery story. The Universi...
• Reason: I've spoken about my Freshman year at U of D many times. This was more the horror show.
• 

  5. My poem, "The Filth and The Fury", published today on Oddball

  This poem features a dead relationship and accountability. Sometimes we have one, zero or both of these. "The Filth and The F...
• Reason: People were googling The Sex Pistols
• 

  6. Coming in November, Grand Slams, the novel

  Coming Soon: Grand Slams, my latest novel. Most people think of the diner chain, Grand Slams as a place to get lots of ...
• Reason: People wanted a Denny's Grand Slam meal. See statement of coincidence on inside novel notes
• 

  7. Another early and fabulous Grand Slam blurb (from Daniel Nester)

  Albany's Metroland featured Daniel's book, How to Be Inappropriate This week I had some great early blurbs from Nadine Darling ...
• Reason: The word FARTED on the thumbnail. 
• 

  8. Everybody (or book) deserves a second chance.

  Even in movies Then there's Second Chance Books, a website for books that deserve a second go-round because they 

  • Reason: Everyone does deserve a second chance...especially when they screwed up
  • 

    9. Drought, Writer's Block or Something Else?

    February 11 2016 October 17, 2014 Perhaps the longest drought between writing poems since I began writing poems in 2001. Well I stopped...
  • Reason: People with Writer's Block love to read about Writer's Block instead of writing
  • 

    10. Wilderness House Literary Review--I'm Baaack

    Steve Glines, Editor in Chief, WHLR I'm back reading fiction for Wilderness House Liteary Review, run by Steve Glines .  The cha...
  • Reason: Wilderness House keeps going and going and going....I keep going and coming back. Billy Martin effect

2016 in review. The Writhing and the Writing

Reading the recaps of this year from friends, writers and the media,  I can't help but to notice a few themes. 2016 was a bad year for many, as there is massive fear for the future or there is massive relief, depending on how you look at the upcoming reversal of progress. There is hatred for the other side of the fence, whatever the fence may be, whether it's the maintaining the law, having a sexual preference, plus those who have and those who have not. No one is safe from hate.  Perhaps we will make America great again, but what I anticipate is a return to the rules and the power structure of the past--the privileged winning: wealth over poverty, white over race, male over female etc. The bad year we had becomes worse as the expectation of something which is coming gets closer.

In the past year, we lost friends, loved ones and celebrities we never knew but somehow we related to. We lost huge numbers of others we never knew, from violence, accidents, guns and even more to disease, The most deadly disease is that of alcoholism and addiction. Look it up. That was number one---but we, as a society, still criminalize rather than treat; punish rather than help. There was some hope early in the year regarding the bureaucratic and government handling  of this, but lately the rhetoric reflects the weakness of, and individual flaws of behavior rather than empathetic treatment,  

Still, believe it or not, I am grateful. I have a roof over my head. I am a father of two wonderful children. I have friends, family, a very supportive girlfriend and two separate communities I gather strength from; the communities of writing and recovery. I had a birthday in 2016, which I wish I didn't have, but health wise  I'm better off than I was a year ago. I'm eating better, while treating the planet in a non-selfish way. 

I also published (see below) a novel, four short stories, eight poems and one essay about becoming a vegan, (using the 12 Steps). The Dire Literary Series reached had it's 15th birthday and I rejoined The Wilderness House Literary Review as their Fiction Editor. This is what it's all about and this gratitude I just mentioned, is a daily reflection. It's so needed as I anticipate great worry about the future.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MY YEAR IN PUBLISHING

BOOKS

NOVEL

Grand Slams: a coming of eggs story,, November 2016, Big Table Publishing

SHORT, FLASH, AND MICRO FICTION

"When She Missed the Ice" December 21, 2016 Oddball Magazine 

"They" November 19, 2016 Flash Frontier

"Who's the Boss? July 4, 2016 63 Channels Magazine

"The Road Starts: 896, Newark, Delaware" April 30, 2016 Fried Chicken and Coffee

POETRY

"There's a Fly in my Soup"
December 12, 2016, Ibbetson 40

"Scientific Purposes"
November 1, 2016, The Best of Boston Literay Magazine Vol. 2 

"Eulogy for 'Dying Suddenly'"
"Tales Which Moved Me"
"Upon Leaving"
"When We Talk About Love"
September 1, 2016 Contemporary American Voices (September Feature)

"When I Think Of My Childhood"
June 1, 2016, Ibbetson 39 

"The Filth and The Fury"
June 1, 2016, Oddball Magazine 

NON-FICTION/ESSAYS

September 8, 2016, The Fix
"How 12 Steps Worked to Produce a Vegan"

NEWSPAPER/MAGAZINE ARTICLES and EDITING WORK

2016-present, Wilderness House Literary Review
Fiction Editor 

INTERVIEWS,  AUDIO/VIDEO
 

December 12, 2016
 "Interview with author, Jessica Collins"