Andrea Beltran, the Social Media Guru at Flashquake, asked me some questions for Flashquake's Five Question Friday feature. Andrea's questions, which cover both my story Giving Head to Kyle Leung as well as my writing process, are now posted on Flashquake's website (along with links so you can read or listen to the story, too).

If you find yourself in Toronto on Sunday, April 22, I invite you to come to the Victory Café at 581 Markham Street around 5:30 p.m. for the launch party of Pilot Pocket Book 9. There will be an art show. There will be readings. And judging from the contents of the book I just got in the mail, I think you can be guaranteed of seeing and hearing some really cool and thought-provoking stuff.

My story, Waiting for the Defibrillator to Charge, is included in the issue, and I feel it only fair to warn you this story is not about doctors in an emergency room -- it's about a teenage homecoming in a strip club. I guess I should also include an adult content warning for the piece because apart from the F-bombs and other profanities I drop, Pilot Pocket Book 9 is an illustrated literary journal, so there are naked pictures in there. Tyler Bright Hilton did the artwork for Waiting for the Defibrillator to Charge, and I think he catches the exact juxtaposition of foam dart guns and nudity I was going for. Besides going to the launch party and picking up a copy of the journal, I highly recommend checking out Tyler's work on his website. He's got some really cool and thought-provoking stuff there.

I teach a Story Structure course at Capilano University, and I've got to admit, I'm rather fond of assigning homework. I believe one of the best ways for people to learn is by doing, so I ask my students to write between classes. However, I also believe in being fair, so every time I ask my students to complete an assignment, I do it, too (which I find is a great writing motivator for me). One of the assignments I like most involves crafting a complete story in 200 words or less -- something that has a beginning, a middle, and an end, has conflict, some complications, and a moment of choice for the main character (after which their life has irrevocably changed). Jamming all that into 200 words isn't necessarily easy, and so when a writer pulls it off, I make sure the rest of us are very generous with our applause.

Giving Head to Kyle Leung, my (exactly) 200-word story appearing in the current issue of Flashquake was born from this exercise. It's the shortest complete story I've ever written, and I'm rather proud of it. The story is set at a party where the narrator is serving drinks, and opens when Kyle Leung, the hottest frosh at school, comes up to the bar. If you'd like to find out what happens, check out the current issue of Flashquake. There, you can either read the piece, or if you'd like, have me read it to you (Cindy Bell, the Publisher and Chief Editor of Flashquake, has included audio files of many of the contributors reading their own pieces).