September 2021 Newsletter | Julie Vick

Happy Second Day of Fall,

This month I got away for a very lovely long weekend in Santa Fe on a trip that had previously been delayed due to COVID. I haven't done many kid-free trips that weren't conference/work related, so it was very nice and a highly recommend the Ojo Santa Fe Resort if you are looking for such a getaway.

Keep reading for funny stuff, the backstory on a humor book that was seven years in the making, and details on a virtual parenting humor writing class I'm teaching (checks notes) tomorrow!

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Books, Humor, and Other Distractions

• TV: This month I started watching Hulu's Only Murders in the Building about a group of neighbors in a building who try to start a True Crime podcast when someone in their building is murdered. I am kind of a baby about anything violent but so far this is more comedy (although fair warning: there has also been a little bit of blood), but I'm enjoying it so far.
• Short Humor: Kyrie Gray really nails the awkward guest room stay in this piece. This is also what I imagine B&Bs to be like and why I don't stay in B&Bs.
• Short Video: You probably need this video of Paul Rudd dancing to "September" in your life.
• Short Story: K.E. Flann's interview below reminded me of how much I love Lorrie Moore's short story "How to Become a Writer." I first read it as an undergrad creative writing major and love her mix of humor with the reality of writing life.

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Writing-Related Roundup

• I sometimes overthink the best way to leave book reviews, so I appreciated this piece -- "1, 4 or 5 Stars: Why to Review Right Now" by Allison K. Williams on the subject (and her drafting book is available now!)
• Cartooning is a mysterious and fascinating process to me, so I loved this interview by Sarah Garfinkel with cartoonist Ali Solomon in The Rumpus.
• Freelancers are often told to ask for more money but may not know how to go about it. The language in this piece helps.
• File this under: Very relatable article on parenting and writing.

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Q&A with K.E. Flann

This month I talked with K.E. Flann about her book How to Survive a Human Attack: A Guide for Werewolves, Mummies, Cyborgs, Ghosts, Nuclear Mutants and Other Movie Monsters. This satirical guide for monsters would make the perfect gift book for monster-lover in your life, or just get it for yourself as a Halloween gift!

What is your book's origin story?

My husband was watching "The Walking Dead" in the other room, and there was so much screaming. Those zombies were getting slaughtered! Someone should really help them, I thought. I wrote a short advice piece that night, revised it a bit, and then sent it out.

To my surprise, it was published quickly. Pretty soon, I started to suspect there were other monsters that needed help. I wrote and published a few more and a few more. And it would be tempting to say, And bip bop boop, here we are. But it actually took seven years of ups and downs and near misses before the book achieved its final incarnation.

I got started in the "advice" milieu thanks to the story collection, Self-Help, by Lorrie Moore, which revolutionized my thinking about form and tone. I also love pop culture and B-movies. So, I’ve evolved into a horrible hybrid creature! I do hope there are others. We’ll see.

Even though my previous books were technically for adult humans, I don’t think monsters will really be a new audience. A lot of us are probably part monster, even if we don't know it. Self-awareness is a beast. Plus, we are unconscious each night for six to eight hours, and we can’t account for that time. And if we do not fall unconscious during the night, we transform into something quite ornery.

What role does humor play in your life and/or writing?

It’s everything! If I can laugh, I can cope. My dad was one of the funniest people I have ever known, and laughing makes me feel connected to him. He passed away from cancer at the beginning of the pandemic, and his funeral was attended only by those of us in the immediate family, like maybe eight people.

Even in our sorrow, we kept laughing because Dad (half) joked for years that he wanted to have an introvert funeral one day, not one of those showy and exhausting events that memorialize extroverts, with standing-room-only mourners. “Welp,” we kept saying to each other. “He got his wish.” He honestly would have loved it. His ability to see the absurd in just about anything was truly a gift he gave us, as strange as it sounds, one I’ve valued even more in recent times.

What is something you can recommend to readers that makes you laugh?

I don’t know if it works for everyone, but what makes me laugh the most right now is reality TV, like The Bachelor, Naked and Afraid, etc. In fact, I had mixed feelings when a favorite comedian, David Spade, was announced as the guest host of Bachelor in Paradise because it almost seemed the same as buying bagged, pre-cut salad with a little dressing packet.

I wasn’t sure I wanted the show to be pre-snarked, if you see what I mean. I enjoy making my own snark. However, I have to admit that he made some jokes that had me laughing out loud. And then, when I really thought about it, I love bagged, pre-cut salad.

Learn more about K.E. Flann on her website and follow her on Twitter.

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News From Me

• I'm teaching a virtual parenting humor writing workshop with St. Nells and there are still some spots open -- check out details and registration here.
• I have a quick tip about sending out emails you feel anxious about sending up at Forge.
• I had two podcast guest episodes drop this month! Is this what it feels like to be a Kardashian? First, I talked to the Dadhouse podcast about introverted vs extroverted parenting and we talked great tips for both -- we can all get along!
• Next up was a conversation with fellow introverted parent Chris Boutté for The Rewired Soul. We covered a lot of ground on managing parenting as an introvert, discussed great books for the introvert/overthinker, and also talked about the best diaper-related baby shower gifts.
• This month I also had a piece go up on Pregnant Chicken about managing new parenthood as an introvert.
• Finally, save the date for a virtual event with me at Old Firehouse books on the evening of November 3rd. More details to come.

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