Hank IV

Definitely true. No friendships ever seem to develop.

Another collection of first-rate #shortstories for February. Our thanks to Ruth Gilchrist @kevingrauke.bsky.social @thewritelifeliz.bsky.social Diego Lama @rosefacchini.bsky.social and @jacqdoyle.bsky.social

I won't be at AWP next weekend, but I will be reading at The Big Blue Marble Bookstore in Philly next Saturday at 2:00.

Thank you so much!

Thank you, @fictivedream.bsky.social, for publishing my flash!

"Our best games seemed always to happen between supper and sundown..." Who’s With Us When We’re Drinking Alone in the Dark of Our Summer Backyards by Kevin Grauke @kevingrauke.bsky.social #flashfiction #readingcommunity. Please click on the link and enjoy fictivedream.com/2026/02/20/w...

so cool!

Seriously though: imagine the essay that could come from such an experience. The douchebaggery!

The world really needs someone to attend and then write about it like DFW wrote about cruise ships. Any takers out there?

Wind chill in Philly is double digits below zero.

First First Date, 1985 by Kevin Grauke New driver’s license hot in my Velcro wallet. I drove her to a steakhouse—K-Bob’s—to impress. No fool, when the waiter asked how, I replied, Well done. At the North Star 8, I knew the guy who scooped…

love this perfect flashback remembrance from Kevin Grauke

"New driver’s license hot in my Velcro wallet.
I drove her to a steakhouse—K-Bob’s—to impress.
No fool, when the waiter asked how, I replied, Well done."

https://www.havehashad.com/2sow5

Not just country music, either

Love to hear it. Hank can never get too much love and respect. Mt Rushmore of American music

helluva poet

Thanks so much!

West of Destry Check out West of Destry - <p>If Sherwood Anderson's <i>Winesburg, Ohio</i> and Larry McMurtry's <i>The Last Picture Show</i> had a slightly disturbed child, its name might be <i>West of Destry</i>. S...

West of Destry is now available from the wonderful Bookshop!

Thank you, @susurrusmag.bsky.social, for the nomination!

I initially read this as if you were going to tell me about the long-lost sibling of parataxis and hypotaxis . . .

This is great!

Congratulations! That's amazing news!

Thank you, @cincinnatireview.bsky.social!

WEST OF DESTRY WEST OF DESTRY Kevin Grauke Order Here! If Sherwood Anderson’s  Winesburg, Ohio  and Larry McMurtry’s  The Last Picture Show  had a slightly disturbed child, its name might be  West of...

We surged into November with a collection of linked stories about Yonder, Texas from @kevingrauke.bsky.social. WEST OF DESTRY is something special y'all: www.cowboyjamboreemagazine.com/west-of-dest...

Love Cal (and Oliver)! How many ended up with both in their top five? Just you, maybe?

Oh, man. A great writer. The Maid's Version, which came out about ten years ago, is so good, as are many others.

West of Destry West of Destry [Grauke, Kevin] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. West of Destry

www.amazon.com/West-Destry-...

My book of fiction, West of Destry, leaning against a pair of cowboy boots.

Have you ordered a copy yet? If you haven't, please! The Amazon link is in the comments. If you've read it (and liked it), I'd love a little review at Amazon.

THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM Kay Ryan The room is almost all elephant. Almost none of it isn't. Pretty much solid elephant. So there's no room to talk about it.

The room is
almost all
elephant.
Almost none
of it isn’t.
Pretty much
solid elephant.
So there’s no
room to talk
about it.

-Kay Ryan, “The Elephant in the Room”
#everynightapoem

"Be sincere, be brief, be seated." FDR

ICYMI yesterday, CJ just put out a bangin collection about a small Texas town by @kevingrauke.bsky.social.