I wanted to throw a post up today that’d be a bit different from the norm. Also, had a horrid weekend that’s transitioned into today, so I need to make this a bit short as I’m really occupied with tons of yucky stuff. I thought since I’ve had a seriously varied writing career encompassing five whole decades, it might be fun to post a few random photos (zany, crazy, wacky?) with no real agenda in mind. Just whatever I find, and perhaps a brief blurb on a couple to explain what/why, etc., if it seems necessary. (And not necessarily in any order, such as chronological…) K? Cheers! — Scott

Photo of Scott C. Holstad inside the covers of his 1993 book Junction City

Photo taken outside of south Phoenix where I was living, probably circa 1991. The only time this photo was ever published was when it appeared inside my 1993 book Junction City.

I spent many, many years doing hundreds of book signing, poetry readings, and many far more bizarre gigs and usually it was fun, while sometimes a buzzkill. This was fun, though I have to admit I never quite saw the angle to this reading quite as hilariously as did the event promoters. Some of the crazier ones I agreed to (often with regrets later) were being part of a runway fashion show, reading some of my poems live over pounding music and flashing lights while skinny, angry looking models paraded their things. Another was the opening act for a fairly well-known British band in a major club in a major city and I can tell you, the crowd sure as hell didn’t come to hear some damn poems! Regrets.

Well, if it isn’t obvious, international editors, publishers, readers, etc., took to me and my writing probably faster and fiercer than many of my American “home” country mags. Tended to stay that way too. I “met” a lot of cool people around the world this way and, BTW, most of the international magazines and journals actually freaking PAID money as opposed to all of these US commercial and university journals that promised a damned contributor copy (over a fourth of the time I never received a single thing). I have boxes and boxes of hundreds of contributor copies that are nice but never paid rent.

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Don’t have time for stories, explanations, etc. If you have questions or comments, leave them here OR use a contact form on this website and reach me privately. I hope some of these were entertaining. There are some awesome stories behind most. — Scott C. Holstad