Consciousness on Paper: An Interview With Grant Maierhofer

Covers of two Grant Maierhofer books

I’ve been an admirer of Grant Maierhofer’s work for years, but my experience of reading his two latest books back to back may be the apex of my experience with his bibliography thus far. Those two books are Synecdoche, New York — an entry in the Timecodes series to which I’m also a contributor — and the book-length essay Serotonin: Writing and Depression. Both books are, in their own way, moving explorations of creativity and mental health. They are candid, often very moving, and haven’t left my brain since I finished them. Maierhofer and I chatted via email about these two books, his larger project, and what’s next for him.

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Sunday Stories: “Blue”

Mailbox

Blue
by Gideon Leek

“I hate you I hate you I hate you.” That’s what Nora texts me. Today is her birthday. Two days earlier, I’d mailed her a letter. I don’t think she liked the letter. The letter was Plan A. Now it’s time for Plan B, which starts with a flight. Well, two flights.

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Mallory Smart on Exploring the Midwestern Gothic

Mallory Smart

Mallory Smart is an author, editor, publisher, and podcaster. She has had a prolific year with multiple stories published and a chapbook, We All Go A Little Mad Sometimes, from Thirty West Publishing. Her newest horror story collection is Book of David from House of Vlad, out October 7, 2026.  An authentic encapsulation of Midwest gothic, Book of David is certainly a haunting collection just in time for Halloween.  I sent her a list of questions to learn more about David.  

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“Flyboy in the Buttermilk” Will Make You Want to Be a Better Writer

Flyboy In the Buttermilk

There are many reasons to pick up Greg Tate’s recently-reissued Flyboy in the Buttermilk, beginning with the fact that it’s a triumphant, wide-ranging collection of nonfiction and cultural commentary. Add in the presence of introductions by both Questlove and Hanif Abdurraqib, each of whom does an excellent job of pointing out why Tate’s work mattered when at the time it was written and continues to matter, and you have the makings of a classic returning to print.

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