Read Meet Author: Eric Bennett

When I start to see a writer's name appear in multiple locations, at many of my favorite literary sites, I begin to get curious about that writer. This weeks interview is with Eric Bennett, a writer currently living in New York with his wife an kids. His stories aren't those you might expect from someone living with his wife and kids and that might be why I find him so fascinating. Bennett writes dark and almost disturbing tales that captivate and repulse all at once.

Orange Alert (OA): Your fiction covers some wild subjects how would you classify your work?
Eric Bennett (EB): I’m not sure how to answer that question other than to say I enjoy writing dark stories about deeply flawed characters. Mostly I write about the things people do to keep loneliness or anguish from eating them alive. My wife says my stories are disturbing, which I must admit, is the classification that pleases me most.

OA: You've appeared on many literary sites, did you have a plan or list of sites you want to submit to when you started out?
EB: When I first began submitting stories, I was more interested in getting published than writing well. So, I sent each story I finished to absolutely every journal listed on New Pages. These days I try to avoid rejection notices by submitting to journals that resonate with my taste for the peculiarly twisted, markets like PANK Magazine, LITnIMAGE, Kneejerk Magazine, and Dogzplot. My wet dream is for my work to one day appear in Thieves Jargon but I haven’t found the right mix of algebra and fire to make that happen yet.

OA: What do you look for in a literary journal?
EB: Good writing and cool graphics. Seriously, if I don’t like the look and feel of a journal, I don’t submit my work there.

OA: Do you feel that being published on-line carries as much weight as being published in a print journal or anthology? Do you ever fear that a site will shut down and your work will be lost?
EB: Who cares? As long as someone reads my stories, I’m a happy man. That probably sounds Pollyanna, but for me, it’s that simple.

OA: What brought you to New York and do you feel there are more opportunities for writers in New York?
EB: I came to New York to work with college students in the heart of Manhattan. And since the University is kind enough to continue depositing money into my bank account every month, I remain. As for opportunities for writers in New York, I’m certain they’re more numerous than in, say, Topeka, but my literary stomping grounds are on the world wide web which is just as easy to get to from Boise as it is from the Big Apple.

OA: What's next for Eric Bennett?
EB: Café Flore and my Ulysses – until then, I’ll continue writing stories for publication on the internet. I’d like to get my collection of short stories entitled Fierce Wounded Things published but first I have to find an editor willing to read them.

Bonus Questions:

OA: If you could sit down to coffee with anyone (alive or dead) who would it be?
EB: Grigori Efimovich Rasputin (and a translator).

OA: What type of music do you listen to and who are a few of your favorites?
EB: I prefer simple music with well crafted lyrics. Some of my favorite songsters are Chris Garneau, Chris Bathgate, Bon Iver, Greg Laswell, Horse Feathers, Pale Young Gentlemen, and Fredo Viola. And even though I’m a grown man with four children, I secretly love Regina Spektor. There, I finally said it.

You can read a sample of Eric's work at Pank, LITnIMAGE, or Apt.

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