It takes me a year or two to write a novel, which means I spend that much time getting to know each of the characters in my novels. And then I forget about them. I go on to my next novel and a new set of characters, and tend to forget the earlier ones. Literally. … Read more
We have scheduled two Mud Flat Press Lit Chats featuring Mud Flat Verse. Our Lit Chats are events on Zoom of one to two hours in length in which writers talk about their work with readers and fellow writers. We are having Mud Flat Verse Lit Chats on two days so that more poets and readers will be able to … Read more
I just finished the third complete rewrite of my latest novel, The Descendants of the Pirate Pegleg Josiah Johnson. Before we can publish it, Gabi Clayton has to edit it and design the cover, and before that, we have to publish two new books we’re working on: Mud Flate Verse, a collection of poems by … Read more
“Painting can be an evil mistress. She can love you tender and she can love you raunchy, and she can rip your guts apart.” — Until the Dawn (fiction by Alec Clayton, 2000) “Art has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember.” — As If Art Matters – Modern … Read more
Our first Lit Chat on October 1, 2023 was a reading from and discussion with Alec Clayton about his novel, Locked In, the story of newspaperman Willie Ray Rivers’ fight for justice in the little town of Hub City, Mississippi. Completely paralyzed and unable to talk after a stroke, Willie Ray’s story is told through … Read more
MFP’s Lit Chat series kicks off with a discussion of Alec Clayton’s latest novel, Locked In, the story of newspaperman Willie Ray Rivers’ fight for justice in the little town of Hub City, Mississippi. Completely paralyzed and unable to talk after a stroke, Willie Ray’s story is told through his thoughts and memories. The reader … Read more
Gabi (my wife and co-founder of Mud Flat Press) came up with one of those brilliant why-didn’t-we-think-of-it-before ideas. We should have periodic Mud Flat Press Zoom events with writers and readers. We haven’t made any specific plans yet, but not much planning should be needed. We’ll invite writers who have published books with Mud Flat … Read more
by Alec Clayton It happened like this. I was looking for something on our Mud Flat Press website and noticed the page for the short stories we’ve published on the site. I thought, if we have a page for short stories, why not a page for poems? We certainly know enough poets—really good ones like … Read more
Gabi and I are thrilled to announce that Monday or shortly thereafter our publication from the 1980s, Mississippi Art & Letters, will officially enter into literary history. All copies of the magazine (10 issues from 1984 to 1985), along with correspondence from writers Jack Butler, Jes Simmons, Barry Hannah, Pat Gray, Howard Bahr, Ellen Gilchrist, … Read more
