June 10th Readings; Dave Housley, David Hicks, and Tom McAllister

Dave Housley is the author of the story collections Massive Cleansing Fire (Outpost 19), If I Knew the Way, I Would Take You Home (Dzanc Books), Commercial Fiction (Outpost 19), and Ryan Seacrest is Famous (Impetus Press). His work has appeared in Hobart, Mid-American Review, Quarterly West, Wigleaf, and other online and print magazines. He is a founding editor of Barrelhouse magazine and a co-founder of the annual Conversations and Connections writing conference.

David Hicks grew up in New York, moved to Colorado in his thirties, and is now a professor at Regis University in Denver, where he co-directs the Mile-High MFA in Creative Writing. He has published stories in such fine journals as Glimmer Train, Colorado Review, and Saranac Review. White Plains, his first novel, has been called “a gorgeous and unforgettable debut” by Kathy Fish, “an extraordinary novel” by David Lazar, and “a captivating debut” by Leni Zumas. David, who also plays saxophone for a rock band called the Plagiarists, lives with his wife Cynthia in Colorado, and his two grown children live nearby.

Tom McAllister's debut novel, The Young Widower's Handbook, was included on Barnes & Noble's Discover Great New Writers list for Spring 2017. He is also the author of a memoir, Bury Me in My Jersey, and his shorter work has been published widely, including in Best American Nonrequired Reading. He is the nonfiction editor at Barrelhouse and co-host of the Book Fight podcast. He lives in New Jersey and teaches at Temple University.

June 15th Readings: Curtis Smith, Dave K, Megan McShea, and Dave Housley

Curtis Smith’s stories and essays have appeared in over seventy literary journals. His work has been named to The Best American Short Stories Distinguished Stories List, The Best American Mystery Stories Distinguished Stories List, and the Notable Writing list of The Best American Spiritual Writing. He lives in Pennsylvania with his wife and son. His most current book of essays, Communion, was published by Dock Street Press (March 2015).

Dave K.'s work has been published in Front Porch Journal, Cobalt, LOOP, Welter, Artichoke Haircut, and on the Station North LED billboard. He is the author of stone a pig and MY NAME IS HATE, both self-published, and was Baltimore's second best local author in 2014, according to Citypaper. When he's not writing, Dave K. is a device often used as part of a wood-turning lathe.

Megan McShea writes poems and experimental prose which has been published in the books How to have a day (Ink Press Productions, 2015), A Mountain City of Toad Splendor (Publishing Genius Press, 2013), Ancient Party: Collaborations in Baltimore 2000-2010 (editor and contributor, Thingy Press, 2014), and numerous online and print journals. She lives in Baltimore, Maryland and works as an archivist. You can follow her archival, political, and poetical leanings at https://twitter.com/meganmcshea.

Dave Housley's third collection of short fiction, If I Knew the Way, I Would Take You Home, was published by Dzanc Books in January 2015. He is the author of Commercial Fiction (Outpost 19), and Ryan Seacrest is Famous (Impetus Press, Dzanc Books eBook Reprint). He is one of the founding editors of Barrelhouse magazine and a co-founder of the Conversations and Connections writer’s conference. Sometimes he drinks boxed wine and tweets about the things on his television at @housleydave.