Woeful Spotlight: Jennifer Packard

This week's spotlight is on Jennifer Packard, whose Woe of the Road essay shows the downside of being stuck in a ditch. Like there's really an upside though.

If you were a car, what type of car would you be?
Probably a Prius since I'm all environmentally friendly and like to sneak up on people.

Name another instance where you've been stuck in an unwanted place?

One time I was volunteering at an animal shelter and the janitor lost his keys to get in. He needed someone who could fit through the office window to unlock the door, and I ended up being the smallest of all the volunteers. I stuck my legs in first but couldn't slide in, so thought I'd bend and squeeze my head and top part in. Not a smart move with my bum hanging out the other side of the window and the volunteers laughing and trying to push me through.  Being stuck in that position reminded me of Winnie the Pooh when he got stuck in Rabbit's hole. All they had to do was paint a face on my bum and put a plant on top for decoration. Not my proudest moment.

After being rescued by a woman named Cher, which celebrity would you really want to be rescued by?

Well I was going to say Johnny Depp for obvious reasons. But I have to go with Liam Neeson (for the same obvious reasons) but also after seeing The Grey and watching him lead men stranded in the Artic and take on a pack of ferocious wolves, I'm firmly convinced he could easily pull my friend's car out of the ditch, probably with his bare hands, rescue us both and have no problem taking on their fearless police Bassett Hound.

Woe of the Road -- Winner of Best Anthology at The Beach Book Festival!

Lots of love for Woe going on this month!   Right after we learned of our exciting Finalist placement for Mug of Woe in the Indie Excellence Awards, our second book  Woe of the Road has won for Best Anthology in The Beach Book Festival!  We are going to New York City this month for the award ceremony!   

Thank you to the festival for recognizing our book, and also to our fantastic writers who made our book possible! 

Woeful Spotlight: Kathy Adam

This week's spotlight is on Kathy Adam. Her stories in Woe of the Road are cautionary tales about the dangers of getting lost on a road trip with a very hungry friend.

Your friend in your essays sounds like she gets hungry a lot. Does she have a tapeworm?

Yes, she does! She should know by now to carry healthy snacks and a have an 800 page book in case I'm running late.

Have you bought a GPS yet?

No. I refuse to buy a GPS but I do own a Boston map which is 257 pages. It was a good investment since I was moving out here. It remains in my car to this day. I'm surprised I haven't received a GPS for a gift by now.

You have visited Germany. What was your favorite memory of that vacation?

I went on one of those 36 day European Tours after graduating from college. My vaguest memories are from Germany. We were in Germany during Oktoberfest. I do remember spending most of my time in a beerhall drinking beer and eating pretzels. I do have a souvenir beer stein and an Oktoberfest hat (picture a mug of beer you wear on your head). Pictures of the event have been burned. Surprisingly I found our tour bus at the end of the day.

Why do you hate The Grapes of Wrath? It’s a classic!

I know it’s a classic but I hate it! Apologies to all writers but this is the original Woe of the Road Story in American Literature. And their luck doesn't improve once they get to sunny California. I cringe when I see the book in the bookstore or when the movie is on. This hatred goes back to a College English class. There is a chapter devoted to a turtle crossing the road. I've considered trying to read it again but haven't worked up the courage to tackle this novel.

Woeful Spotlight: Ryan Looney

This week's spotlight is on Ryan Looney, whose story The Saddest Spring Break in the History of College in Woe of the Road  proves that college kids shouldn't travel...EVER! 

Your essay is about a spring break gone wrong. Tell us about one gone right?

That was my only shot at spring break, mercifully.

We hear you love Boston. What's your favorite spot in the entire city?

My favorite spot in Boston is the field behind the EF language school in Brighton. It's a big open field with views of the city, and it's either a well-kept secret or I'm frequently trespassing.

If you were on death row, what would you choose for your last meal?

Steak and spaghetti. Mmm...death row dinner.

Where can we find some of your other writings?

New site! looneywriting.wordpress.com 

 

Mug of Woe is a Finalist in National Indie Excellence Awards!

Our first book, Mug of Woe: Tales To Make You Realize Your Life is Awesome is a finalist in the National Indie Excellence Book Awards!  We are so pleased our little-book-that-could has been recognized yet again!  Congrats to all of the writers and comedians whose tales of hilarious woe continue to make our book series possible! 

Woeful Spotlight: Tom E. Morello

This week's spotlight is on Tom E. Morello, whose story A Fistful of Jokes: A South Texas Ghost Story in Woe of the Road  is proof that life as a road comic is for the birds. 


You're a comedian.  What was the strangest show you have ever done?

Bar none, the strangest show I've done yet was the first show in Texas where I was billed as a headliner.  I went from a guy who was at the end of his rope confidence-wise and uncertain whether he was transitioning out of the comedy business, to a rusty closer who hadn't had any meaningful stagetime in 2 months.  It was almost an out-of-body experience, because I was used to such supportive and comedy-savvy crowds in Boston.  I was performing at a bar that was part of a dilapidated strip of shady businesses that featured bullet holes in the front window, (there was a steel grate over the glass, so you know the bullets were fired from within the establishment).  I was equally afraid of my Bostonian comedy act not working in Texas as I was of being riddled with hollow-point rounds.  Luckily, I pounded out a sweaty hour of stand-up comedy, and nobody offered me any free shots at the bar.


What is one thing you miss from Boston that you can't get in Texas?

That brutal New England-area honesty that makes you want to weep uncontrollably and stab someone in the throat at the same time.  People in Texas aren't going to stare right through your soul and tell you everything that's wrong with you within 30 seconds of meeting you.

How can the human population protect themselves from demonic horsefiles?  

Avoid being a smug douchebag, though that's generally great advice in any walk of life.  I honestly think that fly was the spirit world getting back at me for laughing at my Incredible Hulk-sized buddy almost having bladder failure because a tiny bird sailed by his head.  I ain't afraid of no ghost, but they must've known I am indeed afraid of public embarrassment served by a filthy, diseased, trash-dwelling fly.

Promote yourself -- where can our readers find more of your work/stand-up? 

I have very active life online, and I try to keep each packed with unique content.  I'm a real person who handles all of his social networking sites himself, so I'm very accessible and genuinely happy to have fans.  Conversely, I'm not an annoying joke monkey, or a crazy marketing spambot, I'm just a man with an outrageous dream.  My dream involves people who dig my writing, so welcome aboard!

My Facebook fanpage: www.facebook.com/comediantomemorello
My Twitter account: www.twitter.com/TomEMorello
My Tumblr blog: www.tumblr.com/blog/tomemorello

I am a regular performer at both the Laugh Out Loud and Rivercenter Comedy Clubs.  Both clubs are located in San Antonio, TX and can be found at http://www.lolsanantonio.com/ and http://www.rivercentercomedyclub.com/ respectively.

Woeful Spotlight: Susan Johnston

Your essay was about your worst New Year's Eve, so what was your best New Year's Eve?

New Year's 2012 was low-key but still fun. I met up with some friends for a movie and an early dinner, then relaxed at home, avoiding the crowds and setting more realistic expectations than I did a few years ago. 

What's the weirdest thing you keep in your refrigerator? 

Whitening gel for my teeth (it's supposed to keep in fresh in the fridge for up to a year). 

What advice do you have for people traveling on New Year's Eve?

Expect delays so have your electronics fully charged and allow extra time. Be VERY careful to double-check the year on your travel documents so you don't wind up nearly stranded like I did. And carry a little extra cash, just in case. 

Promote yourself --- where can we find your work?  

http://www.urbanmusewriter.com/ or http://susan-johnston.com/