The Wordsmith podcast is up. Come visit me in Australia.

Posted by Jeff on Jan 21st, 2021 in News | 0 comments

I’ve mentioned in a couple of past posts that I was interviewed for an Australian poetry podcast called Wordsmith. You didn’t think I’d lie about something like that, did you?

Well, burn and drown your suspicions in castor oil, my friends, because the episode is now live.
Here’s the Spotify link.

If you’re not a fan of Spotify, fear not – it’s also on Anchor:

Bestselling Australian poet (yes, you read that right – down under, apparently, poetry books can become bestsellers) Kelly Van Nelson interviews me and allows me to perform a few pieces: “Like Poem”, “An Ode to the Moon”, “Kids Write Jokes: A Found Poem” and one that I don’t do often, “Online Public Shamer”.
I rarely read the last one because it’s a controversial take on cancel cul—I mean, online shami—I mean, Twittermobbi—okay, FINE, “accountability”.

In the meantime, keep your ears peeled and your eyes flaked for some Zoom events I’m involved in. Tomorrow is another Ad Lib Talent show (celebrating host Damon Lum’s birthday), and there’s more stuff coming in the next three or four months.

And congratulations to America’s new leader, President NotTrump.

Bye now.

There’s more of gravy than of grave about you, whatever you are

Posted by Jeff on Dec 21st, 2020 in News | 0 comments

Just a quick note that I’ve been featured in this week’s episode of the Poets and Muses poetry podcast. Imogen Arate interviews me about my poem “Wilfred Owen’s Off-Day”, and then we talk about her poem “I Bought the 18″ ”.

The interview was recorded from a Skype call, and my side came out scratchy for some reason. Just imagine you’re listening to it on a phonograph in 1925. Listen to it here:

I mentioned a couple of posts ago that I was also interviewed for the new Australian podcast Wordsmith. The podcast has begun, but I don’t know yet when my episode is being aired. I’ll be sure to bug you about it when I know.

Also, Ad Lib’s Got Talent is happening again soon… twice. Once on New Year’s Eve, and again for Damon Lum’s birthday. Zoom links to come, via the right sidebar.

Now look at doggies.

Merry Xmas, you beautiful old Building & Loan.

Three events and a wacky story

Posted by Jeff on Dec 12th, 2020 in News | 0 comments

Hi visitors. If you exist.

Here’s what I’m doing over the next few weeks:

1) Runcible Spoon
Tomorrow afternoon, I’m featuring in this Zoom poetry series based in Leeds, England, with three other features and an open mic.

2) It’s a Wonderful Life
Next Saturday, I’m playing Mr. Potter in this live Zoom reading of the script of the Christmas staple, with a bunch of local actors. And I promise to pay fifty cents on the dollar for all holders of Bailey Building & Loan shares.

3) Ad Lib’s Got Talent
Another one of these things. But this time, it’s a special New Year’s Eve show.

Check the listings on the right sidebar for more info.
There should be links with Zoom info closer to the dates.

Also, I posted a new short story on my Wattpad site:
“Filmmakers’ Heaven”
I’ve been revising this one on and off for more than two years. It’s still far from a final draft, I’m sure, but it’s such a fun concept that I enjoy sharing it, and it seems to amuse people.

Holly Happidays.

I’m in a podcast Down Under. Where verses flow and words thunder.

Posted by Jeff on Nov 6th, 2020 in News | 0 comments

Gonna make this as quick as I can, as I’ve got a lot I want to do this weekend, and I know you’re all distracted by the election silliness down south…

1) Wordsmith Podcast Launch
I was recently interviewed for Wordsmith, an upcoming poetry podcast series in Sydney, Australia. Date of the episode to come. If you can’t wait until then (and you’re cool with waking up at four in the morning), I’ll be at the Zoom series launch event this Sunday. Featuring Kelly Van Nelson and Miriam Hechtman; other guests include my friend Special K and many others.

2) Ad Lib’s Got Talent
Another one of these. The usual gang of idiots, including me. Blah blah blah.

3) Runcible Spoon
Another Zoom gig in the U.K., next month. More details closer to the date.

More info and links on the right sidebar. Do your thing.

By the way, did you read my Digital Journal article about the Zoom poetry phenomenon?
No? Well, here it is.

Bye now. Happy November.

Radio Plays the Poetry Stars?

Posted by Jeff on Oct 13th, 2020 in News | 0 comments

As further evidence of my bold assertion in the previous entry that October is the Month of Jeff, here’s a quick note to let you know that I’m going to be on the radio tomorrow.

British radio, that is.
I’ll be reading two silly poems – “Adequate Man” and “How to Make Money in Poetry” – in Under the Evening Light, which airs on Severn FM in Gloucester, England. (My readings are pre-recorded.) If you’ve been following my Zoom exploits over the past couple of months, I’m sure you’ve already heard these two pieces about ten times each now. If you haven’t, though, then they’ll be new to you.

Other readers: Scott Coe, Clive Oseman, Gary Huskisson and Simon Alderwick.
Lucia Daramus hosts the program. 2:00-3:00 Eastern Standard Time.

“But Jeff,” you say, “I’m in Toronto. How can I listen in if the station is all the way over there? My radio isn’t that powerful. Nobody’s is. You’ve got a lot of explaining to do, Sonny-me-boy.”
Fortunately, you can hear the show online at this link.

Also, a reminder that I’m doing these two events on October 30:

Afternoon: Pic n Mix
A U.K. event, which will feature other spoken-word artists and an open mic.

Evening: Ad Lib’s Got Talent – Zoom Edition
The usual gang of idiots is back, for this talent night that happens at Toronto’s Arts and Letters Club during normal times.

Info on the above events in the right sidebar. Click back for updated links.

Oh! And I just posted a new work-in-progress story on Wattpad.com.
It’s called “Pencil”. It’s about a young man who almost loses his prized writing tool. And some other stuff happens.

Now? Time for a cartoon.

October is the Month of Jeff

Posted by Jeff on Sep 30th, 2020 in News | 0 comments

Remember the Summer of George?

That was from a Seinfeld episode. The Summer of George didn’t go so well for Mr. Costanza. But I’m unofficially declaring October to be the Month of Jeff, and I’m hoping to have better luck.
(That is, if a fictional character who temporarily attracted Marisa Tomei and slept with many other beautiful women who should have been out of his league can be said to be unlucky.)

Anyway.

October is the Month of Jeff because I have three Zoom spoken-word gigs:

1) October 6: Oooh Beehive’s Barrel of Laughs

A lot of people say poetry and comedy shouldn’t mix. A lot of snooty, arrogant people, that is, who probably don’t get out enough. Well, Oooh Beehive sets out to prove these horrible people wrong. This Swindon, England-based night also features U.K. star Robert Garnham and the series’ usual hosts Clive Oseman and Nick Lovell, plus a limited open mic.

To register for the Zoom meeting, get a free e-ticket here.

2) October 30 (afternoon): Pic n Mix
Another U.K. series, which will feature other spoken-word artists and a bigger open mic.

3) October 30 (evening): Ad Lib’s Got Talent – Zoom Edition
The usual gang of idiots is back, for this talent night that happens at Toronto’s Arts and Letters Club during normal times.

That’s right. I’m doing two gigs in one day – on both sides of the Atlantic.
I’m pulling a Phil Collins at Live Aid.

Info on the above events in the right sidebar. Click back for updated links. (That is, if anybody actually visits this bloody website.)

Another reason October is the Month of Jeff is that I’ve recently been interviewed for an Australian poetry podcast series, which is going live near the end of the month. Not sure of the date of my episode yet. Will let you know.

Now, a song about a cowboy who won’t come do his census.

Happy fall, fall boys.

Fly Me to the Zoom

Posted by Jeff on Aug 15th, 2020 in News | 0 comments

Zoom is a delightful thing, isn’t it?
Over the past four or five months, I’ve done a metric freakload of poetry open mics in the U.K., a whole lot more in New York and California and Nashville, and also a handful in continental Europe. I even made my Australian debut earlier this week, though I had to wake up before 4:30 in the morning for it. And I got to do all of this without playing any plane fare, booking accommodations, or even bringing a passport. Spoken-word open mics are essentially the same wherever you go. That’s a funny silver lining of this silly pandemic – artists from all over the world are connecting and networking through the Zoom phenomenon.

While I’ve made some cool new friends and contacts in this global community, nobody has offered me a gig yet – at least, not outside of Toronto. Not a huge loss; I’ve already done plenty of features in the U.K. and the U.S. in the real world. But I do have a few local virtual events coming up, and you should go to them. You don’t even have to leave home.

First up: this Thursday, catch me on Zoom at Brenda Clews’ event, Pull Down the Northern Lights for Chandeliers.
Brenda will perform a new prose poem on the theme of writer’s block. (If you’re one of those people who feel that nobody should ever write poetry about poetry, this may fill you with rage and loathing for a lifetime. Oh well.) Then I and a few other local scribes will read a piece each, and we will discuss our writing processes and how we overcome lack of inspiration.

Then, on the 25th, I will host the Virtual Art Bar, featuring Ian Burgham and Sharon Goodier.
This is a prerecorded Facebook event – to view it, go to the Art Bar FB page and view videos of the featured poets reading their work, and me being silly.

Relevant links are on the right sidebar.

Also: Ad Lib’s Got Talent: Zoom Edition is coming back in September. Same folks, same vibe, same relaxed evening of art and whatever. Link to come.

Happy Amy Reville’s birthday. Here’s a thing.

Ad Lib’s Got Talent: Zoom Edition III

Posted by Jeff on Aug 3rd, 2020 in News | 0 comments

Another three weeks pass, another Ad Lib Zoom night.

Happening this Friday. Details on the right sidebar.
Performers include me (I’ll read part of a story-in-progress), Vanessa McMahon, Dimetre Alexou, Charlene Winger… and a special appearance by Virginia performance poet Special K!

Happy Simcoe Day. I hope Simcoe gives you everything you want.

Cancel culture probably exists! (Now that I have your attention…)

Posted by Jeff on Jul 11th, 2020 in News | 0 comments

Everybody’s talking about cancel culture these days, what with that notorious Harper’s Bazaar letter and whatnot. Why do I bring up the subject, when there are much more pressing problems in the world right now?

Because the novel I’ve been working on, Hate Story, is a satire of so-called cancel culture. Or, if you hate that term and think it’s nothing but a right-wing myth designed to protect the wealthy and privileged… how about public shaming? Online bullying? Mob hysteria and rule? Whatever you want to call it, my book’s about it. And I’ve posted a preview – the first six chapters – on the writing website Wattpad. You should read it. Here’s the link.

 

It’s a new novel about the Internet, a human life, and everything in between.
Paul Shoreditch has died – and his funeral has inspired a violent riot. Jackie Roberts, a young freelance journalist who’s addicted to classic cinema and online flame wars in equal measure, has been assigned to find out why. What led to Paul’s death? What did he do to make so many people so angry? Who put up a website devoted solely to shaming him – and why?

Mixing satire with mystery, cynicism with compassion, Hate Story is an outrageous, darkly funny and timely tale that will keep you wanting more.

* * * * *

The other reason I’m posting this is to let you know that I’m reading in a Zoom event this Friday – Ad Lib’s Got Talent: Zoom Edition II. It’s the standard Ad Lib talent show that typically happens at the Arts and Letters Club in Toronto, only there’s a silly pandemic out there, so we’re doing it online. Other likely performers include Vanessa McMahon, Charlene Winger and Dimetre Alexou. Damon Lum hosts as always. Check the right sidebar to find out more.

If you can’t make it Friday, but you still want to see and/or hear me read and perform stuff, go to this page here for a handful of videos and mp3s.

Remember, cancel culture probably isn’t real. Or is it?

I guess I’m cancelled now. Damn.

Must read book excerpts now posted on Wattpad: “Hate Story”

Posted by Jeff on May 16th, 2020 in News | 0 comments

Check out the first several chapters of the must read book, Hate Story, by Jeff Cottrill, now posted on the writing website Wattpad. Here’s the link.

 

It’s a new novel about the Internet, a human life, and everything in between.
Paul Shoreditch has died – and his funeral has inspired a violent riot. Jackie Roberts, a young freelance journalist who’s addicted to classic cinema and online flame wars in equal measure, has been assigned to find out why. What led to Paul’s death? What did he do to make so many people so angry? Who put up a website devoted solely to shaming him – and why?

Mixing satire with mystery, cynicism with compassion, Hate Story is a darkly funny and timely tale that will keep you wanting more.

*****

As I’ve mentioned in previous entries, I’ve posted the first six chapters – or five, if you don’t want to count the prologue-pretending-not-to-be-a-prologue that I’ve titled “Chapter Zero” – of Hate Story online. This time, I’m trying something a little different. I’m using my limited yet professionally relevant knowledge of SEO optimization to see if I can attract random web searchers. This may be a really dumb idea that won’t work in the slightest, but I thought it would be fun to try.

You may have noticed that I’ve begun the title of this post with the words “must read book” and included that phrase in the opening paragraph. That’s my keyword for this web page. Apparently people look for that or something. I’ll write it again: must read book. (I really want to put a hyphen in that, but people on the Internet hate hyphens.) You may also notice that I’m trying to stretch this out to at least 300 words, since I understand that’s the minimum limit.

I guess I need an internal link too. Here you go. It’s a handful of videos and mp3s.

Happy reading.