Due to a miscommunication, we discussed Matthew Perini’s short story, “Martha’s Rule,” without knowing that it had been published by Summerset Review. We had such a great time discussing this piece, and we think the conversation still has value. With the permission of the author and the Review, we share…
Due to a miscommunication, we discussed Matthew Perini’s short story, “Martha’s Rule,” without knowing that it had been published by Summerset Review. We had such a great time discussing this piece, and we think the conversation still has value. With the permission of the author and the Review, we share that conversation with you on this episode.
Matthew Perini is thrilled to have his story, “Martha’s Rule” featured in PBQ‘s Slush Pile. Perini feels guilty that he writes slowly, but is confident that given a grant of several million dollars and a retreat along the rocky coast of Southern Maine, he might be able to increase his literary output. The five things Perini loves most in this world are farmer’s markets, Raymond Carver stories, Lorrie Moore stories, John Cheever stories, and going to friends’ houses and drinking all their wine. In his “responsible adult life,” he conducts research, develops instructional strategies, and publishes resources for educators. Perini lives in New Jersey with his wife Kristen, daughters Ella and Alison, 2 dogs, 1 cat, and the overwhelming sense that technology is going to get us all.
You can read more of Perini’s stories in Crack the Spine Literary Magazine and The Tower Journal.
“Martha’s Rule” tells the story of an incredibly strained mother-son relationship that leads to questions about morality, good and bad parenting, and the challenges of early adulthood. Everyone at the editorial table agrees that Perini uses a voice that sustains the entire story and engages the reader all the way through with visceral detail and a depiction that rings true. We also take some time to discuss the significance of time and place in the telling of fiction – whether or not the lack thereof can create a void that needs unvoiding; you can help us decide.
Enjoy, and let us know what you think about this week’s episode on our Facebook event page and on Twitter with #HoldTheKetchup!
Happy reading!
Present at the Editorial Table
Kathleen Volk Miller
Tim Fitts
Sharee DeVose
Jason Schneiderman
Engineering Producer
Joseph Zang
Episode 110: The Logic of Heartbreak (or Caveats Rock)
Episode 109: The Gigue is Up
Episode 108: #Mood (or the Murmurations)
Episode 104: Accents and Human Remains
Episode 103: Strange Complicities and Confessions
Episode 102: Aging Tantric Pornstars
Episode 101: The Anti-Efficiency Episode
Episode 100: A Steady Lub Dub
Episode 99: Greek Mythos and Labyrinths
Episode 98: The Skin is Where the Body Stops
Episode 97: Navigating Dirtbags & Oracles
Episode 96: Larissa‘s Philly Hoagie Mouth
Episode 95: Sweet! Poems by Hillary Adler
Episode 94: Two Authors, One Episode
Episode 93: Go Away & Come Home
Episode 92: American Literature
Episode 91: Daydream Believer
Episode 90: Je Recuse! The Poems of Charlie Clark
Episode 89: Bloomwards & Eggsome
Episode 88: Life on Screen, or “Podcats”
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
50 Tastes Of Gray
Dear Alice | Interior Design
Spider-Man Crawlspace Podcast
The Art of War
Great Expectations
The Magnus Archives
Fresh Air