Dearest Readers,

Every October, I make it a point to watch spooky/seasonally appropriate movies, like every other person on Twitter. This is always a fraught endeavor, though, because I don't like scary movies. At any given moment, I have so much adrenaline that any extra is simply too much. I cover my ears; I shriek; I am basically a small child in a thirty-three-year-old-body.

This week, I queued up Bedknobs and Broomsticks, which was one of the tapes my parents' owned when I was a kid. I've watched it I can't-even-guess how many times, but it's been about twenty years. My friend (hi Kelsey!) once described returning to a favorite bit of media from childhood as "I would like that exact strain of dopamine, please," and she was right. More time folding.

Till next time,
AS

Rumpus original artwork by David Dodd Lee

In Rumpus News

New Shit

New essays by Allegra Hyde and Rajpreet Heir. The first, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," on traveling to New Zealand in search of mushrooms/salvation/freedom, and the second, "Gentlemen, Start Your Engines," on traveling to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. One of our senior essays editors, Robbie Maakestad, also spoke with Jill Christman for The Rumpus, gifting us with what is essentially a lesson in both craft and generosity.

We've also got lots of poem-y things: a review of Allison Blevins's Slowly/Suddenly; the latest from the ENOUGH column, "Raag Marwa"; and new Rumpus Original poetry by Sean Cho A.

A new short story: "When Will You Arrive."

Other recent interviews include ones with Sari Botton and Jorie Graham, and then a Nordic bent with Kristín Ómarsdóttir and N ancy Marie Brown.

A review of Life is Everywhere and one of Ghost Lover.

Rumpus original artwork by Genevieve Ana Tyrell

Submissions

Next year, we'll be accepting essay submissions for 2 themed months, one of which will coincide with Adoption/Adoptee Awareness month (November). We'll share the call soon, but if you absolutely want to be the first to know, you should sign up to be a Rumpus Member.

We'll also be reopening for comics submissions in December!

Letters in the Mail (from authors)

Letters in the Mail (for adult readers) upcoming authors include: Eloisa Amezcua, Joe Meno, Ingrid Rojas Contreras, and J. Estanislao Lopez.

Letters in the Mail for Kids (ages ~8-12) upcoming authors include: Esme Symes-Smith, Betsy Uhrig, and Stacy Nockowitz.

You can read more about the authors (and their incoming letters) in this sneak peek.

Rumpus Book Clubs

Every month subscribers get a book in the mail handpicked by The Rumpus staff. We search for titles that we are truly excited about!

Next up: Inciting Joy by Ross Gay for our (prose) Book Club and Franny Choi's The World Keeps Ending, and the World Goes On for our Poetry Book Club selection.
If you're not already a subscriber, join by midnight this Saturday, October 15 to receive either or BOTH!

As a subscriber, you'll also be invited to an exclusive online discussion with the book's author the last week of every month and we'll send you a pass code to join. These will take place on the brand new Rumpus Crowdcast channel and will remain available to members for 1 month after they take place in case you miss the live event or you'd like to re-watch the conversation later.