Cambridge Author/Poet Timothy Gager
Timothy Gager has authored six collections of fiction and poetry. His work has been published widely in the small and electronic press. His poetry has been nominated twice for the Cambridge Poetry Award and recently his fiction was nominated for the 2006 Story South Million Writers Award. Gager is the editor of the Heat City Review, Founder and host of the Dire Literary Series and Co-Founder of the Sommerville News Writers Festival. He will appear with Jennifer McPherson on September 23rd at the Steel City Coffee House. To learn more about Timothy Gager please visit: http://www.timothygager.com/
Q. You are the host of the “Dire Literary Series” in Cambridge Mass. Please share how the series was created and its endurance.
The Dire Series was created six years ago because at the time, the Boston/Cambridge area had many poetry open mic evenings but no nights for open fiction. Sure, there were book store readings for published authors but there were nothing for the short fiction writer to show their chops. At Dire we have three published features and a four-slot of 15 minute open mic…plus I get to attempt to entertain…it’s a lot of fun.
Q. The Out of the Blue Art Gallery is one of my favorite venues. Your series is based there, what type of influence does the gallery have on the series?
I think the main influences are the features and the open readers that set the tone of the evening. Sometimes the out of town writers hear that it is taking place at an art gallery and they think the Metropolitan of Fine Art of something. The Out of the Blue is very charming and each series held there has its own identity. The Dire Series started in a bar and I had another host with me, at the time, John Bailey. We tried to do a variety show or something…drugs may have been involved(laughs), I don’t know…we were told to not come back.
Q. The Somerville News Writers Festival is a yearly event that you co-founded. Please describe the purpose of the festival and the atmosphere.
The purpose of the festival is to get big writers in a large venue. We’ve had Michael MacDonald, Andre Dubus, Robert Olen-Butler, Franz Wright, Tom Perrotta and Steve Almond to name a few. My co-founder Doug Holder and myself with the gracious support of The Somerville News wanted to think “big” and the festival has achieved that purpose.
Q. You began as a short fiction writer and eventually brought your poetry out of the closet with much success. What was your inspiration to share your poetry and what poets influenced you?
It was more of a confidence issue. I had a very poor experience in college with poetry and was made to feel poetically inept. Confidence was very key and I’d say I’m happy with my current poems.
Q. In addition to reading in the Boston Metro Area you have traveled a bit. How do you compare readings in other cities to those in Boston?
It depends on the place and the particular night. It’s nice to see friends locally and meet people when I travel. Some folks I’ve known for years from on-line workshops. I once did a reading in Maine where the audience got pretty tanked and a fight broke out. That was fun. In July I’m reading in New York to promote a book of Red Sox Fiction…umm, I don’t know if that was too well thought out. I don’t mind reading even if the crowd is chanting “Boston Sucks”. When I read in Philadelphia it’s always a good time. It is a great city to read in plus Eileen D’Angelo does such a great job. I find the audience there very down to earth and welcoming. I went to school nearby so it’s a plus to see old friends.
Q. Writer/Poet and also the co-editor of the Heat City Review and “Out of the Blue Writers Unite”. Did you have to go through a transition from creating to editing?
Not really, it would be like reading vs. writing or watching television. I’d be pretty rigid if I couldn’t make that adjustment, but then again my writing pretty much stops when I’m involved in an editing project.
Q. You have published six collections of short fiction and poetry in addition to your work being published in over 20 journals. What do you attribute your success in getting your work published?
I think I work hard on my writing and am persistent on sending work out. Often I feel like I’m fooling people when they publish me, but sometimes I actually like what I see of mine in print or on the web. I was honored with being named with a “notable story” in the 2006 Story South Million Writer Award. The winner hasn’t been announced yet, but I don’t think I’ll win. There are tons of good writers there.
Q. Renee Angers of Brainpan Publishing said of your work, “… Gager hasn’t disappointed me yet…. his books are great reads. His books make me feel like I want to become involved in a fist fight…. I adore his work.” Do you write for this type of reaction or do you write and await the reaction?
Perhaps I used to. Nowadays I’m not looking for a reaction, I’m just looking to write what I want to write, whatever pops into my head, often quirky and sort of twisted. I would say there is a lot of versatility in my work and how I’m feeling about creating at any given time isn’t necessarily my strong suit, but perhaps a style I’m looking to work on. Being versatile is good, like in baseball you can be more valuable if you can play more positions.
Q. On September 23rd you will be reading at the Mad Poets Steel City Coffee House Series with Jennifer McPherson. As a fiction writer, poet and commentator on society will those in attendance see a particular side of Tim Gager?
Yes, my best side….seriously, I’ll get there early get a feel for the place, the age group in attendance etc. and seeing that it’s scheduled for one o’clock in the afternoon on a Sunday, I think I’ll go with some of my more entertaining work rather than the darker stuff. That’s my plan, now…September is months away. Most of what I’ll read will not have been written yet.
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