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Raw, Sometimes Uncomfortable, But Realistic
Sit Down and Have A Beer Again is an unfiltered publication of poems, short stories, and narratives portraying life in the 1960s and 1970s. Why was it important to republish these creative works into an anthology?
Rich Soos, editor of Cholla Needles Literary Magazine was the impetus for this collection. He was the publisher of my 1977 chapbook “Sit Down And Have A Beer” and he reached out to me in early 2021 and suggested that we republish my original chapbook along with all the other poems and stories of mine that were published back in the 1970’s. We both felt that the poems and stories had withstood the test of time and were relevant today. The small press scene of the 1970’s was an exciting and creative period in American literature. Unfortunately, so little of the work and so few of the literary magazines have been collected and preserved for the historical record. Hopefully, this collection will inspire other writers, poets and editors from that era to do the same.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Every poem and story in this collection is meant to shed an honest light on the emotions, vulnerabilities and struggles that everyday people battle. I was in my twenties when I wrote these pieces and they are raw, sometimes uncomfortable, but realistic expressions of a young man trying to find himself in the 1970’s.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your book?
Though the poems and stories are reflective of the era, my hope is that the reader finds the themes, the honest feelings and personal struggles as relevant today as they were back then.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
My current focus is on poetry and short stories. I am working on pieces that reflect the times we live in and are written from the perspective of a person who has lived a full life and still has something to say. Stay tuned!
Author Links: GoodReads | Website
The Small Press world of those days was the precursor to the internet – insane editors and publishers who believed that the established publications had simply lost touch with the creative reality of our nation. And, just like the internet, the small presses were eventually bought out by the rich folks who figured out the best way to beat them was to buy them out.
The second chapter of the book contains the other poems that were published in these mags but never collected till now.
The third chapter represents a small sample from When Life Was Like A Cucumber, the great novel about the early 1970’s that tells the story of a young man’s journey of self-discovery and sexual awakening as he tries to find his place in
post-Sixties America. The complete novel is available here on Amazon.
Sit Down And Have A Beer Again
Sit Down and Have A Beer Again by Greg Wyss is an unfiltered publication of poems, short stories, narratives, and dream sequences portraying the life of individuals in the 1960s and 1970s. This collection is raw, realistic, and undoctored, showing life as it was through the eyes and emotions of the narrators for each piece. This anthology portrays the life and soul of creative America and the world through descriptions, honesty, and unabridged thoughts.
Broken up into three parts, this anthology contains the original works printed in various magazines and publications. Part 1 is reprinting the works published in Sit Down and Have A Beer from 1977. Parts 2 and 3 are works that Greg Wyss collected as a means of sharing life for what it was through the eyes of individuals who wrote each poem, story, dream, and narrative. Some are sad, while some are happy. Others shed light on vulnerability, mental illness, the journey to self-discovery, and struggles people battle. Many of these pieces were written to express creativity and inspire the nation’s heart during the particular time frame in which they were orchestrated.
The works showcased in this anthology come from many small press magazines and publishers in the late 1960s and 1970s. This was a way for the average person to have an outlet to express themselves and have their voice heard. These years were a unique time in American history, and the poetry and writing presented to share with readers a snapshot of life in this era.
I found some of the poems depressing at times, and at other times they were eye-opening. This publication brings to light topics and situations that people during the era struggled with. I would recommend this book as a way of viewing life through the eyes of others and receiving some inspiration in the creative world of poetry. Due to the poetic nature and content, I found this read interesting. This anthology can be a great source of wisdom and encouragement for those in hardship. I believe this work has something for everyone because humanity’s raw nature is at its heart.
Pages: 160 | ASIN : B0B4S8657Z
Nothing that Addresses the Aftermath
When Life Was like a Cucumber follows the odyssey of Jeffrey Hesse’s life through the 70’s. What served as your inspiration for this story?
My inspiration was personal. Having come of age during the 60s, I have always felt that an important part of my generation’s story has been overlooked in both literature and film. There is no shortage of books or movies covering those tumultuous times but virtually nothing that addresses the aftermath of the decade and its effect on those who lived through it. If the reader is transported back to the era and inside the confused minds of those who were there, then I achieved my goal.
Jeff is an intriguing and well developed character. What were some driving ideals behind his character development?
Jeff is a flawed individual and a product of small-town America in the 50s and 60s. It was important to portray him honestly, warts and all. He is insecure, experiments with drugs and is consumed by his sexual appetite. His story is not unique but is meant to be an accurate representation of the thousands, perhaps millions, of those his age who were trying to make sense of their lives at the time.
The novel was able to capture the human experience of living in a tumultuous time. Was there anything from your own life that you put into the story?
Authors write what they know but “When Life Was Like a Cucumber” is a work of fiction, not an autobiography. Jeff’s story mirrors some of my personal experiences and many of the characters in the novel are fictional and composite depictions of people that I crossed paths with during those years.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I am in the early stages of developing a story that revolves around the wild, unregulated lifestyle of the early 80s in Houston and Texas. At the moment, I cannot project when the book will be completed and available. I will keep you posted.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website
When the house they are renting outside of Oneonta, New York, burns to the ground, twenty-four-year old Jeffrey Hesse and his wife, Jane, split up, launching Jeff on a wild journey of self-discovery and sexual awakening. Inspired by an angel calling herself Isadora Duncan, Jeff sets out to see the world and find his place in post Sixties America. His odyssey carries him to the Gulf Coast of Florida, the streets of Boston, the hash clubs in Amsterdam, and his ancestral home of Switzerland. He finds himself seated next to Jesus on an airplane and spends an idyllic summer on the island of Crete where he is befriended by a Greek Renaissance man. A delicious stew of Jack Kerouac and Cheech and Chong with a pinch of Forrest Gump added to the mix, When Life Was Like a Cucumber is both funny and sad. Set against the backdrop of the Watergate years, it examines the alienation and hope of a generation weaned on the drug culture, the sexual revolution, and the Vietnam War.
Hang on and enjoy the ride. When it’s over, you’ll have to agree that life is indeed like a cucumber.
When Life Was like a Cucumber
![When Life Was like a Cucumber by [Greg Wyss]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51ABODU8J4L.jpg)
At a young age, Jeffrey Hese was coming off a divorce and could not wait to explore his true self. At a time when the human race was getting introduced to the 70s after the tumultuous 60s, Jeffrey was in for a ride. He found himself thrust in different cultures and cities from Amsterdam to Boston. He goes through the paces of experiencing the underbelly of life with the help of Isadora. And how different it was from his apartment in Oneonta. So much to see. So much to do. So much to experience. His journey will be one of enlightenment and perhaps a second meeting with God.
Greg Wyss has crafted an engrossing tale of one man’s journey through life in the wake of the wild 60s. He has written a story so intriguing and appropriately sculpted that a reader of any age will relate and enjoy the book. The scenes are described in vivid detail leaving the reader thrust deep into the vortex of Jeffrey’s life at that time as well as the general lifestyle back then. The story teeters on the edge of humorous and poignant. It is a brilliant mix of serious and casual. With alternating moments of sympathy and loud belly laughs.
The characters in this book are well developed. Although the dimensions of character development may seem a bit foggy at times. This does not get in the way of recognition of common qualities. Jeffrey is doing something that many people would want to do before they are too old or too busy to do it. He is as new to this journey as most of us are. This may therefore either inspire you to go on your own journey of self-discovery. Or it may allow you to live vicariously through him. There is so much depth to this book. It will take the utmost attention and focus to peel through all the layers and get to the bottom of the true meaning of the story. Laden with thematic consistency and careful handling of the reader, this book is exactly what you need when you find yourself angling for an enjoyable escape. What better place to escape than a different time you may not have lived in? Those who did live in this era will enjoy the various references to music and popular behaviors of that time.
You will enjoy the plot. You will enjoy the characters. You will enjoy the flurry of activity. It may not be crass but this book will have you red-faced on occasion. Nothing like a good trip back in time.
Pages: 557 | ASIN: B07QN1VK36
LITERARY TITAN 