Blog Archives
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
LITERARY TITAN 