Here at First Person Arts, we just heard from one of our regular storytellers, Ben Drinen, that he’s published a new story in a French journal, thanks in part to the strength of his StorySlam performances.  Here’s a sample of Drinen’s Forced March.  Read the rest here.

Simeon and Baruch came around the bend in the long tradition of travelers, adventurers, weirdos, hobos, tramps, and thieves. It was a hot day five miles outside of San Antonio, Texas. The sky in its usual fashion was blue as blue could be, and that old Texas sun was burning oh so bright. Simeon was fat and Baruch was thin. Simeon’s bald head gleamed in the sun, and Baruch’s hair hung in a long braid down to his waist. Simeon had a harmonica and Baruch had a Takamine guitar, polished by raindrops, smacking his legs with each step, as it hung low on its strap, carried without a case. And the sun shone down on them both on the side of the road.

Baruch was hungrier than the devil on Halloween, and he started digging around in his pocket for a pull of pemmican beef jerky.
“Man,” said Baruch digging in his pocket for a pull of pemmican beef jerky, speaking with some kind of drawl that can only be formed in the backwoods bars in Cameroonian logging towns and creek beds of Central Pennsylvania, and front seat hitchhiking across the state of Tennessee courtesy of freewheeling epileptic preachers of the Lord, “Man, beef jerky sure tastes good in the morning.”

Read the rest…

Here’s Ben from last year’s “Secrets” StorySlam:

If you’re feeling ambitious, bring your “Odd Jobs” stories to L’Etage tonight!

Theme: Odd Jobs
When: Tuesday, April 28th.  Doors at 7:30.  Slam begins at 8:30.
Where: L’Etage Cabaret at 6th and Bainbridge
Who: Inquirer reporter Dianna Marder hosts.   We’ll have guest stories from Ted Passon and Chris Oberlin.
Why: Work.  Sheesh.  Who doesn’t have a story?
How much: $8 with $4 well drinks all night (6-pack of tix for $40)