The Millions recently published Patrick’s ode to poets for National Poetry Month.

How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Poets.

Very honored to have my recent interview with the most famous bugler in America appear in one of my favorite magazines, Oxford American.

For fifteen seconds a year, Steve Buttleman is the most famous man in America. On the first Saturday of every May, sporting his famous red jacket and tiny black hat, he marches from the white pagoda behind the Churchill Downs Winner’s Circle, lifts a polished brass horn to his caramel-colored mustache, and plays “Call to Post.” Buttleman’s rendition—a brief ditty that signals jockeys to lead their horses into the starting gate—grabs the attention of movie stars in Millionaire’s Row, infield drunks, and countless television viewers. It’s also the sign for Kentucky Derby fans to clutch their betting slips and start praying.

Read more here.

Broken Piano gets four stars from The Sounds. 

The book’s first line kind of says it all:

I’ve never known an American economy that didn’t smell like Red Lobster’s dumpster…

Folks are raving:

“[Wensink] is our Terry Southern and Paul Krassner and possibly one day even our own Jonathan Swift…”

– SCOTT MCCLANAHAN, author of The Collected Works of Scott McClanahan Vol. I

This one’s a clusterfuck. A good clusterfuck…Let’s just say this one;s full of conspiracies, alcohol, fast food-speak, alcohol, and uh, well… more alcohol. But there’s so much going on that you may want to read a little slowly, or you might miss something good.

[Click to enlarge]

If you haven’t been following, Jack Daniel’s sent me a letter saying the artwork for Broken Piano for President must be changed.

What follows is, perhaps, the most polite cease and desist ever written. If it wasn’t signed by some lawyer, I’d imagine ol’ Gentleman Jack penning it himself, twirling his bushy mustache.

In case you’re wondering, no, my publisher, Lazy Fascist Press, will not be taking them up on their offer. We’re proudly independent and don’t need any of that sweet corporate booze money to redo the cover.

*Good news if you already own a copy of Broken Piano for President: that baby’s going to be a collector’s item.

Powell’s appears to be sold out. [Back in stock, apparently] 

Amazon still has some for sale. Get ’em while they’re legal-ish.

They are, apparently, not impressed with BROKEN PIANO FOR PRESIDENT’s artwork.

Below is a portion of the letter. Stay tuned for more legal news.

“[D]ark wackiness that will be adored by the same people who enjoy getting wasted and going to Monty Python midnight screenings.”

“Get this book for a friend and get them to read it first if you’re unsure. Do whatever you have to. I wish I could tell you more, but if I spoil any part of the experience for you, you won’t be as surprised and amused as you could be. Go in blind, and tell him I sent you.”