poems, stories, novels

Seek Giacometti’s “The Palace at 4 a.m.” Go back two hours. See towers and curtain walls of matchsticks, marble, marbles, light, cloud at stasis. Walk in. The beggar queen is dreaming on her throne of words… You have arrived at the web home of Marly Youmans, maker of novels, poems, and stories, as well as the occasional fantasy. D. G. Myers: "A writer who has more resolutely stood her ground against the tide of literary fashion would be difficult to name."

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

The Red King dancing with Charis

Preparatory sketch
by
Clive Hicks-Jenkins

Clive Hicks-Jenkins, from facebook: "A tiny and rough-ish drawing from my current project-book for Marly Youmans’ new novel ‘Charis in the World of Wonders’. The project-book contains several suggestions to the editorial board for the cover, one of which has now been selected and signed-off on, plus a stitchwork-inspired bestiary as a starting point for the planned fifteen chapter headings, tailpieces and vignettes, among which is this owl."

* * *

Now is the time of the King and the Fool, and to celebrate Clive's gorgeous art for that collection of poetry, but I could not resist sharing this little bit of next year's novel... A future vignette for a chapter heading. Below, a bit of the current book from Phoenicia Publishing.

* * * * *

2 comments:

scott g.f.bailey4:39 PM, September 25, 2019
I'm reading The Red King right now. It's mysterious and beautiful, familiar and strange, etc etc.

A few weeks ago, I was pleased to get my hands on a copy of Val/Orson, in the limited signed edition. Added to the tottering heap of my "to be read" stack.
ReplyDelete
Replies

Add comment

Alas, I must once again remind large numbers of Chinese salesmen and other worldwide peddlers that if they fall into the Gulf of Spam, they will be eaten by roaming Balrogs. The rest of you, lovers of grace, poetry, and horses (nod to Yeats--you do not have to be fond of horses), feel free to leave fascinating missives and curious arguments.

Youmans (pronounced like 'yeoman' with an 's' added) is the best-kept secret among contemporary American writers --John Wilson, editor, Books and Culture. Marly Youmans is a novelist and poet out of sync with the times but in tune with the ages --First Things. I cannot recommend an author more than Marly Youmans, whose fantastic prose is absolutely gorgeous & haunting --novelist Sebastien Doubinsky. Youmans, one of the biggest secrets of contemporary American fiction, writes with freshness & beauty --Jeffery Beam.