About Matt Kressel
Matthew Kressel realized upon his Saturnian return that his right brain was being neglected.
Prior to that time he had invested most of his days writing computer programs and most of his
nights being awakened at all hours by petulant pagers in order to insert tiny bits of logic into
mindless, blinking, calculating machines so that the human race wouldn't have to stop its
endless grinding and bustle and think for a moment about where this incessant activity might be
taking them.
His right brain had sat patient all that time, sneaking in a few poems, some drawings, and a story
or two here and there. But his left brain wouldn't have it.
So one day his right brain initiated a rebellion. Matthew took up guitar playing and drawing and
writing all in the same year. His left brain didn't know what to do; it fought back with threats of
financial ruin, of insanity, of ever more late night fits where it tried to insert its tiresome logic into a
world that would not become less ineffable merely because humanity made feeble attempts to
quantize the universe into something known.
And since that time, though his left hemisphere oftentimes resists his bursts of creation, he has
published several stories, started the speculative fiction magazine, Sybil's Garage, and has
completed a novel. He also sometimes writes music, though he won't play it for you unless you
ask.
(But what about his drawings?)
Writing takes a lot of time, but if you ask nicely, he might just let you see some of his old stuff.
For more on Matthew Kressel:
Matthew Kressel
matt@sensesfive.com
www.matthewkressel.net
Senses Five Press
www.sensesfive.com
Matthew Kressel realized upon his Saturnian return that his right brain was being neglected.
Prior to that time he had invested most of his days writing computer programs and most of his
nights being awakened at all hours by petulant pagers in order to insert tiny bits of logic into
mindless, blinking, calculating machines so that the human race wouldn't have to stop its
endless grinding and bustle and think for a moment about where this incessant activity might be
taking them.
His right brain had sat patient all that time, sneaking in a few poems, some drawings, and a story
or two here and there. But his left brain wouldn't have it.
So one day his right brain initiated a rebellion. Matthew took up guitar playing and drawing and
writing all in the same year. His left brain didn't know what to do; it fought back with threats of
financial ruin, of insanity, of ever more late night fits where it tried to insert its tiresome logic into a
world that would not become less ineffable merely because humanity made feeble attempts to
quantize the universe into something known.
And since that time, though his left hemisphere oftentimes resists his bursts of creation, he has
published several stories, started the speculative fiction magazine, Sybil's Garage, and has
completed a novel. He also sometimes writes music, though he won't play it for you unless you
ask.
(But what about his drawings?)
Writing takes a lot of time, but if you ask nicely, he might just let you see some of his old stuff.
For more on Matthew Kressel:
Matthew Kressel
matt@sensesfive.com
www.matthewkressel.net
Senses Five Press
www.sensesfive.com
Matt Kressel -- September 13, 2008
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Post Meeting Write-up
Yes as Steve mentioned Whispers From Beyond/Face The Fiction was a good time (as usual).
Matt began by reading his short story "The Bricks of Gelecek", from the upcoming Ellen
Datlow-edited anthology, Naked City: New Tales of Urban Fantasy. The story has a creepy
almost Twilight Zone-ish feel to it. After reading to us, Matt opened the floor up to questions. The
questions were wide and varied. Everything from what he likes to read to what he grew up
reading, how he came to publish his 'zine Sybil's Garage and how it got its name, etc.
The story of how his 'zine came to be known as Sybil's Garage is kind of an amusing story. He
was out with some friends in Hoboken, near Steven's Institute of Technology and he
remembered Sybil's Cave. Sybil's Cave was the location of the murder of Mary Rogers in 1841
which inspired the Edgar Allan Poe story "The Mystery of Marie Roget". Matt suggested calling
the 'zine Sybil's Cave when one of his friends joked that since Hoboken is being built up and
paved over everywhere, Sybil's Cave was probably a garage now. Matt adopted the name of
Sybil's Garage for his 'zine. Joe Havasy confirmed that Sybil's Cave does still actually exist as a
cave. He said the entrance to it is covered over to keep kids from the nearby skatepark out, but it
is still there.
Matt brought with him two versions of Sybil's Garage 1, which featured short stories by his
friends, and a copy of Sybil's Garage 2. Sybil's Garage 3, 4, and 5 were available for purchase
as was Paper Cities - an Anthology of Urban Fantasy, all publications from Matt's company,
Senses Five Press (www.sensesfive. com).
As Steve pointed out, Matt is a member of the Altered Fluid writing group and co-hosts the KGB
Fantastic Fiction reading series with Ellen Datlow. In an email to me after his presentation, he
reminded me to let everyone know that the SFSNNJ is welcome to come to KGB and if we do, he
wants us to say hello.
We adjourned to Stateline Diner. However, Matt and his cousin (his ride) were unable to join us.
They were off to meet up with our March guest and Matt's personal friend, John Joseph Adams
who recommended us to Matt. (Jo)
I enjoyed Matt's opening of the Q & A segment: "Are you all familiar with the book What Color Is
Your Parachute? Well, I had no parachute. I jumped without one - no plan, and I never thought of
being a writer." He then went on to discuss how he became a writer (humble beginnings in a
print shop) and editor. You can check out his Senses Five Press at www.sensesfive.com. He
thoroughly answered all of the questions asked and had a great sense of humor. (AM)
We opened our Whispers from Beyond segment at 7:30 with Kate Landis reading a Jonathan
Maberry story from a relatively new anthology (whose name escapes me at the moment), which
had everyone mesmerized. Then we chatted for a few minutes before I introduced Matt Kressel
to the group "promptly at 8:00 p.m" (thank you, Brian K).
Matt proceeded to read his complete short story "The Bricks of Gelecek" which again had
everyone mesmerized (especially Gene!). Matt talked about how he came to found Senses Five
Press & publish the magazine Sybil's Garage (named after a cave in Hoboken which probably
has turned into a garage by now, according to his friends), which he decided not to use to boost
his own fiction writing (although he does contribute essays and interviews). He also discussed
the writers group he belongs to & the Fantastic Fiction reading series he co-hosts. He said that
writing is his first love but he enjoys the publishing end of it too. Questions were asked & Matt
had a chance to sell & sign copies of his zine & the anthology Paper Cities before heading back
to Brooklyn. The room was straightened up before folks headed off to the Stateline Diner to
continue the evening.
Next month the SFSNNJ returns to "haunt" the Bergen Museum of Science at the Bergen Mall in
Paramus with the legendary "Ghost Hunter" Linda Zimmerman. (Steve Spinosa)
Yes as Steve mentioned Whispers From Beyond/Face The Fiction was a good time (as usual).
Matt began by reading his short story "The Bricks of Gelecek", from the upcoming Ellen
Datlow-edited anthology, Naked City: New Tales of Urban Fantasy. The story has a creepy
almost Twilight Zone-ish feel to it. After reading to us, Matt opened the floor up to questions. The
questions were wide and varied. Everything from what he likes to read to what he grew up
reading, how he came to publish his 'zine Sybil's Garage and how it got its name, etc.
The story of how his 'zine came to be known as Sybil's Garage is kind of an amusing story. He
was out with some friends in Hoboken, near Steven's Institute of Technology and he
remembered Sybil's Cave. Sybil's Cave was the location of the murder of Mary Rogers in 1841
which inspired the Edgar Allan Poe story "The Mystery of Marie Roget". Matt suggested calling
the 'zine Sybil's Cave when one of his friends joked that since Hoboken is being built up and
paved over everywhere, Sybil's Cave was probably a garage now. Matt adopted the name of
Sybil's Garage for his 'zine. Joe Havasy confirmed that Sybil's Cave does still actually exist as a
cave. He said the entrance to it is covered over to keep kids from the nearby skatepark out, but it
is still there.
Matt brought with him two versions of Sybil's Garage 1, which featured short stories by his
friends, and a copy of Sybil's Garage 2. Sybil's Garage 3, 4, and 5 were available for purchase
as was Paper Cities - an Anthology of Urban Fantasy, all publications from Matt's company,
Senses Five Press (www.sensesfive. com).
As Steve pointed out, Matt is a member of the Altered Fluid writing group and co-hosts the KGB
Fantastic Fiction reading series with Ellen Datlow. In an email to me after his presentation, he
reminded me to let everyone know that the SFSNNJ is welcome to come to KGB and if we do, he
wants us to say hello.
We adjourned to Stateline Diner. However, Matt and his cousin (his ride) were unable to join us.
They were off to meet up with our March guest and Matt's personal friend, John Joseph Adams
who recommended us to Matt. (Jo)
I enjoyed Matt's opening of the Q & A segment: "Are you all familiar with the book What Color Is
Your Parachute? Well, I had no parachute. I jumped without one - no plan, and I never thought of
being a writer." He then went on to discuss how he became a writer (humble beginnings in a
print shop) and editor. You can check out his Senses Five Press at www.sensesfive.com. He
thoroughly answered all of the questions asked and had a great sense of humor. (AM)
We opened our Whispers from Beyond segment at 7:30 with Kate Landis reading a Jonathan
Maberry story from a relatively new anthology (whose name escapes me at the moment), which
had everyone mesmerized. Then we chatted for a few minutes before I introduced Matt Kressel
to the group "promptly at 8:00 p.m" (thank you, Brian K).
Matt proceeded to read his complete short story "The Bricks of Gelecek" which again had
everyone mesmerized (especially Gene!). Matt talked about how he came to found Senses Five
Press & publish the magazine Sybil's Garage (named after a cave in Hoboken which probably
has turned into a garage by now, according to his friends), which he decided not to use to boost
his own fiction writing (although he does contribute essays and interviews). He also discussed
the writers group he belongs to & the Fantastic Fiction reading series he co-hosts. He said that
writing is his first love but he enjoys the publishing end of it too. Questions were asked & Matt
had a chance to sell & sign copies of his zine & the anthology Paper Cities before heading back
to Brooklyn. The room was straightened up before folks headed off to the Stateline Diner to
continue the evening.
Next month the SFSNNJ returns to "haunt" the Bergen Museum of Science at the Bergen Mall in
Paramus with the legendary "Ghost Hunter" Linda Zimmerman. (Steve Spinosa)