Hey Sebastian! Thank you for taking part in this interview and for contributing to our cause. You have been nothing but amazing with your support for our project. It’s a huge honour to have both owners of Outcast Press onboard. It really does go to show that the support of the indie writing community is a beautiful thing. I think most people in that world will almost definitely know who you are, but for those who don’t, can you tell us a little a bit about yourself?

I’m a dying meat puppet with a prison of memories. I wager this isn’t the answer you seek. Suffice it to say, in the game of publishing, I play two rolls: writer, and publisher. In my roll as a writer, I mainly pen short stories. Sometimes poems. Maybe someday something longer. As a publisher, I co-founded Outcast Press, and Translucent Eyes Press. These are simply two masks I wear for different theatrical games within the larger game of life. Who am I underneath it all? Who can say? Aren’t we all mysteries to ourselves?

Foodbanks have become a part of our life. What started as a means to support those in financial difficulty has now turned into a long-term lifeline for many. Do you think that we will ever be free of them, or do you believe they will be here to stay?

I find it an indictment of civilized society that in lands of plenty, we chose to play games of scarcity. As a boy, my mother had a garden. That small garden overproduced what was required for two people (myself and her). At the end of the summer, she canned enough for us to live on for the fall, winter, and spring. And she still had extra. Food isn’t scarce (quite the opposite). That’s just capitalist myth making.

Here’s the tragedy as I see it. We could easily have utopia, but for some godforsaken reason we chose games of dystopia. Maybe our minds are so polluted by propaganda, we think it’s normal to have food banks. To illustrate with a different issue, there are hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of empty dwellings in the United States. And we have homeless people. What does it say about a society with the means to house every person, but instead manufactures rationalizations that condemn millions to poverty? What does it say about western civilization that we let people rot and starve and die when we could easily prevent it?

Western “democracies” amaze me, especially their intellectuals. Their pundits bang on about western civilization as if its genesis was semen from Jesus’ cock. In the UK, you poor bastards are subjected to the hollow musings, and intellect deadening rhetoric of white supremacist Douglas Murray. These fucking troglodytes in suits just ignore extreme inequality, and insist against all empirical evidence, that THE WEST is great. But even a cursory look around the world reveals the “good deeds” western civilization has done.

This is all a long winded way of me saying: I’m a pessimist in thought, but an optimist in action. I never figured gay marriage would be legal, or marijuanna legalized in many parts of the United States. So maybe in time enough people will wake up and realize there’s enough for everyone. My prediction? If we see it happen in my lifetime, Gen-Z will do it. These kids are wicked smart, and in my experience, very conscious of the propaganda western capitalist countries feeds them. And in my experience, they refuse to swallow. Bless them.

Even if we don’t see it in our lifetimes, perhaps we can pave the way for future generations. We all enjoy the fruits of brave men and women who fought and died for causes they never saw realized. I imagine a world where everyone has enough. Will I see it come to pass in my lifetime? Doesn’t matter. I’m reminded of something John Brown said at his sentencing before he was hung from the neck.

“Now, if it is deemed necessary that I should forfeit my life for the furtherance of the ends of justice, and mingle my blood further with the blood of my children and with the blood of millions in this slave country whose rights are disregarded by wicked, cruel, and unjust enactments–I submit; so let it be done!”

Brown never saw the emancipation of slavery. But because of him, and hundreds of thousands of others who paved the way, progress was made.

As an overseas contributor, what do you make of Britain’s dramatic reliance on foodbanks? How is this different or similar to your own country?

Not surprising. The British, like Americans, have a long history of colonial and imperial rule. If you brutalize peoples around the world, why wouldn’t you brutalize your own citizens? Why would your venom stop at an invisible line we call “borders?”

Other than making general disparaging remarks, I admit I’m not versed in the food bank systems of either country, and I generally refrain from commenting on matters on which I’ve not availed myself of sufficient facts.

Here at Urban Pigs Press we believe that the indie writing scene is an incredible place of support. From fellow writers to zines and indie presses. Who is your favourite writer in the indie community and why?

To avoid bias, I’m going to exclude Outcast Press and Translucent Eyes Press authors. Obviously I think each of them are fantastic.

Craig Clevenger, without question, is a G.O.A.T in my mind. The Contortionist’s Handbook is a masterclass in Neo-Noir. That book also came at a time when I needed validation for my feelings on psychiatric abuse. Craig will always hold a special place in my heart.

Coy Hall. The man is a powerhouse. I admit, I’ve only read two books by him, but both were absolute bangers. If you’re down for gothic horror, often mixed with other genres (like westerns), check him out. I believe he’s also getting into crime fiction too (but I can’t comment on that). Suffice it to say: check him out.

Brian Bowyer. I’m going to mildly cheat here. He’s going to be an Outcast Author soon, but he’s not yet, and I was a fan of his before he ever submitted work to us. Brian’s style is quick, and snappy, with engaging prose. When you read his work, you’re in for a ride. I have ADHD, and as a result, tend to be a slow reader. I burn through a Bowyer book in a day or two. If you want a writer who doesn’t hold back, Brian is your man.

Tell us about your latest work? Do you have any books you would like our readers to know about?

Besides being in anthologies and online mags, my poetry book Homo Mortalis is out (Anxiety Press, 2022). If you’re in the mood for some nihilistic musings on death, maybe give it a shot. Sheldon Solomon, co-founder of Terror Management Theory, praised it. So that’s something.

Flesh Merchants: Stories of Sex and Death will be out sometime soon…probably? I just need to compile the pieces into one document and go through the editorial process.

I have other works in the pipeline. Shoutout to Neda Aria for really pressing me on one piece she liked. As a result, I’m working on turning a short story into a novella.

How did you first hear about Urban Pigs Press?

I think you fine folks added me on Twitter a few months ago. Then I remember hearing about your charity anthology. I’m always down to write something for charity. Kudos to you for organizing all this.

I’ve droned on long enough, I wager.

We don’t think that’s possible! Thanks for these answers, they are brilliant, brutal and honest, much your like your writing. So many great things to consider here, I think you could be bang on about Gen-Z’s. I want to believe that this younger generation are better than their predecessors at reading through the bullshit. We can only hope. Homo Mortalis is on our list to review, I’m looking forward to getting that up soon. I would highly recommend your writing to anyone and readers can get an idea exactly what to expect with your Hunger contribution. Feeder is exactly what we’re about here at UPP. Thanks again mate! You are a pillar of the writing community.

Feeder does exactly what it says on the tin! Read it in the HUNGER anthology from the 11th March.

Sebastian Vice is the co-founder of Outcast Press and Translucent Eyes Press. His short fiction and poetry has been published across a range of indie magazines. His debut poetry book, Homo Mortalis (Anxiety Press, 2022), explores death through the lens of Terror Management Theory.

http://www.outcast-press.com

@sebastian_vice

Release date for the HUNGER anthology!

We have good news! The release date for the HUNGER anthology is set for the 11th March. Initial release will be through Amazon and Kindle but we hope to have physical copies in local book shops soon after. One place you can be sure to find this incredible collection will be Dial Lane Books in Ipswich. Andrew has been as much a part of this fantastic cause as all our contributors. We couldn’t be any more excited to share this with everyone. 23 different authors have given up their time and talent to help us make a difference to those in need and we are beyond grateful to each and everyone one of you. Jo Andrews has gone above and beyond to deliver us a cover that represents everything we set out to do. Cody Sexton has also contributed with an incredible piece of talent for our title page. We are both proud and humbled by the incredible efforts of everyone involved. Stephen J. Golds and Rob Jelly (BBC Suffolk) have also given their time to praise this darkly beautiful collection.

As part of our promotion for the anthology we will be posting interviews from the authors involved. Judging by some of the answers given already, I can confirm that we really have discovered a great bunch of humans in this anthology.

This book won’t put an end to poverty or hunger. Neither will it change the agendas of our politicians. But it will make a direct impact to a few of those we hope to represent. And for now, we’ll take it. So, please set that date in your calendar and help us to make that difference.

The Hunger anthology is a collection of 23 stories by 23 different authors. Tales of brutal reality, dark horror, gritty crime and dark humour sprawled out upon each page. Each story delivering a unique take on the prompt HUNGER. A true representation of some of the strongest talents within the writing community.

“A collection of stories that are as close to the bone in literary class as they are in their scathing analysis of a broken society.”

– Stephen J. Golds

Author of Say Goodbye When I’m Gone