Out in the real world, I find myself straddled between July’s Readercon and August’s Worldcon, but on Eating the Fantastic’s timeline, June’s StokerCon is just about to begin. My first guest of four from that Pittsburgh con is Arley Sorg. Arley’s an associate literary agent at kt literary, and long-time listeners will have previously heard me chat with him briefly during my 2017 Nebula Awards weekend lightning-round donut episode.

Arley’s a 2022 Kate Wilhelm Solstice Award recipient, a 2021 and 2022 World Fantasy Award finalist, as well as a 2022 Locus Award finalist for his work as co-Editor-in-Chief at Fantasy Magazine. He was a 2022 Ignyte Award finalist in two categories: for his work as a critic, and for his essay “What You Might Have Missed” in Uncanny Magazine.

He’s a senior editor at Locus, a reviewer for Lightspeed, a columnist for The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, and an interviewer for Clarkesworld. He was a guest critiquer for the 2023 Odyssey Writing Workshop and the week five instructor for the 2023 Clarion West Workshop. Plus he’s out there across social media promoting the philosophy writers should “never give up, never surrender” as much as I have.

We discussed the difficulty in getting the help you need as a beginning writer when you don’t know what you don’t know, the serendipity that got him a job at Locus, how to inhabit the community that is while envisioning the community that could be, why an agent might prefer in-person pitches over email, the importance of doing things without an agenda, the way we learned to deal with both rejecting and being rejected, how to make sense of the myths and rumors of science fiction publishing, why he feels comfortable in his role as an agent, plus much more.

Here’s how you can join us at EYV restaurant —

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Here’s what you would have seen us nibbling had you been with us at EYV restaurant —

Welcome Snacks
Broccoli “Chicharrons”
Hummus Fritters | Harissa | Za’atar
Cuddrurieddri | Calabrian Chili | Parsley

Warm Spring Asparagus
Spring Herbs | Turnip | Scallion | 5 Minute Egg

General Tso’s Bok Choy
Green Garlic Fried Rice | Broccolini | Hot & Sour Pickled Carrot

Fungal Farms Lions Mane Mushroom
Ramp Vinaigrette | Roasted New Potatoes | Roasted Asparagus & Ramps

Carrot Cake
Cream Cheese Ice Cream | Carrot Top Parfait | Carrot-Almond Crumble

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Coming up two weeks from now for you on the podcast you’ll be able to join in the second of my StokerCon meals — with two-time Pushcart Prize nominee Kate Maruyama, who last year published two novels of alternate Hollywoods — Alterations and The Collective. I hope you’ll subscribe to reserve your seat at the table.