First, let me say how thrilled I am to be the September Writer in Residence here at Necessary Fiction. I have long admired, swooned over, and gasped in admiration at work published and edited here by Steve Himmer (for your consideration: Matt Baker’s A bit about Le Pue published just this week). For the past four months, I have been lucky enough to work with Necessary Fiction’s reviews editor Michelle Bailiat-Jones, editor of my Swiss dreams, whose generous, lovely introduction made me blush with adolescent unattractiveness. So thanks again to Steve and Michelle!

And now on to our September Gorge

I’m a big fan of buffets. As an adult, I have attended my hunger at the Texas institution of Luby’s (home of the Luanne Platter (pictured above) for you King of the Hill fans), Golden Corral, Old Country, any number of seemingly-random numbered China Buffets, breakfast smorgasbords at Shoney’s, and well there’s so many more. I have no qualms with creating a plate of egg rolls, creamed spinach and pizza with ranch dressing, having a twenty-second time out with some self-serve frozen gold and then returning to the fray with macaroni and cheese, a corndog and some ham. This metaphor of the gorge is a good way to think of my month here at Necessary Fiction. I’m going to fill you up so good with so much (30 days! a post every day!) that you’ll contemplate doing what I’ve contemplated doing at each buffet I’ve visited: throwing up to make room for more. There’s going to be a spirited defense of certain historical romance novels, discussions of comics, graphic novels, and fantasy; we’re going to look at the sometimes-crippling-self-doubt that comes with reviewing books and turn to Ghostface Killah for advice; we’re going to talk about sincerity in fiction (hint: it’s not New) and listen to literary mixtapes. I’ll be interviewing amazing people, including the fantastic illustrator and book cover artist Yelena Bryksenkova; a high-school AP English teacher on the perils of teaching Clockwork Orange; a teacher of poetry and fiction to elementary-school students in Austin; and turkish artist Isil Egrikavuk, on her video installation about a man kidnapped and forced to live in a library. And of course we must address the most glorious thing that happens every September-the beginning of football-with a look at Frederick Exley’s A Fan’s Notes, Don DeLillo’s End Zone, and two recent paperbacks by former NFL players. Plus, throughout the month, I’ll be showcasing the work of writers whose work you’ll want seconds and thirds of: Mary Hamilton, Elizabeth Ellen, Jac Jemc, Alexander Lumans, Meghan Austin and many more. So here’s how you should approach our September–the same way you would a glorious buffet–you might not know what’s going to be offered when you arrive, but Goddamnit you’re going to want to put it on your plate.