At 7pm the program began with a brief introduction by Rock Canyon Poets co-founder Bonnie Shiffler-Olsen.  The co-editors of peculiar, Aaron Gates and Jack Garcia, each read their “Editor’s Foreword.”  Spencer Ballard read “Without Sugar” (61), “Grasshopper Games” (56), and “Red Bull and God” (3).  Brett Kesler read “Grey” (25) and Teasia-Larin Bingham read “Why Hadn’t Anyone Told Me?” (26), including a new introduction to the piece.  Kajsa Nelson read a five-minute excerpt of her fictional short story, “Let Her Go” (15).  Matthew A. Jonassaint read “Jeff Bridges” (36) and a couple of poems not featured in the journal, including “Mixed Tape.”  Hannah Irene wrapped up the peculiar portion of the night with zir reading of “Monogamy” (52) and a thrilling bit of slam poetry entitled “How to be Queer in Utah.”

The remaining fifteen minutes of the evening was an open mic, finishing with a reading by Bonnie Shiffler-Olsen who officially ended the program.

The launch party was a great success and we officially sold out of every print copy of peculiar.  A PDF version will soon be up on the website.

To submit work for volume 1, issue 2, visit us at: http://www.peculiarjournal.com/#!submit/c1p8z