Kevin McGowin
Encyclopedia
Kevin McGowin was an American writer
, college teacher and typewriter
enthusiast. Holding degrees in literature
from Auburn University at Montgomery and the University of Florida
, he taught literature and creative writing, moving from one college to another quite often, before he decided to become a full-time writer. He lived in Birmingham, Micanopy
, Denver, Raleigh
, New Hampshire
, New York City
, New Orleans, and then back in his native Birmingham, where he died in a tragic accident, choking on food.
He was first noticed as a poet
, with such collections as Bogus Pastimes (1993), Wild Afflictions (1994), and The Better Part of a Fortnight (1999).
Initially his fiction
was published online, notably the three novel
s known as “The Benny Poda Trilogy”: The Benny Poda Years (2001), Town Full of Hoors (2001) and What God Has Joined Together (2002), all written and posted “a chapter a day”. The trilogy
is his only major work of fiction published in print. His last novel, Flies in the Buttermilk, was serialized online in 2003-2004. All these are social satire
s, with some elements of supernatural
and macabre
, spiced up with a considerable amount of strong language. McGowin showed a more lyrical side in his short stories, to be found on various websites online; Slender Accidents (2004) being a major collection of vignettes.
Kevin McGowin was a noted reviewer, contributing for years to Oyster Boy Review magazine and Eclectica Magazine
, where he was appointed Reviews Editor in 2003.
He also recorded a CD of original folk songs entitled Love & Pity (A Priori, 2000).
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, college teacher and typewriter
Typewriter
A typewriter is a mechanical or electromechanical device with keys that, when pressed, cause characters to be printed on a medium, usually paper. Typically one character is printed per keypress, and the machine prints the characters by making ink impressions of type elements similar to the pieces...
enthusiast. Holding degrees in literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
from Auburn University at Montgomery and the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
, he taught literature and creative writing, moving from one college to another quite often, before he decided to become a full-time writer. He lived in Birmingham, Micanopy
Micanopy, Florida
Micanopy is a town in Alachua County, Florida, United States. It is south of Gainesville. The population in the 2000 census was 653. As of 2004, the population according to the U.S. Census Bureau was 652...
, Denver, Raleigh
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
, New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, New Orleans, and then back in his native Birmingham, where he died in a tragic accident, choking on food.
He was first noticed as a poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, with such collections as Bogus Pastimes (1993), Wild Afflictions (1994), and The Better Part of a Fortnight (1999).
Initially his fiction
Fiction
Fiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...
was published online, notably the three novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
s known as “The Benny Poda Trilogy”: The Benny Poda Years (2001), Town Full of Hoors (2001) and What God Has Joined Together (2002), all written and posted “a chapter a day”. The trilogy
Trilogy
A trilogy is a set of three works of art that are connected, and that can be seen either as a single work or as three individual works. They are commonly found in literature, film, or video games...
is his only major work of fiction published in print. His last novel, Flies in the Buttermilk, was serialized online in 2003-2004. All these are social satire
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
s, with some elements of supernatural
Supernatural
The supernatural or is that which is not subject to the laws of nature, or more figuratively, that which is said to exist above and beyond nature...
and macabre
Macabre
In works of art, macabre is the quality of having a grim or ghastly atmosphere. Macabre works emphasize the details and symbols of death....
, spiced up with a considerable amount of strong language. McGowin showed a more lyrical side in his short stories, to be found on various websites online; Slender Accidents (2004) being a major collection of vignettes.
Kevin McGowin was a noted reviewer, contributing for years to Oyster Boy Review magazine and Eclectica Magazine
Eclectica Magazine
Eclectica is one of the oldest surviving online literary publications. Founded in 1996 by Chris Lott and Tom Dooley, Eclectica's extensive and growing archives features poetry, fiction, nonfiction, miscellany, travel, opinion, and reviews by hundreds of authors from around the world...
, where he was appointed Reviews Editor in 2003.
He also recorded a CD of original folk songs entitled Love & Pity (A Priori, 2000).