The Centifictionist

EA Luetkemeyer’s 98 word microfiction, “The Southwest Chief”, will appear in the fourth issue of The Centifictionist (Vol. 2, Issue 2, Fall/Winter 2021). EA graciously answered a few brief questions for us. Read the interview below.

1. What inspired the story “The Southwest Chief”?

“The Southwest Chief” was inspired by incidents and accidents and memorable moments from my long-ago outlaw days.

2. What inspires you and your writing?

The search for meaning contained in every event. I write to discover what I think and feel…about myself. About the world.

3. What keeps you going when experiencing times of misery and despair?

I am fortunate to have never despaired, though I have experienced my share of misfortune. In hard times I am comforted by the old adage “This, too, shall pass.” And the certain knowledge that there is a lesson to be learned from every unpleasant experience.

4. What advice do you have for microfiction writers?

Make every word count. Writing microfiction is a great discipline for writing concise prose of any length. Create a tight little narrative that drives forward to a final impact.

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EA Luetkemeyer’s short fiction has appeared in Sou’wester, Opium Magazine, Del Sol Review, Commonthought, Perversion Magazine, The Ilanot Review, and the anthology Stories That Need to be Told. He is the author of the novels Inside the Mind of Martin Mueller and Penitentiary Tales: a Love Story, and the memoir The Book of Chuck. He has been a martial artist, a long-distance runner, an outlaw, a fugitive, a husband and father, and sometimes a fool. He was awarded an MFA in Creative writing from Lesley University, Cambridge, MA, in 2015. Please visit his website ealuetkemeyer.com to learn more about his writing and to read novel excerpts and reviews. He has an Instagram account and a Facebook page. He welcomes questions and comments to his email address, geneluetkemeyer@yahoo.com.