Jul 22

Cover reveal & pre-order link

Compiled after Brian Fugett’s sudden passing, this collection casts his work in a new light—read as both legacy and insight into his life and perspective. Fugett’s poems often spring from everyday observations, revealing the strange, uncomfortable, and darkly humorous sides of human behavior and social interactions. This is evident in pieces like “Saturday Morning Cartoons,” “Interviewing Mr. Weck,” “At the Nursing Home,” and “Rush Hour in Chula Vista,” where his sharp eye for peculiar details and unsettling moments shines through.

Many poems explore Fugett’s inner world—feelings of isolation, anxiety, confusion, and the search for meaning amid chaos. Themes of self-awareness, the passage of time, and grappling with personal demons recur throughout. Relationships, both fleeting and significant, appear frequently, with poems delving into attraction, awkwardness, desire, and the often-confusing nature of human connection—presented with rawness and blunt honesty.

Fugett’s satirical, sometimes scathing commentary targets modern society—consumerism, technology, religion, and social dynamics—through a lens that is both cynical and darkly humorous. At the heart of it all is his unflinching self-portrait: a voice marked by flaws, anxieties, and self-deprecating wit, giving the collection its raw, authentic power.

COVER ART BY ANDREW LANDER. Editors Aleathia Drehmer & Michele McDannold.

“The brilliance of these poems will break your heart, due to a voice silenced too soon. Yet, the humanity breathing off the page will bring a smile to the face of even the most hardened hearts. If this is to be Brian Fugett’s swan song, it’s a most beautiful melody.”—Michael N. Thompson, author of A Murder Of Crows and Verbal Alchemy

“Brian’s voice in these poems alternates between hilarity and nihilism. The hilarity is natural and infectious and the nihilism is matter of fact. The tone reminds me of a book I return to again and again whenever I am feeling my most disconnected from and most disenchanted with my fellow humans. Psychotic Reactions and Carburetor Dung by the brilliant Lester Bangs. I only met Brian in person once, at a karaoke bar in Ohio in 2011. But I loved him and I’m grateful that he is still here in these kick life in the balls poems.”—Misti Rainwater-Lites, author of Clown Gravy and others

pre-order your copy at https://www.magicaljeep.com/product/fugett/TAPPK35FNM7O4XG53RFNB7JZ

 

May 25

In Memoriam

Back Cover

Citizens for Decent Literature Press is honored to announce the forthcoming publication of a powerful new collection of poetry by our dearly missed friend, Brian Fugett. Spanning work from the late 1980s through 2024, this posthumous collection gathers over 150 poems that reflect the breadth of Fugett’s voice and vision.

Edited by Aleathia Drehmer and Michele McDannold, the volume offers an intimate window into Fugett’s inner and outer worlds. From gritty, everyday observations to the surreal and abstract, these poems showcase his fearless honesty and unmistakable wit. With a sharp eye for the absurd and a deep sensitivity to the complexities of being human, Fugett captures the strange, uncomfortable, and often darkly humorous edges of life.

Recurring themes include isolation, anxiety, disillusionment, and an ongoing search for meaning—always grounded in a raw, self-aware voice that never shies from vulnerability. Whether confronting personal demons or reflecting on society’s contradictions, Fugett’s work remains fiercely authentic and emotionally resonant.

This collection stands not only as a testament to his singular talent but also as a tribute to his legacy in the small press and underground lit communities. Proceeds from this collection will support the Brian Fugett Memorial Prize, a new annual award for an outstanding chapbook of poetry.

May 20

The Brian Fugett Memorial Prize Opens for Submissions September 1

In honor of the late editor, poet, and publisher Brian W. Fugett, The Literary Underground is proud to announce the launch of the Brian Fugett Memorial Prize, an annual award recognizing an outstanding poetry chapbook manuscript.

Best known for his irreverent voice and unwavering support for indie lit, Fugett was a driving force behind many DIY literary efforts, including Zygote in My Coffee, Tainted Coffee Press and the Nothing to Lose internet radio program. This new prize celebrates his legacy by uplifting bold, uncompromising work in the spirit of his own.

Submissions will be open from September 1 through September 30, 2025.

One manuscript will be selected for publication by Citizens for Decent Literature Press. The winning poet will receive 25 contributor copies of the chapbook.

This year’s judges are poets Aleathia Drehmer and Michele McDannold.