Greg Bottoms
Greg Bottoms is the author of six books, including the memoir Angelhead (U. of Chicago Press), the recent essay collection Spiritual American Trash: Portraits from the Margins of Art and Faith (Counterpoint Press), and Pitiful Criminals (Counterpoint Press), a graphic collection of memoirs and stories, with drawings by artist W. David Powell. He teaches creative writing at the University of Vermont, where he is Professor of English.
Recent Posts by Greg
Two Misses
That’s the thing they don’t tell you—PTSD is contagious.
The Minister’s Handyman
An excerpt from Pitiful Criminals, published this week by Counterpoint Press. Drawings by W. David Powell.
Black Preacher at the Family Reunion
“Do it or I’ll cut your throat,” Kevin said. You thought about it, yelling the word and then running and it would all really just be a game.
Dear Mr. Eggleston
When I hold your photograph, I’m looking at our car in the Sears parking lot in 1976, and time has collapsed.
A Message from Prison
When somebody just needs to disappear.
In the Devil House
People always told Frank Jones that he was special.
Mountainous Harmony and Everlasting Peace
Great art meets faulty wiring.
Ghosts in the Mirrors
The making of a Santero artist as an old man.
Two Ghost Stories
Conversations with the dead, memories of life.
Jesus Saves
The way to eternal life through a dead-ringer for Christ.
Love
This is what you do when you love someone. Not just like. Only if you’re in love.
Mothers
On learning to inhale, and a breeze of insignificance. Another excerpt from Greg Bottoms’ new book, Fight Scenes
Thieves
To be a lover and a car thief on a Saturday morn
The Colorful Apocalypse
What does it take to be an “outsider artist”? Brushes, paint, and revelation.