semantikon feature literature
Oct. 2004
Stacy Sims
works
ONGOING SERIES:
"e-stories"
About e-stories:
“I have started on this series of stories where the characters are related -- in the case of these three because they are co-workers -- but are disconnected to one another because each character is conducting a huge part of their lives on the internet. I am interested in what happens, fictionally, when the virtual reality seems more important than or indistinguishable from actual reality.”
 
biogrpahy
Stacy Sims’ first novel, Swimming Naked, was published by Viking in April of 2004. The Chicago Tribune called it “a fresh, edgy … brutally moving first novel” where “Sims works toward a stunningly beautiful climax while bringing painful pictures into excruciating focus.” The Cleveland Plain Dealer said, “Sims' writing borders on sublime as it delivers an unsentimental, deeply moving testament to the power of love and forgiveness.” Swimming Naked was also a selected by Border’s for their national Original Voices Program.

Sims was a monthly columnist for Cincinnati Magazine in 2003 and had published articles in Yoga for Everybody and Northern Ohio Live.

Prior to her writing career, Sims worked in communications and in the arts. She was a publicist for the Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati, and created educational programming for the Museum of Contemporary Art in Cleveland and also produced and managed traveling art exhibitions for her own company, Exhibition Management, where she worked with leading artists and museums around the country and abroad.

Currently, she owns Pendleton Pilates and is at work on her second novel, They Shoot Horses. She lives in downtown, Cincinnati.

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The Girl in the Red Shirt            
            

From: Alessa Broadbent
To: Gina Firestone
Subject: A-hole from bar
Date: Fri, 10 Sept 1004


So I haven’t heard from the asshole in a whole week and the wedding is tomorrow. So here are all of our emails. I cut and pasted them for you to read. Obviously, you’ll have to read from the bottom up.

I have re-read them about a thousand times and I can’t figure out where it went wrong. Should I call him again?

What do you think?

ab

p.s. You would not believe the shit with Mr. Smith.

> > >From: Alessa Broadbent
> > >To: Dan Crispin
> > >Subject: Re: fun!
> > >Date: Fri, 3 Sept 2004 08:57:35 -0700 (PDT)

Good morning!

I'm exhausted today! All that action in the car was fun and all but I'm
an
old-fashioned girl who prefers a bed, thank you very much. And I’m not sure I’m up for the back end business in the back seat. But don't get me
wrong. I'd do it again if you want :)

So what about the wedding. You never told me last night. I guess we
were too
busy doing other stuff:)

Let me know! BTW do you have plans tonight?

xoxoxoo
ab


> From: Dan Crispin <rebelyell1979@yahoo.com>
> To: Alessa Broadbent <slimnsassy69@hotmail.com>
> Subject: Re: fun!
> Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2004 12:12:00 -0700 (PDT)

>
> Yeah. I'll try.
>
> >From: Alessa Broadbent
> >To: Dan Crispin
> >Subject: Re: fun!
> >Date: Wed, 1 Sept 2004 09:04:35 -0700 (PDT)

>
Sure! And don't forget
> ... Brew House on Thursday.
>
> xxoo
> ab
>
>
> >From: Dan Crispin
> >To: Alessa Broadbent
> >Subject: Re: fun!
> >Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2004 09:02:03 -0700 (PDT)

> >
> >Hmm. Not sure I can swing it. Can I let you know?
> >
> >
> > >From: Alessa Broadbent
> > >To: Dan Crispin
> > >Subject: Re: fun!
> > >Date: Tues, 31 Aug 2004 08:57:35 -0700 (PDT)

> > I was surprised to see you last night! Thanks! I
> >had a blast. You are so funny. And Jimbo isn't so
> >bad afterall except he keeps hitting on me like I'm some kind of
skanky
> hoe.
> >
> >I have this wedding to go to next weekend - Saturday night. Want to
go
> with
> >me? I would love to see you dressed up. I'll make it worth your
while. And it occurs to me that I’ve never seen you outside of a bar or your bedroom : ) which isn’t a bad thing : )
> >
> >xxxx
> >ab
> >

p.s. I’m not allowed to say about my boss. But maybe I’ll tell you when I see you. It’s a FEDERAL offence.
> >
> > >From: Dan Crispin
> > >To: Alessa Broadbent
> > >Subject: Re: fun!
> > >Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2004 08:57:35 -0700 (PDT)

> > >
> > >Sorry I haven't returned your calls. Have been really swamped. I
don't
> >know
> > >if I'll be able to go to happy hour but thanks for the voice message. FYI – please don’t leave the same message over and over. If I don’t get back to you right away, it just means I’m busy.
> > >
p.s. what did your boss do?
> > >
> > >From: Alessa Broadbent <slimnsassy69@hotmail.com>
> > >To: Dan Crispin <rebelyell1979@yahoo.com>
> > >Subject: Re: fun!
> > >Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2004 08:41:27 -0700 (PDT)

> > >
> > >Sure! See you there. I'm glad to hear you are okay. Was worried. The whole world is going crazy. You wouldn’t even believe what my boss did.
> > >
> > >xx
> > >ab
> > >
> > >
> > > >From: Dan Crispin
> > > >To: Alessa Broadbent
> > > >Subject: Re: fun!
> > > >Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2004 08:39:32 -0700 (PDT)

> > > >
> > > >Sorry I haven't called. I had some people in town plus all this
crap at work. Want to hook up at Blue Leopard later? I have a work thing but
> >will
> > > >be there around 10.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > >From: Alessa Broadbent <slimnsassy69@hotmail.com>
> > > > >To: Dan Crispin <rebelyell1979@yahoo.com>
> > > > >Subject: Re: fun!
> > > > >Date: Sat, 21 Aug 2004 14:30:27 -0700 (PDT)

> > > >
> > > >thanks for last night. i like your fish and your bed. call me!
> > > >
> > > >xx
> > > >
> > > >ab
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > >From: Dan Crispin <rebelyell1979@yahoo.com>
> > > > >To: Alessa Broadbent <slimnsassy69@hotmail.com>
> > > > >Subject: Re: fun!
> > > > >Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2004 14:30:27 -0700 (PDT)

> > > > >
> > > > >Yeah. I had a rough day myself.
> > > > >
> > > > >Why is Jimbo a shithead again? I mean, he is a shithead but I am a little fuzzy on the details of his shitheaded behavior last night. I hope
> he
> > > > >wasn't too much of an idiot.
> > > > >
> > > > >I have to finish up some stuff here but I'll try to make it
over to Lightbox. I hope you will have on a red shirt again. I'm afraid I
> >won't
> > > > >remember you. Ha ha.
> > > > >
> > > > >Sincerely,
> > > > >
> > > > >the guy with the shithead friend
> > > > >


> > > > >From: Alessa Broadbent <slimnsassy69@hotmail.com>
> > > > >To: Dan Crispin <rebelyell1979@yahoo.com>
> > > > >Subject: Re: fun!
> > > > >Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2004 14:30:27 -0700 (PDT)

> > > > >i don't know if i should thank you for buying me all those
shots
> last night
> > > > >because i can barely keep my eyes open today - THANK GOD my
boss is in florida.
> > > > >
it was fun meeting you guys except tell jimbo i still think he
is a
> > > > >shithead. ha ha.
> > > > >
> > > > >a few of us are going to lightbox for happy hour. do you dare?
see
> >you
> > > > >there?
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >the girl in the red shirt.
> > > > >