Johnny Payne Knihy

Exploring the complexities of love and loyalty, this narrative centers on boxer Clay Justin, who endures more than he inflicts. The story delves into the struggles of characters navigating their identities, relationships, and societal pressures while facing the physical and emotional challenges of the boxing ring. With a blend of humor and poignant reflection, it highlights the resilience of the human spirit amidst the trials of race and class.

Set in a fictional subdivision in Appalachia, the story revolves around the Miles family, created by a real-estate developer. As he documents their lives in the Garden Springs neighborhood of Lexington, Kentucky, the narrative explores the family's dynamics amidst the social upheaval of the 1960s and 1970s. Each family member—Jean, Constance, and their children—competes for narrative space, leading to a blurring of fiction and reality. As the developer's son, Junior, contemplates his father's legacy, he grapples with love and identity in this metafictional exploration of family and existence.

The papers call me “the gentleman killer.” I wrapped the throat of my first victim in the silk scarf with which I strangled her. That’s what passes as a gentleman these days. I ask How do you reconcile a man who is capable of deep, tender love (because I’ve felt it), a man, who—by public standards—is a health reformer, assistant to the future British Prime Minister ,and the son-in-law of a wealthy industrialist, but who, when the moment overtakes him, kills women? I don’t know what to make of it myself, but that’s me. I’ve been told I have a philosopher’s mind, that I’m ambitious and can do anything I set my mind to—but sometimes my sadomasochistic tendencies get the better of me. I don’t venture judgement—on myself or anyone else. I’ll leave that up to you. My name is Kilcairn, and these are my confessions.

We are quite attracted and impressed by an extraordinary beauty and delicacy in all these poems included in the poetry book. It is quite true that the poet peeps into the secret recesses of heart. The poems will undoubtedly attract all readers due to unvarying excellence of style and diction. The poems are charged with powerful and energetic imagination. BIO Johnny Payne's work has appeared in Neon Door, Fast Flesh, Decadent Review, Verdad Magazine, Gasher Journal, Sparks of Calliope, Society for Classical Poets, The Chained Muse, Collidescope, Peregrine Journal, The New Lyre, Pulsebeat, Wine Cellar Press, and Soundings East. His most recent published novels are THE HARD SIDE OF THE RIVER and CONFESSIONS OF A GENTLEMAN KILLER, which won the IBPA Gold Medal for Horror in 2021. His books of poetry VASSAL and HEAVEN OF ASHES were published by Mouthfeel Press. He has directed his plays TOUCHSTONE, DEATH BY ZEPHYR and CANNIBALS for Slingshot Players, Los Angeles.

The narrative follows Étienne D'Abattoir, a romantic writer with a passion for French poetry, as he embarks on a journey across diverse cities including Paris, Dubrovnik, and Buenos Aires. His travels reveal a blend of wit and introspection, exploring the complexities of his surroundings and relationships. As a reluctant assassin, his character grapples with the tension between tenderness and ruthlessness, providing a unique perspective on the world he navigates.

Set in the Old South, the narrative explores the complex interplay of freedom and justice, highlighting the struggles of individuals who seek liberation amidst a backdrop of violence and oppression. It delves into the lives of those who possess courage and compassion, revealing how their actions challenge the harsh realities of their time. The story emphasizes the stark contrast between noble intentions and the brutal means required to achieve justice, creating a poignant reflection on morality and survival.