Sunlight Preview

Take a look inside Sunlight at Midnight, Darkness at Noon. This is a slightly stripped down version of what awaits you in just the first section of Sunlight if you choose to purchase a copy.

A work of Art

The hardcover books have been signed by Christopher and are now in route to St. Charles where they will be matched up with CDs and shipped to their final destinations.

An Epic Interview

There is a very indepth interview conducted by Father Luke over at in Mary Literary in the Ping Pong Section. Here is Hosho talking sharing his thoughts on the book:

"...it's been a strange journey for me. This book is as wide-open as I've ever been--the writing as pure as I've ever written...which is a little uncomfortable. Growing pains, i guess. Looking back through the manuscript I was, at times, embarrassed, at times shocked, sometimes indignant, sometime proud...but I've remained, strangely, moved by the book as a whole. I believe very much in this book, and the ambitious things it tries to accomplish."

You can read the entire interview here.

The Sunlight Tapes

Here is an exclusive track from "The Sunlight Tapes", a recording of audio excepts from Sunlight at Midnight, Darkness at Noon. The musical backdrop for these recording were provided by Noot d'Noot. Every copy of Sunlight that is ordered directly from Orange Alert will include a copy of The Sunlight Tapes. 

Sanctuary, Salvation - Cunningham

Props for Sean

Sean Lynch of 10pt Press has devoted a great deal of time and energy to designing the guts of Sunlight at Midnight, Darkness at Noon, and everyone involved in this project was proud to see him get a little recognition in his hometown. (photo by Mal McCann)

Check it out!

Sneak Peak!

I am so excited to give you a sneak peak at the cover of Sunlight at Midnight, Darkeness at Noon. Created by Iowa's Chris Roberts this cover has gone beyond anything I could have imagined.

Here is the Sunlight playlist (in case you missed it the first time):

Sunlight At Midnight, Darkness At Noon

A project that has taken way too long to complete is nearing its final stage, and I am proud to announce that Sunlight At Midnight, Darkness At Noon is now available for preorder. This is a collection of letters written between two poets, Hosho McCreesh (interview) and Christopher Cunningham (interview) in the year 2002. When compiled these letters form a narrative of a forming friendship, a commentary on a world in chaos (much as it is now), and a story of the struggle to express all that we feel when working with such a limited language. This collection is the story of the American worker, the American Poet, the underground and the under appreciate, but above all else this is the story of two men (who have never met in person) attempting to justify their existence and make sense of it all.




"McCreesh and Cunningham are excellent poets, and the inventiveness, compassion and concern for humanity that fill their poems shines through in their letters as well. An entertaining and engaging read." - William Taylor

To complete this daunting project and truly attempt to present to you a masterpiece of independent lit, Orange Alert Press has enlisted some of the most respected figures in the small press to take part in the project. The interior of the book is being crafted by Sean Lynch of 10pt Press, the hardcover editions (26 lettered editions that will include extra goodies) are being handmade by Bill Roberts of Bottle of Smoke Press, and the cover is being designed by Chris Roberts (interview). There is more information to follow, but the 26 hardcover editions have been released for presale. As of today we have four left unclaimed. If you wish to be one of the 26 individuals to own a hardcover copy of this project please contact me today. This edition will be handmade and will also include a hand type double side broadside with poems written just for this project, as well as other items. Please stay tuned for more information!

Drawing on Sunlight

Part of the concept for the new book (Sunlight at Midnight, Darkness at Noon) is to have an illustration leading into each section of the book. The book itself is divided into eleven sections, one for each month, starting in Feb. 2002 and ending in Dec. 2002.

Here is a rough sketch for February and its inspiration.

...took a bit of a break there, now five thirty something a.m., I am just cruising along, no time now, a number only. it is good when you hit that stride, that level, that note, that centering essential tonality, something, understand? like the words are writing you, that is how you know the good poem is tumbling forth, spilling, spent. "CLAW AT STARS..." "THROWING HATCHETS OFF SKYSCRAPERS..." glad to know the truths I see drive you further towards your own. ~ February 12th, 2002 - from Cunningham

All illustrations, including the cover, for Sunlight will be done by the incredible hand of Chris Szostek.

Special Announcement

I am proud to announce the next project for Orange Alert Press, and I could not think of a better day to do it. SUNLIGHT AT MIDNIGHT, DARKNESS AT NOON: The Cunningham/McCreesh Letters Vol. 1 Feb. - Dec. 2002 is now in the editing stage, and scheduled for release on January 20th, 2009. Yes, Inauguration Day.

In the era of twitter and texting, facebook poems, and gchat, the power of the written word can get lost. The necessity to hold the printed text in your hand and sit down in a comfortable chair or under tree or in your car after a long hard day at work and read the words before you has been replaced by the iphone. Yet, there are a few people out there that still prefer the typewriter to the laptop, and the letter to the e-mail. Two of them are named Hosho McCreesh and Christopher Cunningham. Established underground writers, McCreesh and Cunningham write with power and conviction, and through typed letters they have formed a bond and created a running dialog on how they view the world.

Here is how Hosho described the book to me, but I think this can sum it up for everyone:

What unfolds here in these pages is the story of two lives as they struggle and search for meaning, for understanding, for some small measure of sense in a cold and often brutal, senseless world. Sometimes scathing and brash, sometime vulnerable, sometimes self-assured, the conversational threads are woven into a constant, furious tapestry covering the landscape of the American South, the desert Southwest and all the way to the cold mountains of Switzerland. Here are two writers clinging desperately to typewriters as war in the Middle East breaks out, as fear and terror motivate and penetrate the culture at large, gouge into its electronic eye, as the artistic mind is flattened, anesthetized. These letters represent a refusal to submit and a wild shout to the heavens that art can still matter. Reading these things over has been a revelation I think both Chris & I agree, that, while we've changed as writers & as people, this is still very much who we are & how we approach our work. Not bad for two guys who've never met.

Over the next few months I will share excerpts, cover concepts, limited edition ideas (and realities), thoughts, input, songs, and so on as we work together to build this book. For now I will leave you with this.