LitQuake, Clarion Alley, and Quiet Lightning: Origins

In October, 2009, I read at the open mic in Clarion Alley. Tony DuShane was the MC, and I got to read alongside Jesus Angel Garcia (aka Sam Prestiani), Nic Alea, Meghan Thornton, and others. I never did like the preamble with which writers introduce their works. On this night, I eliminated the preamble as much as possible and limited interaction with the audience in between. We decided to start a reading series this night. In fact, every reader we met in the Alley, has ended up reading at Quiet Lightning between December 2009 and January 2011. *Please note* "Painful Beauty" contains R-rated language. It is my first attempt at having written in this way, and then to perform it word for word in front of an audience was nerve-racking.