Friday, April 4, 2025

Around eight years ago, I met Jerry Fialka in the back area of a coffeehouse that was on the north side of Pico Blvd. near where Santa Monica turns into West Los Angeles. He set up a tape recorder and we talked for about an hour and a half. I enjoyed the conversation more than I expected, given that such an interview almost. always require recite biographical facts about my personal background and experiences as an editor and publisher that are all too predictable in the familiar chronology of personal chronology when it’s shared with an interviewer. Recently, Jerry wrote me and asked for a follow-up interview, which would be conducted as a record Zoom conversation for his podcast. The spring break was coming up, and we set up a date. Two days ago, as the stock market braced itself for the worst case scenario (and then subsequently has found out that it’s much worse than the stock brokers anticipated), Jerry and I talked for another hour and a half or thereabouts.

Jerry just sent a link to that broadcast, which you can watch at your leisure.

I should mention that Jerry Fialka is the director of a reading group dedicated to reading Finnegans Wake out loud, one page a month, in a group setting. I’ve heard about this gathering for quite a few years, but always thought it was in person, which would make attending it a matter of driving from Long Beach to Venice. It takes place on line now, however, and I hope to join in starting on the first Tuesday of May. Mr. Fialka is one of the most intriguing cultural workers I have ever encountered, and I am grateful that we had a chance to share each other’s company.

You can find out more about him at:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerry_Fialka