Self, Cited
(Publications & Readings)

  • "Leave Luck to Heaven." The Carolina Quarterly, vol. 63.2, Fall 2013, pp. 111-130.
  • "This is Deadly Serious, a satire." University of Notre Dame Creative Writing Program, MFA Thesis Reading, 29 April 2011. Public Reading.
  • "Spontaneous Shinto, pt. 2: The Source of the Big Echo." University of Notre Dame Creative Writing Program, Lula's Coffee Shop, 17 Nov. 2010. Public Reading.
  • "On the Platform." Raft, Fall 2010.
  • "The Unmaker of Abstractions." University of Notre Dame Creative Writing Program, Lula's Coffee Shop, 28 April 2010. Public Reading.
  • "Sodality." University of Notre Dame Creative Writing Program, Hammes Bookstore, 20 April 2010. Public Reading.
  • "Yasukuni Incident." Witness, Vol. XXI, 2007, pp. 84-90. (Nominated for Pushcart Prize)
  • "Words for Sale at Creole Gallery." City Pulse, 7 April 2004.
  • "Dreamorphans: 'We Do Films'." City Pulse, 17 March 2004.
  • "Letter from Dimondale: Can the Movie Version Be Far Behind?" City Pulse, 29 Jan. 2003.
  • "Sodality." Witness, Vol. XVI, 2002, pp. 114-117. (Winner of Short-Short Fiction Contest for Emerging Writers)

(Reviews)

"R. Jess Lavolette also innovated formally, integrating the format of a video game into fiction called “Leave Luck to Heaven.” The communications between the story and the player create compelling vignettes that are a pleasure to read in the carefully crafted prose, but the interspersions also help drive the movement of the message. I was impressed by the dialogue, which reads clearly even when there are elements of the interface adjusting the interpretation of inputs (such as the refrain “Select yes). It is tougher than a villanelle but more instinctive than an American sonnet. The voice, characterization, and plot are highly original, and the structure remains understandable even if you have never played a video game in your life and suspect you will miss certain trade references. I don’t think you will; like great genre literature, it tells you enough to participate without betraying its ruse or neglecting its slight."
  • Florio, Mary. Review of The Carolina Quarterly vol. 63.2, New Pages, 16 Feb. 2014.