Indie Ink Runs Deep: Chris L Terry

I'd been tossing around the idea of blogging a tattoo series for nearly a year. I know there are websites and books out there that have been-there-done-that already, but I hadn't seen one with a specific focus on the authors and publishers of the small press community. 

After hoarding the photos and essays I've been collecting from these guys since July of 2012, and with the promise of spring peeking its deliciously sunny head out through all of this winter gloom, I decided there was no better time than now to finally unveil THE INDIE INK RUNS DEEP mini-series!

Today's ink comes from Chris L. Terry. Chris has a Fiction Writing MFA from Columbia College Chicago. Curbside Splendor published his novel Zero Fade (Curbside Splendor, 2013), which Kirkus called, "Original, hilarious, thought-provoking and wicked smart: not to be missed." Visit ChrisLTerry.com for more of his writing.

I’ve got tattoos all over my back, legs and arms, but this one stays alone. It’s in honor of my friend Jonny Z, who died in Richmond, Virginia in May 2007. Jonny was an artist, an activist, a beast of a drummer, a member of an elite club called Roommates I’d Live With Again, and the kindest person I knew. Maybe too kind. Like, “Do you have to keep letting your smelly friend live on our couch?” kind. Like, Force you to examine how you interact with people kind.

I tend to be a loner, kinda self-absorbed. Seeing the way that Jonny brought people together showed me that it was possible to trust others, to work with them instead of separating myself. It was a big help in those punkhouse living situations. You can’t be alone then. It’s impossible. So go with the flow.

You’ll see a lot of Richmond old heads with Z tattoos in honor of Jonny. He was a huge part of the city’s creative community, and immediately became a folk hero upon passing, “Be Like Jonny Z” a credo.

This tattoo is of a coffee travel mug like Jonny always carried, but with angel wings and a halo – crooked because it’s having fun. Hope he is too.

 

Order Zero Fade from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, IndieBound. 

Keep up with Chris L. Terry and Zero Fade on social media:
Facebook.com/zerofadenovel
Twitter.com/zerofade94
Zerofade94.tumblr.com

This post is part of the Zero Fade Blog Tour, where different sites cover the book on the days surrounding its publication. The entire itinerary is listed here: http://www.curbsidesplendor.com/curbside/blog/zero-fade-blog-tour