Frank Cotolo

"Life is whacked."

One never knows, one just endures, keeps the faith, burrows through the muck and tries to appreciate every sunset. And, if one must, one writes. - F.M. Cotolo

In the spring of 1988, I took a poetry class in college. For our final project, we had to turn in a magazine-ready submission to the professor..five poems, cover letter, and an addressed envelope. The prof mailed the submissions.

I submitted my stuff to Fat Tuesday, a little magazine published out of Southern California.

On September 21, 1988, I got a phone call from F.M. Cotolo, the editor. He called to give me all kinds of advice he wished someone had given him when he was young (I had just turned 20).

That phone call made a huge impression on me...it validated that I had something powerful to say with my poetry, with my words.

I wrote pages and pages in my journal that night (started a daily journal on his recommendation..still writing every day), most of which I won't share because it's mushy, giddy stuff from a relatively naive girl.

I wrote, "I have made contact somewhere outside my known world." That was the key; it was the first time that my words touched someone I didn't know, and touched him powerfully enough that he wanted to talk to me.

He had suspended publication of Fat Tuesday at that time, but he recommended I submit to a different magazine. I did so, and published My Navigator, my first publication outside of scholastic literary magazines.

We maintained correspondence for a couple of years after that, during which time he moved to New York. On the night he called, I wrote "I will never forget him," and so far, that has been true.

His confidence and enthusiasm for my work was transformative for me.

But what is more important, I think, is to be awake to what changes may surface along the way and to have the courage to change plans, take a ride here and there, play out things that may have seemed or still seem absurd. If life were only kinder we would not have to pay for mistakes along these lines, but why look for kindness in life? I say provide it and the rest will fall into place. - F.M. Cotolo

Frank's Work

Cotolo Chronicles
Notes, quotes and reflections on the internet talk broadcast, "Cotolo Chronicles."

Interview - Frank Cotolo
An interview with Frank about his music and radio show.

Frank Cotolo
Biography, music, interviews.

Ampcast.com - Cotolo Chronicles
Frank's radio show.