Alumni Sightings!

Andrew McFadyen-Ketchum (MFA '09, poetry) has a review of Ciaran Berry's collection The Sphere of Birds in the new issue of the Southern Indiana Review.
LINK:
Southern Indiana Review

Adrian Matejka (MFA '01) will read from his poems on Saturday, August 1 in Chicago as part of Word: Across Generations along with Quraysh Ali Lansana, Angela Jackson, FM Supreme and Kevin Coval, 3:00pm – 5:00pm, Perry Mansion Cultural Center in Englewood, 7042 South Perry Ave, Free. Open to the public. Reservations are recommended and can be made online, by email at events@prairie.org, or by calling 312.422.5580. Each of the poets will perform their work and participate in a post-performance conversation, moderated by spoken word artist Kevin Coval about the power of words. This program is part of The Public Square’s "Looking for Democracy Through the Arts," made possible in part by the Woods Fund of Chicago.

Also, click here for a radio interview Adrian did with poet Kevin Coval:
WBEZ

Curtis Crisler (MFA '04, poetry)'s new book, Pulling Scabs, is now available for purchase from Aquarius Press:
Aquarius Press Order Site

Congrats to Hannah New!

Good news from third-year MFA student in poetry Hannah New. Two of her poems appear in the new issue of The Sylvan Echo:

LINK:
The Sylvan Echo

The poems are "Phantom Fruits" and "Proving My Uncle Wrong."

Congrats, Hannah!

Catching Up With Teresa Kramer (MFA '04)

A recent note from Teresa Kramer (MFA '04, poetry). She currently works at Central Washington University, where she directs the university's Writing Center.

My poems have or will appear in the "Iguana Review" and "Not A Muse: the inner lives of women, a world poetry anthology" -- both of which I heard about through your CRWROPPS list. I so appreciate it. I hardly send anything out these days, but your e-list makes it both easier to think about submitting and almost shameful not to.

LINKS:
Iguana Review
Not A Muse
Teresa's Writing Center Bio

Congrats to Kerry James Evans!

Kerry James Evans (MFA '09, poetry) has very good news:

I just received my issue of New England Review--a humbling and rewarding gift. Also, I've had two acceptances this month: Fugue accepted "Colloquium" and The Comstock Review accepted "Junking Your First Car."

All the Best,

Kerry James

Congrats, Kerry James!

LINKS:
Fugue
Comstock Review

Congrats to Shanie Latham (MFA '08)

Great news from Shanie Latham (MFA '08, fiction):

I was offered (and accepted) the Managing Editor position at River Styx. Allison, I'll add my thanks to you for CRWROPPS because I wouldn't have known about this position without it.

Best regards,
Shanie

Congrats, Shanie! The folks at River Styx are getting a real gem!

LINKS:
River Styx
CRWROPPS

Poemspotting: Justin Hamm (MFA '05)

A note from fiction grad (MFA '05) Justin Hamm:

I'll have a poem, "at sixteen," in the August edition of decomP if anyone is interested in checking it out.

LINK:
decomP

Mixology: A Best Seller!

SIUC poetry grad (MFA '01) Adrian Matekja's new book, Mixology, is that rarest of things, a poetry bestseller!
Details here
Poetry Foundation

Poemspotting: Spoon River Poetry Review

The new issue of the Spoon River Poetry Review contains work by SIUC MFAs, both past and future ones. MFA '09 poetry grad Kerry James Evans has two poems ("Operation Noble Eagle" and "Scarab), MFA '05 fiction grad Justin Hamm has his poem "meditations on a kiss" in this issue, and incoming MFA student Ruthie Awad has two poems ("Wine Glasses" and "The Storm From Here") in the issue.

Congrats to all!

LINK:
Spoon River Poetry Review

More Congrats for Tim Marsh (MFA '06)

Here's e-mail from Tim Marsh (MFA '06, fiction)!  Congrats, Tim!  What a great time to be in Vermont!

Hey Allison--

It's my turn to give thanks for organizing and moderating the CRWROPPS site. 

I just received news that I've been selected for a fellowship and residency at the Vermont Studio Center, beginning September 25th. Along with the residency I've been offered a $650 artist's grant. The center is located in the northern Green Mountains in the town of Johnson. 

I first heard about the center through the Writer's Opportunities list. Without that posting I never would have applied for the residency. So thank you.

All the best,

Tim

LINKS

Vermont Studio Center
CRWROPPS-B

Congrats to Tim Marsh (MFA '06)!

The steady stream of acceptances continues for Tim Marsh (MFA '06, fiction):

Hey Allison--
 
Hope Young Writers went well. Some news on the nonfiction front: My essay "Drowning" will appear in the 2010 issue of Words and Images. Also, my story "Impetus for a Sketch" did in fact make the cut for the summer issue of The New Quarterly, which will be out in mid-July sometime.
 
All the best,
 
Tim

LINKS:
Words and Images
The New Quarterly

Alumni Sightings!

Poet Melanie Jordan (MFA '01) has a new chapbook from Ropewalk Press!

Information about Ghost Season at

Ropewalk Press

Fiction writer (MFA '09) Rachel Furey's prize-winning story "Birth Act" is now out in the new issue (Summer/Fall 2009) of Sycamore Review:
Sycamore Review

Fiction alums Josh Woods (MFA '09) and Rachel Furey (MFA '09) have stories in new fiction anthology, XX Eccentric, just published by Main Street Rag:
XX Eccentric

Congrats to Matt Guenette (MFA '99)

Congrats are also in order for Matt Guenette (MFA '99, poetry):

"Found out Sudden Anthem was voted a 2008 Outstanding Achievement in Poetry by the Wisconsin Library Association. SIU goodness marches on..."

Wisconsin Library Association

Congrats to Mark Brewin!

Congratulations are also due for second-year poetry student Mark Brewin:

Allison,

I am pleased to announce that my poem "Burning Down the Camper" has been selected as one of the finalists for the Guy Owen Prize at the Southern Poetry Review. The prize is $1,000 dollars, and I will find out the outcome no later than the first week of August. Fingers crossed...

-mark.

Pretty good for a kid from Jersey, eh? Congrats, Mark!

LINK:
Southern Poetry Review

Congrats to Melissa Scholes Young!

Some news for second-year fiction writer Melissa Scholes Young:

I wanted to let you know that I've been awarded a one week writing residency to Writers in the Heartland in September. A week alone at a spa with vegetarian meals sans bebes? Yeah, I can do that.

Writers in the Heartland

Congrats, Melissa!