Essayspotting: Tim Marsh

A new essay by Tim Marsh (MFA '06, fiction) has just been published at Connotation Press:

At the Hanover U Haul

Storyspotting: Renee Evans (MFA '09)

A new story by Renee Evans (MFA '09, fiction) has just been published by Paradigm:

A Late Lunch

Congrats to Melissa Scholes Young!

Second-year fiction writer Melissa Scholes Young has lovely news to share:

The Yalobusha Review, the literary magazine of the University of Mississippi, has accepted a piece of my nonfiction entitled "Silk Flowers."
Yalobusha Review

My essay "Living and Sometimes Laughing" just came out in the anthology Voices of MS published by LaChance.
LaChance Publishing

And some old and new news. "Guinea Pig," which was published by the New Plains Review, has been nominated for a Pushcart. Alex Lumans found this link online to a video excerpt of Doug Goetsch introducing me and the reading.
New Plains Review
Melissa reading "Guinea Pig"

Congrats, MSY, on everything!

Congrats to Rachel Furey!

Rachel Furey (MFA '09) has also been nominated for a Pushcart Prize!

Allison,

I'll tag onto Janelle's note by letting you know that Main Street Rag is also nominating my story "The Pet Mortician" for a Pushcart Prize.

Hope you all enjoyed Thanksgiving!

Best,
Rachel

Congrats, Rachel!

Rachel's story appears in this anthology:
XXEccentric

Congrats to Janelle Blasdel!

Congrats to second-year fiction writer Janelle Blasdel:


I just found out that Main Street Rag is nominating my short story "Vampire Crop" for a Pushcart Prize. This is the story that came out last spring in the anthology Dots on a Map.

Congrats, JB!

LINK:
Main Street Rag's Fiction

Congrats to Katie Darby!

First-year fiction writer Katie Darby sends more good news to round out the week:

Hey Allison,

I just had a story picked up for publication! My story "A Color Story" will be forthcoming for the Spring 2010 issue of "The Meadowland Review." Good news! What a way to round out this week.

Love,
Katie

Yeah, Katie! Congrats!

LINK:
Meadowland Review

Congrats to Renee Evans!

The story acceptances keep coming for Renee Evans (MFA '09, fiction):

Dear Allison,

Paradigm just accepted "A Late Lunch" for publication.

Give yourselves hugs for us!
-Renee

Congrats, Renee!

LINK:
Paradigm Journal

Congrats to Sara Burge!

Sara Burge (MFA '08, poetry) tops off today's spate of fantastic news with this:

Allison!
I just found out my manuscript, Eternal Return, won the DeNovo Award through C&R Press!!!!!!
Oh My GAWWWDDD!!!!! (Hyperventilate!)

Sara Burge

Congrats, Sara! Catch your breath and go out and celebrate!

LINK:
C&R Press

Congrats to Travis Mossotti!

Also appearing at AWP Denver's Pedagogy Forum will be third-year poetry student Travis Mossotti:

"An exercise I designed, "Cul-de-sac: Rescuing Composition Time and Salvaging Inspiration," has been accepted for presentation at AWP's 2010 Pedagogy forum for poetry. I will be presenting FRIDAY, April 9 from 9:00-10:15 AM in the Colorado Convention Center, Room 107.

The annual AWP Conference in Denver will be April 7-10, 2010.

Details here:
AWP

Catching Up With Rachel Furey (MFA '09)

Rachel Furey (MFA '09, fiction) writes with good news today:

"I wanted to let you know that my story "Machete Maneuvers" has been accepted by Terrain.org: A Journal of the Built & Natural Environment for Issue No. 25 (to be launched around March 2010). The story was workshopped around this time last year, so I have to give a thankful shout-out to Pinckney Benedict and the rest of that workshop, whoprovided comments that proved helpful in revising that story.

Also, my pedagogy paper "Brave Writing: Embracing the Tough Details" has been accepted to be shared at a fiction and drama pedagogy forum taking place at the Denver AWP."

Congrats, Rachel! See you in Denver!

LINK:
Terrain

from the crazy world of Pinckney Benedict

Only fiction writer Pinckney Benedict (MFA faculty at SIUC) could give us this world:

"The characters in a new story of mine, "The Angel's Trumpet," are named Albertus Magnus, Ptolemy Philadelphus, and Cunobelinus Togodumnus. The narrator's named Athelstan Brunanburh. They're all brothers, last name of Goins. It'll be in the winter issue of APPALACHIAN HERITAGE. Their father thought it would be cool to give them all bizarre names."

Congrats, PB, on the forthcoming story!

LINK:
Appalachian Heritage

Congrats to Michael Meyerhofer (MFA '06, poetry)

Michael Meyerhofer has won the 2009 Marjorie J. Wilson Poetry Award from MARGIE for his poem "For My Brother!" He will receive $1000 and publication in volume 9 of MARGIE.
Congrats, MM!

LINK:
Contest Results
For My Brother

In addition, a new poem by Michael appears in the latest issue of Atlanta Review. "The First Crush" is featured on page two of the Fall/Winter 2009 issue.

Congrats to Tim Marsh (MFA '06)

Two things: First, Connotation Press has just accepted my CNF piece "Abandoning Furniture at the Hanover U-Haul", due to appear sometime in December. Second, the SIU Alumni Association will be using a small article I wrote as a script for an upcoming commercial. The commercial will air during halftime of the men's basketball 2010 MVC Tournament, most likely during SIU's first/second round matchup.

Go Tim! Go Salukis!

LINK:
Connotation Press

Congrats to Amie Whittemore!

Third-year poetry MFA Amie Whittemore sends this happy news:

Dear Allison:

I'm happy to report Sycamore Review accepted my poem "Movement of Heat" for publication.

Hurrah!
Amie

Congrats, Amie!

LINK:
Sycamore Review

This Just In: Adrian Matejka Reading

Adrian Matejka (MFA '01) reading in St. Louis. Sorry for the late notice; I've been on the road myself:

If you’re looking to meet some interesting NoCo people and stimulate your brain, head to the Thyme Table in Ferguson this evening for a free reading and discussion by German-born poet Adrian Matejka.

Sponsored by UMSL’s Graduate Writers’ Association and the Northern Arts Council, tonight’s event features some of Matejka’s award-winning work from the 2008 National Poetry Series, as well as an open dialogueon the craft of poetry.

Drinks and light refreshments will be served. Doors open at 7pm. Thyme Table Cafe, 304 S. Florissant Rd, 7:30 – 9pm.

Catching Up with Betsy Taylor (MFA '98, fiction)

Loved this note I got from MFA grad Betsy Taylor:

Hey, Allison.

I'm writing fiction again, a little bit. I wanted to let you know about a couple of things in case you want to post it on the MFA bulletin board.

I've had a story, "The Funerals of Important Men," accepted by The Republic of Letters. It won't appear until issue #22, so it's still a ways off. (They're just about to publish issue #20.) Here's the link to the mag:
The Republic of Letters

Another story I wrote, "Notes on Infidelity," just received the Honorable Mention prize for the 2009 Memphis magazine Fiction Contest. (They awarded one grand prize and two honorable mentions this year.) The official announcement gets made in the magazine's December issue, which should come out in two weeks or so. I think the story might be published online in January 2010, but I need to clarify. Here's a little more info about the contest:
Memphis Magazine

Wonderful to hear from you, BT! Congrats on all these accolades!

Congrats to Katie Darby!

First-year fiction writer Katie Darby has had her poem "What I Think of When You Say You Aren't Afraid of Anything" accepted for publication in the first issue of the new literary journal Big Lucks!

Congrats, KD! Love that cross-genre action!

LINK:
Big Lucks

New Book Alert: Surreal South '09

Announcing the publication of Surreal South '09, edited by Pinckney and Laura Benedict, featuring work by Josh Woods (MFA '09, fiction) and Alex Lumans (MFA '09, fiction):

Details here:
Surreal South '09

Allison Joseph to be featured writer at Millikin University Literary Festival

SIUC faculty poet Allison Joseph will head north to participate in the 7th annual Millikin University Literary Festival:
Millikin University Literary Festival

Congrats to Ben Percy!

Fiction grad Ben Percy (MFA '04) has just learned his essay "Me vs. Animals" will appear in the winter issue of The Paris Review!
Congrats, Ben!

LINK:
The Paris Review

Congrats to Nick Ostdick!

First-year fiction writer Nick Ostdick has some cross-genre action to report:

Just wanted to let you know that I have a poem--yes, a poem, crazy, right?--entitled: 'to maggie: a girl who I once saw naked in eighth grade during steven hindrich’s pool party and whom I briefly might have been in love with' forthcoming in Anthills. Should be out soon. Thanks.

Congrats, Nick!

Congrats to Kerry James Evans!

Here's Kerry James Evans (MFA '09) in the most recent issue of Beloit Poetry Journal:
Leaning In from the Sea

Catching Up With Kevin McKelvey

Kevin McKelvey (MFA '04, poetry) sends the following news about what he's up to next week at the Spirit & Place Festival in Indianapolis:
Spirit&Place Festival

I'm fortunate enough to be reading or presenting at three Spirit & Place Festival events next week, and I hope you can make it to one (or all!) of them. This is an amazing festival whose themes are at the center of my creative work and community involvement, so I'm honored to be a part.

On Tuesday, November 10, I'll be reading at "Nature Awakens Creativity," which includes art, music, and writing inspired by Central Indiana Land Trust nature preserves. My poem "Hemlock Cliffs, December 2007" will have improvisational accompaniment by the Indianapolis Women's Chorus. The event is 7-9 p.m. at the Indianapolis Art Center
Creativity

On Thursday, November 12, I'll be pitching an idea at Pecha Kucha night at the IMA to start an independent book publisher, Pogue's Run Press, in Indianapolis. 10 presenters, and one of them walks away with a $10,000 check to get started. Our focus will be on making books for kids by kids with Second Story and on publishing place-based writing, as well as graphic novels and innovative collaborations with Big Car. Bring your friends. 9-11 p.m at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. A free ticket is required, which you can reserve through the IMA. There's a bar. A good audience helps my presentation (20 slides for 20 seconds each for a total of 6:40). Go to the bar before or after my presentation, not during.
Pecha Kucha

And on Friday , November 13, I'm reading my "Barns" essay along with other Spirit & Place Festival essayists as part of the Made for Each Other event at the Wheeler Arts Community. The reading starts at 7:30, Jim Walker will emcee and facilitate a Q&A at the end, and local band Tonas Triad will play at intermission and after the reading. Second Story is partnering on this, and Big Car and Made for Each Other will have two photography shows, one with cell phone pictures and another with photos shot with disposable cameras by Fountain Square residents. This should be a great Friday night.
Event
Essays

And one final pitch: my chapbook, "Dream Wilderness" is available for pre-order. (Scroll down to me). These poems started in graduate school and lived in the woods for awhile, so I'm happy to see them in print soon.
Finishing Line Press

Congrats, KMK, on all this activity!

Catching Up With Chad Simpson (MFA'05)

Congrats to MFA fiction alum Chad Simpson on the publication of "House Calls" in HOBART:
House Calls

Fiction alum Justin Hamm (MFA '05) is also in the same issue:
The Secret of Healers and Monsters

Love it when SIUC alums/current MFAs are in the same journal!

Congrats to Tim Marsh (MFA '06)!

Tim Marsh (MFA '06, fiction) writes from Bali to say "my piece "Hobbema" will appear in Eclectic Flash this January."

Congrats, Tim!

LINK:
Eclectic Flash

Kudos...

to Justin Hamm (MFA '05, fiction) for having his poem, "at sixteen," nominated for a Pushcart Prize by decomP! The poem originally appeared in the August 2009 issue:

decomP

to Travis Mossotti on the acceptance of his poems "Saxifrage" and "A Piece of Advice" for publication by Roger, the literary journal located at Roger Williams University in Bristol, Rhode Island.

Roger has a fondness for SIUC writers! Check their guidelines here:
Roger

Congrats to Travis Mossotti!

Congrats to Travis Mossotti (third-year, poetry):

Allison,
My poem "After the Snowmelt" (a poem that ran through your workshop) has been accepted at the Greensboro Review for their
spring 2010 issue.

Thanks,
Travis

You can't stop the Mossotti, nor can you hope to contain him!

LINK
Greensboro Review

Congrats to Kathryn Kerr (MFA '00)

Poetry alum Kathryn Kerr (MFA '00) puts aside modesty to share news of these recent or upcoming publications. Congrats, KK!

“The Hill Woman’s Rant” and “The Trouble with Genealogy” forthcoming in Big Muddy, A Journal of the Mississippi River Valley

“Song of Songs” and “Egrets in Abundance” in Interdisciplinary Studies in Literature and Environment,XVI, No.2, Spring 2009


LINKS:
Big Muddy
ISLE

SIUC writers to read in Chicago

Two upcoming readings in Chicago feature SIUC-connected writers:

Second year poetry MFA Katie Zapoluch will read in Chicago as part of this upcoming special reading:

NEW VOICES: UKRAINIAN AMERICAN WRITERS
With keynote speaker Irene Zabytko and poets Sonya Arko, Petrusia Duncan, and Katie Zapoluch
Saturday, November 7, 7:00 PM
The Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art
2320 West Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60622
Free admission
Info here
Ukrainian American Writers

Fiction alum Andrew Lewellen (MFA '08) sends this news:

This Wednesday, November 4th, I will be reading at RUI: Reading Under the Influence, a monthly reading series here in Chicago that was the Chicago Reader's 2009 pick for Best Reading Series. At the event, folks read published work, original work, and trivia.
RUI takes place at Sheffields (3258 N. Sheffield) from 7-9 pm. There is a $3 cover charge.
I'll be reading from my--honestly--nearly-completed novel. It would be great to see some SIU people there!

Check out these links for more info:

Reading Under the Influence
Chicago Reader

Congrats to Ben Percy

Congrats to Ben Percy (MFA '04) on joining the faculty of the low-residency program in creative writing at Pacific University!
Pacific U MFA