Crab Orchard Review blog: Welcome

Welcome to the Crab Orchard blog, part of the Crab Orchard Review consortium. 

Crab Orchard Review was founded in 1995 by Richard Peterson, Jon Tribble, Allison Joseph and Carolyn Alessio. After 22 years in print, COR went digital and began publishing on issuu, where you can still peruse an archive of over two decades worth of poetry, prose, and commentary.

In October of 2019, Jon Tribble passed away, leaving an indelible legacy, one which Allison and the Crab Orchard editorial staff wish to honor. As we allow time needed to grieve and regroup, Crab Orchard Review remains on hiatus, but plans to return on annual basis via issuu.  

The Crab Orchard Series in Poetry—both the Open Competition and the First Book Award—are currently on hiatus as well. We look forward to one day continuing to grow our impressive catalog of Crab Orchard poets which includes Oliver de la Paz, Jake Adam York, Camille Dungy, Traci Brimhall, Tarfia Faizullah, Hala Alyan, and more. 

This blog is meant to liaise Crab Orchard activity until mainstays such as the journal and the book contests resume. To submit books of poetry, fiction, and non-fiction for review, please contact Allison Joseph. To pitch ideas for features, please email Allison as well. 

For updates, please follow Crab Orchard on social media or here on the blog, as craborchardreview.siu.edu is not presently up-to-date.

Questions? Email aljoseph@siu.edu

Crab Orchard Review Books and More Blog

 Stay tuned for more!!

Job Opening at the MFA Program in Creative Writing at SIUC

Department of English
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
https://www.higheredjobs.com/search/details.cfm?JobCode=176803470&Title=Assistant%20Professor%20%28Creative%20Writing%2FDigital%20Humanities%29

Position: Assistant Professor, Fiction Writing (Digital Humanities), tenure track, continuing, 9-month appointment, Department of English, Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

Qualifications: Completed MFA in fiction, and/or PhD in Creative Writing (fiction). Candidates must have at least one published or accepted book of fiction, and must have experience teaching fiction writing classes, preferably at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Candidates must also show preparation to contribute, via teaching and/or creative activity, to an emerging program in digital humanities,broadly-defined: podcasts, VR narratives, game scripting, blogging, and/or other forms of online/digital publication.

Duties: Teach undergraduate fiction classes, graduate workshops and seminars in fiction and/or creative activities related to digital humanities. Applicants will be responsible for maintaining an active independent research/creative activity agenda relevant to the discipline and service activities to assist the Department.

Appointment Start Date: August 16, 2019.

Application Deadline: November 1, 2018, or until filled.

Application Procedure: Send letter of application, current CV, and names of three references by mail to:

Professor David Anthony, Chair
Department of English
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Mail Code 4503
1000 Faner Dr.
Carbondale, IL 62901

Or by email to: davidantATsiuDOTedu

Creative Writing Education Today

 A national nomadic symposium

CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS

 

Following the successful launch of the nomadic symposium at the University of South Florida (with host Dr. Dianne Donnelly) on October 5, “Creative Writing Education Today”, next appears at:

 

Illinois Wesleyan University

Bloomington, Illinois

Friday, February 1 2019

 

You are invited to propose a short paper (15 minutes) and to engage in discussions in this unique nomadic symposium. Papers can explore any topic in such areas of interest as:

 

- New ideas in Creative Writing Teaching and Learning

- Assessment

- National and global developments in Creative Writing Research

- Co- Curricular Opportunities

- The Future for Creative Writing / Creative Writing Studies

 

Sessions in each national location will be introduced and hosted by authors in the New Writing Viewpoints (MLM) book series and from New Writing: the International Journal for the Practice and Theory of Creative Writing (Taylor and Francis). The IWU host is Dr. Mike Theune. All participants will also be invited to participate in a national survey of creative writing education today.

 

Send proposals (150 words) to: proposal@creativewritingsymposium.com

 

Proposal Deadline: November 30 2018

 

Attendees who do not wish to present are also very welcome and can register by sending and email to attend@creativewritingsymposium.com or reserve a place via Doodle registration at: https://doodle.com/poll/dpk8w4knr36h83my

 

The nomadic symposium is free, but places in each location are limited. Early submission/registration at your local symposium is thus highly recommended.

 

Inquiries: Dr. Graeme Harper, Chair, Creative Writing Symposium, gharper@oakland.edu

Websites of Some Wonderful SIU MFA alumni

Here's a far-from complete list of SIU Carbondale MFA alums:

Sarah Burge:
http://www.saraburgeverse.com/home.html
Hannah New:
http://www.uofupress.com/staff-directory.php
Amie Whittemore:
https://amiewhittemore.wordpress.com/
Sarah McCartt Jackson:
http://sarahmccarttjackson.com/
John McCarthy:
https://johnmccarthylit.wordpress.com/
Sequoia Nagamatsu:
http://sequoianagamatsu.net/ 
Andrew McFadyen-Ketchum:
http://www.andrewmk.com/
Michael Meyerhofer:
http://www.troublewithhammers.com/
Adrian Matejka:
http://adrianmatejka.com/reads/
Benjamin Percy:
http://benjaminpercy.com/
Kerry James Evans:
http://www.kerryjamesevans.com/
Mark Jay Brewin Jr.:
http://markjaybrewinjr.com/
Paul Guest:
http://paulguest.blogspot.com/ 
Travis Mossotti:
http://www.travismossotti.com/

2015 Devil's Kitchen Fall Literary Festival at SIUC

Coming soon: October 21-October 23, 2015
Devil’s Kitchen Literary Festival at Southern Illinois University Carbondale

The Devil's Kitchen Literary Festival, named after the famous lake, is an annual three-day festival featuring readings, panels, and book signings by published writers from across the country. The event is a great opportunity to meet published authors and to celebrate their works. It is free and open to the whole Southern Illinois community. Three of the authors attending are winners of the Devil's Kitchen Reading Awards in Poetry, Fiction, and Nonfiction, David Tomas Martinez (Poetry), Megan Milks (Fiction), and Ben Tanzer (Nonfiction). They will read from their works as a part of the festival.

The festival starts on Wednesday October 21st and ends Friday October 23rd. There are a total of eight events including readings by the 2015 Devil’s Kitchen Reading Award in Poetry, Fiction, and Nonfiction, readings by other honored guests, writing panels, and book signings by the many acclaimed authors. All of the events will be held in the first floor of the Morris Library, schedule below.

Event, Date, Time
Book Reading by Ben Tanzer
Oct. 21st, 8-9 PM
Writers Panel featuring Sass Brown, Lisa Fay Coutley, Angie Macri, David Tomas Martinez, Megan Milks, and Ben Tanzer
Oct. 22nd, 11-11:50 AM

Poetry Reading by Crab Orchard Series in Poetry Authors - Sass Brown and Lisa Fay Coutley
Oct. 22nd, 2-3:15 PM
Reception and Book Signing featuring all visiting writers
Oct. 22nd, 3:15-4:30 PM
Readings by the 2015 Devil’s Kitchen Reading Award Winners in Poetry and Fiction featuring David Tomas Martinez and Megan Milks
Oct. 22nd, 4:30-6 PM
Q & A 20 Years of Crab Orchard Review: A Conversation with Editor-in-Chief and Poetry Editor Allison Joseph and Managing Editor Jon Tribble
Oct. 23rd, 10-10:50 AM
Readings by Grassroots Editors and Contributors
Oct. 23rd, 1-1:50 PM
Poetry Readings by Angie Macri
Oct. 23rd, 2-2:50 PM

Congratulations to SIUC's own Jon Tribble

Fabulous news from Jon Tribble, SIUC's most-hardworking editor:

It is my great pleasure to announce that my first collection of poems, Natural State, will be published by Glass Lyre Press in 2016. I will sign my contract next month after everyone is back from the holidays, but I received word from the publisher and managing editor, Ami Kaye, that it was fine for me to share this news and I couldn't be happier. I had such a great experience working with Ami and Lark Vernon Timmons on the recent feature in Pirene's Fountain and I look forward to working with them and all the Glass Lyre Press staff on my first book (at least from the writer's and not the editor's side).

Thanks to Allison and to so many friends over the years for continuing to remind me that I am a writer as well as an editor. I hope this confirms your faith and encouragement.

SIUC MFA grad Michael Meyerhofer (MFA '06) has won the Etchings Prize for his fantasy novel, Wytchfire!

Details about the prize here:
http://www.uindy.edu/cas/english/etchings-prize

Details about the book here
http://www.troublewithhammers.com/books.html

SIUC fiction prof scores GRAMMY Nomination

Congrats to SIU MFA fiction professor Scott Blackwood, who has earned a GRAMMY nomination!

http://www.grammy.com/nominees

Here's the official nomination information from the Grammy.com site:

http://www.grammy.com/nominees​

66. BEST ALBUM NOTES

Happy: The 1920 Rainbo Orchestra Sides

 

David Sager, album notes writer (Isham Jones Rainbo Orchestra)

Label: Archeophone Records

I'm Just Like You: Sly's Stone Flower 1969-70

 

Alec Palao, album notes writer (Various Artists)

Label: Light In The Attic Records

Offering: Live At Temple University

 

Ashley Kahn, album notes writer (John Coltrane)

Label: Resonance/Impulse

The Other Side Of Bakersfield: 1950s & 60s Boppers And Rockers From 'Nashville West'

 

Scott B. Bomar, album notes writer (Various Artists)

Label: Bear Family

Purple Snow: Forecasting The Minneapolis Sound

 

Jon Kirby, album notes writer (Various Artists)

Label: The Numero Group

The Rise & Fall Of Paramount Records, Volume One (1917-27)

 

Scott Blackwood, album notes writer (Various Artists)

Label: Third Man Records/Revenant Records

SIU MFA Graduates Win NEA Fellowships!!!

Congratulations to Staci R. Schoenfeld (MFA '14) and Kerry James Evans (MFA '09) on receiving National Endowment for the Arts Fellowships in Poetry!!!

An Interview with SIUC MFA grad Ruth Awad!

An interview with Ruth Awad, SIUC MFA grad, poet, and tattoo artist!

Schedule for the 2014 Devil's Kitchen Literary Festival

The 2014 Devil's Kitchen schedule is set! 

2014 Devil’s Kitchen Literary Festival
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday, October 22 – 24
(All Events in SIUC’s Morris Library)

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22

8:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Reading by Kathleen Hale
John C. Guyon Auditorium (1st Floor Morris Library)

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23

11:00 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.         

Fiction Panel featuring Janet Burroway, Kathleen Hale, Justin Herrmann, and Victoria Redel
John C. Guyon Auditorium (1st Floor Morris Library)

2:00 – 3:15 p.m.

Poetry Readings by Dan Albergotti and TJ Jarrett
John C. Guyon Auditorium (1st Floor Morris Library)

3:15 – 4:30 p.m.
Reception and Book Signing featuring festival readers
1st Floor Rotunda (Morris Library)
(sponsored by the SIUC Dept. of English and the Southern Illinois University Bookstore)


4:30 – 6:00 p.m.
Readings by the 2014 Devil’s Kitchen Reading Award Winners in Poetry and Prose
Steven D. Schroeder and Victoria Redel
John C. Guyon Auditorium (1st Floor Morris Library)


FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24


11:00  – 11:50 a.m.
Poetry Panel featuring Dan Albergotti, TJ Jarrett, Andrew McFadyen-Ketchum, and Steven D. Schroeder
John C. Guyon Auditorium (1st Floor Morris Library)


2:00 – 2:50 p.m.
Readings by Justin Herrmann and Andrew McFadyen-Ketchum
John C. Guyon Auditorium (1st Floor Morris Library)

Fantastic News for Three SIUC Poetry Alums!

The creative writing faculty woke to the spectacular news that three
of our alumnae won large amounts of poetry cash in the annual Dorothy
Sargent Rosenberg Poetry Prize competition.

Leslie Adams (MFA' 12) Ruth Awad (MFA '12), and Amie Whittemore Shea
(MFA '10) all won for poetry they submitted to this national poetry
competition! Leslie and Ruth are winners in previous years as well.

For more details about this contest, visit www.dorothyprizes.org

poet Max Schleicher (MFA '13) writes with great news

Finally some good news. MAR is picking up my poem "Grape Picker's Song."

Hope Faner Hall is still bracingly austere!
Max

Congrats, Max!!!

fantastic news for Brooks Rexroat (MFA fiction)

I'm profoundly grateful to the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference
Katharine Bakeless Nason Endowment and the Camargo Foundation for
selecting me as a 2014 Bakeless Camargo Residency Fellow, which will
allow me to work for a month on the Camargo campus in Cassis, France.
I also appreciate the incomparable Allison Joseph, who recommended I
check into Bread Loaf in the first place. After another year with four
day jobs, this is welcome news and welcome writing time.

Utterly Fantastic News About Ben Percy, SIUC MFA Graduate

Something to howl about: FOX TV is adapting Red Moon as a series and
I'm co-writing the adaptation with Oscar-winner Akiva Goldsman (A
Beautiful Mind, Winter's Tale)

Congratulations, BEN!!!!!

Fwd: publications

New publication news from Mark Jay Brewin, Jr (MFA '11, poetry):

ahoy there, allison.

hope all is well with you fine folks out in carbondale. i am pleased to say that Mead: The Magazine of Literature & Libations accepted my poem "Mix-tape (#5) With the One That Still Always Breaks My Heart," Rappahannock Review accepted "Mix-tape (#4) With the One That I Still Haven't Learned the Lyrics To," Waccamaw accepted my Sweetelle "In Vineland" (again, such a great form!), Jabberwock Review accepted "Helium," and The MacGuffin accepted "Self-Portrait at 13."

cheers,

-mb.

Congrats, Mark!!!

Fwd: Poetry Publication

Good news for MFA poetry alum Andrea Wagner (MFA '13):

Hi Allison,

I can't believe that I've kept forgetting to email you with good news:
my poem "This Is How You Hold the Reins" is forthcoming in CALYX in
2014! Pretty fine first pub, I think.

Hope all is well in Carbondale!

Best,

Andrea

SIUC MFA alum featured in NY Times

Just wanted to share this interview with SIUC MFA graduate Kerry James Evans, which appeared in the New York Times yesterday.  Kerry James's first book of poems, Bangalore, was recently published by Copper Canyon Press. He is a PhD graduate of Florida State as well as a graduate of our MFA Program:

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/10/22/kerry-james-evans-from-combat-engineer-to-poet/?_r=2&

Great news about SIUC MFA Graduates!!!

Adrian Matejka (MFA '01) is a National Book Award in Poetry finalist for his collection, The Big Smoke (Penguin, 2013).

James Scoles (MFA '09) won the CBC Poetry Prize, the most lucrative prize given for a single poem in Canada in a calendar year!