Illinois Arts Council awards Crab Orchard Review Operating Support Grant

Crab Orchard Review is proud and pleased to announce a grant of $5,610 from the Illinois Arts Council for operational support for Fiscal Year 2009.

Chad Simpson Update

Chad Simpson (MFA '05, fiction) has a "napkin story" up at Esquire's book blog:

Check it out here:
Chad on a napkin

Congrats to Sara Burge (MFA '08)!

Just received this cheery e-mail from Sara Burge (MFA '08, poetry):

Hi Allison!

I got an email from Virginia Quarterly Review saying they want to publish "God of Chocolate, God of War." Of course, I emailed back that they could. It should be out in the Summer 2009 issue, and they're going to pay me some money for it!! I'm really excited about this, and thought I'd share with you!

Sara Burge

Thanks for sharing, Sara! And congrats on an excellent publication acceptance!

Departmental Reception: Friday, August 29

English Department Reception in honor of new faculty, staff and graduate assistants on Friday, August 29, 2008
5 to 7 pm
J.W. Corker Lounge, Student Center
Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Fabulous news about Adrian Matejka (MFA '01)

Adrian Matejka's second book, Mixology, has been chosen for publication in the National Poetry Series! The book will be coming out from Penguin, and was chosen for the prize by acclaimed poet Kevin Young. Congratulations, AD!

Adrian (MFA '01) is also the author of The Devil's Garden (Alice James Books).

The official announcement for 2008 is not yet on the website, but here is the link:
National Poetry Series

Chad Parmenter Interviews poet Reginald Shepherd

Chad Parmenter (MFA '05, poetry) has an interview with poet Reginald Shepherd in the September/October 2008 issue of the American Poetry Review.

Essayspotting: Kathryn Kerr (MFA '00)

"Hawk's Cave," an essay by Kathryn Kerr (MFA '00, poetry) appears in the new issue of Big Muddy: A Journal of the Mississippi River Valley (Volume 8, Number 1). Big Muddy is published by Southeast Missouri State University.

More about Big Muddy here:
Big Muddy

Congrats to Rachel Furey!

Good news from Rachel Furey (fiction, third year):

Dear Allison:

I just wanted to let you know that my short story "The Pet Mortician" was accepted into Main Street Rag's short fiction anthology focusing on eccentric women characters.

Best Regards,
Rachel Furey

Congrats, Rachel!

The anthology Rachel will be in is still accepting submissions until September 15. Check it out at
Main Street Rag Fiction

2008 Devil's Kitchen Festival Writers

The line-up for this year's Devil's Kitchen Literary Festival is now set. This year's festival, to be held October 23, 24 and 25, is sponsored by Grassroots, the undergraduate literary magazine of Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

Writers who will be appearing at this year's festival are (drumroll please!):prose writers Jim Tomlinson, Anne Panning, Amy Knox Brown and Josh Goldfaden and poets Janice N. Harrington, Richard Jones, Sean Nevin and Jennifer Perrine.

The festival is free and open to the public. It's always a great time for writers and readers.

SIUC MFA Program in Creative Writing now on Facebook

A Facebook Group for the SIUC MFA Program was launched today! Now there are two ways to keep up with the goings-on in Carbondale--this blog and our Facebook Group.
The group can be found at
Friends of the SIUC MFA Program

Brown Bag Luncheon for New and Returning MFA Students

There will be a brown bag luncheon for all new and returning MFA students on Thursday, August 14 from 12:45 to 2:15 p.m. in Faner Hall 1222. So come, bring your lunch, and spend some time with the MFA faculty.

Welcome to Carbondale, New MFA Students!

MFA Carbondale is happy and proud to welcome these new students to the program, the university, and the community:

Mark Jay Brewin, poetry
Brenna Lemieux, poetry
Sarah McCartt, poetry
Derand Wright, poetry
Katie Zapoluch, poetry

Janelle Blasdel, fiction
Lane Kareska, fiction
Charles Lemmink, fiction
Richard Pechous, fiction
Brooks Rexrout, fiction
Erin Thompson, fiction
Melissa Young, fiction

Welcome to the Dale!

Allison Joseph a Grand Prize Winner in Dancing Poetry Contest

SIUC faculty poet Allison Joseph's poem "Xenophilia" is a grand prize winner in the 2008 Dancing Poetry Contest sponsored by Artists Embassy International. The poem will be performed at ceremony in September at the California Palace of the Legion of Honor Museum. Two other poems by Allison also received recognition as second-place winners.
Dancing Poetry

Forthcoming Pubs: Michael Meyerhofer (MFA '06, poetry)

Michael Meyerhofer's poem "A Plea for the Cessation of Fruit Metaphors" will be published in North American Review.
Check out North American Review at
NAR
Update from MM:
"My prose-poem, "The Shipbuilder," was just accepted by Quick Fiction. :)"
Check out Quick Fiction at
Quick Fiction

Meyerhofer Book News: the Official Announcement

Congrats again to Michael Meyerhofer (MFA '06, poetry) on the acceptance of his second book for publication.
Here's the official word from Steel Toe Books:
Steel Toe News

Pinckney Benedict is the Best

We have objective proof that SIUC fiction professor Pinckney Benedict is indeed the best. From an e-mail from PB himself:

"I have just received copies of NEW STORIES FROM THE SOUTH 2008: THE YEAR'S BEST, edited by ZZ Packer, which contains my story "Bridge of Sighs," originally published in ZOETROPE: ALL-STORY last summer."

Congrats, PB!

News from Cynthia Roth (MFA '01)

Exciting news from Cynthia Roth (MFA '01, poetry). Let us hope for reruns:

"WSIU Channel 8 aired an Arts In Illinois segment about me on July 20th. It originally aired in Chicago in May, and was produced by WTTW11 Chicago. The show is specifically about the intersection of art and family life.

They didn't tell me about the broadcast in advance! I was watching Foyle's War and it came on afterwards, to my surprise. They also aired it in Chicago before I knew it existed. I did get a DVD of the program in the mail 3 weeks ago. I'm the last artist in a program featuring 4 different artists.

I will let you know when it is on again, and when it is posted in the WTTW archive online. They did a good job. They said I am from Kentucky, not TN, but that's okay. Otherwise it is pretty neat!"

Adrian Matejka (MFA '01) finalist for Prairie Schooner Book Prize in Poetry

MFA poetry alum Adrian Matejka's manuscript "Mixology" was selected as a finalist for the Prairie Schooner Book Prize. Adrian will receive $1000, but not publication of his book.
Details about the prize can be found here:
Prairie Schooner Book Prize

SIUC Writers Read in Chicago and St. Louis This Week

SIUC MFA faculty member Allison Joseph will read in Chicago on July 20 at Woman Made Gallery.
Woman Made Gallery

Poets Amie Whittemore (second-year), Jenna Bazzell (second-year) and Jason Lee Brown (MFA '08, fiction) will read as part of the River Styx at Duff's Hungry Young Poets Series on July 21 in St. Louis.
Hungry Young Poets

Kerry James Evans a finalist for Wick Prize

Kerry James Evans (third-year, poetry) writes:

Although the winner has been announced, I was named a finalist in the Stan and Tom Wick Poetry Prize (Kent State University).
There were 21 finalists and nearly 400 entries.

Congrats, Kerry!

For more about the Wick Prize, visit
Wick Poetry Prize

SIUC's Allison Joseph reads in Detroit tonight

SIUC faculty poet Allison Joseph reads from her work tonight as part of The Write Word Write Now Summer Solstice Reading Series, presented by the Detroit Poetry Collective & Music Hall Center for Performing Arts

Location: Jazz Cafe at the Music Hall, 350 Madison Ave., Detroit MI, 48226 (Between Brush and Randolph)

Allison will read with Will Copeland, francine J. harris and Ross Gay.

The reading is free and open to the public. READINGS START AT 7PM.
BOOK SIGNING TO FOLLOW THE READING

The reading is funded in part by:
Detroit Poetry Collective Inc, Music Hall Center for Performing Arts, U of M, Dept of English, MFA in Creative Writing Program
Motown Writers Network, Wayne State University Press

About The Detroit Poetry Collective

The Detroit Poetry Collective was formed to cultivate urban artists through creative writing (poetry, fiction, and non-fiction); to develop, provide and support literary programs that foster multicultural literacy and creative critical thinking. Its purpose is to provide a safe-haven for Detroit writers by way of academic readings, scholarships, stipends, awards, poetry slams, writer’s retreats, conferences, guest speakers, works.

Allison Joseph to teach workshop in Evanston, Illinois

SIUC faculty member Allison Joseph will teach a workshop for the Illinois-based literary journal RHINO at the Evanston, Illinois library:

FOURTH SUNDAYS
RHINO POETRY WORKSHOPS
and peer exchange
sponsored by RHINO/the Poetry Forum

COME AND TRY OUT YOUR NEW WORK ON US!

Evanston Public Library
Church & Orrington
1:30-4:30 -- Room 108

RHINO/the Poetry Forum invites all poets to its Poetry Workshop & Peer Exchange. Attendees bring 15 copies of a poem to be critiqued, and participate in an ongoing discussion of poetry and poetics. No registration is required, and the workshop is free, though a $5 donation is appreciated.

Sunday, July 27th, 2008
Leader: Allison Joseph

Allison Joseph lives, writes and teaches in Carbondale, Illinois, where she serves as director of the MFA Program in Creative Writing. She is also editor and poetry editor of Crab Orchard Review, a journal of creative works, and director of the Young Writers Workshop, an annual creative writing conference for teen writers. She is the author of five collections of poems, most recently Imitation of Life (Carnegie-Mellon University Press) and Worldly Pleasures (Word Press). She has received fellowships from the Bread Loaf and Sewanee Writers Conferences, as well as from the Illinois Arts Council.

Topic: Dispatches from a Poetry Editor.

For more about Rhino, visit
RHINO

Congrats to Michael Meyerhofer (MFA '06, poetry)

Michael Meyerhofer's second full-length collection, Blue Collar Eulogies, has been accepted for publication by Steel Toe Books! When asked for a quote about this good fortune, MM said, "The royalty of the advance should almost cover the postage and entry fees!"

Steel Toe Books

Congrats, Michael!

Local paper recognizes SIUC MFA students

The Southern has a press release today about Josh Woods (third-year, fiction) and Rachel Furey (third-year, fiction) being winners in the national Press 53 Contest:

Southern Illinoisian

Congrats to Kathryn Kerr (MFA '00)

Kathryn Kerr (MFA '00, poetry) has had another chapbook accepted for publication. The chapbook, which is still in search of a title, will be published by Pikestaff Publications of Normal, Illinois.

Congrats, KK!
Here's more information about Pikestaff:
Pikestaff Publications

Upcoming Readings by SIUC MFAs and Recent Grads

Kerry James Evans (poetry, third-year) will be reading from his work at the 14th annual "Southern Writers, Southern Writing" Graduate Student Conference to be held at the University of Mississippi July 17-19, 2008.

Poets Amie Whittemore (second-year), Jenna Bazzell (second-year) and Jason Lee Brown (MFA '08, fiction) will read as part of the River Styx at Duff's Hungry Young Poets Series on July 21 in St. Louis.
Hungry Young Poets 2008

Allison Joseph to read at Woman Made Gallery, Chicago

SIUC MFA faculty member will read in Chicago on July 20 at Woman Made Gallery. Details here:
Drawing from Experience Reading

MFA Grads in New Issue of Pleiades

New poems by Adrian Matejka (MFA '01) and Chad Parmenter (MFA '05) appear in the new issue of Pleiades (28.2).

Adrian's poems are "Mulatto Ego Remix" and "Synth Composite Basketball: No More Fundamentals," and Chad's poem is "[Tina mia]." Also included in the issue is a review of Quiver of Arrows by Carl Phillips, written by Chad Parmenter.

For more about Pleiades, visit
Pleiades on the Web

Matt Guenette at Verse Daily

Fresh off his Young Writers Workshop appearance, here's Matt Guenette (MFA '99) at Verse Daily:
Verse Daily

Mark Your Calendars: Devil's Kitchen Literary Festival 2008

It's July, it's hot, and it's the perfect time to start thinking about SIUC's annual fall literary festival, the Devil's Kitchen Fall Literary Festival. The 2008 dates are October 23, 24, and 25. Watch this blog for information about the writers who will be coming to Carbondale for our three-day celebration of all things literary.

Young Writers Workshop Participant Reading!

JUNE 28th, 2008:
Young Writers Workshop Participant Reading
Cisne Auditorium, Pulliam Hall 34, 1:30 PM

Come hear our award-winning young writers read from their work!

As director, I'd like to offer huge thanks for the great job this year done by my dynamic and talented YWW Staff.
Big props to Josh Woods, Andy McFadyen-Ketchum, Jenna Bazzell, Azizat Danmole, Rachel Furey, Renee Evans, Kerry James Evans, Travis Mossotti, Rachna Sheth, Amie Whittemore, Alex Lumans, Abby Wheetley, and Jason Lee Brown.

Thanks, Pinckney Benedict, for your wisdom and support.

And thanks to our guests: the fabulous Matt Guenette and the inimitable Blair.

Special thanks goes to Pat Eckert and Kim Goforth of the Division of Continuing Education for all their logistical help.

Some Detroit Love for the Young Writers Workshop

Readings today at the Young Writers Workshop:

JUNE 27th, 2008:
SIUC Graduate Creative Writers Reading:
Rachel Furey, Azizat Danmole, Rachna Sheth & Amie Whittemore
Faner Hall 1005, 4-5 PM

Guest Reader/Performer: Blair
Faner Hall 1325 (Harry T. Moore Auditorium), 8 PM

Blair is a poet/singer-songwriter/performer/spoken word artist whose work, in the words of Metro Times "focuses on the hope that rises from the ashes of despair." Blair is a National Poetry Slam Champion (2002 Team Detroit) and Detroit Grand Slam Champion (2003). He's been named Best Solo Artist by Real Detroit Weekly Readers' Poll and has been written about in periodicals around the country and overseas including Performing Songwriter Magazine, Hour Detroit Magazine and The Bay Area Times.

Allison says: If Richie Havens, Walt Whitman, and Phillip Levine had a literary and musical love child, that offspring would sound like Blair.

Hear for yourself:
Blalr's My Space Page

Young Writers Workshop Reading Series: June 26, 2008

The Young Writers Workshop Reading Series continues with a visit from SIUC MFA alum Matt Guenette!

Matt will read at 8 pm in Faner Hall's Harry T. Moore Auditorium today. Here's a taste of Matt's poetry, the infamous poem "Sestina Aguilera."

Verse Daily

About Matt:

His first book, Sudden Anthem, won the 2007 American Poetry Journal Book Prize, and will be published by Dream Horse Press in Winter/Spring 2008. His chapbook, Hush of Something Endless, is available from Ropewalk Press.

More Matt Links:
Dream Horse Press
Ropewalk Press

Young Writers Workshop Reading Series: June 25, 2008

Here are the readings for June 25, 2008:

JUNE 25th, 2008:
SIUC Graduate Creative Writers Reading:
Jenna Bazzell, Kerry James Evans, Alex Lumans & Travis Mossotti
Faner Hall 1005, 4-5 PM

SIUC Faculty Reading: Allison Joseph (with grad student Will Tyler)
Faner Hall 1326, Harry T. Moore Auditorium, 8PM

Young Writers Workshop begins today!

SIUC's Young Writers Workshop begins its tenth annual session today! Twenty-seven high school students from five different states will be on the SIUC campus from today through Saturday writing and talking writing with creative writing faculty and graduate students. Tonight, SIUC fiction faculty member Pinckney Benedict will read from his work at 8 pm in Faner's Harry T. Moore Auditorium. This reading is free and open to the public.

More about the fabulous Mr. Benedict:
Pinckney's Wikipedia entry

Congrats to Kathryn Kerr (MFA '00)!

Great news this afternoon from Kathryn Kerr (MFA '00, poetry). Her chapbook, Turtles All the Way Down, was a top ten finalist in the Finishing Line Press New Women's Voices Series. She has been offered a publication contract for the chapbook!

Congrats, KK!

About New Women's Voices and Finishing Line Press:
Finishing Line

Young Writers Workshop Reading Series

Here's the official news release about the Young Writers Workshop's annual Reading Series:

Free and Open to the Public

Catching Up With Jim Harris (1990)

Just received this from Jim Harris--Jim was here before I came to SIUC!

"Hello Allison!

I'm an ancient alumnus of the SIU writing program (1990). Perhaps before it was a program. Just writing in support of your blog! Fantastic to see what's happening at my old school. I have fond memories of SIU where Rodney Jones was my mentor and I, of course, never wrote another poem after that. Ha! But I have written a couple novels since then.


If it's worth mentioning on your blog, I have a new novel out called, A Bottle of Rain, Livingston Press, University of West Alabama (September, 2007). It's my second novel and it's been nominated for a Pen USA award for writers west of the Mississippi. It's available in both hardback and trade paperback.

My first novel, Nowhere Near the Sea of Cortez, was published in 2001. It was a Small Press Review Pick that year.

I am currently hard at work on my third novel, As God Looked On. It's actually almost done. It's being edited by one of William Gay's previous editors (I believe I'm more proud of that than anything so far...)"

Thanks for the blog love, Jim!

Poemspotting: Kathryn Kerr

New poems by Kathryn Kerr (MFA '00, poetry) appear in the literary journal Blueline,a literary magazine dedicated to the spirit of the Adirondacks. The poems are " I've Done Enough Burning" and "The Best Poem I've Seen:"

Find out more about Blueline here:
Blueline

Catching Up With James Miller (MFA'07)

The irrepressible James Miller (MFA '07, poetry) has some funky good news to share, delivered as only he can:

I finagled a few more publications in the new Blackbird, replete with a cant-ish introduction, nice words (even though they called the poems "postmodern"; slang for smarmy to me), but still, I'm ecstatic to be in the same issue as Norman Dubie and Claudia Emerson.

And I won a Tennessee Williams Scholarship to Sewanee for the summer (figure I'll dress like Big Daddy/Matlock). I've been going to and fro between the ATL and Delta, teaching classes, planting corn and playing the off gig in my favorite places, juke joints. WBAD, the soul station I always wrote about, is back up and running. Thank Yahweh and Tyrone Davis.


Congrats, James!
Link to the Blackbird poems by James:
James in Blackbird

What Time Is It? Young Writers Time!

The Young Writers Workshop, SIUC's creative writing workshop for teens age 15-18, is back again for another summer! With the workshop comes a series of poetry and prose readings by SIUC faculty, graduate students and guest writers. You are cordially invited to attend any of the readings below, as they are free and open to the public.

10th Anniversary of the Young Writers Workshop Summer 2008 Reading Series
All Readings are Free and Open to the Public

JUNE 24th, 2008:
SIUC Faculty Reading: Pinckney Benedict
Faner 1326, Harry T. Moore Auditorium, 8 PM

JUNE 25th, 2008:
SIUC Graduate Creative Writers Reading:
Jenna Bazzell, Kerry James Evans, Alex Lumans & Travis Mossotti
Faner Hall 1005, 4-5 PM

SIUC Faculty Reading: Allison Joseph
Faner Hall 1326, Harry T. Moore Auditorium, 8PM

JUNE 26th, 2008:
SIUC Graduate Creative Writers Reading:
Renee Evans, Josh Woods, Abby Wheetley & Andy McFadyen-Ketchum
Faner Hall 1005, 4-5 PM

Guest Reader: Matt Guenette
Faner Hall 1326, Harry T. Moore Auditorium, 8 PM

JUNE 27th, 2008:
SIUC Graduate Creative Writers Reading:
Rachel Furey, Azizat Danmole, Rachna Sheth & Amie Whittemore
Faner Hall 1005, 4-5 PM

Guest Reader/Performer: Blair
Faner Hall 1325 (Harry T. Moore Auditorium), 8 PM

JUNE 28th, 2008:
Young Writers Workshop Participant Reading
Cisne Auditorium, Pulliam Hall 34, 1:30 PM

About our guest readers:
Matt Guenette is a 1999 graduate of the SIUC MFA program. He is the author of the poetry collections A Hush of Something Endless, a chapbook from Ropewalk Press, and Sudden Anthem, the 2007 winner of the American Poetry Journal Book Prize (Dream Horse Press). He lives, writes and teaches in Madison, Wisconsin.
More about Matt:
Matt's Blog

Blair is a poet/singer-songwriter/performer/spoken word artist whose work, in the words of Metro Times "focuses on the hope that rises from the ashes of despair." Blair is a National Poetry Slam Champion (2002 Team Detroit) and Detroit Grand Slam Champion (2003). He's been named Best Solo Artist by Real Detroit Weekly Readers' Poll and has been written about in periodicals around the country and overseas including Performing Songwriter Magazine, Hour Detroit Magazine and The Bay Area Times.
Blair's My Space Page

Poem and Storyspotting: Jurmu and Brown

Work by Jason Lee Brown (MFA '08) and Deb Jurmu (MFA '06) appears in the new issue of Natural Bridge, the literary journal published by the English Department of the University of Missouri St. Louis.

Deb's story "Breath of the Wok" and Jason's poem "Why Mr. President Loves Soap Bubbles" appear in the Spring 2008 issue (Number 19).

for more about Natural Bridge:
Natural Bridge

Poemspotting: Whittemore Edition

"First," a new poem by Amie Whittemore (second year, poetry), appears in the End of Winter 2008 issue of Poetry Midwest:

Poetry Midwest

Amie's on page 12.

Catching Up With Douglas Haynes (MFA '02):

Just got this e-mail from Douglas Haynes (MFA '02, poetry):

"I landed my first tenure-track creative writing position this spring at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, and I owe so much to all of you for making such an opportunity possible for me. I'll be teaching advanced creative nonfiction courses, intro. creative writing, some modern Amer. lit., and supervising MA creative writing projects. I'm relishing the prospect of the 3-2 course load I'll have after teaching 4 courses a semester this year at New England College. I'm hoping to get much more writing done."

Congrats on the new job, Douglas!

Crab Orchard Review featured in the July issue of the Writer

A profile of Crab Orchard Review appears in the July issue of the Writer.
The profile is only available in the print issue of the magazine, but here's the table of contents for the issue containing this profile:
The Writer

Poemspotting: Michael Meyerhofer (MFA '06)

"Samsara," a poem by Michael Meyerhofer, appears in the new "A Moveable Feast" issue of River Styx. This issue of the venerable St. Louis-based journal is a tasty exploration of food as subject, complete with recipes.
More about River Styx at
River Styx Web Site

Poemspotting: Allison Joseph

New poems by SIUC poetry faculty member can be found at Mezzo Cammin, a journal of formal poetry by women, and at Hotmetalpress.net:

Mezzo Cammin:
Mezzo Cammin

Hotmetapress.net:
Hotmetalpress.net

Young Writers Workshop National Contest Winners

Thanks to current MFA students Josh (J Dillon) Woods and Kerry James Evans for selecting the winners of the Younkin-Rivera Prizes for Young Writers. Both students will be attending this year's Young Writers Workshop, SIUC's annual creative writing workshop for writers age 15-18. Details here:
SIUC News

Fabulous news about Tim Shea (MFA '08) via Rodney Jones

SIUC faculty member Rodney Jones writes with great news about Tim Shea (MFA '08, poetry):

"Yesterday I got a call from an elated Tim Shea. He had just gotten off the phone with Ciaran Carson. Queen's University has given him a full fellowship (tuition, fees, a 13,000 pound a year stipend plus housing allowance} for their 3 year Ph.D program. It will be all independent study. He'll meet with advisors at the beginning of each term to determine a meeting schedule. His dissertation will be a collection of his own poems prefaced by a significant research essay. He's the first creative writing poetry fellow they've ever admitted."

Congratulations, Tim! We're proud of you!

More about Ciaran Carson and Queen's University, Belfast:
Queen's Univ.

SIUC Writers to Read in St. Louis and Detroit

Jason Lee Brown (MFA '08), Jenna Bazzell (second year, poetry) and Amie Whittemore (second year, poetry) will be part of this year's Hungry Young Poets Series at Duff's in Saint Louis on July 21:
Hungry Young Poets

Also, SIUC faculty poet Allison Joseph will be one of the poets reading for the Detroit Poetry Collective's Summer Reading Series on July 18:
Detroit Poetry

Crab Orchard Review Receives Illinois Arts Council Literary Award!

Crab Orchard Review is proud to announce that the journal has received a 2008 Literary Award from the Illinois Arts Council for Julie Benesh's story "Cami Chicks," which was published in the Volume 12, number 1 issue.

More details about the Illinois Arts Council Literary Awards at:
IAC

Poemspotting: Tim Shea (MFA '08)

"Looking at a Photograph from War Time I Will Be the Next Hit By Fire," a new poem by Tim Shea, appears in the latest issue of Rattle.
Rattle

The SIUC-USI Connection: Southern Indiana Review

Several SIUC MFA grads make appearances in the new issue of Southern Indiana Review, a literary journal published by and at the University of Southern Indiana.

Two poems by Matt Guenette (MFA '99), a review by Melanie Jordan (MFA '01, poetry) of Nickole Brown's poetry collection "Sister," and a review of Ben Percy's (MFA '04, fiction) story collection "Refresh, Refresh" are in this new issue's pages.

For more information about Southern Indiana Review, visit
Southern Indiana Review

Catching Up With Chad Simpson (MFA'05)

Some new publication credits for Chad Simpson (MFA '05, fiction):

My story "Summer of Skin" appears in the May/June 2008 issue of The Rambler.
The Rambler

My story "Rail City" appears online in the latest issue of 5_Trope.
5_Trope

And I recently served as selecting editor for Wigleaf's Top 50 (Very) Short Stories of 2008. Details, along with a foreward by Wigleaf's editor Scott Garson, and an introduction by me can be found at Wigleaf.
Wigleaf

News from Michael Meyerhofer (MFA '06)

Checking in with Michael Meyerhofer (MFA '06, poetry):

"I'm judging the Poetry Society of New Hampshire's National Contest for May (they have four each year, I think). Also, my poem "Albert Einstein Eats a Snow Cone on the 14,000,000,000th Birthday of the Known Universe" is forthcoming in Sojourn."

SIUC Writers Receive Honors in Press 53 Awards!

Congrats to Rachel Furey (second-year fiction), Josh (J Dillon) Woods (second-year fiction), and Alex Lumans (second-year fiction)--all winners in the first annual Press 53 Awards! Rachel won first place in the creative nonfiction category for her piece "Mississippi Mud," Josh won first place in the genre fiction category for "The Exorcise Machine," and Alex was a finalist in the short story category! In addition, Nora Benedict, daughter of SIUC fiction professor Pinckney Benedict, was a finalist in the Young Writers category!

Congrats to all!
For more details, visit the Press 53 website:
Press 53 Contests

Adrian Matejka (MFA '01) selected for Poetry in Motion 2008

SIUC MFA grad Adrian Matejka's poem "Affirmative Action" has been selected as a winner in the Metro Arts in Transit 2008 Poetry in Motion Contest. Adrian is one of fifteen St. Louis-area poets chosen for this honor.

Metro Arts in Transit and the Poetry Society of America 2008 Poetry in Motion® Reading and Reception!

Please join us on Thursday, May 15th, 2008 at the Regional Arts Commission (6128 Delmar Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63112) to honor this year's Poetry in Motion winners. The reception starts at 7PM and the reading is from 7:30PM-9PM. Guests will include Poets Mary Jo Bang, Changa Bey, and our winners. This event is open to the public and light refreshments will be served. Funding for this project is made possible with financial support from the Regional Arts Commission and the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.

To read the poem, go to
Contest Winners
Scroll through the poster mock-ups using the right tab button. Adrian's poem is number 8 of 15.

New Alumni Publications: Spring 2008

Scott Beem (MFA '04, fiction) has fiction up at Fusion Fragment:
Fusion Fragment

Matt Guenette (MFA '99, poetry) has poetry forthcoming in the new issue of diode (up next week)
Diode Front Page

Paul Guest (MFA '99, poetry) has work in the current issue:
Diode

More Congrats in Order: Ropewalk and Discovery/Boston Review

from Alex Lumans (second-year, fiction):
I figured I'd let you know I also won a half-scholarship to the RopeWalk Retreat for fiction (in Lee Martin's workshop) as
well as a scholarship to attend the smaller Masterclass with Sigrid Nunez.

from Kerry James Evans (second-year, poetry):
Though the winners have already been announced, I was named one of fifty semi-finalists for the Discovery/Boston Review Contest. They received over 800 manuscripts. The judges were Jorie Graham, James Tate and Reginald Shepherd.

Congrats, you two!

Links:
Discovery/Boston Review

Reading & Drinking: May Edition

from the fabulous Amie Whittemore:

My fabulous fillies and coltish colts --

In honor of the Kentucky Derby, the last R&D of the semester's theme is 'Darkhorse,' so gallop on over to Melange on Wednesday to join in the fun.

You should know the drill by now, but if not, here's the stats:

* Melange, 607 S Illinois Ave, Carbondale, IL
* Wednesday, May 7
* 7 pm
* Drinks, trivia, live music!, prose, fiction, plays, poetry, and much, much more (hopefully mint juleps?)
* Toast to Eight Belles, the filly who gave her all at the race on Saturday.

Spread the word.
Darkly, horsefully yours,

~ Amie

Congrats to Greg Schwipps (MFA '98)!

Just received this good news from Greg Schwipps (MFA '98, fiction):

Hey Allison!

Beth wanted me to send you my good news -- I sold my novel! I am excited, to say the least. Ghost Road Press from Denver took it, and it will be out in the spring of 2009. What This River Keeps is the title.

I got my MFA ten years ago this spring, so I think the timing is shapely.

Hope you are well!

Greg Schwipps

Congrats, Greg!

Links:
Ghost Road Press

Academy of American Poets Prize Winners 2008

This year, SIUC's Academy of American Poets Prize graduate prize winner is

Aaron Wheetley for his poem "Obsidian Creek."

Honorable Mentions go to
Sara Burge for "Geometry" and Jason Lee Brown for "Chores With My Father."

This year's judge was recent visiting poet Ciaran Berry.

Nota bene: Jason's poem has been selected for publication by Tar River Poetry.

Congratulations to our winners!

Links:
Academy's College Prizes
Tar River Poetry

SIUC Writers Receive Scholarships to the Ropewalk Writers Retreat

Congratulations to Jason Lee Brown (MFA '08, fiction) and Kerry James Evans (second year, poetry) for receiving scholarships to the Ropewalk Writers Retreat in New Harmony, Indiana:

Here's Jason's news:
My story “Kanamara Matsuri” was chosen as a runner-up in the Playboy College Fiction Contest and earned a partial scholarship to the RopeWalk Writers Retreat. I also won partial scholarships in nonfiction and poetry, which is the first time RopeWalk has offered scholarships in all three genres to the same person. I will be in workshops with Dave Smith (poetry), Susan Neville (nonfiction), and Elizabeth Stuckey–French (fiction). RopeWalk will be celebrating its 20th year in Utopia from June 14-21.

Here's Kerry's news:
I got a scholarship for the Stephen Dobyns workshop at Ropewalk.

Links:
Playboy College Fiction Contest
College Fiction Contest
Ropewalk Writers Retreat:
Utopia in Indiana

Grassroots Release Party Today (April 30, 2008)

Check out the DE's article on Grassroots, SIUC's undergraduate literary and art journal:
Grassroots release party

Poemspotting: Paul Guest (MFA '99)

Paul Guest (MFA '99, poetry) is back up again at Verse Daily.
VD
Paul's poem

SIUC Writers at Fifth Wednesday Celebration

First-year poet Amie Whittemore and faculty poet Allison Joseph are contributors to the second issue of Fifth Wednesday, a magazine based in the Chicago area:
Fifth Wednesday
Amie and Allison will be attending and reading at one of the two upcoming release parties for the second issue of this journal. They will be at the May 4th reading:
Release Parties

Allison Joseph in SLAB

Allison Joseph's poem "What Poetry Is" appears in the new issue of SLAB (Sound and Literary Art Book), a journal published at Slippery Rock University. The poem was the first-place winner in the Elizabeth R. Curry Poetry Contest:
SLAB

Poemspotting: Paul Guest (MFA '99)

Paul Guest was the featured poet today at Verse Daily, but it looks like they forgot to pay their internet bill!
So let's visit Paul's blog instead:
Paul's blog

Congrats to Matt Guenette (MFA '99)

A new "edition" at Matt Guenette (MFA '99, poetry)'s house:

AJ--

On Thursday, April 24, Julie gave birth to our first child, a son, August Philip Guenette. It was a long, at times complicated labor, but Julie and August are doing well.

--Matt

Congrats, Matt!
PS There's a photo of the little guy at Matt's blog
meet August

Congrats to Rachel Furey!

Rachel Furey, a second-year fiction writer, has sent the following great news:

Dear Allison:

I just wanted to let you know about some exciting news. I have a short nonfiction piece forthcoming in Women's Basketball
magazine.

Cheers,
Rachel Furey

Congrats, Rachel!
Link to Women's Basketball Magazine
Women's Basketball

Grassroots Reading: April 30, 2008

Grassroots, the undergraduate literary journal of SIUC, will hold its release party/open reading on April 30, 2008 from 7 to 9 pm in the Faner Courtyard (second floor, across from COLA Dean's office). It's an open mike with free gifts! In case of rain, the party will move indoors to the Faner Humanities Lounge.
Details here:
Grassroots press release

Poemspotting: Measure edition

Poems by two SIUC MFA alums and a current faculty member appear in the new issue of Measure: A Review of Formal Poetry:
"Crow & Winter" by Jake Boyd (MFA '07, poetry), "Cherry" by Elisabeth Meyer (MFA '07, poetry) and "Against Therapy" by Allison Joseph.

Measure's website
Measure

MFA Graduation GALA--April 25, 2008

The Creative Writing Program of Southern Illinois University Carbondale's Department of English
cordially invites you to attend our MFA Celebration

April 25, 2008
6:30 PM
Student Center Renaissance Room

These nine graduating students will read briefly from their thesis works:

Helena Bell
Jason Lee Brown
Sara Burge
Martin Anthony Call
Mary Keck
Shanie Latham
Andrew Lewellen
JY Sexton
Timothy Shea

Please join us in wishing them congratulations and godspeed. There will be a reception with refreshments before the readings and during the intermission.

Graduate Faculty:
Pinckney Benedict, Rodney Jones, Judy Jordan, Allison Joseph, Beth Lordan, Mike Magnuson, Jacinda Townsend.

Poemspotting: Chad Parmenter (MFA '05)

Chad's poem "Batellite, Batellite of Love" appears in the latest issue of Black Warrior Review (Spring/Summer 2008, issue 34.2).
The poem won first place in the Third-Ever Fiction and Poetry Contest sponsored by BWR.

Visit Black Warrior's website at
BWR

Visiting Writers Series: Jake Adam York on 4/24/08

The Visiting Writers Series and Crab Orchard Review present a reading by
JAKE ADAM YORK

Thursday, April 24, 2008
4:00 PM, SIUC Student Center Video Lounge (4th Floor)

This reading celebrates the publication of Jake Adam York's new book, A Murmuration of Starlings, published this year by Southern Illinois University Press in the Crab Orchard Series in Poetry. The reading is free and open to the public. A reception and book signing will follow in the Old Main Lounge (2nd floor, next to the Old Main Room).

About the author:
Jake Adam York is an associate professor of English at the University of Colorado-Denver. His first book of poems, Murder Ballads, was published in 2005. His poems have appeared in such journals as Blackbird, DIAGRAM, Greensboro Review, Gulf Coast, Shenandoah and Southern Review. York was raised in northeast Alabama.

About A Murmuration of Starlings:
"Through a ceremony of language and song, A Murmuration of Starlings consecrates and memorializes the souls, blood, and bones of those black men and women slaughtered on the altar of hate and violence during the Civil Rights era. With a lucid, shrewd inteligence and a commanding vision of healing and atonement, Jake Adam York makes an offering of images and music that seems the foundation of a new understanding and remembrance." --Major Jackson, author of Leaving Saturn

Visit Jake's web site at
Jake Adam York

Michael Meyerhofer's new chapbook now available

Michael Meyerhofer (MFA '06, poetry)'s new chapbook, The Clay Shaper's Husband, is now available from Codhill Press. The chapbook won their annual chapbook competition.

Find out more at
Codhill Press

Last In-House Reading for Spring Semester 2008

from the lovely and witty Amie Whittemore:

Dear roadest of runners and wiliest of coyotes,

Tomorrow (4/21) marks the end of the spring in-house readings.
Let's take this thing out in a blaze of glory.
Let's paint tunnels onto the sides of mountains.
Let's defy/thwart/vandalize gravity.

Come to the Mackinaw Room in the Student Center to enjoy a spoonful of Canada, a smidge of ol' St. Louis, and a hint o' Chicagoland in the stylings of:

4:30 JAMES SCOLES, 1st year fiction

4:45 TRAVIS MOSSOTTI, 1st year poetry

5:00 RACHNA SHETH, 2nd year fiction


Earthily and quakingly yours,

~ Amie

Poemspotting: Meyerhofer/Perillo

New poems by Michael Meyerhofer (MFA '06) and former faculty member Lucia Perillo appear in the latest issue of Ploughshares, guest-edited by Philip Levine.
Lucia's poems are "Job Site, 1967" and "Love Swing." Michael's poem is "Against Etymology."

Ploughshares web site:
Ploughshares

Alumni Update: Kevin McKelvey (MFA '04)

Here's an update from Kevin McKelvey (MFA '04, poetry):

"I recently accepted a Visiting Assistant Professor position at the University of Indianapolis to teach freshman writing, professional writing, creative writing, editing, and publishing. I really enjoy teaching this variety of classes, and I look forward to working at a medium-sized liberal arts university committed to the local community. Also, recent work has appeared in Timber Creek Review, which published a poem I wrote during a Young Writers' Workshop class, and River Oak Review."

Congrats, Kevin!

Writers on the Road Reading Update

from the lovely Amie Whittemore, the following update regarding the next Writers on the Road reading. This time we play host to :

Readers from Ball State University, Indiana State University, and Murray State University.
April 18
SIUC Student Center, Cambria Room
4-6:30 p.m.

Writers on the Road: Wash U edition cancellation

The edition of Writers on the Road featuring SIUC MFA students reading on the campus of Washington University scheduled for Thursday, April 17 has been cancelled due to the unexpected passing of Washington University MFA student and poet Eric Van Cleve. All of us at the SIUC MFA program extend our deep condolences to the students, faculty and staff at Washington University.

Writers on the Road: Wash U edition

Writers on the Road's latest upcoming installment has SIUC writers reading at Washington University in St. Louis:

The Washington University reading will be held Thursday, April 17th, at 8pm in the Hurst Lounge, located in Dunker Hall on the main campus. We'll serve refreshments, maybe take a little break about half-way through.
SIUC readers include:
Helena Bell
Sara Burge
Travis Mossotti
Rachna Sheth

Here's a campus map, Dunker is #25 on the list, and really easy to find:
WUSTL

And here's the address for the main campus:
Washington University Campus
1 Brookings Dr
St Louis, MO 63130

Wash U writers will read on the SIUC campus on April 18. Details on that event to come--watch this space!

SIUC Writers at the Southern Illinois Writers Guild

Allison Joseph, Laura Benedict and Jacinda Townsend are all scheduled for presentations with the local writers group the Southern Illinois Writers Guild. Details here:
SIWG

Do You Love Cheap Books?

Then be sure to check out:
Southern Illinois's largest Book Sale
at
Carbondale Public Library
405 West Main, parking lot entrance on Monroe Street
in the Brush Building next to the parking lot
No electronic or phone isbn searchers permitted
8 rooms of books!!

Saturday, April 12, 2008, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Half-price sale Sunday, April 13, 1 - 4 p.m.
Friends Preview
(Must be a member of the Friends of CPL.
Memberships begin at $5 - join at the door.)
4 - 6 p.m., Friday, April 11

Book donations are sought and books can be dropped off
during regular Carbondale Public Library hours.

New Pinckney Benedict Fiction in IMAGE

The awesome PB writes:

"My story “The World, the Flesh, and the Devil” is in the current issue (#57) of IMAGE: Art, Faith, Mystery, along with an essay on the language of the Gospels by Franz Wright and an interview with Ron Hansen. An online interview with me is posted here:"
IMAGE

Remember: Mother's Day is May 11th

Allison Joseph is a winner in Trellis Magazine's Mother's Day Formal Poem Contest.
Trellis

Writers on the Road: St. Louis Style!

Jason Lee Brown has sent along the schedule for the latest installment of "Writers on the Road." This time, SIUC MFAs will be spending time with the fine graduate writers of Washington University and of the University of Missouri St. Louis.

Itinerary for the Writers on the Road Reading and Other Festivities

Friday, April 11th
7:00pm: UMSL MFA Reading: Five graduating poets and writers from UMSL's MFA program will read from their theses at the E. Desmond and Mary Ann Lee Theater of The Touhill Performing Arts Center. This is on the UMSL campus. Cash bar and snacks provided. SIUC and Wash U students are invited to this event. (Doors open at 7:00; reading starts at 7:30.)

10:00pm (approx.): Go to Blueberry Hill in The Loop for post-reading festivities.

Saturday, April 12th
2:30-4:30pm: Writers on the Road reading at Black Bear Bakery: 2639 Cherokee Street, St. Louis, MO 63118. (See map below.) Please arrive at least fifteen minutes prior to the start of the reading. Readers will be provided with a food voucher for $10 worth of food and beverages to be used at Black Bear Bakery.

Reading order is as follows:
--Amanda Goldblatt
--Chris Dennis
--Erin M. Bertram
--Vincent Guerra
--Jason Lee Brown
--Tim Shea
--Rachel Furey
--Mary Keck
--James Scoles

Interview with Ben Percy (MFA '04)

Ben Percy (MFA '04, fiction) has been interviewed by the good folks at Southern Indiana Review:
Check it out at
SIR
Reminder: Ben's reading in Evansville has been rescheduled for April 14.
Ropewalk Reading Series:
Readings at USI

Events with Ciaran Berry: Thursday, April 10, 2008

Thursday, April 10, 2-3:15 pm, English Department Conference Room

Students and faculty are welcome to come meet visiting poet Ciaran Berry and take part in an informal conversation about contemporary American and Irish poetry and publishing.

Thursday, April 10, 4:00 pm, SIUC Student Center Auditorium

Ciaran Berry reads from his first collection of poems, The Sphere of Birds, published by SIU Press in North America and by Gallery Press in Ireland. A reception and book signing will follow the reading (reception in the Old Main Lounge).

Poemspotting: Rodney Jones

Rodney Jones fans take note: Two new poems by Mr. Jones appear in NOR: New Ohio Review (Spring 2008, Number 3).
The poems are "104" and "Feelings, by Ashley Higgins."

More about NOR here:
New Ohio Review

In-House Reading Monday, April 7

A note from the lovely Amie Whittemore to remind all of the upcoming In-House Reading this Monday:

Dear snapdragons and tulip-faces,

The reminder that brings a tear of joy to your inbox has arrived. Feel free to frolic.
Don't miss this week's line-up featuring a Sox fan, an Alabaman (is that a word? and if it is, isn't it strange looking?), and a farmer's daughter (which is which? who is who? we'll never tell).

The info:

In-house Reading - Mackinaw Room, SIUC Student Center

4:30 John Flaherty (2nd year fiction)

4:45 Amie Whittemore (1st year poetry)

5:00 Kerry James Evans (2nd year poetry)


Hope to see your lovely faces there,

~ Amie

Ben Percy (MFA '04) Reading at USI postponed

Ben Percy's reading at the University of Southern Indiana has been postponed from its original April 8 date to April 14, 2008.
The time and place (5 p.m. in Kleymeyer Hall in USI's Liberal Arts Center) remain the same.

Rodney Jones to read at Mississippi State

Our own Rodney Jones will read from his work at Mississippi State University on April 16, 2008.
More details here:
Miss State English

Judy Jordan to read at Murray State University

SIUC's own Judy Jordan will read from her poetry at Murray State University on Thursday, April 10th.
The reading is at the Clara M. Eagle Gallery at 7:30 pm.
Details here:
Murray MFA

Upcoming Reading, April 10: Ciaran Berry

The Visiting Writers Series and Crab Orchard Review present a reading by
CIARAN BERRY

Thursday, April 10, 2008
4:00 PM, SIUC Student Center Auditorium

This reading celebrates the publication of Ciaran Berry's new book, The Sphere of Birds, published this year by Southern Illinois University Press in the Crab Orchard Series in Poetry. The reading is free and open to the public. A reception and book signing will follow in the Old Main Lounge.

Ciaran Berry's first collection of poems, The Sphere of Birds, was released this spring in North America by Southern Illinois University Press and in Ireland by Gallery Press. His poem "Electrocuting an Elephant" was selected to appear in the Best American Poetry 2008 by Charles Wright. He is from the northwest of Ireland and he teaches in the Expository Writing Program at New York University.

More about The Sphere of Birds:
SIU Press

MFA Students Represent at this year's AEGIS Conference

AEGIS, the SIUC English department's graduate organization, has planned its yearly conference for Thursday, April 3 to Saturday, April 5.

MFA students will be in full effect during this year's conference. Creative writers will be doing readings and presenting papers. Here are some highlights from the schedule:

Thursday, April 3, Missouri Room, SIUC Student Center, 4:30 pm
Readings by Andrew McFadyen-Ketchum, Helena Bell, and Tim Shea

Friday, April 4, Mississippi Room, SIUC Student Center, 9:30 am
Readings by Andrew McFadyen-Ketchum, Kerry James Evans, Alex Lumans
Mississippi Room, SIUC Student Center, 1:45-2:45, Reading by Pinckney Benedict
Mississippi Room, SIUC Student Center, 3 pm, Readings by Sara Burge, Mary Keck, Will Tyler

Saturday, April 5, Sangamon Roon, SIUC Student Center, 9:30 am
Readings by Rachel Furey, John Flaherty, Shanie Latham
Mackinaw Room, 1:45 pm: Reading by Rodney Jones
Sangamon Room, 3:00 pm: Andrew McFadyen-Ketchum reads his paper "A Low Dishonest Decade: The Self-Imposed Revisions of W.H. Auden"
Sangamon Room, 4:30 pm:Readings by Rachna Sheth, JY Sexton, Kerry James Evans

Social Event at Melange (aka "R&D") at 8 pm

Congrats to Helena "Hel" Bell (MFA '08)

on her acceptance to law school! Hel will be attending law school this coming fall at Washington University in St. Louis.

Reading and Drinking Returns, Saturday 4/5

Another session of "R&D" aka "Reading and Drinking" will take place this coming Saturday at Melange.
Poetry--Fiction--Drama--Drink Specials--Trivia--Prizes

7pm at Melange, on the Strip, 607 S. Illinois Avenue, Carbondale, IL

In-House Reading Monday, March 31

from Amie Whittemore, a reminder:
"in-house reading tomorrow to support your brilliant peers (who knows, you might need to borrow a kidney / cup of sugar /pizza cutter from them one day). Also, tell your classes, bribe your students, bat your eyelashes at cute strangers in the hallway - do what you must to improve attendance at these shindigs."

Here's the line-up:

MONDAY, MARCH 31, 2008
(MISSISSIPPI ROOM, SIUC Student Center)

4:30 ABBY WHEETLEY, fiction

4:45 RACHEL FUREY, fiction

5:00 HANNAH NEW, poetry

5:15 WILL TYLER, poetry

Elena Pearson (MFA '07) in Compass Rose

Elena Pearson (MFA '07) has a poem in both the print and online versions of the literary magazine Compass Rose:
Compass Rose