New Year's Kudos to---

Jared Y. Sexton (MFA, fiction, '08):
Wanted to pass along word that my collection Just Listen was named a finalist for the 2010 New American Fiction Award, judged by Lee K. Abbott. And, a couple of hours later, my story It is Wide and It is Deep was accepted by Abby Wheetley and Peter Lucas over at Prime Mincer.

John Owen (second-year, poetry):
Some good news to start off the new year. DMQ Review has picked up "Field Song" for their next issue.

Melissa Scholes Young (third-year, fiction):
My poem "Coconut Water," which I wrote in workshop with Judy, will be published in Tapestry. Spring 2011, I believe.


Congrats to all! Nice way to start the year!!!

Congrats to Andy McFadyen-Ketchum!

Catching up with poetry alum Andy McFadyen-Ketchum (MFA '09):

Looks like Southern Indiana Review is taking "Suicide Watch" and Greensboro Review is taking my review of Joshua Poteat's second collection: Illustrating the Machine that Makes the World. Also, check out my website I just launched at www.AndrewMK.com

Congrats, Andy!!

News from SIUC MFA alums!!

Congrats to these poetry alums on their recent acceptances! Keep the good news coming!


Travis Mossotti (MFA '10):

“Place of Rest” is forthcoming at Vallum; “Float Trip” and “News of Surgery” are forthcoming at Cutthroat; “Peregrination” and “Open Mic” are forthcoming at Exit 7; and, “As Broken in the End” is forthcoming at Bellevue Literary Review.


Kerry James Evans (MFA '09):

Moon City Review took "The Patient Curse" and the Pinch took "Waiting for Fire."

Pinckney Benedict Update!

More kudos for Pinckney Benedict's fiction collection, Miracle Boy and Other Stories!

Nobbie Awards

MIRACLE BOY has been selected for one of the 2010 Nobbie Awards for the Best Books of the Year over at The Nervous Breakdown.

"Absolutely phenomenal short story collection—kind of a Stephen King meets Flannery O'Connor experience. The title tale— a young boy's feet are accidentally chopped off by his father in a farming accident, and he and his friends must cope—may just be the best short story ever written. Other stories feature kids trying to spy dead people in a wrecked car, stories of hauntings, bodily possession, and the approaching end of the world--all set in back-roads communities, and all told with tremendous literary skill. (Press 53)"

Storyspotting: Shawn Mitchell and Sarah McCartt-Jackson

Now available: NANO #4, featuring work by second-year fiction writer Shawn Mitchell and third-year poet Sarah McCartt-Jackson:

NANO fiction

Good News Galore from Current Students and Grads

John Stanford Owen, second-year poet, has had his poem "In 1991" accepted for publication in the Yalobusha Review.

Leslie Adams, second-year poet, has won the Yellowwood Prize!! (Sponsored by the Yalobusha Review!)

Amy Blache Graziano, MFA '07 (poetry), has had her prose poem "The Dog" accepted for publication in Quick Fiction.

Alex Lumans (MFA '09 fiction) has a boatload of good news:

I just found out that John Brandon picked my story "No Wants, No Returns" for the 2011 Barry Hannah Fiction Prize that's put on by the Yalobusha Review. It'll come out in their next issue in February.

I also won third place in the Sycamore Review's 2010 Wabash Poetry Prize. January, Winter/Spring issue. Don't ask me how.

And a story of mine, "The Crow That is Still Eating Chicago" (which is secretly dedicated to Flaherty and his Bears), was accepted for publication by Prime Number.

LINKS:
Yalobusha Review
Quick Fiction
Sycamore Review
Prime Number

Poemspotting: Brenna Lemieux

Third-year poet Brenna Lemieux's poem "Dysphasia" appears in the Fall 2010 issue of the North American Review! Congrats Brenna!

Congrats to Abby Wheetley (MFA '09, fiction)

Abby Wheetley's story "Dagwood" has been accepted for publication in the debut issue of Fridge!!

Congrats, Abby!!

Breaking News: Meyerhofer Wins Chapbook Contest!

Stolen directly from Michael Meyerhofer's (MFA '06) Facebook page:

Good news: my latest chapbook, "Pure Elysium," won the Palettes and Quills Chapbook Contest!

Congrats, MM!!!

LINK:
Palettes and Quills

NB: Justin Hamm (MFA '05, fiction) was a finalist!

Poemspotting: Sarah McCartt-Jackson

Dual-degree wonder Sarah McCartt-Jackson is the featured poet at Tidal Basin Review.
Go to
Sarah at Tidal Basin Review
to view her feature!

Congrats to Nick Ostdick!

Good news this morning from second-year fiction student Nick Ostdick:

Some wonderful news this morning: Sheepshead Review, UW Green Bay's literary outfit, accepted my short story 'Moons' for their Fall 2010 issue. It'll be coming out in both their print and online versions.. Cool beans.

Cool beans indeed! Congrats, Nick!

Sheepshead Review

Alumni News and Notes: Early December Edition

from David Bond (MFA '98, poetry):
I had the opportunity to read at the Yeiser Art Center in Paducah a few weeks ago, a venue that is getting its share of SIUC writers lately!
Yeiser Art Center

from Matt Guenette (MFA '99, poetry):
My poem "Elvis in Evansville" was accepted at Forklift. I also have a review of Erica Meitner's Ideal Cities over at Barn Owl Review online:
Barn Owl Review

from Alberta Skaggs (MFA' 01, fiction, current lecturer in the SIUC English Department and advisor to Grassroots, SIUC's undergraduate literary journal):
Alberta's story, "Pavlov's Dog," has been accepted for publication in Fifth Wednesday, a literary journal based in the Chicago area:
Fifth Wednesday

from Gillian King-Cargile (MFA' 05, fiction):
Gillian has accepted a new position as a communications specialist at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois! Congrats, Gillian!

Congrats to Nick Ostdick!

News from second-year fiction writer Nick Ostdick:

Big Lucks wants to reprint my story "On the Coast'"in their Spring 2011 issue. How 'bout that, huh? Pretty cool.

Congrats, NO!

LINK:
Big Lucks

Pinckney Benedict Update!

Pinckney Benedict's fiction collection, Miracle Boy and Other Stories, is a finalist for the Weatherford Award, sponsored by Berea College's Appalachian Center! Congrats, PB!

LINK:
Weatherford Award

Writers on the Road Visit: U of Illinois writers visit

Another edition of Writers on the Road is coming! Thanks to Shawn Mitchell for the information below:

Where: Faner Hall, SIUC, Harry T. Moore Auditorium
What: 5 Readers from the MFA Program @ Urbana-Champaign rock SIUC, testing the promise that Faner is riot-proof
When: This Friday, 12/3 @ 6:00pm.

Bios:

Laura Adamczyk wants you to know that she’s a product of an SIU union. Also that she’s won awards for her fiction from the Union League Civic & Arts Foundation of Chicago. And finally that, given the chance, she will change the music on your stereo.

Sean Karns’ poems have appeared or are forthcoming in Cold Mountain Review, Folio, Mayday Magazine, and elsewhere.

Sara Gelston comes from Maine. She has an affinity for rural life and soul music and an aversion to most games. When asked for directions, she always points east.

Max Somers is a poet and former (and, hopefully, again in the future) world record holder.

Aaron Burch has a book out from Keyhole Books (How to Predict the Weather), won a chapbook contest with PANK, has published a handful of stories, started a reading series in Champaign, edits a lit journal (Hobart), and likes bourbon (bourbon).

For Sale: Aaron Burch’s How to Predict the Weather and Hobart digs/books/things.

Alumni News and Notes: Late November Edition

SIUC MFAs have been busy! Check out these notes from alums all over:

Tim Marsh (MFA '06 , fiction):
The LA Review just nominated my story "How to Make White People Happy" for a Pushcart, while The Splinter Generation just nominated my story "A Month Before 30, Summit of Signal Hill" for Best of the Web. Pretty cool. Another short story of mine, "Transit Wives" was also recently published in Monkeybicycle.

Justin Hamm (MFA '05, fiction):
There's audio of my poem "Uncle Fat Elvis," which appeared in The Battered Suitcase earlier this year, on the website Whale Sound. Poems on Whale Sound are read by Nic Sebastian, who has a great voice and a great ear and treats each poem carefully and lovingly. It is highly informative to have her record your work. Hopefully other SIUC poets can send some things her way!

Link:
Justin

Also of note, newly published work by alums appears in new issues of the Cincinnati Review and in Copper Nickel, respectively. Cincinnati Review (volume 7, number 2) features a poem by Travis Mossotti and a story by Alex Lumans; Copper Nickel features new poems by Adrian Matejka, Kerry James Evans, and James Thomas Miller.

Poetry alum Melanie Dusseau has accepted a teaching position at Northwest State Community College in Archbold, Ohio!

Congrats to Bryan Estes!

First-year poet Bryan Estes has great pre-Thanksgiving news:

"It's official--my first publication. The Compass Rose has accepted my poem, "Love is nothing like a rose." It was probably the $20 I slipped in the envelope."

Congrats, Bryan!

LINK:
Compass Rose

MFA fiction alum Chad Simpson (MFA '05) sends this news:

My story "Fourteen" recently appeared in Matchbook:
Fourteen

My essay "Obnubilate" just went live in the latest issue of The Collagist
Chad

Congrats, Chad! Great to see you and hear you read at Devil's Kitchen!

Chad's website:

Monday, November 15, 2010

Catching up with Jim Gill (MFA '99, fiction)

Here's an update from fiction alum James (Jim) Gill:

Had a story appear in August at Fried Chicken and Coffee:
Fried

Then of course my story in the Crab Orchard issue 15.2.

And I just had a story accepted at Bull: Men's Fiction (it should be out fairly soon; I'm working on revisions with the editor).
Bull: Men's Fiction

Oh, and I'll also have a short piece appear at The Common in their dispatches section soon, though I don't know when exactly, but will update when it's up as well.
The Common

Congrats, Jim, on all this good news!

Allison Joseph to read at Western Kentucky University

SIUC faculty poet will read Monday, November 15 at Western Kentucky University:
Creative Writing @ WKU

Congrats to Mark Brewin!

Mark Brewin, third-year poet, continues his streak of acceptances:

"My poem "Scrap Iron" will now be appearing in the North American Review. I am unsure of what issue yet, but I'll keep all the good folks out there posted."

Good going, MB! You've had quite a fall!

LINK:
North American Review

Congrats to JY (Jared) Sexton (MFA '08)

Great news from fiction alum Jared (JY) Sexton (MFA '08):

"My story Just Listen was nominated for Dzanc Books' "Best of the Web 2011" Anthology. Today I found out my story "They Put a Shovel in Your Hand and You Dig" has been accepted by Inkspill Magazine."

Double bonus! Congrats, Jared!

LINKS:
DZANC Books
Inkspill

Talk for SIUC Undergraduates on applying to graduate school in creative writing

from Shawn Mitchell:

Are you considering attending grad school in creative writing? Come out on Wednesday, November 17th when current Graduate students in the SIUC MFA program will hold a panel discussion on applications, strategies, and everything in-between.

There will be light refreshments and a worksheet handout w/ info and sample personal statements. Panel Presenters will consist of three fiction writers and one poet, and a representative from each year of our three year grad program: Brenna Lemieux, Shawn Mitchell, Sequoia Nagamatsu, and Nick Ostdick.

If you have questions, or would simply like a leg up, come to the humanities lounge in Faner from 4:30-5:30 next Wednesday the 17th. See you there!

Light refreshments will be served.

Congrats to Brenna Lemieux!

Third-year MFA poet Brenna Lemieux also has great news to share:

"I found out this week that The Hollins Critic has accepted my poem "Migration" and wants to give me 25 smackers for it (dollars, not kisses). So that's neat."

Congrats, Brenna!

LINK:
Hollins Critic


NB: Hollins Critic quite likes us--second year poet Leslie Adams also has a poem forthcoming in this journal.

Congrats to Amie Whittemore!

Two fantastic bits of news from poetry alum Amie Whittemore (MFA '10):

One:
"Vermont Studio Center has granted me a full fellowship for next July! I was happily surprised to find out the news on Friday -- perfect for a weekend of celebrating!"

Two:
"I wanted to let you know that Hollins Critic accepted my poem "The Empty Lot" for publication."

Congrats, Amie, on all this good news!

LINKS:
Hollins Critic
Vermont Studio Center

Congrats to Ingrid Moody!

Ingrid Moody, poetry MFA alum (MFA '07), writes with this sensational news:

"Just got exciting news--my chapbook won the Robert Phillips Poetry Chapbook Competition and will be published by Texas Review Press!"

Congrats, Ingrid!

LINK:
Texas Review Press

Congrats to Justin Hamm (MFA '05)!

Also sending good news this morning is Justin Hamm (MFA '05, fiction):

"Just wanted to drop a line to let you know Cold Mountain Review picked up my poem "The Flour Epiphany" and RockSaw Press has set a firm release date for my chapbook "Illinois, My Apologies" -- it'll be released at AWP next year."

Congrats, Justin!

LINKS:
Cold Mountain Review
Rock Saw Press

Congrats to Peter Lucas!

First-year fiction writing student Peter ("Pete") Lucas has great news to report this Friday morning:

"I am very pleased to report that my story, "The Boy" will be appearing in the 2011 issue of The Owen Wister Review. Thanks to both Jacinda and Beth for their suggestions."

Congrats, Pete!

LINK:
Owen Wister Review

Congrats to John Stanford Owen!

Congrats are also in order for second-year poetry student John Stanford Owen:

"I'm thrilled to announce that VPR will be accepting "Grief Harbor, 1995" for publication in their Spring 2011 issue. I'm slightly psyched. Okay, I'm very psyched."

Congrats, JSO!

LINK:
Valparaiso Poetry Review

Congrats to Mark Brewin!

Third-year poetry student Mark Brewin keeps racking up the forthcoming publication credits:

"My poem "The Pecking Order" has been accepted for publication in Cold Mountain Review."

Congrats, MB!

LINK:
Cold Mountain Review

Writers on the Road: UMSL edition

Writers On The Road Reading at University of Missouri Saint Louis

Friday, November 5 · 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Location 450 Lucas Hall, UMSL, St. Louis, MO.

The University of Missouri St. Louis is pleased to present MFA students Shawn Mitchell, Nick Ostdick, Leslie Adams and John Stanford Owen from Southern Illinois University Carbondale as they read from their work. There will be a brief question and answer period following the reading. This event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.

Congrats to Kathleen Hale!

First-year fiction student Kathleen Hale's story "The Corn" has been published by SmokeLong Quarterly:
Kathleen's "The Corn"

Congrats, Kathleen!

Catching Up with Andrew McFadyen-Ketchum

News from Andrew McFadyen-Ketchum (MFA '09, poetry):

"The Word Damn and the Word God" has been picked up by New Letters. Very pleased with that!

And my panel got a very generous time slot at AWP-DC:

From the Page to the Small Screen: What the Information Age Means for Us
Scheduled Day: Saturday, February
Scheduled Time: 12:00 PM to 1:15 PM
Scheduled Room: Virginia A, Marriott

See you at AWP, Andy!

LINK:
New Letters

Travis Mossotti Update: Forthcoming Poems

Here's an update on forthcoming publications by Travis Mossotti (MFA '10, poetry):

"Somewhere in Illinois" and "Sidewalk Superman" got picked up at Harpur Palate, "Fox Creek Road" got picked up by Green Mountains Review, "Preparing the Table" got picked up by Open City, "O Captain! My Captain!" got picked up by Sou'wester, and "The Second Coming of Christ in the Form of a North American Alligator" got picked up by Tampa Review.

Good work, TM!

Devil's Kitchen Literary Festival: Schedule and Author Bios

SIUC's annual fall literary festival, the Devil's Kitchen Fall Literary Festival, begins today! Details here:
Schedule and Author Biographies

Welcome to Carbondale, visiting writers!

A Banner Day for Mark Brewin!

Third-year poet Mark Brewin had quite a day yesterday!

Note #1: 

"I am happy to report, and a little amazed, that my poem "The Root Whiskers" has been accepted for publication at The Greensboro Review.  October always was my favorite month."

Note #2:

" I am semi-speechless to say that The Pinch has accepted my poem "Milford Sound" for publication.  Two in one day."

Congrats, MB!  What a day indeed!

LINKS:

Greensboro Review

The Pinch

Congrats to Jared Yates Sexton (MFA '08)

Fiction alum Jared (JY) Sexton has good news to share too!

My story "Mediation" was accepted for publication in the next volume of The Raleigh Review. So. That's cool.

It is indeed, JY!  Congrats!

LINK:

The Raleigh Review

Kudos to Rodney Jones!

SIUC's own Rodney Jones' poem "The Eviction" appears in the latest edition of the Pushcart Prize: Best of the Small Presses anthology! The poem was originally published in Five Points.

LINK:

Pushcart Prizes

Kudos to Mark Brewin!

Lovely news on a lovely fall day from third-year poet Mark Brewin:

"His Grandmother as a Wind Chime" was just accepted for publication at the South Carolina Review.

Congrats, MB!

LINK:
South Carolina Review

Poemspotting, movie-style: Travis Mossotti

Here's a very interesting way to present poetry, via the talents of Travis Mossotti (MFA '10, poetry) and his filmmaker brother, Josh Mossotti:

Decampment, the film

Poemspotting: Travis Mossotti and David Bond

SIUC MFA grads Travis Mossotti (poetry,'10) and David Bond (poetry,'98) have new poems up at Valparaiso Poetry Review:

Travis
David

Fantastic News for Greg Schwipps (MFA '98)

Exciting news for SIUC MFA grad Greg Schwipps!:

Greg Schwipps wins Emerging Writer Award

Congrats, Greg!
And thanks to Kevin McKelvey for letting the MFA Carbondale blog know about this great news.

Congrats to Sarah McCartt-Jackson

Awesome news from third-year poet Sarah McCartt-Jackson:

"I just read that I have been selected for the first Tidal Basin Review Series Poet Center Feature for my loooong poem "Calf Canyon." Much love to CRWOPPS and many thanks to all my fellow SIUC writers who read this for me!"

Congrats, Sarah! Well done!

LINK:
Tidal Basin Review

Congrats to Leslie Adams!

Great Friday news from second-year poet Leslie Adams!

"Saw Palm accepted a poem ("Ghost Crab") for their next issue. Just in time for weekend celebrating!"

Congrats, LA!

LINK:
Saw Palm

Allison Joseph to read at Lamar University, Beaumont, TX

SIUC faculty poet will read from her poetry at Lamar University on Wednesday, October 20 at 7 pm in the Science Auditorium.
Lamar University

Crossgenre action with Helena "Hel" Bell

MFA poetry grad (MFA '08) Helena "Hel" Bell's first published story is now online:

Helena Bell fiction

Catching Up with Andrew McFadyen-Ketchum

SIUC MFA poetry grad Andrew McFadyen-Ketchum has had a string of good luck lately:

It's been a good fall so far...

Potomac Review took "Slag"...my first three-pager to be taken!

Eclipse took "Golden Paper Wasp"

And Poet Lore took "Night Driving"

I'm also Managing Editor of a new literary blog, Adhominem. Please submit to us with your association with SIUC in the subject line or something so that I can notice it...we'd love to see some stuff from grad students, alumni, and faculty on the site!

My best,
Andrew

Pinckney Benedict does Macomb (Illinois, that is)

During the coming week, I'll be the Fred Case & Lola Austin Case Writer-in-Residence at Western Illinois University in Macomb. On Wednesday, Oct 20, I'll be doing an interview and Q&A at 4:00 pm in Simpkins 341 (Writing Center). On Thursday, Oct 21, at 7:30 PM, I'll be giving a reading and signing books in the Sandburg Theater in the University Union. Previous Case writers include Marge Piercy, Ethan Canin, Stuart Dybek, and Albert
Goldbarth, and Rick Bass.

Pinckney at WIU

Storyspotting: Nick Ostdick

from Nick Ostdick (second-year, fiction):

Two quick things here:

1). My story 'True Hair,' which was published last year in Storyglossia, has been nominated for the 2011 Best of The Web anthology. Here's a link to the story:
True Hair

2). 'Storms,' which originally was going to be published by Knee Jerk Magazine, is now coming out in the 2011 issue of The Emerson Review instead. So there's that. Neat.

Congrats, NO!

Storyspotting: Melissa Scholes Young

from Melissa Scholes Young (third-year, fiction):

My flash fiction is up at Word Riot. You can even hear me reading it to you if you are so inclined. There's also the picture of me with Superman. You can't beat that for a Friday.

Melissa

Rodney Jones to read in Saint Louis for River Styx

SIUC's own Rodney Jones will read from his work as part of the River Styx at Duff's series on October 18, 2010:
Details here:
River Styx

Congrats to Leslie Adams!

Good news this afternoon from second-year poetry MFA student Leslie Adams:

The Hollins Critic picked up "How it Was," and they're giving me 25 bucks to boot.

Congrats, Leslie!

LINK:
Hollins Critic

Poemspotting: Mossotti and Boyd

Two poems by MFA poetry alum Travis Mossotti (MFA '10) appear in the Spring 2010 issue of Roger, a literary journal published at Roger Williams University in Rhode Island. The poems are "A Piece of Advice" and "Saxifrage."

Jake Boyd (MFA '07, poetry) has poems appearing in nth position:
Nth position
Jake's poems

Upcoming Literary Events: October 2010

The Graduate Writer's Forum Presents the In-House Reading Series
Wed, October 20th, 4-5:30 pm
SIUC Student Center, Ohio Room

Reading from their work will be MFA candidates Jonathan Travelstead, Adrienne Rivera, John Stanford Owen and Bryan Brower.


DEVIL'S KITCHEN LITERARY FESTIVAL:
October 28, 29, 30, 2010

Festival Schedule here:
Devil's Kitchen

Faculty Focus: A Profile of Pinckney Benedict

Thanks to Andrea Hahn for this profile of SIUC fiction faculty member Pinckney Benedict. Gosh, that guy's talented!

Pinckney Benedict

Congrats to Mark Brewin!

Current third-year poetry student Mark Brewin has even more good news:

Tidal Basin Review has picked up my poem "Scrap Iron." Very excited. Getting into my publication stride for the semester...

Congrats, MB!

LINK:
Tidal Basin Review

Congrats to Mark Brewin!

Great news from current poetry student Mark Brewin:

"Excited to say that my poem "Palace Depression" has been accepted for publication in Quiddity. AND, besides publication of the poem, it seems I get to audio record the poem, and it will be played on the NPR station out of Benedictine University @ Springfield. I've always been told I have a face made for radio..."

Congrats, Mark!

LINK:
Quiddity

Congrats to Melissa Scholes Young!

Current third-year fiction student Melissa Scholes Young has good news to share:

Word Riot accepted a piece of my flash fiction entitled "Mrs. Peabody." It will be published mid-October. I wrote this piece in Jacinda's Forms Class last spring with Nick, Adrienne, Shawn, and Sarah. It's really all of their fault.

Word Riot

Congrats, MSY!

Allison Joseph to read at Penn State Altoona

SIUC faculty poet Allison Joseph will read from her work this week at Penn State Altoona:
Penn State Altoona press release

Congrats to Rachel Furey (MFA '09)

Fantastic news from fiction alum Rachel Furey:

"My short story "Birth Act" is listed as one of the other distinguished stories in the back of Best American Short Stories 2010. I'm tickled to be on a list that also includes authors such as Ann Beattie, George Saunders, and Joyce Carol Oates. That's sort of like getting to share court space with Diana Taurasi."

Congrats, Rachel!

LINK:
Best American

upcoming alumni reading: Melanie Dusseau (MFA '03)

Melanie Dusseau ("The Body Tries Again") will read from her book from 6-8:30 pm on Tuesday, October 19th, at the Toledo Lucas County Public Library, main branch at the McMaster Center, in Toledo, Ohio. This venue is located at 325 N. Michigan Street. For more information, visit http://www.toledolibrary.org/default.aspx.

Riverfront Times of St. Louis Names Alum Best Local Poet

Adrian Matejka (MFA '01) has been named "Best Local Poet" by St. Louis's entertainment newspaper, The Riverfront Times:
Riverfront Times

Congrats, AD!

Catching Up with Adrian Matejka (MFA '01)

Poetry alum Adrian Matejka (MFA '01) sends this update:

I've got poems forthcoming in American Poetry Review, Natural Bridge, and Ploughshares, along with a couple of cool new online journals: Bestiary and Vinyl. There are also poems in the recent issues of Tuesday; An Art Project and the Southern Indiana Review.


Congrats, AD!

Grassroots Open Mic Party: Wednesday September 29

The editors of Grassroots, SIUC's undergraduate literary journal, invite you to join them for an Open Mic Party in the Faner Hall Courtyard at 7 PM on Wednesday, September 29. All are welcome to come read from their poetry and prose. There will be food and music as well. For more information, contact the editors at (grassrootsmag-AT-gmail.com)

Jon Tribble & Allison Joseph in Little Rock, AR

Crab Orchard Review editors Jon Tribble and Allison Joseph will travel to Little Rock, Arkansas for Pulaski Technical College's "Banned Books" celebration on September 30:

Details here:
J&A at PT

Mitchell interviews Percy

Shawn Mitchell (current second-year in fiction) interviews Ben Percy (MFA '04) for Fiction Writers Review:

Ben and Shawn

The Wilding is Released! Congrats to Ben Percy (MFA '04)

Today is the release date for Ben Percy's new novel The Wilding. Read more about it here:

The Wilding

Faculty Reading: Pinckney Benedict at the New School, NYC

from Pinckney Benedict, SIUC fiction faculty:

I'll be reading and talking with the audience at the New School next Monday, October 4. The event's at 6:30 PM at the Alvin Johnson/J. M. Kaplan Hall, 66 West 12th Street, room 510. It will be moderated by Robert Polito.

Mega-Congratulations to Ben Percy (MFA '04)

from the Deals Section of Publishers' Weekly:

Deals

Congrats to Tim Marsh!

More good news from fiction alum Tim Marsh (MFA '06):

Seems there's been a lot of good news lately from the program. Here's some more: My piece "Residuals" will appear in the Winter issue of The Battered Suitcase; my piece "Transit Wives" will appear in the next issue of "Prole", out of the UK. I've also been selected as a finalist for a Headlands Artist Residency in San Francisco. If that doesn't pan out, I was recently awarded a scholarship and writer's residency at the Montana Artists Refuge in Basin.

Congrats, Tim!

LINKS:
The Battered Suitcase
Prole
Headlands Center for the Arts
Montana Artists Refuge

Congrats to Travis Mossotti!

Travis Mossotti (MFA '10, poetry) writes from Cali with news of impending publication:

New South accepted my poem "My Life as an Island" for their upcoming long poem issue.
New South

Congrats, TM!

Alumni Sighting: Sweet

Check out a new essay by Greg Schwipps (MFA '98) in Sweet:
Sweet

Literary Doings in and out of Carbondale

SIUC faculty poet Rodney Jones reads in Atlanta, GA for the literary journal New South on September 23:
New South

SIUC fiction faculty member Pinckney Benedict reads for Sigma Tau Delta on September 21, Saline Room, SIUC Student Center, at 6pm.

Reading & Drinking: Carbondale's literary feast @ Callahan's Pub in Carbondale @ 8pm (Tuesday, Sept. 21th)
Door prizes, raffles, great fiction/poetry, and half off drinks and food. Huzzah! Bring your friends. Bring your spouses/significant others. Good times to be had by all.

Current lineup consists of:

Kathleen Hale
Mark Brewin
Lane Kareska
Sequoia Nagamatsu
Janelle Blasdel
Daniel Paul
Shawn Mitchell

Wednesday, September 22 from 4 to 5:30 pm Graduate Writers Forum In-House Reading Series
Mississippi Room, second floor, SIUC Student Center
Featuring poetry and fiction readings from MFA candidates Leslie Adams, Ruth Awad, Nick Ostdick and Shawn Mitchell

Catching Up With Michael Meyerhofer (MFA '06)

A note from poetry alum Michael Meyerhofer:

Got some poetry publication updates: “Ode to the Boxing Clapboard” was taken by Hayden’s Ferry Review, “The Birthdays of Ex-Lovers” was taken by Los Angeles Review, “Sensei” was taken by Chiron Review, “Lilium Lophophorum” was taken by Summerset Review, and “Zen for Dummies” and “Postmodern Zazen” were taken by Mandala Journal.

A few prose updates, too: “I Should Warn You” was taken by Flashquake, my fantasy novella, “Taliessa’s Wish,” was taken by Realms, and a sci-fi story, “Celestial Encounters,” was taken by Encounters Magazine.

Also, I’ll be giving a little lecture at the Writers’ Center of Indiana on October 23.

Thanks for the update, MM! Congrats on all of this good news!

Congrats to Nick Ostdick!

Great news from second-year fiction writer Nick Ostdick:

My short story 'Storms' was accepted by Knee Jerk Magazine and should be coming out in their October or November issue. Very stoked. It's another piece that started in Jacinda's forms class this past spring. Thanks to all in the class for help in shaping the story. And thanks to you, Allison, for keeping up with this blog and spreading the love.

You're welcome, NO, and congrats!

LINK:
Knee Jerk

Congrats to Alex Lumans!

News today from 2009 fiction grad Alex Lumans:

Some cross-genre action: a poem called "The Difference Between You and Me is Millions of Years" was just published in issue 14 of the online magazine The Collagist.

Best,
Lumans

Here's Alex's poem:
Lumans

Reading & Drinking Makes Its Carbondale Return

Reading & Drinking: Carbondale's precocious literary feast is making its fall debut in a new locale:

First R&D of the year!
Tuesday, September 21st
Callahan's Irish Pub
760 E Grand Ave
8 PM
Raffles, door prizes, readings, beverages.
Half-price food and drink, too! God-bless Tuesday evening specials!
Be there!

SIUC MFAs rule NANO Fiction Contest

Lovely news from third-year poet Sarah McCartt

SIUC MFAs strike again! Shawn Mitchell and I both finished in the top five in NANO Fiction's contest--which means, as the editor pointed out, our program had 40% of the top five entries!

They will be publishing my piece "Creston" and Shawn's piece "Me and Medusa" in the next issue.

Congrats to Shawn and Sarah!
NANO

Congrats to Matt Guenette (MFA '99)

Fantastic book publication news for MFA alum (poetry, '99) Matthew Guenette:

American Busboy is an Editor's Choice in the 2010 Akron Press Poetry Competition. Publication is slated for Fall 2011!

Congrats, Matt! Looking forward to the publication of your second book!

LINK:
U of Akron Press

Congrats to Justin Hamm (MFA '05)!

Fantastic news for Justin Hamm (MFA '05, fiction):
RockSaw Press is going to publish my chapbook, Illinois, My Apologies in the spring of 2011. We're also going to do a companion CD of me reading the poems. I'm very excited about this project!
Congrats, Justin!  BTW,  Rocksaw Press is the brainchild of Jorge Christopher Evans, who received his undergraduate English/Creative Writing degree at SIUC and was an editor of Grassroots while an undergrad.
LINK:
Rock Saw Press

Faculty Reading: Allison Joseph @ SIU Edwardsville

SIUC faculty poet Allison Joseph will be read from her work on Thursday, September 9, at 7.00 pm at our sister university, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, in the Morris University Center Bookstore.
LINK:
SIUE English

Congrats to Leslie Adams!

Second-year poet Leslie Adams reports this good news via Facebook:

Disquieting Muses Quarterly (DMQ Review) picked up a poem called "Some Invisible." They said it should be coming out in their next issue!

Congrats, LA!

LINK:
DMQ Review

Congrats to Shawn Mitchell!

Happy news from second-year fiction writer Shawn Mitchell:

Torpedo's Greatest Hits is out from Hunter Publisher's in Australia now. It features work from Australians and non-Australians, graphic artists, Brian Evenson, Jim Shepard, Richard Brautigan, and, also, my story "It's Not the Heat So Much as the Jelly." The magazine is sadly closing down, but the back issues are still available in electronic editions for cheap on Amazon. Looking forward to getting my copy in the mail.

Here's more on it:
Torpedo's Greatest Hits

It's for sale here, not cheap but worth it:
Torpedo

Congrats to Emily Pruitt!

Poetry (MFA '03) grad Emily Pruitt, who publishes her work under the name, EI Pruitt, sent this good news along today:

Calyx will be publishing one of the poems from my "Should've Beens" series-- "Should've Been, 1"-- in an upcoming issue.

Congrats, Emily!

LINK:
Calyx

Congrats to Nick Ostdick!

Second-year fiction writer Nick Ostdick also has fine news:

I have a new story recently published at Necessary Fiction called "On the Coast."' If you have the time, wander on over and take a look. It's short. Could be a nice reprieve from your day. The link is below. Hope all is well.

On the Coast

Congrats to Mark Brewin!

Fine news this morning from third-year poetry student Mark Brewin:

Two of my poems ("Bivalve, Cumberland County" and "By the Margin of Water") are now in Milk Money Volume Eight, When Jeff Goldblum Speaks, We Listen; AND, today, I just found out that my poem "Standing in the Atlantic Ocean with Tesla's Pigeon" has been accepted for publication in The Labletter (which is a paying gig...nice, nice).

As always, a quick thanks to you and your Creative Writing Opportunities listserv for letting me know about these publications/opportunities!

You are welcome, MB! And thanks for giving props to CRWROPPS!

LINKS:
Milk Money
The Labletter
Creative Writers Opportunities List

Congrats to Jared Yates Sexton!

Congrats to Jared (JY) Sexton (MFA 08, fiction) for this good news:

My story "He Maketh Fire Come Down" was picked up for a future issue of Hobart.

Congrats, Jared!

link:
Hobart
Hobart

Congrats to Sara Burge!

Sara Burge (MFA '08, poetry)'s poem "Hostages" opens the new issue of River Styx. Her first collection of poems, Apocalypse Ranch, is now available for pre-order from Amazon!

Congrats, Ms. Burge!

More About SIUC's National Ranking in P&W

Thanks to Andrea Hahn for her write-up on the SIUC MFA Program's ranking in Poets and Writers:

Press Release on P&W ranking

Poets and Writers Ranks SIUC MFA Program at #40 in the Nation!

Poets and Writers Magazine, the "bible" of the creative writing industry, has ranked the SIUC MFA program at #40 in the nation! The program has moved from being a top 50 program last year (#47 to be exact) to a number #40 ranking this year.

View the chart here:
P&W Rankings

Catching Up With David Bond

One of our first MFA poets, David Bond (MFA '98) has continued to write and publish successfully! David is also a very accomplished runner!

Here's a publication update from David:

**Was lucky enough to get a Professional Development Grant in April from the Illinois Arts Council. This program was instituted since the usual Artist Fellowship program is suspended this year.

**Won second place in the Deane Wagner Poetry Contest, sponsored by the St. Louis Writers Guild and an opportunity to read at a great venue, Wired Coffee in Sunset Hills.

**Have poems forthcoming in Valparaiso Poetry Review, Big Muddy, storySouth, and Crab Orchard Review.

Congrats, David, on all your accomplishments.

Rachel Furey wins Charles Johnson Student Fiction Award

Rachel Furey, a SIUC MFA alum (MFA '09) in fiction who is currently a Phd student at Texas Tech, has won the 2010 Charles Johnson Student Fiction Award!
Congrats also to James Scoles, a 2010 SIUC fiction alum who was a finalist!


Charles Johnson selected "Calls That Carry for Miles" by Rachel Furey (Texas Tech University; Lubbock, Texas) as the winner of the 2010 Charles Johnson Student Fiction Award. Rachel Furey will receive $1000 and a signed copy of a Charles Johnson book. "Calls That Carry for Miles" will appear in the 2011 Winter/Spring issue of Crab Orchard Review.

The other three finalists are:

"The First Good Thing" by Lauri M. Anderson (Texas Tech University; Lubbock, Texas)

"To Cook an Egg Gently" by James Scoles (Southern Illinois University; Carbondale, Illinois)

"Pitch" by Janet Thielke (University of Southern California; Los Angeles, California)

We will list the finalists in the 2011 Winter/Spring issue of Crab Orchard Review. We will also give each finalist a year's subscription to Crab Orchard Review.


For information about the Charles Johnson Student Fiction Award and about Charles Johnson, visit
Charles Johnson

Congrats to Nick Ostdick!

Good news this afternoon from second-year fiction writer Nick Ostdick:

Just writing to say that my piece of flash fiction entitled 'On The Coast' was just accepted for publication by Necessary Fiction. Quite stoked. Not sure exactly when yet, either their fall or spring issues. And many thanks to Shawn, Adrienne, Melissa, Sarah, and Jacinda for helping to shape it, as it was written during our Forms class this past semester.

Congrats, Nick!

LINK:
Necessary Fiction

Congrats to Will Tyler

Will Tyler (MFA '09, poetry) has been named a finalist for the Ruth Lilly Poetry Fellowship! Congrats, Will!

LINK:
Finalists

Congrats to Mark Brewin!

Current poetry MFA student Mark Brewin has upbeat news:
"Poet Lore has accepted "Midnight Shift" for publication in their April 2011 issue."

Congrats, MB!

LINK:
Poet Lore

Late July News and Notes from Alums and Current Students

from Melissa Scholes Young (third-year, fiction):
I received my contributor copy of New Madrid today in which my essay "Carne" appears and found a delightful story entitled "A Flowery Tale" by Beth Lordan. What a treat!

New Madrid

Also, my essay "Lying in Mark Twain's Footsteps" came out in the inaugural issue of The Village Pariah.

Village Pariah

Oh, and I saw two of Rodney Jones' poems in the Spring/Fall 2010 Shenandoah.

from Emily Pruitt (MFA '03, poetry):
Hunger Mountain has accepted my poems "Mister" and "The Body Fails" for publication! You might remember "Mister"; it was the one you helped me with at the St Louis Poetry Center workshop this past winter. :)

from Justin Hamm (MFA '05, fiction):
Willow Review took "the autobiography, nearly" and Nimrod International Journal picked up "Rebekah Just When the Drought Was Ending" and "Illinois Route 3."

from Ben Percy (MFA '04 fiction):
A starred review for Ben's first novel in Publisher's Weekly:
PW

Congrats to all! Thanks for making Carbondale proud!

Poetspotting: Whittemore and Boyd

Recent poetry alums Amie Whittemore (MFA '10) and Jake Boyd (MFA '07) were named "Regional Finalists" in the Midwest Writing Center's 2010 Mississippi Valley Poetry Contest.

Details here:
Midwest Writing

Alumni Story Publications & Acceptances: Renee Evans and Alex Lumans

Story acceptance news from Alex Lumans (MFA '09) and Renee Evans (MFA '09):

from Alex:
I have a funny little story called "H.P. Lovecraft's Stellar Seafood Chowder" now up on the site Brain Harvest

Brain Harvest

from Renee:
SNReview took my story "A Quiet House."
SN Review

Congrats, Alex and Renee!

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

Great news from poetry alum Helena "Hel" Bell:

I've sold my first short story. "Migrating Bears" will be published by Daily Science Fiction later this year.

Congrats, Hel!

LINK:
Daily Science Fiction

Great news from third-year MFA poet Sarah McCartt-Jackson:

My poem "Jacob's Ladder" was a finalist for Copper Nickel's poetry contest!

Congrats, Sarah!

LINK:
Copper Nickel