Saturday, September 22, 2007
Michael Meyerhofer selected to read on the Georgia Poetry Circuit!
Congratulations to Michael Meyerhofer (MFA '06), who has been selected to appear on the Georgia Poetry Circuit. Michael will be doing readings in the spring at ten different colleges and universities in Georgia. Dates for particular readings aren't yet firm, but as soon as they are, this blog will have all the details.
You're Invited...
to a Book Release Party and Reading for
LAURA BENEDICT!!!
She'll be reading and signing copies of her novel, ISABELLA MOON,
at Kite Hill Vineyards & Winery on Sunday, October 7 from 3 to 5 PM
You can find out more about Laura and ISABELLA MOON at
Laura's website
You can find out more about the Kite Hill Vineyards at
Kite Hill
LAURA BENEDICT!!!
She'll be reading and signing copies of her novel, ISABELLA MOON,
at Kite Hill Vineyards & Winery on Sunday, October 7 from 3 to 5 PM
You can find out more about Laura and ISABELLA MOON at
Laura's website
You can find out more about the Kite Hill Vineyards at
Kite Hill
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Story Announcement: Chad Simpson (MFA '05)
from Chad Simpson:
I have a new story online: "Glass" is live at Guernica: A Magazine of Art & Politics.
Check out Chad's story at
Guernica
I have a new story online: "Glass" is live at Guernica: A Magazine of Art & Politics.
Check out Chad's story at
Guernica
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Latino Heritage Month Keynote Lecture 2007
Poet, novelist, essayist and professor Luis Urrea will be this year's keynote speaker for Latino Heritage Month. His lecture, titled "Dual Culture Life Experience" will take place on September 25, 2007 in the SIUC Student Center Auditorium at 7pm. Luis Urrea is the author of 11 books, including The Devil's Highway, Six Kinds of Sky, Across the Wire and The Hummingbird's Daughter. He is a member of the Latino Literature Hall of Fame and a Pulitzer Prize Finalist.
This lecture is sponsored by the Associate Chancellor (Diversity), the Office of Diversity and Equity, the Hispanic Student Council, and Student Development Multicultural Programs and Services.
You can find out more about Luis Urrea at his website
Luis Urrea
This lecture is sponsored by the Associate Chancellor (Diversity), the Office of Diversity and Equity, the Hispanic Student Council, and Student Development Multicultural Programs and Services.
You can find out more about Luis Urrea at his website
Luis Urrea
First In-House Reading of the Semester
The In-House Reading Series, sponsored by the Graduate Writers Forum, is back!
The first of this semester's readings will be held
at 5pm on September 20, 2007
in the SIUC Student Center Kaskaskia Room.
Reading from their poetry will be first year MFA students
Hannah New, Travis Mossotti, and second-year MFA student
Andy McFadyen-Ketchum.
The reading is free and open to the public.
The first of this semester's readings will be held
at 5pm on September 20, 2007
in the SIUC Student Center Kaskaskia Room.
Reading from their poetry will be first year MFA students
Hannah New, Travis Mossotti, and second-year MFA student
Andy McFadyen-Ketchum.
The reading is free and open to the public.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Congrats to Jason Lee Brown!
Third-year fiction writing MFA student Jason Lee Brown has cross-genre chops:
"My poem “Bioluminescence” has been accepted for publication in the Spoon River Poetry Review and should be out sometime this year."
Congrats, Jason!
"My poem “Bioluminescence” has been accepted for publication in the Spoon River Poetry Review and should be out sometime this year."
Congrats, Jason!
Friday, September 07, 2007
Devil's Kitchen Fall Literary Festival Schedule
2007 Devil’s Kitchen Literary Festival
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Thursday, Friday, & Saturday--October 25 – 27
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25
8:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Readings by Mary Jo Firth Gillett & Wendy Rawlings
Student Center Auditorium
9:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Festival Reception (sponsored by the SIUC Dept. of English)
Student Center J.W. Corker Lounge
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26
— panel discussions, Student Center Auditorium —
10:00 – 10:50 a.m.
Poetry Panel featuring Betty Adcock, Mary Jo Firth Gillett, Patricia
Spears Jones, James Kimbrell, & Simone Muench
11:00 – 11:50 a.m.
Fiction Panel featuring Kerry Neville Bakken, Dale Ray Phillips, &
Wendy Rawlings
2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Readings by Simone Muench & Betty Adcock
Student Center Auditorium
3:15 – 4:30 p.m.
Reception and Booksigning featuring all festival readers
Student Center Old Main Lounge
5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Readings by James Kimbrell & Kerry Neville Bakken
Student Center Auditorium
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27
11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Readings from the new anthology Surreal South
Student Center Auditorium
2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Readings by Dale Ray Phillips & Patricia Spears Jones
Student Center Auditorium
The festival is sponsored by GRASSROOTS, the Southern Illinois
University Carbondale Department of English’s undergraduate literary
magazine. The Devil’s Kitchen Fall Literary Festival is made possible
through funding from the SIUC Fine Arts Activity Fee, the SIUC
Creative Writing Program’s Visiting Writers Series, and CRAB ORCHARD
REVIEW.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Thursday, Friday, & Saturday--October 25 – 27
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25
8:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Readings by Mary Jo Firth Gillett & Wendy Rawlings
Student Center Auditorium
9:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Festival Reception (sponsored by the SIUC Dept. of English)
Student Center J.W. Corker Lounge
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26
— panel discussions, Student Center Auditorium —
10:00 – 10:50 a.m.
Poetry Panel featuring Betty Adcock, Mary Jo Firth Gillett, Patricia
Spears Jones, James Kimbrell, & Simone Muench
11:00 – 11:50 a.m.
Fiction Panel featuring Kerry Neville Bakken, Dale Ray Phillips, &
Wendy Rawlings
2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Readings by Simone Muench & Betty Adcock
Student Center Auditorium
3:15 – 4:30 p.m.
Reception and Booksigning featuring all festival readers
Student Center Old Main Lounge
5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Readings by James Kimbrell & Kerry Neville Bakken
Student Center Auditorium
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27
11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Readings from the new anthology Surreal South
Student Center Auditorium
2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Readings by Dale Ray Phillips & Patricia Spears Jones
Student Center Auditorium
The festival is sponsored by GRASSROOTS, the Southern Illinois
University Carbondale Department of English’s undergraduate literary
magazine. The Devil’s Kitchen Fall Literary Festival is made possible
through funding from the SIUC Fine Arts Activity Fee, the SIUC
Creative Writing Program’s Visiting Writers Series, and CRAB ORCHARD
REVIEW.
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Teaching the Unteachable?
Sigma Tau Delta presents a talk by Allison Joseph of the SIUC's Creative Writing Program
on the topic of "Teaching the Unteachable: The Pedagogy of Poetry-Writing"
Monday, September 10, 2007
Time: 6-7 pm
Location: Saline Room, SIUC Student Center
All are welcome to attend.
on the topic of "Teaching the Unteachable: The Pedagogy of Poetry-Writing"
Monday, September 10, 2007
Time: 6-7 pm
Location: Saline Room, SIUC Student Center
All are welcome to attend.
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Devil's Kitchen Literary Festival 2007 Details
Announcing the 2007 Devil's Kitchen Fall Literary Festival!
OCTOBER 25, 26, & 27, 2007
hosted by GRASSROOTS, the undergraduate literary magazine of the Department
of English at Southern Illinois University Carbondale--
Visiting Writers for this year's festival will include:
Kerry Neville Bakken, winner of the Devil's Kitchen Reading Award in Prose
James Kimbrell, winner of the Devil's Kitchen Reading Award in Poetry
Mary Jo Firth Gillett, winner of the Crab Orchard Series in Poetry First Book Award
PLUS--Betty Adcock, Patricia Spears Jones, Simone Muench, Dale Ray Phillips and Wendy
Rawlings!
All festival events will take place at the Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Student Center Auditorium. All readings and panels are free and open to the public.
The Devil's Kitchen Fall Literary Festival is made possible by funding from the
SIUC Fine Arts Activity Fee.
Watch this blog for the festival schedule!
OCTOBER 25, 26, & 27, 2007
hosted by GRASSROOTS, the undergraduate literary magazine of the Department
of English at Southern Illinois University Carbondale--
Visiting Writers for this year's festival will include:
Kerry Neville Bakken, winner of the Devil's Kitchen Reading Award in Prose
James Kimbrell, winner of the Devil's Kitchen Reading Award in Poetry
Mary Jo Firth Gillett, winner of the Crab Orchard Series in Poetry First Book Award
PLUS--Betty Adcock, Patricia Spears Jones, Simone Muench, Dale Ray Phillips and Wendy
Rawlings!
All festival events will take place at the Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Student Center Auditorium. All readings and panels are free and open to the public.
The Devil's Kitchen Fall Literary Festival is made possible by funding from the
SIUC Fine Arts Activity Fee.
Watch this blog for the festival schedule!
article on Young Writers Workshop 07
This article ran in Diverse Issues in Higher Education (September 6, 2007 edition):
DIVERSE
For the record, that's not Kerry in the photo, but Darian Spearman, who's now attending Carleton College in Minnesota.
DIVERSE
For the record, that's not Kerry in the photo, but Darian Spearman, who's now attending Carleton College in Minnesota.
Now Available: MFA Carbondale T-shirts!
The t-shirts have arrived! They are available in M, L, and XL.
If you wish to have your very own MFA Carbondale t-shirt,
contact Allison at aljoseph(at)siu.edu--each t-shirt is $15.
If you wish to have your very own MFA Carbondale t-shirt,
contact Allison at aljoseph(at)siu.edu--each t-shirt is $15.
Mike Magnuson to read at University of Southern Indiana
Mike Magnuson will be reading at the University of Southern Indiana in Evansville, Indiana on Thursday, September 13th at 7pm.
Details here:
University of Southern Indiana
Details here:
University of Southern Indiana
Monday, September 03, 2007
Storyspotting with Ben Percy (MFA '04)
Ben Percy (MFA '04)'s stories and prose pieces are cropping up all over this season. In Ben's own words:
" "The Caves in Oregon" appears in the current issue of Glimmer Train. "When the Bear Came" appears in the current issue of American Short Fiction. "Dial Tone" appears in the current issue of the Missouri Review.
And I've got a story "So Far From Anything" and a nonfiction piece "The Greatest Writer You're Not Reading" coming out in the October issue of Esquire."
Congrats, Ben! Big props on your productivity!
" "The Caves in Oregon" appears in the current issue of Glimmer Train. "When the Bear Came" appears in the current issue of American Short Fiction. "Dial Tone" appears in the current issue of the Missouri Review.
And I've got a story "So Far From Anything" and a nonfiction piece "The Greatest Writer You're Not Reading" coming out in the October issue of Esquire."
Congrats, Ben! Big props on your productivity!
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
News from Andrew Lewellen:
Third-year fiction writer Andrew Lewellen may not be in Carbondale anymore, but he's not forgotten to write with good news:
"I just found out that my manuscript for my thesis, "The Long
Descent," has been selected for the semi-final round of the
James Jones First Novel Fellowship. I sent in pages 1-50 for
the March 1 deadline, along with a plot outline, and now the
judges now request that I send in pages 51-100.
The contest is sponsored by Wilkes University, and the winning
manuscript recieves a $10,000 prize. In 2006, there were 15
semi-finalists, so I'm guessing I'm one of a number around this
similar size.
A nice bit of recognition after a lot of work; though the news
is making it awfully hard for me to be productive in my little
cubicle here in Evanston."
Congrats, Andrew!
"I just found out that my manuscript for my thesis, "The Long
Descent," has been selected for the semi-final round of the
James Jones First Novel Fellowship. I sent in pages 1-50 for
the March 1 deadline, along with a plot outline, and now the
judges now request that I send in pages 51-100.
The contest is sponsored by Wilkes University, and the winning
manuscript recieves a $10,000 prize. In 2006, there were 15
semi-finalists, so I'm guessing I'm one of a number around this
similar size.
A nice bit of recognition after a lot of work; though the news
is making it awfully hard for me to be productive in my little
cubicle here in Evanston."
Congrats, Andrew!
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Coming Soon: MFA Carbondale t-shirts!
If you'd like to reserve your own mfacarbondale t-shirt, write to
Allison J. at aljoseph(at)siu.edu (replace (at) with @).
T-shirts will be $15.
On the front: Write Your Life
On the back: http://mfacarbondale.blogspot.com
Color: Off-White
Allison J. at aljoseph(at)siu.edu (replace (at) with @).
T-shirts will be $15.
On the front: Write Your Life
On the back: http://mfacarbondale.blogspot.com
Color: Off-White
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Catching Up With Ingrid Moody (MFA '07)
from an e-mail from Ingrid:
"I just wanted to let you know two things--one, that I entered a contest posted on the listserv to attend the Santa Barbara Summer Poetry Workshop and won, so I spent a nice long weekend writing and reading in what I'm convinced is the most beautiful place in the continental US; and two, at the workshop (which was small--about 30 poets), one of the organizers, Grace Rachow, spent a good deal of time praising and recommending CRWROPPS--among the many wonderful things she said about the listserv: "It doesn't get any better than this. It's free and it comes to you." She also expounded upon the high quality of the information. One of the women participating in the conference then shared that she has published numerous poems and a chapbook as a result of the information from CRWROPPS. When I bragged that I knew the moderator, I became a momentary celebrity in the room.
Jon and I are headed to China tomorrow, where we'll chill in Beijing for a week, then travel to Shanghai, where Jon will be presenting at a climate conference, leaving me to wander the streets alone. When we return, I will be focusing on polishing my manuscript to send out--it seems like most of the big first book contests have deadlines in the fall."
Congrats, Ingrid, on the SBSPW Prize! The link to CRWROPPS (Creative Writers Opportunities List) is to the right!
"I just wanted to let you know two things--one, that I entered a contest posted on the listserv to attend the Santa Barbara Summer Poetry Workshop and won, so I spent a nice long weekend writing and reading in what I'm convinced is the most beautiful place in the continental US; and two, at the workshop (which was small--about 30 poets), one of the organizers, Grace Rachow, spent a good deal of time praising and recommending CRWROPPS--among the many wonderful things she said about the listserv: "It doesn't get any better than this. It's free and it comes to you." She also expounded upon the high quality of the information. One of the women participating in the conference then shared that she has published numerous poems and a chapbook as a result of the information from CRWROPPS. When I bragged that I knew the moderator, I became a momentary celebrity in the room.
Jon and I are headed to China tomorrow, where we'll chill in Beijing for a week, then travel to Shanghai, where Jon will be presenting at a climate conference, leaving me to wander the streets alone. When we return, I will be focusing on polishing my manuscript to send out--it seems like most of the big first book contests have deadlines in the fall."
Congrats, Ingrid, on the SBSPW Prize! The link to CRWROPPS (Creative Writers Opportunities List) is to the right!
Chris Gardner Lecture, Free Books Available
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Christopher Gardner, often described as a "modern-day Horatio Alger," brings his life story of hard times and personal triumph to Southern Illinois University Carbondale tonight.
Gardner is owner and CEO of Christopher Gardner International Holdings. But, the 53-year-old philanthropist and motivational speaker is widely recognized for his amazing story of personal tenacity that became a No. 1 best-selling book and movie, "The Pursuit of Happyness," in 2006. He served as associate producer for the movie.
Gardner's lecture is at 7 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 23, at SIU Arena. The event is free. SIU's Office of the President, the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, SIUC's Office of Associate Chancellor for Diversity, and The Southern Illinoisan are sponsoring Gardner's visit.
---profile courtesy SIUC University Communications
PS Copies of Chris Gardner's book are available for free in Faner 2220 (aka the Glass Room). First come, first serve!
Gardner is owner and CEO of Christopher Gardner International Holdings. But, the 53-year-old philanthropist and motivational speaker is widely recognized for his amazing story of personal tenacity that became a No. 1 best-selling book and movie, "The Pursuit of Happyness," in 2006. He served as associate producer for the movie.
Gardner's lecture is at 7 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 23, at SIU Arena. The event is free. SIU's Office of the President, the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, SIUC's Office of Associate Chancellor for Diversity, and The Southern Illinoisan are sponsoring Gardner's visit.
---profile courtesy SIUC University Communications
PS Copies of Chris Gardner's book are available for free in Faner 2220 (aka the Glass Room). First come, first serve!
Congrats to Shanie Latham
Shanie Latham, a third-year MFA in fiction, was named a finalist for the 2007 Don Russ Poetry Prize for her poem "Sewing." This award is sponsored by the Kennesaw Review. Congrats Shanie--keep up the cross-genre action.
Kennesaw Review
Kennesaw Review
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
West Georgia knows quality....
Both Paul Guest (MFA '99) and Melanie Jordan (MFA '01) are now teaching at the University of West Georgia, alongside Crab Orchard Series in Poetry winner Chad Davidson.
You can contact either of them at the English Department there:
West Georgia
You can contact either of them at the English Department there:
West Georgia
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Devil's Kitchen Literary Festival 2007 Dates
Mark your calendars:
The annual Devil's Kitchen Literary Festival will take place in 2007 on October 25, 26, and 27. Watch this blog for more details about the writers who will be coming to Carbondale for three days of readings, panels, and literary merriment.
The annual Devil's Kitchen Literary Festival will take place in 2007 on October 25, 26, and 27. Watch this blog for more details about the writers who will be coming to Carbondale for three days of readings, panels, and literary merriment.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Lumans Forthcoming in Story Quarterly
Second year MFA student Alex Lumans has some great news:
"My short story "Elephants Are Why He Made the Oceans" will be
published in the forthcoming issue of StoryQuarterly, which will
be coming out this December."
Congrats, Alex!
"My short story "Elephants Are Why He Made the Oceans" will be
published in the forthcoming issue of StoryQuarterly, which will
be coming out this December."
Congrats, Alex!
Friday, August 17, 2007
Hearty Congrats to...
Clint Cargile (MFA '05) and Gillian King (MFA '05) on their wedding on August 18, 2007!
Best of luck, Gillian and Clint!
They are having their reception here:
Lakewoods Resort
Best of luck, Gillian and Clint!
They are having their reception here:
Lakewoods Resort
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
MFA Grad Updates
Michael Meyerhofer (MFA '06) will be teaching this upcoming academic year at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana.
Jake Boyd (MFA '07) will be a Faculty Associate at Arizona State University this fall. His poem "Coal or Christmas Lights" is forthcoming in Hayden's Ferry Review.
Elisabeth "Lis" Meyer (MFA '07) will begin the Phd program in English Literature at University of Kentucky. Her poetry is forthcoming in Measure.
Chad Parmenter (MFA '05) has been named the Assistant Director of the Center for Literary Arts for the coming academic year at the University of Missouri.
Congrats to all!
Jake Boyd (MFA '07) will be a Faculty Associate at Arizona State University this fall. His poem "Coal or Christmas Lights" is forthcoming in Hayden's Ferry Review.
Elisabeth "Lis" Meyer (MFA '07) will begin the Phd program in English Literature at University of Kentucky. Her poetry is forthcoming in Measure.
Chad Parmenter (MFA '05) has been named the Assistant Director of the Center for Literary Arts for the coming academic year at the University of Missouri.
Congrats to all!
MFA Carbondale is proud and happy to welcome...
the following new MFA students to Carbondale!
Halvor Aakhus, fiction
Jenna Bazzell, poetry
Justin Benton, fiction
Azizat Danmole, fiction
Laura Gross, poetry
Travis Mossotti, poetry
James Scoles, fiction
Reynaldo Vargas, fiction
Abby Wheetley, fiction
Amie Whittemore, poetry
Thanks for coming to share your writing with those of us
already in Carbondale!
Halvor Aakhus, fiction
Jenna Bazzell, poetry
Justin Benton, fiction
Azizat Danmole, fiction
Laura Gross, poetry
Travis Mossotti, poetry
James Scoles, fiction
Reynaldo Vargas, fiction
Abby Wheetley, fiction
Amie Whittemore, poetry
Thanks for coming to share your writing with those of us
already in Carbondale!
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Meyerhofer Update
Michael Meyerhofer (MFA '06) writes:
"I did manage to just get my poem, "Against Etymology", accepted by Ploughshares. Lately, I also had a poem called "Blue Collar Eulogy" accepted by MARGIE, another one called "The First Dancers" accepted by Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine, and two more accepted by a Canadian sci-fi journal called On Spec."
Congrats, MM!
"I did manage to just get my poem, "Against Etymology", accepted by Ploughshares. Lately, I also had a poem called "Blue Collar Eulogy" accepted by MARGIE, another one called "The First Dancers" accepted by Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine, and two more accepted by a Canadian sci-fi journal called On Spec."
Congrats, MM!
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Catching Up With Kevin McKelvey (MFA '04)
Some news from Kevin McKelvey, MFA '04:
"I just completed two weeks as Artist-in-Residence at Isle Royale National
Park in the middle of Lake Superior http://www.nps.gov/isro . In exchange
for a cabin and canoe, I gave one program a week, and I will submit a piece
of work within a year. The archipelago was an amazing place to experience
past human cultures and a pristine ecotone between northern hardwood forests
and boreal forest, which leads to the kind of poems I like to write. Jnan
Blau and Dawn Janke, friends of the MFA program, teach at Michigan Technical
University in Houghton, MI, where the Park is headquartered, and told me
about the program. Check out other Park Service properties with
Artists-in-Residence at http://www.nps.gov/archive/volunteer/air.htm
And last fall, I spent a week east of Eugene, Oregon, at the HJ Andrews
Experimental Forest as a Resident of the Spring Creek Project of Oregon
State University. I'm still trying to comprehend the 500 year-old firs, and
I need to to contribute to their Long-Term Ecological Reflections Project.
I'm also still trying to comprehend why Adrian Matejka couldn't get me to
the airport on time. http://springcreek.oregonstate.edu/"
Congrats on all the different gigs, Kevin!
"I just completed two weeks as Artist-in-Residence at Isle Royale National
Park in the middle of Lake Superior http://www.nps.gov/isro . In exchange
for a cabin and canoe, I gave one program a week, and I will submit a piece
of work within a year. The archipelago was an amazing place to experience
past human cultures and a pristine ecotone between northern hardwood forests
and boreal forest, which leads to the kind of poems I like to write. Jnan
Blau and Dawn Janke, friends of the MFA program, teach at Michigan Technical
University in Houghton, MI, where the Park is headquartered, and told me
about the program. Check out other Park Service properties with
Artists-in-Residence at http://www.nps.gov/archive/volunteer/air.htm
And last fall, I spent a week east of Eugene, Oregon, at the HJ Andrews
Experimental Forest as a Resident of the Spring Creek Project of Oregon
State University. I'm still trying to comprehend the 500 year-old firs, and
I need to to contribute to their Long-Term Ecological Reflections Project.
I'm also still trying to comprehend why Adrian Matejka couldn't get me to
the airport on time. http://springcreek.oregonstate.edu/"
Congrats on all the different gigs, Kevin!
Monday, July 23, 2007
In Memory of Josh Vinzant, 1973-2007
Max and History
Max sees the house clearly mirrored,
collapsed below the spruce and thin oaks.
His great-grandfather was born there, over
the white moon, beside the brown Grand River.
In '95, his uncle cleared
away the scrub brush, poured kerosene
under the stairwell. Tossed in a Zippo,
broke out a bottle and joint. Said, "Look at her."
The ghosts of grey coyotes crouched down
at their feet. Max named the smallest one
and passed the joint; the flames around
the chimney rose. Max used his handgun
and shot out the stars. Left one burning
in case he ever wanted to return.
--Josh Vinzant
Max sees the house clearly mirrored,
collapsed below the spruce and thin oaks.
His great-grandfather was born there, over
the white moon, beside the brown Grand River.
In '95, his uncle cleared
away the scrub brush, poured kerosene
under the stairwell. Tossed in a Zippo,
broke out a bottle and joint. Said, "Look at her."
The ghosts of grey coyotes crouched down
at their feet. Max named the smallest one
and passed the joint; the flames around
the chimney rose. Max used his handgun
and shot out the stars. Left one burning
in case he ever wanted to return.
--Josh Vinzant
Saturday, July 21, 2007
With Deep Sorrow
MFA Carbondale is deeply saddened to acknowledge the passing of Joshua David Vinzant, MFA '05.
Online condolences and tributes may be left at
Danfelt Funeral Home
Rest in peace, Josh.
Online condolences and tributes may be left at
Rest in peace, Josh.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Better late than never...
It has recently come to this blog's attention that a poem by SIUC's own Rodney Jones was featured in the June 24 edition of the Washington Post in former US Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky's "Poet's Choice" column:
Washington Post
Friday, July 06, 2007
Summer Poetry Roundup!
New poems by former poetry faculty member Lucia Perillo appear in the new issue (Volume 19, issue 2) of Sycamore Review.
Two poems by Melanie Jordan (MFA '01) appear in the latest issue of Third Coast. The poems are "When I Talk Like Loose Sugar Waiting" and "Interstate Daydream."
New poems by Matt Guenette (MFA '99) are forthcoming in DIAGRAM. The poems are "Li Po Poem" and "The Town."
Two poems by Melanie Jordan (MFA '01) appear in the latest issue of Third Coast. The poems are "When I Talk Like Loose Sugar Waiting" and "Interstate Daydream."
New poems by Matt Guenette (MFA '99) are forthcoming in DIAGRAM. The poems are "Li Po Poem" and "The Town."
Sunday, July 01, 2007
A Fun Time Was Had By All
Thanks to everyone involved with this year's Young Writers Workshop--the students and the staff, the faculty and guests. Next year will be the tenth anniversary of Young Writers at SIUC, and in honor of that fact, we will be extending the workshop so that it is now five days long. Our dates for next year will be June 24 through June 28, 2008.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Local paper gives YWW some love
Thanks to Brent Stewart of the Southern Illinoisan newspaper for visiting the Young Writers Workshop!
His article is linked below:
the Southern
His article is linked below:
Young Writers strut their stuff!
The Young Writers Workshop concludes on Saturday, June 30 with a public reading from the Young Writers Workshop participants themselves!
They will read at 1 PM in Pulliam Hall's Cisne Auditorium. This reading is free and open to the public.
They will read at 1 PM in Pulliam Hall's Cisne Auditorium. This reading is free and open to the public.
Jacinda Townsend's Got Soul
And this blog forgives her for not bringing this article to our attention earlier:
Southern Illinoisan
Friday, June 29, 2007
YWW Continues with a Visit from Curtis!
Looking forward to seeing alum Curtis L. Crisler (MFA '04) take the stage at this year's Young Writers Workshop! Curtis's reading is free and open to the public, as is this afternoon's graduate student reading:
Friday, June 29, 4 p.m., in the Harry T. Moore Auditorium, Faner 1326 – Graduate student reading with fiction from Josh Woods and Rachna Sheth and poetry from Helena Bell and Tracy Conerton.
Friday, June 29, 8 p.m., in the Harry T. Moore Auditorium, Faner 1326 – Guest reader Curtis L. Crisler. Crisler graduated from the MFA program at SIUC and served as assistant director of the workshop. Front Street Press published his first book of poems, "Tough Boy Sonatas," this year. He currently teaches in Fort Wayne, Ind.
Friday, June 29, 4 p.m., in the Harry T. Moore Auditorium, Faner 1326 – Graduate student reading with fiction from Josh Woods and Rachna Sheth and poetry from Helena Bell and Tracy Conerton.
Friday, June 29, 8 p.m., in the Harry T. Moore Auditorium, Faner 1326 – Guest reader Curtis L. Crisler. Crisler graduated from the MFA program at SIUC and served as assistant director of the workshop. Front Street Press published his first book of poems, "Tough Boy Sonatas," this year. He currently teaches in Fort Wayne, Ind.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Today's YWW Public Readings
Come one, come all! Today's Young Writers Workshop readings are listed below. Free and open to the public!
Thursday, June 28, 4 p.m., in Faner Hall, Room 1005 – Graduate student readings featuring poetry by Sara Burge and fiction by Nathan Beck, Mary Keck and Renee Evans.
Thursday, June 28, 8 p.m., in the Harry T. Moore Auditorium, Faner Hall 1326 – Graduate student and faculty reading, featuring MFA students Andrew McFadyen-Ketchum and Kerry James Evans with poetry and John Flaherty with fiction, and poetry from Allison Joseph.
Thursday, June 28, 4 p.m., in Faner Hall, Room 1005 – Graduate student readings featuring poetry by Sara Burge and fiction by Nathan Beck, Mary Keck and Renee Evans.
Thursday, June 28, 8 p.m., in the Harry T. Moore Auditorium, Faner Hall 1326 – Graduate student and faculty reading, featuring MFA students Andrew McFadyen-Ketchum and Kerry James Evans with poetry and John Flaherty with fiction, and poetry from Allison Joseph.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
It's the most wonderful time of the year...
Young Writers! 30 students from 4 different states will be joining the graduate students and faculty here at SIUC to read, write, eat and talk writing. The first public event happens tonight with Pinckney Benedict's reading:
Wednesday, June 27, 8 p.m., in the Harry T. Moore Auditorium, Faner Hall 1326 – Faculty reading by Pinckney Benedict. Benedict joined the SIUC faculty in 2006. He is the author of two collections of short stories – "Town Smokes" and "The Wrecking Yard" – and a novel, "Dogs of God." His work appears in anthologies and magazines including Esquire, StoryQuarterly, The O. Henry Award Collection and The Oxford Book of American Short Stories.
Wednesday, June 27, 8 p.m., in the Harry T. Moore Auditorium, Faner Hall 1326 – Faculty reading by Pinckney Benedict. Benedict joined the SIUC faculty in 2006. He is the author of two collections of short stories – "Town Smokes" and "The Wrecking Yard" – and a novel, "Dogs of God." His work appears in anthologies and magazines including Esquire, StoryQuarterly, The O. Henry Award Collection and The Oxford Book of American Short Stories.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Poemspotting, Meyerhofer Edition
Michael Meyerhofer (MFA '06)'s "Ode to Dogs" appears in the new issue of Mid-American Review. It won first prize in the 2006 James Wright Poetry Award Competition.
Mid-American Review
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Ben Percy Update
Ben Percy (MFA '04) will be a Fellow at this summer's Bread Loaf Writers Conference!
Congrats, Ben--and look for Chad Simpson ('05) while you are there!
Breadloaf
Congrats, Ben--and look for Chad Simpson ('05) while you are there!
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Poemspotting, Meyerhofer Edition
Michael Meyerhofer (MFA '06) is featured today on Verse Daily with a selection from his award-winning full-length collection, Leaving Iowa:
Verse Daily
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Kerry James Evans Forthcoming. Hungry Young Poets to Read
from current poetry MFA student, Kerry James Evans:
"Just wanted to let you know that I got a poem, "Blue Ribbon
Tomato Soup" accepted for the Sylvia Plath Dossier in Court
Green. It's due out in late January 2008."
Congrats, Kerry!
And a reminder:
Kerry James Evans, Sara Burge, and Andy McFadyen-Ketchum will read from their poetry
on June 18 at Duff's in St. Louis as part of the Hungry Young Poets Series.
Duff's is at 392 N. Euclid in Saint Louis, MO. The reading begins at 7:30 PM.
Cover charge at the door: $5/$4 (for River Styx members, students, and seniors)
"Just wanted to let you know that I got a poem, "Blue Ribbon
Tomato Soup" accepted for the Sylvia Plath Dossier in Court
Green. It's due out in late January 2008."
Congrats, Kerry!
And a reminder:
Kerry James Evans, Sara Burge, and Andy McFadyen-Ketchum will read from their poetry
on June 18 at Duff's in St. Louis as part of the Hungry Young Poets Series.
Duff's is at 392 N. Euclid in Saint Louis, MO. The reading begins at 7:30 PM.
Cover charge at the door: $5/$4 (for River Styx members, students, and seniors)
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Summer Reading Series: Young Writers Workshop
Coming Soon: The Young Writers Workshop--June 27-June 30, 2007
SIUC's annual creative writing workshop for high school-aged writers.
We're looking forward to the arrival of this year's group of Young Writers!
Here's the schedule of upcoming readings:
Wednesday: June 27: Faculty Reading, Harry T. Moore Auditorium (Faner 1326), 8PM
Pinckney Benedict
Pinckney Benedict joined the faculty at SIUC in 2006. He is the author of two
collections of stories — Town Smokes and The Wrecking Yard — and Dogs of God, a
novel. His short fiction has appeared or is forthcoming in a number of magazines
and anthologies, including Esquire, StoryQuarterly, Zoetrope: All-Story, Best New
Stories from South, The O. Henry Award Collection, the Pushcart Prize series, and
The Oxford Book of American Short Stories.
Thursday, June 28, Faner 1005, 4PM
Graduate Student Reading with MFA students Nathan Beck (fiction), Sara Burge
(poetry), Rachna Sheth (fiction) and Renee Evans (fiction)
Thursday, June 28, Faner 1326 (Moore Aud), 8PM
Graduate Student/Faculty Reading with MFA students Andrew McFadyen-Ketchum
(poetry), John Flaherty (fiction), Kerry James Evans (poetry) and YWW Director and
Associate Professor of English Allison Joseph
Friday, June 29, Faner 1326 (Moore Aud.) 4 PM
Graduate Student Reading with MFA students Josh Woods (fiction), Helena Bell
(poetry), Tracy Conerton (poetry), Mary Keck (fiction)
Friday, June 29, Faner 1326 (Moore Aud.) 8PM
Guest Reader: Curtis L. Crisler
Curtis L. Crisler is a graduate of Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne
and of the MFA Program at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. During Curtis's
time in Carbondale, he served as Assistant Director of the Young Writers Workshop.
His first book of poems, Tough Boy Sonatas, was published this year by Front Street
Press. He currently teaches in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
SIUC's annual creative writing workshop for high school-aged writers.
We're looking forward to the arrival of this year's group of Young Writers!
Here's the schedule of upcoming readings:
Wednesday: June 27: Faculty Reading, Harry T. Moore Auditorium (Faner 1326), 8PM
Pinckney Benedict
Pinckney Benedict joined the faculty at SIUC in 2006. He is the author of two
collections of stories — Town Smokes and The Wrecking Yard — and Dogs of God, a
novel. His short fiction has appeared or is forthcoming in a number of magazines
and anthologies, including Esquire, StoryQuarterly, Zoetrope: All-Story, Best New
Stories from South, The O. Henry Award Collection, the Pushcart Prize series, and
The Oxford Book of American Short Stories.
Thursday, June 28, Faner 1005, 4PM
Graduate Student Reading with MFA students Nathan Beck (fiction), Sara Burge
(poetry), Rachna Sheth (fiction) and Renee Evans (fiction)
Thursday, June 28, Faner 1326 (Moore Aud), 8PM
Graduate Student/Faculty Reading with MFA students Andrew McFadyen-Ketchum
(poetry), John Flaherty (fiction), Kerry James Evans (poetry) and YWW Director and
Associate Professor of English Allison Joseph
Friday, June 29, Faner 1326 (Moore Aud.) 4 PM
Graduate Student Reading with MFA students Josh Woods (fiction), Helena Bell
(poetry), Tracy Conerton (poetry), Mary Keck (fiction)
Friday, June 29, Faner 1326 (Moore Aud.) 8PM
Guest Reader: Curtis L. Crisler
Curtis L. Crisler is a graduate of Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne
and of the MFA Program at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. During Curtis's
time in Carbondale, he served as Assistant Director of the Young Writers Workshop.
His first book of poems, Tough Boy Sonatas, was published this year by Front Street
Press. He currently teaches in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Poemspotting, Matejka Edition
"Maggot Brain," a poem by Adrian Matejka (MFA '01), appears in the new issue of Gulf Coast.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Checking in with Lucia Perillo
Former poetry faculty member Lucia Perillo has a new collection of essays. Here's the scoop from Lucia herself:
"I've Heard The Vultures Singing, essays, coming out soon from Trinity University Press.
I read on 6/28 at Open Books in Seattle (a great store solely devoted to poetry.) Orca Books in Olympia on 6/30, Village Books in Bellingham on 7/20. Other events to come..."
"I've Heard The Vultures Singing, essays, coming out soon from Trinity University Press.
I read on 6/28 at Open Books in Seattle (a great store solely devoted to poetry.) Orca Books in Olympia on 6/30, Village Books in Bellingham on 7/20. Other events to come..."
Saturday, June 09, 2007
One Happy Matt! Official Book Announcement
Received this happy news from Matt Guenette (MFA '99):
"Dream Horse Press has announced: my manuscript, Sudden Anthem, has won
the 2007 American Poetry Journal Book Prize. The award carries a
$1000 prize and book publication, with the book slated for a
Winter/Spring 2008 release. The book will be available via Amazon,
Barnes & Noble, and other bookstores that see fit to order it.
For information about American Poetry Journal, click here:
http://www.americanpoetryjournal.com/
The biannual journal features a mix of established poets and rising
stars. One of my favorite poets today--Bob Hicok--sits on the
advisory board. That he might have had a hand in selecting my manuscript is,
for me, an incredible honor...
For information on Dream Horse Press, click here:
Dream Horse
Last years APJ winning manuscript, Ted Worozbyt's The Dauber Wings, is
an excellent--and excellent looking--book. Ted most recently won the
prestigious Juniper Prize (UMass Press) for his second poetry
collection Letters of Transit, so I guess that means I'm following a
strong tradition. Pretty cool.
The editor of Dream Horse is poet and activist J.P. Dancing Bear.
He's the author of one full-length collection, Billy Last Crow, as
well as six chapbooks. Click here to learn more:
Dancing Bear
Everyone--this is down the road a piece, but when the book gets
released, if you know someone who works at a bookstore, library,
college or university--anywhere they hold a poetry reading series--you
might turn them on to my book once its ready for release. Like any
small press, Dream Horse depends on its poets to do their part in
marketing books. Essentially this means doing readings, anywhere and
everywhere. Some poets shy away from readings, but I actually enjoy
them.
Excited here in Madison."
Congrats, Matt!
"Dream Horse Press has announced: my manuscript, Sudden Anthem, has won
the 2007 American Poetry Journal Book Prize. The award carries a
$1000 prize and book publication, with the book slated for a
Winter/Spring 2008 release. The book will be available via Amazon,
Barnes & Noble, and other bookstores that see fit to order it.
For information about American Poetry Journal, click here:
http://www.americanpoetryjournal.com/
The biannual journal features a mix of established poets and rising
stars. One of my favorite poets today--Bob Hicok--sits on the
advisory board. That he might have had a hand in selecting my manuscript is,
for me, an incredible honor...
For information on Dream Horse Press, click here:
Last years APJ winning manuscript, Ted Worozbyt's The Dauber Wings, is
an excellent--and excellent looking--book. Ted most recently won the
prestigious Juniper Prize (UMass Press) for his second poetry
collection Letters of Transit, so I guess that means I'm following a
strong tradition. Pretty cool.
The editor of Dream Horse is poet and activist J.P. Dancing Bear.
He's the author of one full-length collection, Billy Last Crow, as
well as six chapbooks. Click here to learn more:
Everyone--this is down the road a piece, but when the book gets
released, if you know someone who works at a bookstore, library,
college or university--anywhere they hold a poetry reading series--you
might turn them on to my book once its ready for release. Like any
small press, Dream Horse depends on its poets to do their part in
marketing books. Essentially this means doing readings, anywhere and
everywhere. Some poets shy away from readings, but I actually enjoy
them.
Excited here in Madison."
Congrats, Matt!
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Alessio on the Airwaves
Carolyn Alessio, former SIUC lecturer, current Crab Orchard Review prose editor, and all-around friend of the program, will be on TV this upcoming weekend. In her own words:
"It will be with great trepidation that I make my debut on BookTV on CSPAN this Sat. And yes, I am interviewing the original teacher from "Freedom Writers." Much better book than movie. So if you're bored to death or masochistic, I'll be on live from the Printer's Row Book Fair on Sat. at 11 a.m.
Help me."
Knowing Carolyn, she'll be utterly charming as usual.
"It will be with great trepidation that I make my debut on BookTV on CSPAN this Sat. And yes, I am interviewing the original teacher from "Freedom Writers." Much better book than movie. So if you're bored to death or masochistic, I'll be on live from the Printer's Row Book Fair on Sat. at 11 a.m.
Help me."
Knowing Carolyn, she'll be utterly charming as usual.
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Rodney Jones Goes Canadian, eh?
As part of the festivities for the Griffin Poetry Prize, our own Rodney Jones read to an audience of 900 in Toronto last night.
Details here:
Toronto Star
Details here:
Friday, June 01, 2007
Adrian Matejka Update
from Adrian Matejka (MFA '01):
Thanks for the shout out about Sou'wester and the job. I also wanted to mention I've some poems forthcoming in Gulf Coast, Painted Bride Quarterly, and Pleiades along with a poem in a great new anthology, Kiss the Sky: Fiction and Poetry Starring Jimi Hendrix.
Thanks for the shout out about Sou'wester and the job. I also wanted to mention I've some poems forthcoming in Gulf Coast, Painted Bride Quarterly, and Pleiades along with a poem in a great new anthology, Kiss the Sky: Fiction and Poetry Starring Jimi Hendrix.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Chad Simpson Update
News from Chad Simpson (MFA '05):
My essay, "The Perseids," which I read at the gala two years back, is out in the Duck & Herring Co. Warm Weather Pocket Field Guide . I also recently got word that I received a work-study ("waiter") scholarship to attend this summer's Bread Loaf Writers' Conference.
Congrats, Chad!
Bread Loaf Writers' Conference:
website
My essay, "The Perseids," which I read at the gala two years back, is out in the Duck & Herring Co. Warm Weather Pocket Field Guide . I also recently got word that I received a work-study ("waiter") scholarship to attend this summer's Bread Loaf Writers' Conference.
Congrats, Chad!
Bread Loaf Writers' Conference:
Monday, May 28, 2007
Congrats to Melanie Martin!
Received this note from MFA program grad Melanie Martin (MFA '04) recently:
"I wanted to spread the love that I just received a letter from Pearl Magazine editor, Marilyn Johnson, that I will be the invited feature poet for the poetry issue in Spring '08! I'm totally excited about this because they are my "thesis poems." I will receive 10 copies of the magazine, have 15 pgs. of poems and be the featured reader at their publication party. While it's still a year away, I feel honored and pleased to get some lovin' for those poems that I know represent my growth coming from the LBC to C'dale. Thank you, thank you, all of you who read and pushed my poems forward."
Congrats, Mel M--we'll be looking for the poems in Pearl!
PEARL
"I wanted to spread the love that I just received a letter from Pearl Magazine editor, Marilyn Johnson, that I will be the invited feature poet for the poetry issue in Spring '08! I'm totally excited about this because they are my "thesis poems." I will receive 10 copies of the magazine, have 15 pgs. of poems and be the featured reader at their publication party. While it's still a year away, I feel honored and pleased to get some lovin' for those poems that I know represent my growth coming from the LBC to C'dale. Thank you, thank you, all of you who read and pushed my poems forward."
Congrats, Mel M--we'll be looking for the poems in Pearl!
Monday, May 21, 2007
SIUC Poets to Read in St. Louis!
SIUC MFA poets Sara Burge, Andy McFadyen-Ketchum and Kerry James Evans will read in St. Louis as a part of the annual Hungry Young Poets series at Duff's Restaurant in St. Louis.
Sara, Andy, and Kerry will read on June 18th at Duff's Restaurant, 392 N. Euclid, St. Louis, MO.
The reading starts at 7:30 PM. It's $5 at the door, $4 for River Styx members, students, and seniors.
Thanks to the great folks at River Styx for including SIUC MFAs in the merrymaking!
More information at
River Styx
Sara, Andy, and Kerry will read on June 18th at Duff's Restaurant, 392 N. Euclid, St. Louis, MO.
The reading starts at 7:30 PM. It's $5 at the door, $4 for River Styx members, students, and seniors.
Thanks to the great folks at River Styx for including SIUC MFAs in the merrymaking!
More information at
Crab Orchard Review Receives Illinois Arts Council Literary Awards!
Crab Orchard Review is the recipient of two Illinois Arts Council Literary Awards this year!
The Literary Awards program from the Illinois Arts Council recognizes individual literary works published by journals in the state of Illinois. Each Illinois-based writer receives $1000, and each journal receives $1000 for each recognized work. This year, Crab Orchard Review is proud to announce receiving two Illinois Arts Council Literary Awards--one for "Claudia Leaving," a story by Emily Gray Tedrowe and one for "Middle Aged Adam's and Eve's Bedside Tables," a poem by Illinois Poet Laureate Kevin Stein. The winning works appeared in Crab Orchard Review, Volume 11, no.2.
Congrats to these authors!
Illinois Arts Council
website
The Literary Awards program from the Illinois Arts Council recognizes individual literary works published by journals in the state of Illinois. Each Illinois-based writer receives $1000, and each journal receives $1000 for each recognized work. This year, Crab Orchard Review is proud to announce receiving two Illinois Arts Council Literary Awards--one for "Claudia Leaving," a story by Emily Gray Tedrowe and one for "Middle Aged Adam's and Eve's Bedside Tables," a poem by Illinois Poet Laureate Kevin Stein. The winning works appeared in Crab Orchard Review, Volume 11, no.2.
Congrats to these authors!
Illinois Arts Council
Sara in Print!
A note from Sara Burge (second-year MFA, poetry):
"Just though I'd let you know that my poem "Mirror Ball" just came
out in Cimarron Review's Spring edition."
Congrats, Sara!
"Just though I'd let you know that my poem "Mirror Ball" just came
out in Cimarron Review's Spring edition."
Congrats, Sara!
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Fiction Frenzy!
Chris Bryson (MFA '07)'s first published story, "Sunglasses," will appear in the Fall 2007 issue of the Madison Review.
"Amtrak," a story by Chad Simpson (MFA '05) appears in the Spring 2007 issue of Blue Earth Review.
"Mijo," a story by Carolyn Alessio (former SIUC lecturer in creative writing and current Crab Orchard Review prose editor) has been chosen for an Illinois Arts Council Literary Award. The story originally appeared in Triquarterly.
Congrats to all!
"Amtrak," a story by Chad Simpson (MFA '05) appears in the Spring 2007 issue of Blue Earth Review.
"Mijo," a story by Carolyn Alessio (former SIUC lecturer in creative writing and current Crab Orchard Review prose editor) has been chosen for an Illinois Arts Council Literary Award. The story originally appeared in Triquarterly.
Congrats to all!
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Coming Soon--Young Writers Workshop 2007!
SIUC's annual Young Writers Workshop, our residential creative writing workshop for writers age 15-18, will be held this June 27-June 30, 2007. There's still plenty of time for your favorite young writer to enroll or for alums/friends of MFA Carbondale to make scholarship donations.
For more information about the workshop visit:
Press Release
and
Interview with Allison about Young Writers
To enroll, visit the Division of Continuing Education
Continuing Education
click on "Youth," then on "Academic Camps."
To make a scholarship donation, send your check to
Young Writers Workshop
c/o Ms. Pat Eckert
Division of Continuing Education
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Washington Square C
Carbondale, IL 62901
Make the check out to "SIUC" and write "Young Writers Workshop" on the memo line.
We'll name the scholarship after you, or anyone else you please!
For more information about the workshop visit:
and
To enroll, visit the Division of Continuing Education
click on "Youth," then on "Academic Camps."
To make a scholarship donation, send your check to
Young Writers Workshop
c/o Ms. Pat Eckert
Division of Continuing Education
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Washington Square C
Carbondale, IL 62901
Make the check out to "SIUC" and write "Young Writers Workshop" on the memo line.
We'll name the scholarship after you, or anyone else you please!
Poemspotting, Matejka Edition
Two poems by Adrian Matejka (MFA '01) appear in the new issue of Sou'wester, published by our sister school, SIUE.
In fact, Adrian will be joining the creative writing faculty at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville this coming fall.
These new poems ("Equality" and "Communication") are from an in-progress manuscript about Jack Johnson, the first black world champion heavyweight boxer.
About Sou'wester:
Sou'wester
In fact, Adrian will be joining the creative writing faculty at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville this coming fall.
These new poems ("Equality" and "Communication") are from an in-progress manuscript about Jack Johnson, the first black world champion heavyweight boxer.
About Sou'wester:
Welcome Hattie!!!
A new addition to Liz "Kershner" Whiteacre's home (MFA '02):
"Our baby girl's name is Hattie Mae, and she was born 5/2 at 5:11 am. She was 6lbs 5oz and 19 1/4 inches long.
We had her check up yesterday afternoon, and she's already at 6lbs 14oz, so she's already started growing and getting cuter and more entertaining by the day. Kevin and I have been spending our time bonding with her (lots of quiet tummy time that involves lying down and dozing)--he's still got 3 more weeks of family leave (he's already jealous that mine lasts until late August).
I hope that you all are enjoying a wonderful start to spring and ends of terms, if you're still term-ing.
Kevin and Hattie send their hugs and hellos too."
Congrats, Liz and Kevin!
"Our baby girl's name is Hattie Mae, and she was born 5/2 at 5:11 am. She was 6lbs 5oz and 19 1/4 inches long.
We had her check up yesterday afternoon, and she's already at 6lbs 14oz, so she's already started growing and getting cuter and more entertaining by the day. Kevin and I have been spending our time bonding with her (lots of quiet tummy time that involves lying down and dozing)--he's still got 3 more weeks of family leave (he's already jealous that mine lasts until late August).
I hope that you all are enjoying a wonderful start to spring and ends of terms, if you're still term-ing.
Kevin and Hattie send their hugs and hellos too."
Congrats, Liz and Kevin!
Friday, May 04, 2007
Chad Simpson News
from a note in my e-mail today, from Chad Simpson ('05):
"I got word today that I'm going to be a Tennessee Williams Scholar in fiction at Sewanee this summer."
Congrats, Chad!
About the Sewanee Writers' Conference:
SWC
"I got word today that I'm going to be a Tennessee Williams Scholar in fiction at Sewanee this summer."
Congrats, Chad!
About the Sewanee Writers' Conference:
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
from SIUC to VT with Love: A Literary Reading
In the last few weeks, everyone at Virginia Tech has, of
course, been in the thoughts of all of us here at SIUC. In
honor of the victims of those tragic events, their families,
and to the entire Virginia Tech community, the English
Department here in Carbondale is sponsoring a reading of works
by the creative writing faculty at Virginia Tech: “From SIUC to
VT with Love.”
This reading will be held on Thursday, May 3rd from 4-5 pm in
the Mississippi Room at the SIUC Student Center. We hope to raise
money for the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund, which will be used to
cover expenses including assistance to victims and their
families, grief counseling, memorials, communication expenses,
and comfort expenses.
Furthermore, with the unusual emphasis that these tragic events
have placed on creative writing, the purpose of this reading is
to present the writing of VT’s faculty – poets and prose
writers who are dedicated to the art of teaching and to the
power of the word.
SIUC faculty and creative writing graduate students will read
from the work of Nikki Giovanni, Lucinda Roy, Ed Falco, Fred
D’Aguiar, Katherine Soniat, Bob Hicok, and Jeff Mann. This
reading is free and open to the public.
Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund
course, been in the thoughts of all of us here at SIUC. In
honor of the victims of those tragic events, their families,
and to the entire Virginia Tech community, the English
Department here in Carbondale is sponsoring a reading of works
by the creative writing faculty at Virginia Tech: “From SIUC to
VT with Love.”
This reading will be held on Thursday, May 3rd from 4-5 pm in
the Mississippi Room at the SIUC Student Center. We hope to raise
money for the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund, which will be used to
cover expenses including assistance to victims and their
families, grief counseling, memorials, communication expenses,
and comfort expenses.
Furthermore, with the unusual emphasis that these tragic events
have placed on creative writing, the purpose of this reading is
to present the writing of VT’s faculty – poets and prose
writers who are dedicated to the art of teaching and to the
power of the word.
SIUC faculty and creative writing graduate students will read
from the work of Nikki Giovanni, Lucinda Roy, Ed Falco, Fred
D’Aguiar, Katherine Soniat, Bob Hicok, and Jeff Mann. This
reading is free and open to the public.
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Ben Percy movie news--part deux
Got this note from Ben Percy (MFA '04) today:
"I've signed the contract, so it's official: I'm now a tenure-track professor at UW-Stevens Point.
Oh, and the "the "Refresh, Refresh" screenplay was accepted into the Sundance lab. This is an invite-only workshop held every June, where five emerging screenwriters work with Redford and other industry veterans for twelve days. James Ponsoldt (the writer/director) and I are feeling very lucky and excited."
Congrats, Ben, on the job and the screenplay!
"I've signed the contract, so it's official: I'm now a tenure-track professor at UW-Stevens Point.
Oh, and the "the "Refresh, Refresh" screenplay was accepted into the Sundance lab. This is an invite-only workshop held every June, where five emerging screenwriters work with Redford and other industry veterans for twelve days. James Ponsoldt (the writer/director) and I are feeling very lucky and excited."
Congrats, Ben, on the job and the screenplay!
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Brad Vice Fiction Reading--Monday, April 30
The Visiting Writers Series is proud to present a reading by
BRAD VICE
4PM, April 30, 2007
Mississippi Room
SIUC Student Center
Free and Open to the Public
Brad Vice's fiction has appeared in The Atlantic Monthly, Southern Review, Greensboro Review, and Shenandoah, among other worthy venues. His work has also appeared in anthologies such as New Stories from the South and Best New American Voices. A new edition of his collection, The Bear Bryant Funeral Train, has been published by River City Publishing.
Read more about Brad Vice here
Brad Vice
BRAD VICE
4PM, April 30, 2007
Mississippi Room
SIUC Student Center
Free and Open to the Public
Brad Vice's fiction has appeared in The Atlantic Monthly, Southern Review, Greensboro Review, and Shenandoah, among other worthy venues. His work has also appeared in anthologies such as New Stories from the South and Best New American Voices. A new edition of his collection, The Bear Bryant Funeral Train, has been published by River City Publishing.
Read more about Brad Vice here
Thursday, April 26, 2007
MFA Graduation GALA--April 27, 2007
The Creative Writing Program of Southern Illinois University Carbondale's Department of English
cordially invites you to attend our MFA Celebration
April 27, 2007
6:30 PM
Student Center Renaissance Room
These eleven graduating students will read briefly from their thesis works:
Chris Allen
Amy Blache
J. Benjamin Borden
Jacob Boyd
Chris Bryson
Desiree Dighton
Elisabeth Meyer
James Miller
Ingrid Browning Moody
Kurt Mueller
R. Elena Pearson
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.
cordially invites you to attend our MFA Celebration
April 27, 2007
6:30 PM
Student Center Renaissance Room
These eleven graduating students will read briefly from their thesis works:
Chris Allen
Amy Blache
J. Benjamin Borden
Jacob Boyd
Chris Bryson
Desiree Dighton
Elisabeth Meyer
James Miller
Ingrid Browning Moody
Kurt Mueller
R. Elena Pearson
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.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Congrats to Rachel Furey!
Received this note today from first-year MFA fiction writer Rachel Furey:
I just thought I'd let you know that I recently got a short
story titled "Naked Mannequins" accepted for the fall issue of
Our Time is Now (a literary magazine for writers 23 and
under). I also recently found out that I was chosen to receive
the Wright Morris scholarship for full tuition, room, and board
to attend the Nebraska Summer Writers' Conference.
Well-done, Rachel!
I just thought I'd let you know that I recently got a short
story titled "Naked Mannequins" accepted for the fall issue of
Our Time is Now (a literary magazine for writers 23 and
under). I also recently found out that I was chosen to receive
the Wright Morris scholarship for full tuition, room, and board
to attend the Nebraska Summer Writers' Conference.
Well-done, Rachel!
Michael Meyerhofer reads in Virginia
Michael Meyerhofer (MFA '06) will read from his award-winning full-length collection on Wednesday, April 25 at 6PM at the Longwood University Bed and Breakfast. This reading celebrates the publication of Leaving Iowa, the first winner of the Liam Rector First Book Award in Poetry (Briery Creek Press).
The Longwood University Bed & Breakfast is located at 608 High Street, Farmville, VA 23901.
The Longwood University Bed & Breakfast is located at 608 High Street, Farmville, VA 23901.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Rodney Jones in California for Tufts Awards Ceremony
Claremont Graduate University’s 15th Annual
Kingsley and Kate Tufts Poetry Awards Ceremony
April 24, 2007 - Zipper Concert Hall, The Colburn School of Music
200 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, California
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
2007 Winners:
Rodney Jones - Kingsley Tufts Award $100,000 for Salvation Blues
Eric McHenry - Kate Tufts Discovery Award $10,000 for Potscrubber Lullabies
Claremont Graduate University Presents the 15th Annual Kingsley and Kate Tufts Poetry Awards ceremony at 6 p.m. on April 24 at Zipper Concert Hall, The Colburn School of Music. Come and hear the authors read from their award winning works. The ceremony will be followed by a book signing. Books will be available for purchase on site.
Claremont Graduate University awards two prizes for poetry each year, The Kingsley Tufts Award ($100,000) and The Kate Tufts Discovery Award ($10,000.) CGU’s Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award is the largest monetary prize in the nation for a mid-career poet. Carbondale, Illinois resident Rodney Jones—a professor of English at Southern Illinois University—has been selected as the winner of the $100,000 Kingsley Tufts Award for his poetry book, Salvation Blues (Houghton Mifflin, 2006). Kate Tufts Discovery Award is presented annually for a first book by a poet of genuine promise. The winner of the $10,000 Kate Tufts Discovery Award is Seattle resident Eric McHenry for his poetry book, Potscrubber Lullabies (The Waywiser Press, 2006).
Kingsley and Kate Tufts Poetry Awards Ceremony
April 24, 2007 - Zipper Concert Hall, The Colburn School of Music
200 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, California
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
2007 Winners:
Rodney Jones - Kingsley Tufts Award $100,000 for Salvation Blues
Eric McHenry - Kate Tufts Discovery Award $10,000 for Potscrubber Lullabies
Claremont Graduate University Presents the 15th Annual Kingsley and Kate Tufts Poetry Awards ceremony at 6 p.m. on April 24 at Zipper Concert Hall, The Colburn School of Music. Come and hear the authors read from their award winning works. The ceremony will be followed by a book signing. Books will be available for purchase on site.
Claremont Graduate University awards two prizes for poetry each year, The Kingsley Tufts Award ($100,000) and The Kate Tufts Discovery Award ($10,000.) CGU’s Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award is the largest monetary prize in the nation for a mid-career poet. Carbondale, Illinois resident Rodney Jones—a professor of English at Southern Illinois University—has been selected as the winner of the $100,000 Kingsley Tufts Award for his poetry book, Salvation Blues (Houghton Mifflin, 2006). Kate Tufts Discovery Award is presented annually for a first book by a poet of genuine promise. The winner of the $10,000 Kate Tufts Discovery Award is Seattle resident Eric McHenry for his poetry book, Potscrubber Lullabies (The Waywiser Press, 2006).
Monday, April 16, 2007
Poemspotting...
"A Toast to Virtue," a new poem by first-year poet Kerry James Evans, appears in the Spring 2007 issue of the Mid-American Poetry Review. I can't find any web links for this journal, so if you want to get a copy so you can read the poem or if you want submit poetry to this journal that specializes in publishing poets of the Midwest, write to
The Mid-America Poetry Review
P.O. Box 575
Warrensburg, MO 64093-0575
Their next deadline for submissions is July 15.
The Mid-America Poetry Review
P.O. Box 575
Warrensburg, MO 64093-0575
Their next deadline for submissions is July 15.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Catching Up With Douglas Haynes (MFA '02):
Got this very nice note from Douglas Haynes (MFA '02) after spotting his poem "Alopecia" in the latest issue of the Bellevue Literary Review:
Without ever intending to, I've settled in New Hampshire for a while, where I'm now in my second year of teaching at New England College (I'm an actual Assistant Professor with a business card and a 401k, both of which I feel quite ambivalent about!). I genuinely appreciate the perks and pleasures of teaching, though, especially after my 2005 stint of freelance newspaper writing that had me chased out of libertarians' houses and touring garden and cat shows. For now, I teach two first-year composition courses, an advanced personal essay course, and a general education seminar I designed called "Translating Travel: Reading & Writing Across Cultures." I also continue writing poetry, personal essays, and feature journalism. Recently, my poems have appeared in Bellevue Literary Review, Isotope, & Wild Earth, and I'm currently sending around a chapbook manuscript. I've also had essays in North American Review and Orion Online, among other places. I would love to hear from other SIUC M.F.A. alums and faculty. Write me at: dhaynes@gmail.com
Without ever intending to, I've settled in New Hampshire for a while, where I'm now in my second year of teaching at New England College (I'm an actual Assistant Professor with a business card and a 401k, both of which I feel quite ambivalent about!). I genuinely appreciate the perks and pleasures of teaching, though, especially after my 2005 stint of freelance newspaper writing that had me chased out of libertarians' houses and touring garden and cat shows. For now, I teach two first-year composition courses, an advanced personal essay course, and a general education seminar I designed called "Translating Travel: Reading & Writing Across Cultures." I also continue writing poetry, personal essays, and feature journalism. Recently, my poems have appeared in Bellevue Literary Review, Isotope, & Wild Earth, and I'm currently sending around a chapbook manuscript. I've also had essays in North American Review and Orion Online, among other places. I would love to hear from other SIUC M.F.A. alums and faculty. Write me at: dhaynes@gmail.com
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Moira Linehan Reading on April 19, 2007
The Visiting Writers Series & Crab Orchard Review present a reading by Moira Linehan:
THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2007
4:00 PM SIUC Student Center Auditorium
This reading celebrates the publication of Moira Linehan's new book, If No Moon, published this year by Southern Illinois University Press in the Crab Orchard Series in Poetry.
The reading is free and open to the public.
Moira Linehan, award-winning poet, poetry teacher and prolific author, lives in Winchester, Massachusetts. Her
poems have appeared in Green Mountains Review, Image, Notre Dame Review, Sou'wester, and Weber Studies.
In summer 2005, she was poet-in-residence at the Poetry Center of Chicago.
Read more about If No Moon here:
SIU Press
THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2007
4:00 PM SIUC Student Center Auditorium
This reading celebrates the publication of Moira Linehan's new book, If No Moon, published this year by Southern Illinois University Press in the Crab Orchard Series in Poetry.
The reading is free and open to the public.
Moira Linehan, award-winning poet, poetry teacher and prolific author, lives in Winchester, Massachusetts. Her
poems have appeared in Green Mountains Review, Image, Notre Dame Review, Sou'wester, and Weber Studies.
In summer 2005, she was poet-in-residence at the Poetry Center of Chicago.
Read more about If No Moon here:
Congrats to Kerry James Evans
A note from first-year poetry MFA student Kerry James Evans:
Just wanted to let you know that The Dos Passos Review just
accepted "Siphoning Gas" for publication in their June 2007
issue.
Congrats, Kerry!
Just wanted to let you know that The Dos Passos Review just
accepted "Siphoning Gas" for publication in their June 2007
issue.
Congrats, Kerry!
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Monday, April 02, 2007
Honoree Fanonne Jeffers Reading--April 5
The Visiting Writers Series and Crab Orchard Review present a reading by Honoree Fanonne Jeffers--Thursday, April 5, 4:00 PM, Mississippi Room, SIUC Student Center
This reading celebrates the publication of Honoree Fanonne Jeffers's new book, Red Clay Suite, published this year by Southern Illinois University in the Crab Orchard Series in Poetry.
The reading is free and open to the public.
Honoree Fanonne Jeffers, an assistant professor of English at the University of Oklahoma, is the author of two other books of poetry, The Gospel of Barbecue and Outlandish Blues. She has received a number of honors, including the Stan and Tom Wick Prize for Poetry, the Julia Peterkin Award for Poetry, and awards from the Rona Jaffe Foundation and the Barbara Deming Memorial Fund.
Read some of Honoree's work here:
Callaloo
This reading celebrates the publication of Honoree Fanonne Jeffers's new book, Red Clay Suite, published this year by Southern Illinois University in the Crab Orchard Series in Poetry.
The reading is free and open to the public.
Honoree Fanonne Jeffers, an assistant professor of English at the University of Oklahoma, is the author of two other books of poetry, The Gospel of Barbecue and Outlandish Blues. She has received a number of honors, including the Stan and Tom Wick Prize for Poetry, the Julia Peterkin Award for Poetry, and awards from the Rona Jaffe Foundation and the Barbara Deming Memorial Fund.
Read some of Honoree's work here:
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Meyerhofer, Chapbook King--
Got this note from the unstoppable Michael Meyerhofer (MFA '06) today:
Hi, Allison. I just found out (as in, 20 minutes ago) that my chapbook, Real Courage, won the Terminus Magazine and Jeanne Duval Editions Poetry Chapbook Prize, judged by Thomas Lux. Prize is 200 copies. :)
Congrats, MM, on your third chapbook!
Hi, Allison. I just found out (as in, 20 minutes ago) that my chapbook, Real Courage, won the Terminus Magazine and Jeanne Duval Editions Poetry Chapbook Prize, judged by Thomas Lux. Prize is 200 copies. :)
Congrats, MM, on your third chapbook!
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Allison Joseph wins Writecorner Press Poetry Contest
Allison Joseph's "A Love Note to Teenagers" is the first winner of the Writecorner Press Poetry Contest.
You can find out about this award (and other awards offered by Writecorner Press) at
Writecorner Press
You can find out about this award (and other awards offered by Writecorner Press) at
Roxana Rivera Memorial Poetry Contest Winners
Announcing the Winners of the 2007 Roxana Rivera Memorial Poetry Contest
Sponsored by the Creative Writing Program and the Women’s Studies Program
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Judge Joy Katz, visiting poet at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, has chosen
to honor the following poets and their poems:
UNDERGRADUATE WINNERS:
First place, “the midwife's children,” by Sarah E. Grandt
Second place, “The Bone Glow of Streetlamps” by Abby Blank
Third place, “Scattered Stars” by Spring Beck
Honorable Mentions:
“Mermaids” by Aaron Deutsch
“leaving spiro, oklahoma” by Sarah E. Grandt
GRADUATE WINNERS:
First Place, “Barrel Vault” by Alexander Lumans
Second place, “The Bird World” by Alexander Lumans
Third place, “After The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses” by Alexander Lumans
Honorable Mentions:
“Spring Cleaning,” by Tracy Conerton
“Literary Festival,” by Tracy Conerton
Please join us on Friday, March 30 at 4 pm in the SIUC Student Center Auditorium
for an awards ceremony featuring a reading from our judge, Joy Katz, the author of
Fabulae (Southern Illinois University Press) and The Garden Room (Tupelo Press).
The winners will also read their award-winning poems. There will be
a booksigning and reception in the Old Main Lounge after the ceremony.
The Roxana Rivera Memorial Poetry Contest honors the memory of Roxana Rivera, who
was a poet and graduate student in English at SIUC at the time of her death in 2003.
Additional support for this contest comes from the Judge William Holmes Cook Endowment.
Sponsored by the Creative Writing Program and the Women’s Studies Program
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Judge Joy Katz, visiting poet at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, has chosen
to honor the following poets and their poems:
UNDERGRADUATE WINNERS:
First place, “the midwife's children,” by Sarah E. Grandt
Second place, “The Bone Glow of Streetlamps” by Abby Blank
Third place, “Scattered Stars” by Spring Beck
Honorable Mentions:
“Mermaids” by Aaron Deutsch
“leaving spiro, oklahoma” by Sarah E. Grandt
GRADUATE WINNERS:
First Place, “Barrel Vault” by Alexander Lumans
Second place, “The Bird World” by Alexander Lumans
Third place, “After The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses” by Alexander Lumans
Honorable Mentions:
“Spring Cleaning,” by Tracy Conerton
“Literary Festival,” by Tracy Conerton
Please join us on Friday, March 30 at 4 pm in the SIUC Student Center Auditorium
for an awards ceremony featuring a reading from our judge, Joy Katz, the author of
Fabulae (Southern Illinois University Press) and The Garden Room (Tupelo Press).
The winners will also read their award-winning poems. There will be
a booksigning and reception in the Old Main Lounge after the ceremony.
The Roxana Rivera Memorial Poetry Contest honors the memory of Roxana Rivera, who
was a poet and graduate student in English at SIUC at the time of her death in 2003.
Additional support for this contest comes from the Judge William Holmes Cook Endowment.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Congrats to Kerry James Evans
Today I received this good news from first-year MFA in poetry Kerry James Evans:
Just wanted to let you know I just had two poems accepted for
publication: "There, Between" in Poet Lore and "Monopoly" in
Eclipse.
Congrats, Kerry! We'll be on the lookout for those new poems!
Just wanted to let you know I just had two poems accepted for
publication: "There, Between" in Poet Lore and "Monopoly" in
Eclipse.
Congrats, Kerry! We'll be on the lookout for those new poems!
Thanks for a great reading!
Thanks to Matt Guenette '99 and Michael Meyerhofer '06 for a great reading--the first of many alumni readings to come.
New work by Matt will appear soon--"Nickname Letter" in the next issue of Diagram, "Compound Fractures"
in the next issue of Sojourn.
Forthcoming for Meyerhofer: -"Late September" and "Limbic Self-Loathing, Post-Emperor's Chicken" in Arts & Letters.
New work by Matt will appear soon--"Nickname Letter" in the next issue of Diagram, "Compound Fractures"
in the next issue of Sojourn.
Forthcoming for Meyerhofer: -"Late September" and "Limbic Self-Loathing, Post-Emperor's Chicken" in Arts & Letters.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Congratulations to Melanie Dusseau (MFA '03)!
Melanie Dusseau's first collection of poems, The Body Tries Again, has been accepted for publication by Word Press of Cincinnati, Ohio. The book is due in 2009.
Here's Mel D contemplating her cover options:
"I'm trying to find out if I can reuse one of those pulp covers from old paperbacks: you know, a
scantily clad woman smoking a cigarette in a seedy alley with a dangerous stranger lurking behind her?
She rolls on the wrong side of town! She fell from grace in the big city! And I think it would be fun to
emblazon that title over a fun piece of pop?"
That's our Mel D! Congrats, girl!
Here's Mel D contemplating her cover options:
"I'm trying to find out if I can reuse one of those pulp covers from old paperbacks: you know, a
scantily clad woman smoking a cigarette in a seedy alley with a dangerous stranger lurking behind her?
She rolls on the wrong side of town! She fell from grace in the big city! And I think it would be fun to
emblazon that title over a fun piece of pop?"
That's our Mel D! Congrats, girl!
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Spring 2007 In-House Readings
Spring 2007 In-House Readings
Sponsored by the Graduate Writers Forum
Department of English, Creative Writing Program
All readings (except for 4/17) are in the Student Center Mississippi Room,
Thursdays from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm
3/22
Renee Evans, fiction
Kerry James Evans, poetry
Brandon Bond, fiction
3/29
Rachel Furey, fiction
Martin Call, poetry
Josh Woods, fiction
4/12
Shanie Latham, fiction
Will Tyler, poetry
Rachna Sheth, fiction
4/17 4:30-5:30 pm, Illinois Room, Student Center
Jared Sexton, fiction
Andrew McFadyen-Ketchum, poetry
John Flaherty, fiction
4/26
Mary Keck, fiction
Sara Burge, poetry
Andrew Lewellen, fiction
Jason Brown, poetry
All readings are free and open the the public.
Sponsored by the Graduate Writers Forum
Department of English, Creative Writing Program
All readings (except for 4/17) are in the Student Center Mississippi Room,
Thursdays from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm
3/22
Renee Evans, fiction
Kerry James Evans, poetry
Brandon Bond, fiction
3/29
Rachel Furey, fiction
Martin Call, poetry
Josh Woods, fiction
4/12
Shanie Latham, fiction
Will Tyler, poetry
Rachna Sheth, fiction
4/17 4:30-5:30 pm, Illinois Room, Student Center
Jared Sexton, fiction
Andrew McFadyen-Ketchum, poetry
John Flaherty, fiction
4/26
Mary Keck, fiction
Sara Burge, poetry
Andrew Lewellen, fiction
Jason Brown, poetry
All readings are free and open the the public.
Monday, March 19, 2007
Benjamin Percy (MFA '04) Wins Plimpton Prize!
from the Paris Review website:
The Plimpton Prize
$10,000 is awarded to the best work of fiction published in The Paris Review in a given year by an emerging or previously unpublished writer.
The 2007 Plimpton Prize will be awarded to Benjamin Percy for his story “Refresh, Refresh” from issue 175.
The Plimpton Prize honors The Paris Review's longtime editor, George Plimpton, who presided over the magazine for fifty years, until his death in September 2003. The prize will be awarded annually for the best piece of fiction by a newcomer to appear in The Paris Review that year. The prize continues the tradition of the magazine's Discovery Prize, which has been awarded to such writers as Elizabeth Gilbert, Julie Orringer, and Karl Iagnemma.
Congrats, Ben! You make us proud!
The Plimpton Prize
$10,000 is awarded to the best work of fiction published in The Paris Review in a given year by an emerging or previously unpublished writer.
The 2007 Plimpton Prize will be awarded to Benjamin Percy for his story “Refresh, Refresh” from issue 175.
The Plimpton Prize honors The Paris Review's longtime editor, George Plimpton, who presided over the magazine for fifty years, until his death in September 2003. The prize will be awarded annually for the best piece of fiction by a newcomer to appear in The Paris Review that year. The prize continues the tradition of the magazine's Discovery Prize, which has been awarded to such writers as Elizabeth Gilbert, Julie Orringer, and Karl Iagnemma.
Congrats, Ben! You make us proud!
Alumni Reading--Friday, March 23
Two alums of the Carbondale MFA Program, Matthew Guenette and Michael Meyerhofer, will read from their chapbooks on Friday, March 23 in SIUC Student Center at 4 pm. This reading is free and open to the public.
About Matt:
Matthew Guenette’s A Hush of Something Endless was published by Ropewalk Press in October 2006. A 1999 graduate of Southern Illinois University Carbondale's MFA program, Guenette was an instructor of English at University of Southern Indiana from 1999 to 2002. He currently teaches composition, literature, and creative writing at Madison Area Technical College in Madison, Wisconsin. His poems have appeared in many magazines, including Passages North, Southern Indiana Review, Diagram, Poetry Midwest and Poems and Plays.
About Michael:
Michael Meyerhofer is the author of two chapbooks, Cardboard Urn (winner of the Copperdome Prize) and The Right Madness of Beggars (winner of the Uccelli Press Chapbook Competition). His full-length collection, Leaving Iowa, was the first winner of the Liam Rector First Book Award for Poetry and is due from Briery Creek Press in April 2007. He is the recipent of the James Wright Poetry Prize from Mid-American Review and the Laureate Prize from the National Poetry Review. He teaches at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
About Matt:
Matthew Guenette’s A Hush of Something Endless was published by Ropewalk Press in October 2006. A 1999 graduate of Southern Illinois University Carbondale's MFA program, Guenette was an instructor of English at University of Southern Indiana from 1999 to 2002. He currently teaches composition, literature, and creative writing at Madison Area Technical College in Madison, Wisconsin. His poems have appeared in many magazines, including Passages North, Southern Indiana Review, Diagram, Poetry Midwest and Poems and Plays.
About Michael:
Michael Meyerhofer is the author of two chapbooks, Cardboard Urn (winner of the Copperdome Prize) and The Right Madness of Beggars (winner of the Uccelli Press Chapbook Competition). His full-length collection, Leaving Iowa, was the first winner of the Liam Rector First Book Award for Poetry and is due from Briery Creek Press in April 2007. He is the recipent of the James Wright Poetry Prize from Mid-American Review and the Laureate Prize from the National Poetry Review. He teaches at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Grassroots Open Mike Reading, March 8
GRASSROOTS, SIUC's undergraduate literary journal, will sponsor an open-mike reading on Thursday, March 8 at the Longbranch Coffeehouse (100 E. Jackson in Carbondale).
Come to share and/or listen to original poetry and short fiction.
This event is free and open to the community.
Come to share and/or listen to original poetry and short fiction.
This event is free and open to the community.
Ben Percy on the Radio
from Ben Percy (MFA '04):
This Sunday, March 11th, my story "Refresh, Refresh" will be read on National Public Radio as part of the show, Selected Shorts. I don't know if IL carries the program. If not, and if you feel like tuning in, you can listen online -- live -- at many NPR affiliate station web addresses, including this one: http://www.wnyc.org/shows/shorts/
This Sunday, March 11th, my story "Refresh, Refresh" will be read on National Public Radio as part of the show, Selected Shorts. I don't know if IL carries the program. If not, and if you feel like tuning in, you can listen online -- live -- at many NPR affiliate station web addresses, including this one: http://www.wnyc.org/shows/shorts/
Monday, March 05, 2007
What fun!
It was great to see so many SIUC MFA alums and current students at the annual AWP Conference in Atlanta, GA. Hope we can sponsor another reception soon, if not for the 2008 New York AWP, then definitely for the 2009 Chicago AWP.
Monday, February 26, 2007
Meyerhofer Strikes Again!
Michael Meyerhofer (MFA '06) has won the James Wright Poetry Award from Mid-American Review for his poem "Ode to Dogs." The award is $1000 and publication!
Congrats, Michael!
Congrats, Michael!
Thursday, February 22, 2007
New Publications by MFA Grads
Michael Meyerhofer (MFA '06)'s poem "Floating Womb Syndrome" appears in the latest issue of Arts & Letters.
Jan LaPerle (MFA '06)'s poem "House" appears in the latest issue of Tar River Poetry.
Matthew Guenette (MFA '99)'s poems "Sudden Anthem" and "Capitol Steps" appear in the latest issue of Passages North.
Jan LaPerle (MFA '06)'s poem "House" appears in the latest issue of Tar River Poetry.
Matthew Guenette (MFA '99)'s poems "Sudden Anthem" and "Capitol Steps" appear in the latest issue of Passages North.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Roxana Rivera Memorial Poetry Contest guidelines
ANNOUNCING THE 2007 ROXANA RIVERA MEMORIAL POETRY CONTEST
Join SIUC’s Creative Writing and Women’s Studies Programs as we honor the memory of a wonderful poet and celebrate Women’s History Month.
The Roxana Rivera Memorial Poetry Contest honors the memory of Roxana Rivera (1977-2003), who was a first-year creative writing graduate student from Lynwood, California. Roxana, a graduate of California State University Long Beach, earned her Bachelor’s degree in Women’s Studies and English. While at SIUC, Roxana was a PROMPT Scholar and a Graduate Teaching Assistant in the Department of English.
To remember this special woman and poet, a campus-wide poetry contest will be held, with divisions for both undergraduate and graduate students.
Gift certificates will be awarded as prizes in both divisions:
$80 for first place $40 for second place $25 for third place
This contest is open to all students currently enrolled at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Students of all majors are encouraged to participate in this contest.
This Year’s Theme: “All A Woman Can Be ”
DEADLINE: Friday, March 23, 2007
Submission Guidelines:
Submit an entry packet with:
1) A cover sheet with your name, address, phone number, e-mail address, and poem titles. Indicate on your cover sheet whether you are an undergraduate or graduate student.
2) Poem(s) on individual sheets (one poem only per page). No identifying information on the poems themselves, please. There is no entry fee, but there is a limit of three poems per entrant.
The contest theme is provided to spark your creativity, and entries that reflect upon the theme in the lives of women are particularly welcome.
Entry packets should be submitted to Prof. Allison Joseph, English Dept., Faner Hall 2380, MC # 4503. Entries may be sent via campus mail or dropped off at the English Department office (Faner Hall 2380) during regular campus office hours. Winners will be honored at a special awards ceremony to be held on March 30, 2007.
Join SIUC’s Creative Writing and Women’s Studies Programs as we honor the memory of a wonderful poet and celebrate Women’s History Month.
The Roxana Rivera Memorial Poetry Contest honors the memory of Roxana Rivera (1977-2003), who was a first-year creative writing graduate student from Lynwood, California. Roxana, a graduate of California State University Long Beach, earned her Bachelor’s degree in Women’s Studies and English. While at SIUC, Roxana was a PROMPT Scholar and a Graduate Teaching Assistant in the Department of English.
To remember this special woman and poet, a campus-wide poetry contest will be held, with divisions for both undergraduate and graduate students.
Gift certificates will be awarded as prizes in both divisions:
$80 for first place $40 for second place $25 for third place
This contest is open to all students currently enrolled at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Students of all majors are encouraged to participate in this contest.
This Year’s Theme: “All A Woman Can Be ”
DEADLINE: Friday, March 23, 2007
Submission Guidelines:
Submit an entry packet with:
1) A cover sheet with your name, address, phone number, e-mail address, and poem titles. Indicate on your cover sheet whether you are an undergraduate or graduate student.
2) Poem(s) on individual sheets (one poem only per page). No identifying information on the poems themselves, please. There is no entry fee, but there is a limit of three poems per entrant.
The contest theme is provided to spark your creativity, and entries that reflect upon the theme in the lives of women are particularly welcome.
Entry packets should be submitted to Prof. Allison Joseph, English Dept., Faner Hall 2380, MC # 4503. Entries may be sent via campus mail or dropped off at the English Department office (Faner Hall 2380) during regular campus office hours. Winners will be honored at a special awards ceremony to be held on March 30, 2007.
Monday, February 19, 2007
Chad Parmenter in Best American Poetry 2007!
Got this bit of news today from Chad Parmenter (MFA '05):
"I just got an e-mail saying that my poem from the Kenyon Review, "A Tech's Ode to the Genome Computer," was selected for Best American Poetry 2007. Needless to say, this wouldn't be possible without your guidance. Thanks for everything. I'm going to go faint now."
Congrats, Chad!
"I just got an e-mail saying that my poem from the Kenyon Review, "A Tech's Ode to the Genome Computer," was selected for Best American Poetry 2007. Needless to say, this wouldn't be possible without your guidance. Thanks for everything. I'm going to go faint now."
Congrats, Chad!
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Upcoming Readings & Events on the SIUC Campus
Spring 2007 In-House and Visiting Writer Readings & Events
SIUC Department of English Creative Writing Program
02/16 Showing of the documentary “Beauty Rises: Four Lives in the Arts” featuring a post-screening discussion with SIUC poet Allison Joseph
and the documentary’s director, Dan Andries.
4:30 P.M. – UNIVERSITY MUSEUM, FANER HALL, RECEPTION TO FOLLOW
02/22 African American History Month Reading by SIUC Dept. of English
Faculty, Allison Joseph and Jacinda Townsend
4:00 P.M. – BALLROOM A, SIUC STUDENT CENTER
03/23 SIUC MFA in Creative Writing Program Alumni Reading by
Matthew Guenette and Michael Meyerhofer
4:00 P.M. – SIUC STUDENT CENTER AUDITORIUM
03/30 Women’s History Month Poetry Reading by the six winners of the
Roxana Rivera Memorial Poetry Contest and this year’s judge,
poet Joy Katz.
4:00 P.M. – SIUC STUDENT CENTER AUDITORIUM
RECEPTION AND BOOKSIGNING TO FOLLOW IN OLD MAIN LOUNGE
04/05 Crab Orchard Series in Poetry Reading by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers,
author of RED CLAY SUITE (published by SIU Press)
4:00 P.M. – MISSISSIPPI ROOM, SIUC STUDENT CENTER
RECEPTION AND BOOKSIGNING TO FOLLOW IN SALINE ROOM
04/19 Crab Orchard Series in Poetry Reading by Moira Linehan, author of
IF NO MOON (published by SIU Press)
4:00 P.M. – SIUC STUDENT CENTER AUDITORIUM
RECEPTION AND BOOKSIGNING TO FOLLOW IN OLD MAIN LOUNGE
SIUC Department of English Creative Writing Program
02/16 Showing of the documentary “Beauty Rises: Four Lives in the Arts” featuring a post-screening discussion with SIUC poet Allison Joseph
and the documentary’s director, Dan Andries.
4:30 P.M. – UNIVERSITY MUSEUM, FANER HALL, RECEPTION TO FOLLOW
02/22 African American History Month Reading by SIUC Dept. of English
Faculty, Allison Joseph and Jacinda Townsend
4:00 P.M. – BALLROOM A, SIUC STUDENT CENTER
03/23 SIUC MFA in Creative Writing Program Alumni Reading by
Matthew Guenette and Michael Meyerhofer
4:00 P.M. – SIUC STUDENT CENTER AUDITORIUM
03/30 Women’s History Month Poetry Reading by the six winners of the
Roxana Rivera Memorial Poetry Contest and this year’s judge,
poet Joy Katz.
4:00 P.M. – SIUC STUDENT CENTER AUDITORIUM
RECEPTION AND BOOKSIGNING TO FOLLOW IN OLD MAIN LOUNGE
04/05 Crab Orchard Series in Poetry Reading by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers,
author of RED CLAY SUITE (published by SIU Press)
4:00 P.M. – MISSISSIPPI ROOM, SIUC STUDENT CENTER
RECEPTION AND BOOKSIGNING TO FOLLOW IN SALINE ROOM
04/19 Crab Orchard Series in Poetry Reading by Moira Linehan, author of
IF NO MOON (published by SIU Press)
4:00 P.M. – SIUC STUDENT CENTER AUDITORIUM
RECEPTION AND BOOKSIGNING TO FOLLOW IN OLD MAIN LOUNGE
Monday, February 12, 2007
More on Rodney Jones and the Tufts Prize
Here's the official word on the Kingsley Tufts Prize from the Claremont Graduate University:
CGU Press Release
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Rodney Jones wins 2007 Kingsley Tufts Prize in Poetry
Rodney Jones is the 2007 winner of the Kingsley Tufts Prize in Poetry from Claremont Graduate University:
read the press release
Congratulations, Rodney!
Congratulations, Rodney!
Monday, February 05, 2007
Ben Percy movie news
Benjamin Percy (MFA '04) ' s Pushcart Prize-winning story "Refresh, Refresh" has been optioned by filmmaker James Ponsoldt. His first film, "Off the Black" (starring Nick Nolte and Timothy Hutton), premiered at Sundance in 2006 and is now in wider release. He and Ben are presently working on the screenplay together.
Allison Joseph receives prize in national competition
Allison Joseph is a prizewinner in the 2006 Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Poetry Competition.
Read about this competition at
Dorothy Prizes
Read about this competition at
Monday, January 29, 2007
Chad Parmenter, Poetry Reviewing machine
Reviews of new books (David Keplinger's The Clearing, and Joe Wenderoth's The Holy Spirit of Life: Essays Written for John Ashcroft's Secret Self) by MFA grad Chad Parmenter appear in the latest issue of Pleiades.
Congrats to Sara Burge!
Sara Burge, a second-year poetry MFA, has been named a finalist in Inkwell Magazine's annual competition for her poem "Each Black Shell."
Friday, January 19, 2007
Allison Joseph awarded IAC Fellowship in Poetry
Allison Joseph has been awarded a 2007 Illinois Arts Council Artist's Fellowship in Poetry:
Details here:
Illinois Arts Council
Details here:
Jan La Perle in the Heartland Review
Two poems by Jan LaPerle (MFA '06) appear in Winter 2007 issue of the Heartland Review. The poems are "Even the Radio" and "The Roof."
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
New Year, New Notes
Deb Jurmu (MFA '06) has a story, "Explosive Device," in the Fall 2006 issue of Natural Bridge.
Chad Parmenter (MFA '05) has a poem, "from Weston's Unsent Letters to Modotti," in the Fall 2006 issue of Sou'wester.
Curtis Crisler (MFA '04)'s book, Tough Boy Sonatas, has been published by Front Street Press and is now available in bookstores and at amazon.com.
Matt Guenette (MFA '99) has two poems--"Sestina Aguilera" and "Fiddling"--appearing in the February edition of Mannequin Envy. He will also be a workshop presenter at Illinois Wesleyan University's upcoming Tongue & Ink Writer's Conference.
Chad Parmenter (MFA '05) has a poem, "from Weston's Unsent Letters to Modotti," in the Fall 2006 issue of Sou'wester.
Curtis Crisler (MFA '04)'s book, Tough Boy Sonatas, has been published by Front Street Press and is now available in bookstores and at amazon.com.
Matt Guenette (MFA '99) has two poems--"Sestina Aguilera" and "Fiddling"--appearing in the February edition of Mannequin Envy. He will also be a workshop presenter at Illinois Wesleyan University's upcoming Tongue & Ink Writer's Conference.
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