R&D: The Return

"R&D," aka "Reading and Drinking," has returned for spring! Check out the details (thanks to Amie Whittemore for sending them):


You know you've been missing some Reading & Drinking action in your life. So join
us:

Wednesday, February 4, 2009
7:30 PM
Melange
607 S Illinois Avenue
Carbondale, IL 62901

There'll be words (of poetry, of prose, of admired work) read, activities for the
audience, trivia, games, prizes, and much, much more! Come early, come late, bring
your friends, your enemies, the disasters you have hidden in your cupboards, the
mistakes hidden under your bed. All are welcome.

More Great News from Students and Faculty

First, this news from Rachel Furey, third-year student in fiction:

Dear Allison:

Just wanted to pass along the news that I have a piece coming
out in the Twins and More edition of Chicken Soup for the Soul,
due out this March.

Best Regards,
Rachel Furey


Congrats, Rachel!

Link:
Chicken Soup Website


Second, I am happy to announce the publication of my chapbook, Voice: Poems (Mayapple Press, 2009).
Watch this blog for information on a post AWP book release party.

Congrats to Andy McFadyen-Ketchum!

You all are keeping me busy blogging with all this good news! This time, the good word is from third-year poet Andy McFadyen-Ketchum:

Hey Allison, I just got word from Blueline that they'll be taking two poems, "When the Dark Heads of Sleep" and "Tonight." When it rains it pours I guess...

Thanks, keep warm,
Andy

Congrats, Andy!

Link:

Blueline

Congrats to Chris Bryson (MFA '07)

The good news just keeps on coming! This time, it's from MFA grad Chris Bryson:

Hi, Allison!

I've got something to brag about at AWP this year. My story "Thirteen
Months Unemployed" has been selected as a Story of the Week at Narrative
Magazine (www.narrativemagazine.com). It might not be up for a few
months, but people should go there and check back frequently.

Bryson

Congrats, Bryson! We'll be on the lookout for the story!

Link:

Narrative Magazine

Congrats to Rachel Furey!

Every day I get more good news! This time, the news comes from third-year fiction writer Rachel Furey:

Dear Allison:

I thought I'd pass along the news that my short story "Drowning
Beetles" was one of the 25 finalists in Glimmer Train's
November Short Story Award for New Writers.

Best Regards,
Rachel

Congrats, Rachel!

Link:
Glimmer Train

Acceptances and Honors Abound

More good news from current MFAs--this time from third year poet Kerry James Evans and second-year poet Hannah New:

Allison,
Georgetown Review accepted "The Bidding," an auction poem.
KJE

Link:
Georgetown Review


My poem, "Cold Creek" was selected as one of 25 semi-finalists in the Donald Barthelme Prize for Gulf Coast.
Hannah K New

Link:
Gulf Coast

Congrats, Kerry and Hannah!

Congrats to Travis Mossotti!

News today from Travis Mossotti, second-year in poetry:

Allison,

My poem "Funhouse of Mirth" was accepted for publication at Passages North, a journal out of the University of Northern Michigan.

Thanks,

Travis Mossotti

You can't stop that Travis!
Congrats!

Link:
Passages North

Poemspotting: Sou'wester Edition

Poems by Stefan Forester (MFA '99) and Andrew McFadyen-Ketchum (current third-year poet) appear in the new issue of Sou'wester, the national literary journal published by Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (our sister school in the SIU system). In addition, the journal includes a review of MFA '04 alum Ben Percy's latest short story collection, Refresh, Refresh.

for more about Sou'wester, visit:
Sou'wester

Prairie Fire is Hot for SIUC

Dig this note from Ethan Castelo (MFA '06, fiction):

Allison--

To ride shotgun on James's news--Prairie Fire accepted my story "Nothing Is Impossible" for their Fall 2009 issue.

I hope all is well with everyone in C-dale.

Take care,
Ethan

Looks like there's much love for our fiction writers in the Great White North!

Congrats to Andy McFadyen-Ketchum!

Looks like this is the season for acceptances! More congrats in order for current third-year poetry student Andy McFadyen-Ketchum:

Hi Allison,

Sou'wester has informed me that they plan to publish a poem (or a number of poems) of mine in a forthcoming issue, not sure which one(s) yet.

And the River Oak Review took "Proffer Mountain," one of the Mary poems.

Thank you!

-Andy

Links:
Sou'wester
River Oak Review

Congrats to Jake Boyd (MFA '07)

Hi Allison, "New South" is going to take this here yankee's poem, titled 'Divorce', for their spring/summer 09 issue. Welcome news after a 13 month streak of consistent rejection.

Persistence pays!
Congrats, Jake!

Link:
New South

more Scoles good news

No stopping James Scoles, second-year student in fiction:

And today I got even more good news... 'The Electricity of
Crime,' a 5500-word short story workshopped in Pinckney's class
last semester, has been accepted for publication in Prairie
Fire. It will be featured in a special 'Winnipeg Fiction
Writers' issue coming out in April.

Huge thanks to Pinckney for pointing out serious flaws in POV;
big hugs to sisters Janelle (awesome reader), Melissa (details)
and Azizat (title). Great, great workshop.

Also, in December Pinckney nominated my work in Prairie Fire
for the Pushcart Prize.

Thanks, and all the best,

James

Congrats, James!

Link:
Prairie Fire

James Scoles news

James Scoles, a current second-year student in fiction, has news to share:

Just wanted to let you know some good news... My story "An Early Grey Cup," workshopped in Beth's class last fall, was just nominated for a 2008 National Magazine Award. "El Juego," a short story workshopped in Beth's class and published in Prairie Fire, has been nominated for The Journey Prize in Canada.

Congrats, James!

Links:
National Magazine Awards Canada
The Journey Prize

Rodney Jones Elected to the Fellowship of Southern Writers

When told this news, I asked, "Well, what took them so long? Do writers come more southern than our Mr. Jones?"

Details here:

Fellowship of Southern Writers

Poemspotting: Alums and Faculty

New poems by current poetry faculty member Allison Joseph, former poetry faculty member Lucia Perillo, and MFA alum (MFA '06) Michael Meyerhofer appear in the new issue of MARGIE.

Poems by SIU MFA alums Curtis Crisler (MFA '04) and Adrian Matekja (MFA '01) appear in the new issue of Ninth Letter, in this issue's special music feature.

Web Links:
Margie
Ninth Letter

Congrats to Travis Mossotti!

Second-year poetry MFA student Travis Mossotti has been one busy poet:

New York Quarterly picked up three poems: "An Apology," "For Years" and "Henry's Blues."

Cream City Review out of U. of Wisconsin Milwaukee picked up "Happens Slowly."

Southern Humanities Review out of Auburn took "Decampment" (a seven page poem for which I owe a serious debt of gratitude to Allison's workshop and many others).

I am also a finalist for the North American Review's James Hearst Poetry Prize (Robert Pinsky judging) for my poem "The Dead Cause," which will be published regardless in the spring.

Thanks for everyone who's helped (both in and out of workshop),

Travis Mossotti

Many congrats, Travis!

Web Links:
New York Quarterly
Cream City Review
Southern Humanities Review
North American Review

Congrats to Judy Jordan!

Hearty congratulations to SIU poetry professor Judy Jordan on being awarded an Illinois Arts Council Fellowship in Poetry for 2009!

Details here:
Illinois Arts Council

check out this press release

about third-year fiction student Josh Woods's forthcoming anthology:

Versus press release

Catching Up With Sara Burge (MFA'08)

Some news from Sara Burge (MFA '08, poetry):

The New York Quarterly took three of my poems: "Drive," "Spark," and "Miss Queen City." They have a policy that they only publish one poem per poet per issue, so these poems will be appearing in different issues of NYQ. As of now, I'm not sure when they'll be published, but when I find out, I'll let you know.


Also, I know this is way after the fact, but the reason I wasn't at Devil's Kitchen was because I was invited to read at the faculty invitational here at MSU. It was fun--I read in a big room that was PACKED!! I've never read in front of that many people before, but it was kind of a rush.

Congrats, Sara!

Website:
New York Quarterly

Congrats for these writers!

Congrats to first-year fiction writer Melissa Scholes Young:

"My poem "My Problem" has been accepted for publication in MO: Writings from the River, the literary journal of Montana State University. It will appear in their Spring 09 issue."

and to third-year poet Kerry James Evans:
"My poem "A Year or More" has been accepted for Agni's website."

Congrats, Melissa and Kerry! Happy holidays to all!

Websites:
MO: Writings from the River
AGNI

Catching up with Clint Cargile and Gillian King (MFA '05)

Good news about Gillian King (MFA '05) via her man, Clint Cargile (MFA '05):


Just wanted to pass along that Gillian's short story, The Dead Kid, is in the Winter 2008 issue of Carve Magazine:

Carve

It will also be published in their 2008 anthology sometime next year.

And it was nominated for a Pushcart Prize!

Take care,

Clint

Congrats, Gillian! Great to hear from you both!

Pinckney in Sonora Review with "The Beginnings of Sorrow"

And now a message from fiction faculty member Pinckney Benedict:

"Hi, Allison. Just wanted to pass along the news that my long (about 13,000 words) apocalyptic story "The Beginnings of Sorrow" - in which a talking dog is a secondary character - appears in the most recent issue (#54) of Sonora Review, from the University of Arizona, Tucson. It contains the haunting phrases, "The strong will do what the strong will do. And the weak will bear what they must."'

Good going, PB--way to end the world!

Sonora Review website:
Sonora Review

Guenette Quickie

from Matt Guenette (MFA '99, poetry):

My short poem "Commercial Zoning" is up at decomP.

Here's the web address:
decomP

Melanie Martin (MFA '04) featured poet in new issue of PEARL

Melanie Martin, MFA '04, is the featured poet in the new issue of PEARL (#39, Fall/Winter 2009), a national literary journal based in California. Of Melanie's poems, editor Joan Jobe Smith writes: "In some of the most powerful, beautifully-written poems we've ever come across, she lays bare the emotional reality of a life haunted by loss--of lives and relationships destroyed by mental illness, of a beloved grandmother fading into Alzheimers." Nine of Melanie's poems are featured in this issue, along with a beautiful author photo!

Check out PEARL's website at
PEARL website

Check out a poem by Melanie from "Leaving the Ones Leaving:"
Melanie excerpt

more Kerry James news

Just got this from Kerry James Evans (third-year MFA, poetry):

"I just received an email from Jose A. Rodriguez at Harpur Palate: '"Your poem "Soldier's Apology" has been selected as a
Finalist/Honorable Mention for the Milton Kessler Memorial Prize for Poetry. As such, we'd like to publish it in our next issue."'

Go, Kerry! Congrats!

Harpur Palate is published in New York at Binghamton University. More about them here:

Harpur Palate

SIUC Poets in new issue of RATTLE

Poems by Helena Bell (MFA '08) and Amie Whittemore (current second-year poet) grace the pages of the new issue of RATTLE. Hel's poem is "Dalton's Law," and Amie's is "The Calendar." Amie's poem was an honorable mention in RATTLE's annual poetry contest.

For more about RATTLE, visit

RATTLE website

Congrats to Kerry James Evans!

Third-year poetry MFA student Kerry James Evans has some good news to share:

"Poet Lore took "What Makes the Green Grass Grow" and Spoon River Poetry Review took "Scarab."

Kerry's succinct, isn't he?


For more about the publications Kerry's poems will be appearing in, visit their websites:

Poet Lore:

Poet Lore

Spoon River Poetry Review

Spoon River Poetry Review

Jon Tribble featured in "Ten Questions With..."

Find out Jon's answers at

Jon's answers

Happy news from Rachel Furey!

Third-year fiction writer Rachel Furey has happy news to share:

I'm a bit slow to pass this news along to you, but I wanted to
let you know that like Travis, I will be participating in a
pedagogy forum at AWP with my paper "Reimagining Nonfiction
into Fiction." In addition, my short fiction piece "Mountain
Climbing" took third in the 12th Annual Women Who Write Short
Prose Contest and I'm planning on attending the award
presentation and reading on Dec. 13 in Louisville, KY. I have
some family coming out for it, so I'm pretty stoked about that.


Thanks for the update, Rachel!

REMINDER: Rachel Furey and Josh Woods will be reading their award-winning pieces from the Press 53 Open Competition Awards anthology today at 4PM in the Harry T. Moore Auditorium, Faner Hall, SIUC campus. Free and open to the public!

Campus Writing Contest: Andy P. Smith Award

2009 Andy P. Smith Writing Contest

Calling SIUC Undergraduate and Graduate Students
Any Major

First Prize: $200
1 undergrad and 1 grad

Second Prize: $50
1 undergrad and 1 grad

Topic: How does the geography and environment of Southern Illinois affect your experience as a student?

Length: 1000-1500 words

Submission Format:
Do not write your name or anything that would identify you on the essay. Instead,
submit your essay with a coversheet containing the following information:

Name
Address, Phone #, E-mail (if you are graduating include permanent contact info)
Year in school and major
Essay title

Deliver essays to Emily McQuillian, Awards Coordinator at Faner 2265
Due: January 20, 2009

To get a more detailed explanation or for answers to any questions, contact Emily Mc
Quillan at emcquill@siu.edu. Please put “Smith Award” in the subject line.

Poemspotting: Guest, Meyerhofer, plus a Bond honorable mention

Poems by Paul Guest (MFA '99) and Michael Meyerhofer (MFA '06) appear in the latest issue of River Styx (number 78). Paul's poems are "Remember How Sad That Was When" and "Loyalty Oath"; Michael's poem is "Peccadillo." In addition, David Bond (MFA '98) is cited as an honorable mention in the 2008 River Styx International Poetry Contest.

For more about River Styx, visit
River Styx

Pinckney Benedict Fans Take Note!

"Straight from the Department of Shameless Self-Promotion: I’ve just received copies of THE ECCO ANTHOLOGY OF CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN SHORT FICTION (ed. Joyce Carol Oates and Christopher Beha, Harper Perennial), which contains my story “Mercy.”

Joyce writes in her preface that, in the book, she “hopes to bring together in a reasonably permanent structure the very best and most representative work of [the] era,” in this case the beginning of the 21st c. There are lots of good folks in the volume (48 stories in all) – Sherman Alexie, George Saunders, Jhumpa Lahiri, on and on – sufficiently prominent and skilled to make me both embarrassed and proud to find myself in their company."


Well done, PB! You can be embarrassed; the rest of us will just be proud.

Catching Up With Justin Hamm (MFA'05)

Here's a note from Justin Hamm (MFA '05, fiction):

I thought this might be a good time to resurface after maintaining a rather hermitesque profile for some time. I had a little bit of success publishing my short stories before I left Carbondale, but then I stopped writing for quite some time--taking in those lessons from the program, I suppose, and trying to understand them.

Lately, though, I've been at it again--this time writing, believe it or not, what I like to think of as poetry--and I've had some very modest success. I had a poem, "To the Venerable Bede" appear in Renaissance Magazine's Issue # 61 this summer, and two of my poems, "1434 bruges blues" and "dream: perhaps of futility?", will be appearing in the January/February issue of Oak Bend Review.

Right now I'm teaching high school English in Missouri and listening to too much Bob Dylan. My wife Melissa and I are expecting our first child this February.

Thanks, Allison, and I hope all is well in Carbondale.

Sincerely,

Justin


Congratulations, Justin, on all your good news! Keep in touch!

Upcoming Reading: Press 53 Award Winners Anthology Reading

from Josh Woods:

OPEN AWARDS ANTHOLOGY reading on Wednesday, November 19, at 4:00pm in the Harry T. Moore Auditorium, Faner Hall. Rachel Furey will be reading "Mississippi Mud," the winner in Non-Fiction, and Josh Woods will be reading "The Exorcise Machine," the winner in Genre. See you there!

for information about the Press 53 Open Awards Competition, visit
2009 Guidelines

AWP Conference News and Notes

The 2009 AWP Conference in Chicago is sure to be a good time. The MFA Program in Creative Writing at SIUC will be a conference sponsor, and the program will also hold a reception for alumni during the conference.

Faculty members Jon Tribble, Allison Joseph and Rodney Jones will be featured on panels during the conference. Current poetry MFA student Travis Mossotti will be participating in the Pedagogy Forum with his paper "Circumstances of Composition: A Collaborative Writing Exercise" an entry developed from the Surrealism exercise he designed for the last summer's Young Writers Workshop.

for more information about the upcoming AWP Conference, visit the website at
AWP

Career Talk Today Moved to New Room in Student Center

Please note change in initially announced location for this talk: no longer in Saline, moved to Illinois Room!

COURTING THE CASH, SAVING THE MUSE:
A CAREER PRESENTATION FOR CREATIVE WRITERS

HOSTED BY ALLISON JOSEPH, DIRECTOR,
MFA PROGRAM IN CREATIVE WRITING
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY CARBONDALE

FREE AND OPEN TO ALL

LEARN THE DO’S AND DON’TS OF:

---RESUME AND VITAE PREPARATION
---APPLICATION LETTERS FOR JOBS, BOTH ACADEMIC AND NON-ACADEMIC
---APPLYING FOR STATE AND FEDERAL GRANTS & PRIVATE FELLOWSHIPS FOR CREATIVE WRITERS
---CONFERENCES, RETREATS, AND COLONIES FOR CREATIVE WRITERS

DATE: THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6
TIME: 4:00-5:30 PM
PLACE: SIUC STUDENT CENTER, ILLINOIS ROOM

Sponsored by the Graduate Writers Forum
Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Congratulations to Janelle Blasdel!

Janelle Blasdel, a first-year MFA in fiction, has happy Election Day news to share:

Hi Allison,

I was told to pass along my good news...my short story "Vampire Crop" was accepted for publication in MAIN STREET RAG'S upcoming spring anthology on small town stories! Fun stuff.

Happy election day,
Janelle

Congrats, Janelle! Those Main Street Rag folks like our fiction writers, don't they? Janelle is the third currently-enrolled fiction writer to have work accepted for a Main Street Rag anthology, after Rachel Furey and Josh Woods.


Here's a link to Main Street Rag's current call for fiction:

Main Street fiction anthology info

Irish Studies Presents a Lecture and Two Literary Readings!

Beth Lordan, SIUC creative writing faculty member and director of our Irish and Irish Diaspora Studies Program, sends news of upcoming literary readings:

--John McAuliffe, poet and Irish exchange alum,author of A BETTER LIFE and NEXT DOOR, co-director of Manchester (England)
University's Centre for New Writing, will read at 4 pm Monday November 10
in the Mississippi Room;

--on Wednesday November 12 at 4 in the Mississippi Room, Galway poets Kevin Higgins (author of THE BOY WITH NO FACE) and Susan Millar DuMars (author of BIG PINK UMBRELLA) will read.

--For those with a taste for talk about what's already written, Anne Fogarty, the first Fanning Medalist in Irish Studies, will give a public lecture at 7 pm in the Mississippi Room on figurations of abuse in contemporary Irish writing. Modest receptions follow all events.

Reading and Drinking: November '08 edition

from mistress of ceremonies, Amie Whittemore:

Hey independent clauses and prepositional phrases,

R&D is back in red, white, and blue this Wednesday, November 5th! So join us for
some post election merriment/downtroddenness/confusion/hullabooity or whatever
you'll be feeling on this Historical Wednesday.

The info:

Where: Melange, 607 S. Illinois Avenue, Carbondale, IL
When: November 5th 7pm
What: The Win, Lose, or Draw R&D featuring poetry, fiction, music, bedazzlement,
trivia, and absurdity in healthy doses.


Spread the word!


Adverbially yours,

~ Amie

And speaking of Kevin McKelvey (MFA '04, poetry)

an early-morning note from Kevin himself:


"I've had a few good months, to say the least. I started a new project last winter on water, water usage, watershed health and the Wabash River in Indiana, and three of those poems have been accepted for publication. "Siipiiwi" will appear in Alehouse. The Pinch picked up "After seining the Wabash River near a train trestle on the Indiana-Illinois border." And the Tipton Poetry Journal, which was started in and named after my mother's home county in Indiana, published "Prophetstown" in Issue 10.

CUTTHROAT, a journal of the arts, accepted "Wampus Cat Token" from my "Deam Wilderness" manuscript.

Also, I'll be reading poems from my "Deam Wilderness" manuscript at the 22nd Annual Conference of The Society for Literature, Science, and the Arts in Charlotte, NC on Nov. 14.

And the new job at the University of Indianapolis is keeping me busy, especially with editing and publishing classes and other writing classes."

Thanks for the update, Kevin!

Poems by SIUC Writers in new issue of Alehouse

Poems by Kevin McKelvey (MFA '04) and SIUC faculty member Allison Joseph appear in the new issue of Alehouse, an all-poetry journal from California.

The issue may be pre-ordered here:

Alehouse

One correction: Kevin teaches at the University of Indianapolis, not the University of Indiana.

And speaking of Paul Guest (MFA '99, poetry):

Paul Guest was featured recently in the "Poet's Choice" column of the Washington Post Book Review:

Paul Guest

Ben Percy (MFA '04) Awarded Whiting Fellowship!

Huge congratulations to Ben Percy (MFA '04), who has been awarded a Whiting Fellowship for 2008! Ben makes the second SIUC MFA grad (after Paul Guest, MFA '99, poetry) to receive this highly prestigious honor!

Read the award announcement here:

Award Announcement

Bios of Award Winners

Congrats again, Ben! You make us proud!

Career Presentation for Creative Writers: November 6, 2008

COURTING THE CASH, SAVING THE MUSE:
A CAREER PRESENTATION FOR CREATIVE WRITERS

HOSTED BY ALLISON JOSEPH, DIRECTOR,
MFA PROGRAM IN CREATIVE WRITING
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY CARBONDALE

FREE AND OPEN TO ALL

LEARN THE DO’S AND DON’TS OF:

---RESUME AND VITAE PREPARATION
---APPLICATION LETTERS FOR JOBS, BOTH ACADEMIC AND NON-ACADEMIC
---APPLYING FOR STATE AND FEDERAL GRANTS & PRIVATE FELLOWSHIPS FOR CREATIVE WRITERS
---CONFERENCES, RETREATS, AND COLONIES FOR CREATIVE WRITERS

DATE: THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6
TIME: 4:00-5:30 PM
PLACE: SIUC STUDENT CENTER, SALINE ROOM

Sponsored by the Graduate Writers Forum
Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Congratulations to Adrian Matejka (MFA '01)

Congrats to Adrian Matejka (MFA '01, poetry)--new poems by Adrian appear in the new issue of American Poetry Review (November/December 2008). These poems ("Battle Royale" and "Sporting Life") are from Adrian's manuscript-in-progress about the life of boxer Jack Johnson.

For more about American Poetry Review, visit

APR

Grassroots Open Mike Reading and Halloween Party

Grassroots, SIUC's undergraduate journal of the literary and visual arts, will host a Open Mike Reading and Halloween Party on October 29, 2008 in Faner's Humanities Lounge at 7 pm. Wear a costume, read your work--all are invited!

In-House Reading: Wednesday, October 22

Reminder: In-House Reading tomorrow!

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2008 4-5:30 PM
KASKASKIA & MISSOURI ROOM STUDENT CENTER
SIUC Student Center

Travis Mossotti (2nd year poetry)
Lane Kareska (1st year fiction)
Jenna Bazzell (2nd year poetry)
Brooks Rexroat (1st year fiction)

Free and open to the public.

Curtis Crisler (MFA '04) to read in Bloomington, IN

Curtis Crisler, MFA '04, will read from his poems in Bloomington, Indiana, along with splendid poets Ross Gay and Eugene Gloria:

Reading: Curtis Crisler, Ross Gay, and Eugene Gloria

Keyhole Goes to Bloomington
Event Info Host: Keyhole Magazine
Type: Music/Arts - Performance

Date: Saturday, November 1, 2008
Time:
7:00pm - 8:00pm
Location: Boxcar Books, 408 E. 6th St., Bloomington, IN

Keyhole Magazine and Boxcar Books present an evening of Indiana Poets: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1 at BOXCAR BOOKS: 7pm

Eugene Gloria, author of Drivers at the Short-Time Motel (National Poetry Series) and Hoodlum Birds, Ross Gay, author of Against Which (New Voices), and Curtis Crisler, author of Spill, the winner of Keyhole Magazine's 2008 poetry chapbook contest.

Devil's Kitchen Literary Festival Event Schedule

2008 Devil’s Kitchen Literary Festival
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Thursday, Friday, & Saturday, October 23 – 25


THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23

8:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Readings by Jim Tomlinson & Janice N. Harrington
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 24

— panel discussions, Student Center Auditorium —

10:00 – 10:50 a.m.
Poetry Panel featuring Janice N. Harrington, Richard Jones, Sean Nevin, & Jennifer Perrine

11:00 – 11:50 a.m.
Fiction Panel featuring Amy Knox Brown, Josh Goldfaden, Anne Panning, & Jim Tomlinson

2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Readings by Sean Nevin & Anne Panning
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 Jennifer Perrine & Josh Goldfaden
Student Center Auditorium


SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25

11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Readings from the new Crab Orchard Review, “The In-Between Age: Writers on Adolescence”
Student Center Auditorium

2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Readings by Amy Knox Brown & Richard 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.

Congrats to Travis Mossotti!

Nice note this morning from Travis Mossotti (second-year, poetry):

Allison,

Just found out on Friday that Rattle will be publishing my
poem "Crossing the Gap". I Guess Tim Green has a sweet spot
for SIUC poets.

Thanks,

Travis

Congrats, Travis!

Here's Rattle's website:

Rattle

Carbondale's alternative weekly previews upcoming Devil's Kitchen Literary Festival

The Devil's Kitchen Literary Festival, SIUC's annual celebration of the writer and the written word, starts this Thursday!
Here's an article previewing the festival (scroll down to see festival profile):

Carbondale's Nightlife

Congrats to Jim Gill (MFA '99)

from Jim Gill (MFA '99, fiction, former creative writing lecturer):

"How are things in Southern Illinois? All is well here. Just wanted to send a quick note to say that I've just had a story, "Redemption", accepted at Colorado Review. It'll come out in the Spring 2009 issue. It was welcome news. The editor there, Stephanie G'Schwind, is great to work with, so it's always nice to have a story there."

Congrats, Jim!

For more about Colorado Review, visit

Colorado Review

Paul Guest (MFA '99) Featured in Poets & Writers

The November/December 2008 issue of Poets & Writers Magazine features an extensive article about Paul Guest (MFA '99).
The article, titled "The Guest List," features excerpts from Paul's upcoming third collection of poems from Ecco Press and also details his upcoming memoir, also with Ecco.

Congratulations, Paul!

Poets & Writers

In-House Reading Series Update: October 2008

from the fabulous Amie Whittemore:

My esteemed lilypads and leapfrogs,

Here is your reminder regarding the in-house reading series. I've included both this week's and next's info as the reader list has gone through some shifts due to a whole galaxy of circumstances.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2008 4-5:30 PM ILLINOIS ROOM STUDENT CENTER

Janelle Blasdel (1st year fiction)
Azizat Danmole (2nd year fiction)
Amie Whittemore (2nd year poetry)
Justin Benton (2nd year fiction)

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2008 4-5:30 PM KASKASKIA & MISSOURI ROOM STUDENT CENTER

Travis Mossotti (2nd year poetry)
Lane Kareska (1st year fiction)
Jenna Bazzell (2nd year poetry)
Brooks Rexroat (1st year fiction)


As always, tell your friends and enemies, your co-conspirators and those against whom you conspire. Or at least do whatever it is you've been doing, because attendance has been *outstanding*.

Jason Lee Brown (MFA '08) update:

The hardworking Jason Lee Brown (MFA '08, fiction) has some updates:

My story “Histrionics” was selected for publication in Quiddity for its themed Abraham Lincoln “Better Angels” Issue. My story spans from 1837-42, the years in which Lincoln lived and shared the same bed with lifetime friend Joshua Fry Speed.

On the poetry front, I have poems (“My Older Brother, June Bug” and “Name I Will Never Forget”) in the current issue of Post Road. Post Road has included an excerpt of one of the poems on its website. My poem “First Acceptance” is in the current issue of Confrontation.

Also, Universal Table/Wising Up Press will republish my poem “Curt Jones’s Father” in its anthology Cold Shoulders, Evil Eyes, Steadying Gazes and Warm Embraces. The poem first appeared in Elysian Fields Quarterly, The Baseball Review.

Post Road
Post Road

Quiddity
Quiddity

Confrontation
Confrontation

Universal Table
Universal Table

More Rodney-centric news, via Andy McFadyen-Ketchum

Third-year poetry MFA Andy McFadyen-Ketchum has this news:

I just learned that The Missouri Review will be publishing my interview with Rodney, "Poetry of the Instance, Poetry of the Instant: A Conversation with Rodney Jones," in, I believe, the Spring.

Congrats, Andy!

Upcoming Readings by Rodney Jones

SIUC faculty poet Rodney Jones will be appearing at two literary venues this fall:

Rodney will visit Mississippi University for Women for the upcoming Eudora Welty Writers' Symposium:

Welty Symposium

Rodney will also read at the University of Alabama on November 6, 2008:

UA Reading Series

In-House Reading Tomorrow!

Reminder:

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2008 4-5:30 PM MISSISSIPPI ROOM STUDENT CENTER

Brenna W. Lemieux (1st year poetry)
James Scoles (2nd year fiction)
Hannah New (2nd year poetry)
Melissa Scholes Young (1st year fiction)

News from Matt Guenette (MFA '99)

News from Matthew Guenette (MFA '99, poetry):

Check me out at this blog:
First Book Interviews

I'll also be reading at the Wisconsin Book Festival, Wednesday, October 15th.

Thanks for the updates, Matt!

New Rooms for In-House Reading Series

from Amie Whittemore:

Due to the overwhelming turn-out for the first In-House Reading last week, we've requested larger rooms to accommodate our adoring fans. So here's the corrected schedule.
Thanks, Amie

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2008 4-5:30 PM MISSISSIPPI ROOM STUDENT CENTER

Brenna W. Lemieux (1st year poetry)
James Scoles (2nd year fiction)
Hannah New (2nd year poetry)
Melissa Scholes Young (1st year fiction)

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2008 4-5:30 PM ILLINOIS ROOM STUDENT CENTER

Derand Wright (1st year poetry)
Janelle Blasdel (1st year fiction)
Laura Gross (2nd year poetry)
Justin Benton (2nd year fiction)

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2008 4-5:30 PM KASKASKIA & MISSOURI ROOM STUDENT CENTER

Travis Mossotti (2nd year poetry)
Lane Kareska (1st year fiction)
Jenna Bazzell (2nd year poetry)

Work by SIUC Writers in new issue of Roger

The new issue of Roger, an art and literary magazine published at Roger Williams University, features the work of two writers with SIUC connections. Third-year fiction writer Renee Evans has a story called "Traverse" in this issue, and Paul Guest (MFA '99) has two poems--"Waiting for the Mail" and "Parts of the Body by Name."

For more information on Roger, visit
Roger

To see one of Paul's two poems in this issue, visit
poem will open as PDF

Jon Tribble and Allison Joseph to read at the University of West Georgia

SIUC faculty poets Jon Tribble and Allison Joseph will read from their work at the University of West Georgia on Thursday, October 2. Details here
West Georgia reading

This reading will also be somewhat of an SIUC MFA reunion--teaching currently at UWG are Paul Guest (MFA '99) and Melanie Jordan (MFA '01).

October R&D: Literary Merriment and More at Melange

from Amie Whittemore:

My Dear Fresh Princes and DJ Jazzy Jeffs,

It is time to link your R to your D.

That's right. Reading and Drinking returns for another month of word-laden fun.

The details:

When: Wednesday, October 1st, 2008, 7 p.m.
Where: Melange, 607 S Illinois Avenue, Carbondale
What: The "Skeletons in Your Closet" R&D

So come on out and enjoy three rounds of poetry, prose, plays, trivia, trivial prizes, music and all the sweetness you can pack between two graham crackers.

Congrats to Curtis L. Crisler (MFA '04)

Great news from Curtis L. Crisler (MFA '04, poetry):

"Hi Allison,

How are you doing in C'Dale? I found out I won the Keyhole Magazine
Chapbook Contest. Eugene Gloria picked my manuscript Spill."

Curtis, you're too modest! Congratulations!

Read the words of praise for Curtis's chapbook from final judge Eugene Gloria here:

Keyhole Magazine

In-House Reading Series: Fall 2008 Schedule

IN HOUSE READINGS: Fall 2008 Schedule
sponsored by the Graduate Writers Forum
Southern Illinois University Carbondale

all readings free and open to the public

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2008 4-5:30 PM KASKASKIA ROOM STUDENT CENTER

AK Thompson (1st year fiction)
Mark Brewin (1st year poetry)
Charlie Lemmink (1st year fiction)

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2008 4-5:30 PM MACKINAW ROOM STUDENT CENTER

Brenna W. Lemieux (1st year poetry)
James Scoles (2nd year fiction)
Hannah New (2nd year poetry)
Melissa Scholes Young (1st year fiction)

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2008 4-5:30 PM MACINAW ROOM STUDENT CENTER

Derand Wright (1st year poetry)
Janelle Blasdel (1st year fiction)
Laura Gross (2nd year poetry)
Justin Benton (2nd year fiction)

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2008 4-5:30 PM KASKASKIA ROOM STUDENT CENTER

Travis Mossotti (2nd year poetry)
Lane Kareska (1st year fiction
Jenna Bazzell (2nd year poetry)

First in-House Reading of the Semester: Wednesday, Sept 24, 2008

First-year MFA students A.K. Thompson (fiction), Mark Jay Brewin (poetry) and Charlie Lemmink (fiction) will read from their work on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 in the SIUC Student Center Kaskaskia Room from 4-5:30 pm.

The reading is free and open to the public.

Jacinda Townsend to speak for Sigma Tau Delta

Jacinda Townsend, graduate faculty in creative writing at SIUC, will speak on the topic of "Writing What You Don't Know: Historical and Foreign-Born Fiction" on Monday, Sept 22, 2008 from 6 to 7 pm at the SIUC Student Center Saline Room.

This presentation is sponsored by the SIUC branch of Sigma Tau Delta.

Congrats to Amie Whittemore!

Amie Whittemore (poetry, second-year) is back with more good news:

"I found out this weekend that two more of my poems have been accepted for publication. Atlanta Review is taking my poem "Visiting" and Bayou is taking "Daughters are such a blessing." I should probably have spent this weekend in Vegas."

Congrats, Amie, on these upcoming publications!

Atlanta Review website:
Atlanta Review

Bayou website:
Bayou

Congrats to Joan Dy (MFA '05)!

Joan Dy's chapbook "The Taste of Saltwater" has been accepted for publication by Finishing Line Press. This chapbook was also a finalist in the Slapering Hol and Copperdome chapbook competitions!

Congrats, Joan!

Finishing Line is also publishing a chapbook by Kathyrn Kerr, another SIUC MFA graduate.

Finishing Line Press

Congrats to Amie Whittemore!

Great news from Amie Whittemore (poetry, second-year):

"I am delighted to inform you that I just found out my poem "The Calendar" won Honorable Mention in the RATTLE poetry contest, which means $100 in my pocket and publication in the Winter 2008 issue. Feel free to share and dance a jig. :)"

Congrats, Amie!

Rattle's Website:
Rattle

Poemspotting: Steve Trebellas (aka Steve Leek) MFA '05

"Sweet Dimes," a poem by Steve Trebellas (aka Steve Leek) MFA '05 (poetry), appears in the current issue of GLASS: A Journal of Poetry.

GLASS

Glass is now accepting submissions for their next issue:
Submission Guidelines

Congrats to Josh Woods!

from today's e-mail:

"My short story "Small Dead Monkey" will be published in MAIN STREET RAG's anthology about eccentric women. This is the second anthology to feature the Rachel Furey/Josh Woods team-up (or maybe it's just that I'm publishingly stalking Rachel)."

If you're going to emulate anyone, it should be Rachel! Congrats to you both!

Here's information on the anthology both Rachel and Josh will be in:

Main Street Rag Fiction Anthology

Essayspotting: Melissa Scholes Young

Melissa Scholes Young, a first-year student in fiction, has an essay in the latest issue of Mothering Magazine:

Baby Naming 101

Poemspotting: Kerry James Evans

"Monopoly," a poem by Kerry James Evans (poetry, third-year) appears in the latest issue of Eclipse, a literary journal published in California.

Eclipse has no website, but you can find more about this journal at

New Pages

Good news from Laura Gross!

from an e-mail from Laura Gross, second year MFA student in poetry:

"Just wanted to let you know that my poem "3AM" that appeared in the e-zine Chantarelle's Notebook earlier this year has been selected to be published in their "best of" annual print journal as well. This is one of my older poems that I wrote before starting the MFA program, but I am still excited."

Congrats, Laura!

Here's the issue in which Laura's poem appears:

Chantarelle's Notebook

New Adrian Matejka poems up at ANTI-

Adrian Matejka (MFA '01) is the featured poet for the literary journal ANTI-

Check out the moves here:
ANTI-

Schedule for the Devil's Kitchen Fall Literary Festival now available!

Here's a press release with the details:

Devil's Kitchen

The Return of Reading and Drinking on 9/10

The long-awaited return!
Reading & Drinking resumes on Wed 9/10/08 at 7pm

Melange, 607 S. Illinois Avenue
Carbondale, IL 62901

Come hear
Poetry
Fiction
Drama

Enjoy
Drink Specials
Trivia
Prizes

Illinois Arts Council awards Crab Orchard Review Operating Support Grant

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

Chad Simpson Update

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

Check it out here:
Chad on a napkin

Congrats to Sara Burge (MFA '08)!

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

Hi Allison!

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

Sara Burge

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

Departmental Reception: Friday, August 29

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

Fabulous news about Adrian Matejka (MFA '01)

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

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

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

Chad Parmenter Interviews poet Reginald Shepherd

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

Essayspotting: Kathryn Kerr (MFA '00)

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

More about Big Muddy here:
Big Muddy

Congrats to Rachel Furey!

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

Dear Allison:

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

Best Regards,
Rachel Furey

Congrats, Rachel!

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

2008 Devil's Kitchen Festival Writers

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

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

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

SIUC MFA Program in Creative Writing now on Facebook

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

Brown Bag Luncheon for New and Returning MFA Students

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

Welcome to Carbondale, New MFA Students!

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

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

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

Welcome to the Dale!

Allison Joseph a Grand Prize Winner in Dancing Poetry Contest

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

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

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

Meyerhofer Book News: the Official Announcement

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

Pinckney Benedict is the Best

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

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

Congrats, PB!

News from Cynthia Roth (MFA '01)

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

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

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

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

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

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

SIUC Writers Read in Chicago and St. Louis This Week

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

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

Kerry James Evans a finalist for Wick Prize

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

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

Congrats, Kerry!

For more about the Wick Prize, visit
Wick Poetry Prize

SIUC's Allison Joseph reads in Detroit tonight

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

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

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

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

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

About The Detroit Poetry Collective

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

Allison Joseph to teach workshop in Evanston, Illinois

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

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

COME AND TRY OUT YOUR NEW WORK ON US!

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

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

Sunday, July 27th, 2008
Leader: Allison Joseph

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

Topic: Dispatches from a Poetry Editor.

For more about Rhino, visit
RHINO