Congrats to Tim Shea (MFA '08)

Now our other Tim (Tim Shea, MFA '08, poetry) checks in:

Hey Allison,

Good news. My poem 'Giving CPR' will be out in the next issue of Poetry Ireland Review.

-Tim

Congrats, T-shea! Taking the UK by storm!

LINK:
Poetry Ireland Review

Congrats to Tim Marsh (MFA '06)!

Another week, another story acceptance for Tim Marsh (MFA '06, fiction)!

Hey Allison--

Man, the program is really kicking arse. Great to see.

Some more news: My story, "January, Newfoundland", was just accepted as the feature story for the relaunch of the The Wanderlust Review (previously Wanderlust Journal) in July.

Congrats to all MFA's, past and present.

Tim

And congrats to you too, Tim!

PS The Wanderlust Review officially relaunches in July 2009. Until then, I'll post a link to the submissions guidelines:
Wanderlust Submissions

Congrats to Jamie Walczak!

Jamie Walczak (MFA '04, poetry) has been selected for a very special and unique honor! She has been selected by the Turkish Cultural Foundation to participate in the annual Turkish Cultural Tour for Teachers! Jamie will travel to Turkey at the end of July courtesy the Turkish Cultural Foundation and the World Affairs Council of America. Jamie will be in Turkey from July 27 to August 7, 2009! Jamie currently teaches at Herrin High School.
Congrats, Jamie, and safe travel!

Teacher Study Tour, Turkey

Poemspotting: Michael Meyerhofer (MFA '06)

Check out Meyerhofer in the latest issue of the Valparaiso Poetry Review:

Valparaiso Poetry Review

Poemspotting: Jan LaPerle (MFA '06)

Check out these new poems from Jan LaPerle (MFA '06, poetry):

Quicksilver
42Opus

And a story too!
PANK

Storyspotting: Fiction Alums Percy and Simpson

Fiction alums Ben Percy (MFA '04) and Chad Simpson (MFA '05) both have stories in this exciting new anthology:

You Must Be This Tall

Review: Mixology by Adrian Matejka (MFA '01)

Review of Mixology, the new collection of poetry by Adrian Matejka (MFA '01, poetry):

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Two Finalists, One Program!

Kerry James Evans (MFA '09, poetry) writes with this great news:

Soldier's Apology is a finalist for the National Poetry Series.

Two finalists from one program is quite remarkable! Congrats, Kerry, on your book manuscript being named a finalist!

LINK:
National Poetry Series

Mossotti Strikes Again!

Travis Mossotti (third-year, poetry) is making us all proud these days:

My poems "Trivial Pursuit" & "Getting Arrested" were accepted for publication for the May 2010 issue of subtropics. Also, I just found out that my book manuscript, About the Dead, has been named a finalist for the National Poetry Series.

Congrats, Travis!

LINKS:
Subtropics
National Poetry Series

More Lumans News!

Alex Lumans (MFA '09, fiction) is the first-place genre fiction winner in this year's Press 53 Open Awards for his story "Haruspices":

Award Announcement

Poemspotting: Alex Lumans

Alex Lumans (fiction, MFA '09) has work in Redheaded Stepchild Magazine (insert ironic comment here)

Redheaded Stepchild Magazine

Congrats to Tim Marsh (MFA '06)!

Another story acceptance for Tim Marsh (MFA '06, fiction):

Hi Allison--

More news for the blog. My story "Impetus for a Sketch" has been accepted by The New Quarterly. It'll appear in either the summer or fall issue. More importantly, they actually compensate...with currency.

Shh, my beating heart.

Tim

Always nice to be paid in cash!

LINK:
The New Quarterly

Congrats to Justin Hamm (MFA '05)!

More good news from Justin Hamm (MFA '05, fiction):

Hey, Allison, some more good news: just finished tweaking a few lines in a poem called "personal day" for Cream City Review, and now they're going to use it in an upcoming issue.

Happy summer!
Justin

Keep tweaking!

LINK:
Cream City Review

Adrian Matejka (MFA '01) book release party and 2 IAC Literary Awards!

Adrian Matejka (MFA '01, poetry) is on a hot streak. His new collection, Mixology, is about to be released:

"Here is the book release party info. All the SIU folks are welcome:

Mixology Book Release
Tuesday June 2nd, 2009
7:00 to 8:30 p.m.

Regional Arts Commission
6128 Delmar Boulevard
St. Louis, Missouri 63112
Regional Arts Commission

I also found out today that I won a Literary Award from the Illinois Arts Council for poems in Crab Orchard Review and Ninth Letter.

Like the family-friendly actor formerly known as Ice Cube said, "I got to say it was a good day."

I have to correct AD on one thing here--he actually received 2 Literary Awards, one from Crab Orchard Review (for the poem "Tyndall Armory") and another from Ninth Letter (for the poem "Babel by Foot"). $2000 total!

Illinois Arts Council Literary Awards

Upcoming Reading in Paducah, KY: Kerry James Evans and Abigail Wheetley

2009 MFA grads Kerry James Evans (poetry) and Abigail (Abby) Wheetley (fiction) will read as part of the River Town Reading Series on May 30th at the Yeiser Arts Center in Paducah, KY. Yeiser is located at 200 Broadway Street.

The reading will be at *8* pm, but remember Paducah is a hour's drive from the 'Dale. I recommend making a day of it, drive down early, go see the murals by the river, get an early dinner at Whaler's Catch, and then come hear Kerry and Abby.

LINKS
Yeiser Arts Center
Whaler's Catch Restaurant

Congrats to Kerry James Evans!

More good news from Kerry James Evans (MFA '09):

Harpur Palate accepted "A Treatise on Violence" and that I have a poem that is among ten finalists in Bellingham Review's 49th Parallel Poetry Contest.

All the best,

kje

LINKS:
Harpur Palate
Bellingham Review

Meyerhofer Book News: Release Party at WKU

A note from Michael Meyerhofer (MFA '06, poetry):
A few updates... I had a couple science fiction stories accepted recently. "Career Day, 2136 A.D." was taken by Absent Willow Review and "Mission: Fail" was taken by Planet Magazine. Also, my book review of Peter Bethanis's "American Future" was accepted by Rattle. Lastly, I'll be reading on May 12th for my Blue Collar Eulogies book release, should anyone find themselves in Bowling Green, KY with some time to kill. Thanks!

LINKS:
Absent Willow Review
Planet Magazine
Rattle
Blue Collar Eulogies

Grassroots Release Party Tonight @ 6 PM

A note from Kathleen and Amy, Grassroots editors:

I hope you are all excited about the party tonight!!! Just so you know, though, we have moved the party location to the FANER HUMANITIES LOUNGE due to inclement weather. So that's on the second floor of Faner sort of down the hall from the english department! Everything else is the same...the party starts at six and there will be food, reading and fun stuff. OK SEE YOU THERE!!!'
ALSO YOU BETTER BRING SOMETHING TO READ OR ELSE! AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE DELICIOUS FOOD!
-Kathleen and Amy

Congrats to Alex Lumans!

Alex Lumans (MFA '09, fiction) will have his poem "The Design Plan" published in Poet Lore!

Keep up the hot cross genre action, Lumans!

LINK:
Poet Lore

Congrats to Justin Hamm (MFA '05)!

Justin Hamm (MFA '05, fiction) keeps racking up the poetry acceptances!

Hi, Allison --

Thought I'd write to share some more good news: while working my way through 500 pages of student research papers this week, I learned that New York Quarterly will publish my poem "goodbye, sancho panza" in a future issue. I'm rewarding myself by skipping a night of grading (a decision that will no doubt haunt me this weekend).

Hope the end of the semester is treating everyone well!

Justin Hamm


LINK:
New York Quarterly

Essayspotting: Justin Benton

Rising third-year fiction student Justin Benton sends this news:

I am posting an essay on The Nervous Breakdown entitled "Fiction Confidential."
It should be up tonight. Fiction folks and poets may find it interesting. Or not.

I post there monthly.

LINK
The Nervous Breakdown

Melanie Martin (MFA '04) published in new anthology

A note from Melanie Martin (MFA '04) via Facebook:

I also just had a poem published in an anthology titled Beyond Forgetting, poetry and prose about Alzheimer's Disease. Kent State University kindly published it.

Read more about this anthology here:
Beyond Forgetting

Mossotti and Evans: Finalists!

Both Travis Mossotti (second-year, poetry) and Kerry James Evans (graduating third-year, poetry) are finalists for the Gulf Coast Prize in Poetry!
We wish they both could win!
LINK:
Gulf Coast

More Good News from SIUC MFA Alums!

from David Bond (MFA '98, poetry):

Semi-Finalist, Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mike Award, Chicago, June, 2008
First Place, Poetry, Southern Illinois Writers’ Guild Contest, Sept 2008, for “I Hear You’re Getting Married”

Two of my poems will be used in other works—
“Temporary Work Stoppage,” (8 lines) will be included in The State of Southern Illinois: A History of the Land Between the Rivers, by Herb Russell, publication date of 2011, Southern Illinois University Press.
“Quiet Time: For Verne Morton” –this poem will be the lead page into a Verne Morton biography, featuring his photographs. The book’s title is also from a line of my poem—Great Possibilities: 150 Verne Morton Photographs. This 300 page book is scheduled for publication in May, 2010, Six Mile Creek Press.
The poem “Hard Women” (a slight revision of “Aurora”) is scheduled to appear in the Fall 2009 issue of The Cape Rock.

from Tim Marsh (MFA '06, fiction):
Hey Allison--
Some good news for the blog. I've just had a piece accepted by the White Whale Review. The piece is nonfiction and will be appearing either this week or next. The name of the piece is "Fast Food Bad, Fruit Stand Good."

Hope everything is well back there,
Tim

from Josh Woods (MFA '09, fiction):
Editor of THE VERSUS ANTHOLOGY, which hits shelves this month
(May 2009)
Associate Editor of SURREAL SOUTH ’09 (forthcoming 2009)
Short fiction “Small Dead Monkey” in Main Street Rag’s Fiction Anthology XX ECCENTRIC, which hits shelves this month (May 2009)
Short fiction “Jesus VS Thor” in THE VERSUS ANTHOLOGY
Excerpts from his novel, ALL HELL, in SURREAL SOUTH ’09
Short fiction “The Exorcise Machine” in THE PRESS 53 OPEN AWARDS ANTHOLOGY (2008)
Winner of the 2008 Press 53 Open Awards in Genre Fiction

Matt Guenette (MFA '99, poetry):
I was chosen for the 2009 Hessen-Wisconsin Writers Exchange. I'm currently working out details with my college. Looks like Jules, Auggie and I will be living in Wiesbaden thru Aug, Sept, and Oct. I'll be doing workshops and such while I'm there, but primarily I'm being given an opportunity to work on my next manuscript.
You can learn more about the Hessen-Wisconsin Writers Exchange at:
Writers Exchange

Liz (Kershner) Whiteacre (MFA '02, poetry)
I won the Vesle Fenstermaker Poetry Prize for the 2008 Indiana University Writers' Conference. :)

Cynthia Roth (MFA '01, poetry):
One poem, “The Sound of Love Failing,” included in the cooperative anthology “Letters to the World: Poems from the Wom-Po Listserv."

WTTW Chicago's series Arts Across Illinois featured poet Cynthia Roth on Friday, May 23 at 7:30 pm, and Sunday May 25 at 5:30 pm in Chicago, 2008. This program also ran on WSIU in Carbondale and Olney in the fall of 2008 and may run again at the discretion of the program director.

Congrats to all these alums on their recent achievements!

Grassroots Open Mike Reading and Publication Party

A note from Kathleen Richards, editor-in-chief of GRASSROOTS, SIUC's undergraduate literary

and art journal:

HELLO EVERYONE!

I am happy to announce 2009's GRASSROOTS MAGAZINE RELEASE PARTY!!!

The magazine is being shipped to us as we speak, so our second annual get together will be held next Thursday, May 7th in honor of the new magazine.
There will be an open mic where all who are and are not published in the magazine are encouraged (but not at all required) to read their work to an adoring crowd.
There will also be food and beverages HOWEVER due to a budget problem we will not be able to be as lavish as we were last year.  Therefore, if anyone wants to bring some food or drink to share with all it would be greatly appreciated (but, again, not required).
I understand this is finals week and some of you may be busy but I really hope that you all can take some time out and come party with us.  I promise that the new magazine is beautiful and I know that everyone who's been involved with it has worked very hard, so you all deserve to party.
This is open to the public, so feel free to bring friends, family members, acquaintances, strangers, and whoever else you would like to!

Ok, so here's the rundown:

DATE: THURSDAY MAY 7TH, 2009
TIME: SIX P.M.
LOCATION: FANER BREEZEWAY (the same place we had it last year; outdoor deck on the second floor of Faner above the university musuem)
GOAL: HAVE FUN AND CELEBRATE THE MAGAZINE; EAT FOOD AND READ WORK

Thanks so much everyone, hope to see you next Thursday!!

-Kathleen Richards
Editor-in-Chief

--
GRASSROOTS Undergraduate Literary Magazine
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale

Reading Reminder: Curtis Crisler reads at College of DuPage

Just a reminder about Curtis Crisler (MFA '04, poetry) reading at Liz Whiteacre's school:

You are invited to "An Evening with Curtis Crisler" at College of DuPage (425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn, IL 60137) on Wednesday, April 29, 2009 from 7:00-8:30 pm, SRC 1450. To RSVP, so she may send you more information, email Liz Whiteacre (MFA '02, poetry). Join us to hear Curtis read from his newest collection, Spill.

MFA Graduation GALA!

The Graduate Creative Writing Program at Southern Illinois University Carbondale

cordially invites you to attend its annual MFA Graduation Gala

Saturday, May 2, 2009
6-10 pm
SIUC Student Center Renaissance Room

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

Kerry James Evans
Renee Summer Evans
John Flaherty
Rachel Furey
Alex Lumans
Andrew McFadyen-Ketchum
Rachna Sheth
William Tyler
Aaron Wheetley
Abby Wheetley
Josh Woods

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

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

Praise for Renee Wells (MFA '06)

Not surprised to hear that Renee Wells (MFA '06, poetry) is receiving praise for her innovative teaching at the University of Alabama:

Details here:
Missing Ink

Interview with SIUC Poet in Heartland Women

An interview with Allison Joseph, SIUC faculty, appears in the local woman-focused newspaper Heartland Women (click on the link for the April 20th edition):

Heartland Women

Academy of American Poets Prize Winners 2009

A note from the contest coordinator, Mr. Rodney Jones:

Robert Wrigley, this year's judge, praised many of the poems in this year's competition, saying that it was difficult to choose the winners.  

His selections were:

First Place:  "Getting Arrested" by Travis Mossotti
Second Place: "Interlude--(for Domestication)" by Sarah McCartt
Honorable Mentions:  
"Capital Wire and Cable, 1968" by Will Tyler
"Trivial Pursuit" by Travis Mossotti

Please congratulate the winners.

For more about the Academy of American Poets, visit

Academy of American Poets

R&D: April Means Love

with an R&D tribute to Danielle Steele.

Ought to be a hoot.  Last R&D of the semester.

Come after enjoying Alison Townsend's reading.

Melange, Thursday 4/23/09,  7 pm

607 S. Illinois Avenue, Carbondale

poetry-fiction-drama

drink specials-trivia-prizes

Congrats to Mark Brewin!

First year MFA in poetry Mark Brewin has good news:

Ahoy, Allison.

Just a quick note to you--my poem "A History of Nut Allergies" was just accepted at the Packingtown Review. Hot dog.
-mark.

Congrats, Mark!
Packingtown Review

Congrats to Melissa Scholes Young!

Melissa Scholes Young, first-year MFA student in fiction, keeps the good news coming:

LaChance Publishing has accepted my nonfiction essay "Herstory" for its Voices Of anthology. The book will be published this fall.
LaChance Publishing

Also, my nonfiction "Brazil: 10 Ways" is up at Stone's Throw Magazine.
Stone's Throw

And, I'm off to the New Plains Review Launch Party in Oklahoma City, OK to read my fiction, "Guinea Pig." If you squint really hard you can see my name on the cover the magazine :)
New Plains Review

Congrats, Melissa!

Upcoming Reading: Alison Townsend

The Visiting Writers Series and Crab Orchard Review present a reading by Alison Townsend

Thursday, April 23, 2009
4 PM, SIUC Student Center
(Video Lounge, 4th Floor)

This reading celebrates the publication of Alison Townsend's new book, Persephone in America, published this year in the Crab Orchard Series in Poetry. The reading is free and open to the public. A reception will follow in the Old Main Lounge.

Alison Townsend is an associate professor of English and Women's Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. She is the author of And Still the Music, What the Body Knows, and The Blue Dress: Poems and Prose Poems. Her poetry collection Persephone in America was selected by David Wojahn for a Crab Orchard Series in Poetry Open Competition Award and was published in 2009 by Southern Illinois University Press.

Congrats to Alex Lumans!

Alex Lumans, third-year student in fiction, has some cross-genre action to report:

Allison,

Some hot XXX cross-genre action. A poem of mine, "On the Eve of My Father's Second Book," made the top 20 finalists in the 2009 Single Poem Contest sponsored by the S.C. Poetry Initiative and The State newspaper.

Best,
Lumans

Congrats, Alex!

LINK:
S.C. Poetry Inititative

Congrats to Rachel Furey!

Rachel Furey, third-year student in fiction, is the bearer of some very good news!

Dear Allison:

I'm thrilled to share the news that Tobias Wolff chose my short story "Birth Act" as the winner of Sycamore Review's Wabash Prize.

Cheers,
Rachel Furey

Congrats, Rachel! You make us proud!

LINK:
Sycamore Review

Author Appearances: SIUC Faculty Writers

Allison Joseph, SIUC faculty in poetry, will be on her unofficial "Southern Tour" this week. All readings are free and open to the public!


4 pm, April 15, Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, TN
Morgan University Center, room 303

6:30pm, April 16, Spelman College, Atlanta, GA, Cosby Auditorium
reading with Toi Derricotte, Cornelius Eady and Kevin Vaughn
launch party for Spelman College's literary journal Aunt Chloe.

1pm, April 18, Arkansas Literary Festival, Little Rock, AR
reading with Ann Fisher-Wirth and Andrea Hollander Budy
a reading from When She Named Fire, an anthology of poetry by women
Ozark Classroom, Arkansas Studies Institute

Praise for Pinckney Benedict!

Fiction faculty member Pinckney Benedict writes to tell of a special mention for his work:

My work got a nice mention in the Washington Post's Arts & Leisure section, in an article by Frank Arhens about the new PBS documentary APPALACHIA. He didn't care much for the miniseries, unfortunately, but he kindly mentions my stories.

Post

Congrats to Kerry James Evans!

More publication news from third-year poet Kerry James Evans:

The Pinch just accepted "Arachne's Tapestry."

-KJE

LINK:
The Pinch

Congrats to Tim Shea (MFA '08)

Good news from the now-stateside Tim Shea (MFA '08, poetry):

Hey Allison,

Good news. Poetry London will publish three of my poems, 'Larkin Shaving', 'The Geography of Rain', and 'A Short Film About Loss' in their next issue.

Take Care,
Tim

LINK:
Poetry London

Undergraduate Student Poetry Prize: for SIUC Students

Undergraduate Student Poetry Prize

Cash Award & One Year Membership to the
Academy of American Poets

To Enter:
Submit up to 3 Poems
Deadline: Wednesday, April 15th 4 p.m.

SIUC undergraduates submit an entry packet to: Prof. Judy
Jordan, English Dept. Faner Hall, Mail Code 4503 or drop off at
the English office, Faner Room 2380 during regular hours.

Entry packet should include:
1) A cover sheet with your name, address (including date this
address is good until), phone number, email address, and poem
titles. Plus an address good after May 15th.
2) Poems on individual, separate pages. Include title on poems
but not your name please.

Upcoming Reading: Ed Pavlic

Poet Ed Pavlic will read at SIUC at on April 16, 2009 in Faner Hall's Harry T. Moore Auditorium at 7pm, with a reception to follow at 8pm in the Faner Humanities Lounge.

For more about Ed Pavlic, visit
UGA Faculty Page

Writers on the Road: Ball State edition

Writers on the Road visits Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana:

Details:

Southern Illinois University's Writers on the Road series will read from 3:30-4:30 pm on Friday, April 10 in Bracken Library Room 225. Featured readers include Kerry James Evans and Travis Mossotti, poets, and Renee Evans and John Flaherty, fiction writers.

Directions to Muncie:
BSU Maps

Congrats to Kerry James Evans!

Third-year MFA in poetry Kerry James Evans scores again!

Allison,
New England Review just accepted "A Good Hunt."
Thanks,
Kerry James

Congrats, KJE!

LINK
New England Review

R&D April Edition: The Birds and the Bees

R&D, aka "Reading and Drinking," is back for its April edition, "The Birds and the Bees."

poetry-fiction-drama-drink specials-trivia=prizes

Melange, 607 S. Illinois, Carbondale
Thursday, 4/9/09
at 7pm

Melange's website:
Melange

Congrats to Kerry James Evans!

Good news for Kerry James Evans (third-year in poetry):

Allison,

Agni just accepted "Seven Chants, A War Cry" for its Fall Issue.

-KJE

Congrats, Kerry!

LINK:
AGNI

Academy of American Poets Prize Guidelines

From Rodney Jones's door in Faner:

Each year, the creative writing program at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, in conjunction with the Academy of American Poets, presents a poetry prize. The prize of $100 is given for the best poem and is open to all SIUC graduate students.

Contestants should submit up to three poems to
Rodney Jones, Coordinator
Academy of American Poets Prize
Department of English
Southern Illinois University Carbondale

by April 7, 2009.

Manuscripts should be prepared as follows:

Along with your submission, submit a title page listing your titles, your name, your e-mail address and your regular address. Include your title, but not your name, on the manuscript of each poem.

Announcement of winners and runner-ups will be made before the end of the semester.

Allison Joseph to read at APSU

Allison Joseph, creative writing faculty, will read from her work at APSU in Clarksville, TN:

Leaf-Chronicle

Alumni Profile: Greg Schwipps (MFA '98)

Here's a profile of Greg Schwipps (MFA '98) from his undergraduate alma mater:

De Pauw University News

Greg is back at SIUC for the Little Grassy Literary Festival and will be reading from his new novel on Friday, April 3 at 11 am in the Student Center Auditorium.

Congrats to Mark Brewin!

Mark Brewin, first-year poet, writes with this good news!

Ahoy there, Allison.

Just dropping you an e-mail to say my poem "Fidel Castro Visits a Frat Party" has been accepted for publication in New Delta Review. Whoa, sugar.

-mark.

Congrats, Mark!
LINK:
New Delta Review

Little Grassy Literary Festival: Robert Wrigley

Poemspotting: Amie Whittemore

"Visiting," a poem by second-year MFA student Amie Whittemore, appears in the Spring/Summer 2009 issue of Atlanta Review.

LINK:
Altanta Review

Little Grassy Literary Festival: Kercheval reading

Congrats to Melissa Scholes Young!

First year fiction writer Melissa Scholes Young has more good news!

I wanted to let you know that Stone's Throw Magazine is publishing my nonfiction piece "Brazil: 10 Ways." 

Thanks,
Melissa

LINK:
Stone's Throw

Congrats, Melissa!

Announcing the Inaugural Little Grassy Literary Festival

Announcing the Inaugural Little Grassy Literary Festival
Sponsored by the Graduate Writers Forum, SIUC

featuring readings from and events with Jesse Lee Kerchval, Robert Wrigley, and SIUC MFA grad Greg Schwipps (MFA '98).

Festival Schedule:

April 2
4pm Jesse Lee Kercheval reading
SIUC Student Center Video Lounge 4th Floor

8pm Robert Wrigley reading
SIUC Student Center Video Lounge 4th Floor

April 3
9:30am Panel Discussion with all three readers
SIUC Student Center Auditorium 2nd Floor

11am Greg Schwipps reading
SIUC Student Center Auditorium 2nd Floor

12pm Book signing and reception
SIUC Student Center Old Main Lounge 2nd Floor
Refreshments and Light fare to be provided

VISITING WRITER BIOS:

Jesse Lee Kercheval is the author of several books, including the poetry collection honoring silent cinema, Cinema Muto, which won the Crab Orchard Series in Poetry. She also wrote the short story collections The Alice Stories, which won the Prairie Schooner Book Prize in Fiction, and The Dogeater. A versatile writer, Kercheval also has a novel, a memoir, and a textbook, as well as several other poetry collections to her credit. Other awards include fellowships from the National Endowment of the Arts, the Radcliffe Research and Study Center at Harvard, the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference and more. Kercheval grew up in Florida. Now she is the Sally Mead Hands Bascom Professor of English and a founding director of the master’s of fine arts program in creative writing at the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

Robert Wrigley has six poetry collections to his credit, including the San Francisco Center Book Award winner, In the Bank of Beautiful Sins, and the 2000 Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award winner Reign of Snakes. He has five Pushcart Prizes, two National Endowment for the Arts fellowships, Best American Poetry selections and a Guggenheim Foundation fellowship. Wrigley is originally from a coal mining family from East St. Louis. He is on the creative writing faculty at the University of Idaho.

Greg Schwipps is an SIUC MFA alumnus presently on the creative writing faculty at DePauw University. His novel, What This River Keeps, is due for release later this spring from Ghost Road Press. His essays and articles appear in such publications as In-Fisherman, Outdoor Indiana and Esquire.

Women's Words: A Celebration of Women and the Written Word

A.K. Thompson reads Virginia Woolf and her own work

Amie Whittemore reads Dorianne Laux

Rachel Furey reads Lorrie Moore and her own work

Janelle Blasdel reads Julie Orringer

Melissa Scholes Young reads Anne Panning and her own work

Krishna Pattisapu reads Audre Lorde and her own work

Allison Joseph reads Wendy Cope, Dorothy Parker and her own work

Alberta Skaggs reads Alice Walker and her own work

Azizat Danmole reads AI


SIUC Student Center, Carbondale, IL
Mississippi Room, 4-5 pm
Refreshments to follow reception in Old Main Lounge

Congrats to Jared (JY) Sexton!

More good news, this time from recent grad Jared (JY) Sexton (MFA '08):

Hey Allison,

Just got word my story "I Know I Am Deathless" will appear in an upcoming issue of the magazine The Benefactor.

Cheers,
-J

LINK:
The Benefactor

Congrats to Melissa Scholes Young!

The good news just keeps on coming for first-year fiction writer Melissa Scholes Young:

Hello Allison:

I just got a call from Doug Goetsch, editor of New Plains Review, and I've been invited to do a reading at their magazine's inaugural party. They are awarding me $1000 for the reading and the publication of my story "Guinea Pig." The event is in Oklahoma City in April. He told me to tell you that you are, of course, invited!

-Melissa

LINK:
New Plains Review

Meet this year's judge: Stacey Lynn Brown

Stacey Lynn Brown was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. Her poems, essays, and reviews have been published in Crab Orchard Review, Natural Bridge, Sou’wester, Anti-, and The Southern Quarterly. Her book-length poem in sections, Cradle Song, was published by C&R Press in 2009. Poems from Cradle Song were selected by E. Ethelbert Miller as the second-prize winner of the 14th Annual Poetry Center of Chicago Juried Reading. She teaches creative writing at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

Announcing the Winners of the 2009 Roxana Rivera Memorial Poetry Contest!

ANNOUNCING THE WINNERS OF THE 2009 ROXANA RIVERA MEMORIAL POETRY CONTEST!

Judge Stacey Lynn Brown, poet and author of the collection Cradle Song, has chosen to honor
the following poets and their poems:

Undergraduate:
1st place: Kate Gramlich for "bride not to be"
2nd place: Kate Gramlich for "six and falling"
3rd place: Joyce Terpstra for "Veteran's Day"
Honorable Mention: Kate Gramlich for "things i should tell you"

Graduate:
1st place: Amie Whittemore for "The Movement of Heat"
2nd place: Andy McFadyen-Ketchum for "To Touch the Moon"
3rd place: Jonathan Travelstead for "For Sean, from the Fire House"
Honorable Mention: Rachel Furey for "Hey, ref, what's up with the mercy rule?" and Travis Mossotti for "Oak Grove Cemetery"

Please join us on Thursday, March 26 at 4pm in the SIUC Student Center Auditorium for the annual contest ceremony, featuring readings from both this year's judge and this year's award-winners.

3/23-3/27: A Week's Worth of Creative Writing Events

Lots of great events happening this week. Here's a roundup:

Monday, March 23: Visiting Writers Series reading with Kathleen Rooney, Kyle Minor and Laura Benedict
SIUC Student Center Ohio Room, 4-5:30 pm

Tuesday, March 24: In-House Readings featuring MFA students Justin Benton, Amie Whittemore, Rick Pechous and Travis Mossotti
SIUC Student Center Thebes Room, 4-5:30 pm

Thursday, March 26: Roxana Rivera Memorial Poetry Contest ceremony, featuring readings from the contest judge, poet Stacey Lynn Brown, and this year's prize-winning poets
SIUC Student Center Auditorium, 4-5 pm, with book signing and reception to follow in Old Main Lounge

Friday, March 27: Women's Words. Women students and faculty from the SIUC MFA Program read from their favorite women writers and from their own work. Featuring A.K. Thompson, Amie Whittemore, Rachel Furey, Janelle Blasdel, Melissa Scholes Young, Krishna Pattisapu, Allison Joseph, Alberta Skaggs and Azizat Danmole.
SIUC Student Center Mississippi Room 4-5 pm with reception to follow in Old Main Lounge

Last In-House Reading for Spring 2009

Hello friends,

Our final In-House reading of the spring semester is this Tuesday, March 24th, from 4-5:30 in the Thebes room (Located behind the Blimpie's in the Student Center, I'm told).

Here are the readers for this Tuesday:


4 -- Justin Benton (2nd year fiction)
4:15 -- Amie Whittemore (2nd year poetry)
4:30 -- Rick Pechous (1st year fiction)
4:45 -- Travis Mossotti (2nd year poetry)

Thank you, and we hope to see you there.


-Janelle

Congrats to Melissa Scholes Young!

Melissa Scholes Young (first-year, fiction) has more good news:

Good morning, Allison. Two more good pieces of news have come my way...

Literary Mama has accepted my poem "Wrestle the Octopus" for publication in their May 2009 journal.

Also, my fiction piece "Postpartum Exile" is up at the literary journal Mused

Links:
Mused
Literary Mama

Congrats, Melissa! Keep the good news coming!

Writers on the Road: U of Memphis edition

A reading announcement from Rachna Sheth (third-year fiction):

On Saturday March 21, Mark Brewin, Rachel Furey, AK Thompson and I will be having an "away game," reading at the University of Memphis at 1:00 pm in Patterson Hall. We are hoping for a good turnout despite the UMemphis vs. Maryland game starting at 2:20. We would like to think listening to us read is more exciting than the first half of a second round NCAA game. There's only one way to find out.

Link:
University of Memphis MFA Program

Upcoming Reading: Minor, Rooney & Benedict

March 23, 2009: Visiting Writers Series presents fiction/nonfiction readings by Kyle Minor, Kathleen Rooney and Laura Benedict
SIUC Student Center Ohio Room, 4-5:30 pm

Novelist Laura Benedict is the author of Isabella Moon, which has been selected as part of Target Stores Breakout Writers promotion, and Calling Mr. Lonely Hearts, both available from Ballantine Books and Brilliance audio. She also co-edits Surreal South, a series anthology of short fiction, with her husband, writer Pinckney Benedict. Her work as appeared in EQMM and other anthologies.

Kyle Minor's work has appeared widely in magazines and anthologies, among them Best American Mystery Stories 2008, The Southern Review, The Gettysburg Review, Surreal South, and Twentysomething Essays by Twentysomething Writers: The Best New Voices of 2006. Kyle is also co-editor, with Okla Elliott, of The Other Chekhov (New American Press, 2008). His writing has been lauded by The Atlantic Monthly, The Columbus Dispatch, and Random House. Originally from Florida, he now lives in Ohio, where he is Visiting Writer at the University of Toledo.

Kathleen Rooney is a founding editor of Rose Metal Press and the author of Reading With Oprah (University of Arkansas Press, 2005), Something Really Wonderful (with Elisa Gabbert, dancing girl press, 2007) That Tiny Insane Voluptuousness (also with Gabbert, Otoliths, 2008), Oneiromance (an epithalamion) (Switchback Books, 2008), and Live Nude Girl (Arkansas, 2009). Her poems have appeared in AGNI online, 32 Poems , and Cincinnati Review, and her essays have appeared in Gulf Coast, Gettysburg Review, Ninth Letter, Southern Humanities Review and Provincetown Arts. She lives in Chicago.

Alumni Reading Alert: Matt Guenette (MFA '99) to read in St. Louis

4 P.M., Saturday, March 28
Black Bear Bakery, 2639 Cherokee, St. Louis

WORDS ON PURPOSE presents a benefit reading by

Matthew Guenette
author of
Sudden Anthem
a collection of funny, raucous & satirical poems
&
Rockwell Gray
essayist, biographer and local historian
author of A Century of Enterprise
a history of St. Louis industry

To Support StudioSTL
A free literary arts center empowering St. Louis youth by partnering them with writers who help them discover, develop, and celebrate their individual voices.

Recommended Donation, $5
100% of proceeds go to StudioSTL

Words on Purpose is a committee of socially concerned writers who produce literary readings to support community-based efforts that improve quality of life and promote equality of opportunity.

Congrats to Curtis L. Crisler (MFA '04)

Curtis L. Crisler (MFA '04, poetry) has exciting news!  His second full-length collection of poems, Pulling Scabs, has been accepted for publication by Aquarius Press! Congratulations, Curtis!

Link:
Aquarius Press Site
Aquarius Press Blog

R&D: March Madness

R&D: March Madness

"R&D," aka "Reading and Drinking," has the March Madness spirit!

3/19/09
7:00 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, all are welcome.

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

News this afternoon from JY (Jared) Sexton (MFA '08, fiction):

Hey,

Wanted to drop a note saying my story "Loose Him and Let Him Go" has been accepted for publication in an upcoming issue of the journal Relief. Also, hope you're feeling better and all is well.

-J

Congrats, Jared (and I'm working on getting better)!

LINK
Relief

Roxana Rivera Memorial Poetry Contest Deadline Nears

ANNOUNCING THE 2009 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: “Like a Mother, Like a Daughter”

DEADLINE: Friday, March 20, 2009

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, Mail Code 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 26, 2009.

In-House Reading Tomorrow!

Janelle Blasdel writes with news of the next In-House Reading:

The second In-House reading of the semester will be held this Tuesday, March 17th , from 4-5:30 in the Missouri River Room of the Student Center.

The line-up of readers is as follows:

Melissa Scholes Young (1st year fiction)
Brenna Lemieux (1st year poetry)
Hannah New (2nd year poetry)
Lane Kareska (1st year fiction)

Thank you, and we hope to see you there.

-Janelle

An Invitation from Liz Whiteacre (MFA '02)

Liz Whiteacre (MFA '02 poetry) invites everyone to come hear Curtis Crisler (MFA '04, poetry). Liz currently teaches writing at the College of DuPage.

You are invited to "An Evening with Curtis Crisler" at College of DuPage (425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn, IL 60137) on Wednesday, April 29, 2009 from 7:00-8:30 pm, SRC 1450. To RSVP, so she may send you more information, email Liz Whiteacre at whiteacr@cod.edu. Join us to hear Curtis read from his newest collection, Spill.

More good news from Tim Marsh

Tim Marsh (MFA '06, fiction) writes with more good news:

Hope all is well. I wanted to let the program know that I've been awarded an arts grant by the St. John's City Council and Arts Jury. It's a $1000 grant given to assist organizations and individuals working in the professional and amateur arts. The money is much needed, as always. I've also had a piece accepted for publication in the Canadian literary journal Paragon. Just letting you know.

Hope you had a great and productive time at AWP. Wish I could've made it.

Best,
Tim

Link:

Paragon

Adrian Matejka (MFA '01) profiled in St. Louis Post Dispatch

Adrian Matejka (MFA '01, poetry) has been profiled by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch as one of three and upcoming St. Louis-area poets:

LINK:
St. Louis Post Dispatch

Congrats to Justin Hamm!

Good news continues for Justin Hamm (MFA '05, fiction):

Hi, Allison --

Just wanted to let you know that my poem "illinois, my apologies" will appear in volume XI of Plains Song Review. Mom, the new baby and I are celebrating by taking a nap.

Cheers,

Justin Hamm

Congrats to Justin (and family!)

LINK:
Plains Song Review

Congrats to Kerry James Evans!

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

Roger took "How to Avoid an Ambush."

Congrats, KJE!

LINK:
roger

Congrats to Melissa Scholes Young!

Melissa Scholes Young, first-year student in fiction, writes with more publication news:

"The New Plains Review has accepted my story "Guinea Pig" for publication in their Spring 2009 issue. 

New Plains Review

Just wanted you to know that my three literary publications this semester have all come from the CRWROPPS listserve. Keep it coming. It's a wonderful resource and you do a great job keeping us informed. Thanks so much for this service!"

Congrats, Melissa, and thanks for the CRWROPPS shout out!

Check out CRWROPPS at
CRWROPPS or click on Creative Writers Opportunities List in the "Useful Links" list on the right.

Joseph featured in new critical book

SIUC poet and professor Allison Joseph is among the writers featured in a new critical book titled Writing the Future of Black America: Literature of the Hip-Hop Generation, written by Daniel Grassian and published by the University of South Carolina Press.

Find out more about this book here (click on "New Titles" link):

University of South Carolina Press

Congrats to Travis Mossotti!

More love for Travis Mossotti, this time via Pittsburgh:

Allison,

The Fourth River out of Chatham University in Pittsburgh has accepted the following four poems for publication...dang...[ the poems are] “Reminiscing Skyros,” “Creating the Garden,” “I'm Explaining a Few Things” and “Dialogue Box."
Thanks,
Travis

LINK:

The Fourth River

ACM loves SIUC MFAs

No sooner did I post Travis's news than I received this bit of news from Michael Meyerhofer (MFA '06):

Hey, Allison. Just letting you know that a couple pieces, " From One Poet to Another" and "Poem in Which I, and Only I, Get What I Deserve", were just accepted by Another Chicago Magazine. Hope all is well, and congrats again on the book! :)
Michael

LINK:
ACM

Congrats to Travis Mossotti!

Travis Mossotti (second-year MFA, poetry) keeps on keeping on:

Allison,

Another Chicago Magazine has accepted my poem "Glass of Water" for publication. No rest for the weary.

Thanks,

Travis

Congrats, Travis!

Link:
Another Chicago Magazine

Congrats to Justin Hamm!

Justin Hamm (MFA '05, fiction) has some wonderful news:

I just wanted to pass on some good news to you all. At 5:50 Sunday morning (March 1st) Mel and I welcomed Abigail Josephine Hamm into the world. She and Mom are both healthy and -- if I may say so -- quite beautiful.

Take care,

Justin

Congratulations, Justin, to you and your family on the birth of your daughter!

Allison Joseph's sixth full-length collection of poems selected for publication

Allison Joseph, SIUC poet and professor, has had her sixth full-length collection of poetry selected for publication by Western Kentucky University's Steel Toe Books:

Details here:
Steel Toe Books

The same press will be publishing Michael Meyerhofer's (MFA '06) second collection of poems, Blue Collar Eulogies.

In-House Readings start this Tuesday

This Tuesday, March 3, is the first In-House reading of the spring semester. The reading will be held in the Student Center's Missouri Room from 4 to 5:30.

The schedule is as follows:

Mark Brewin (1st Year Poetry)
Brooks Rexroat (1st Year Fiction)
A.K. Thompson (1st Year Fiction)
Janelle Blasdel (1st Year Fiction)

The event is free and open to all.

Congrats to Lane Kareska!

Lane Kareska, first-year MFA in fiction, sends this fine news:

Hi Allison,
Wanted to pass along that my short story "They're My Arms Now" was just accepted by the online journal Poor Mojo's Almanac(k) and my short story "The Dragoon" just appeared as a graphic short online at Prick of The Spindle.
Thanks,
Lane Kareska

Congrats, Lane!

Links:
Lane's story
Lane's Graphic short

Congrats to Travis Mossotti!

The Travis Mossotti (second-year MFA, poetry) express keeps on keeping on:

Allison,

The New Delta Review out of LSU just accepted my poem "Out of the Sky" for publication. I'm going to go celebrate with a cup of coffee from Starbucks.

Thanks,
T. Mossotti

Link:

New Delta Review

Jacinda Townsend and Allison Joseph to read for Black History Month

SIUC professors Allison Joseph and Jacinda Townsend will read from their creative work on Thursday, February 26th at 4:00pm
in the SIUC Student Center's Mississippi Room.

Congrats to Travis Mossotti!

Travis Mossotti (second year-MFA in poetry) rules! Congrats on this exceptional news!

Allison,

I just found out Robert Pinsky selected my poem "The Dead Cause" as the 1st place winner of the North American Review's James Hearst Poetry Prize ($1000, publication in the NAR, and an announcement in upcoming Poets & Writers).

Thanks,

Travis

North American Review

Congrats to Melissa Scholes Young!

First-year MFA fiction writer Melissa Scholes Young writes with news of these current publications:

"An essay entitled "Sex Education Sesame Street Style" was bought by a family magazine in Tallahassee, Florida called Family Forum. It's published in this month's issue. Also, the literary journal Mused-Bella Online accepted a piece of short fiction entitled "Postpartum Exile" for this month's journal. The short story was previously published in the literary journal Literary Mama."

Congrats, Melissa!

Links:
Bella Online

Catching Up with Tim Marsh (MFA '06)

Fiction grad Tim Marsh (MFA '06) has been busy:

"In the last few months I've had pieces published in Green Hills Literary Lantern, the Oregon Literary Review, the Newfoundland Quarterly, and the Nashwaak Review (Canadian), among others. I'm very happy about it all. I've also completed my first collection.
I'm in Newfoundland now, chasing a PhD in folklore. It's interesting scholarship, but of course I'd rather be writing the stories."

Thanks for the update, Tim--and congrats on the stories!

Congrats to Justin Hamm (MFA '05)!

MFA fiction grad Justin Hamm writes with some cross-genre news:


Hi, Allison,

Just wanted to drop a line to let you know that my poem "meditations on a kiss" will appear in late spring in The Spoon River Poetry Review.

Hope all is well in C-dale.

Thanks,


Justin Hamm

Congrats, Justin!

Link:
Spoon River Poetry Review

2009 Roxana Rivera Memorial Poetry Contest Announcement

ANNOUNCING THE 2009 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: “Like a Mother, Like a Daughter”

DEADLINE: Friday, March 20, 2009

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, Mail Code 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 26, 2009.

Congrats to Kerry James Evans!

Even more publication news, this time from third-year poet Kerry James Evans:

Allison,

Iron Horse Literary Review accepted "Sisyphus" for publication in their upcoming National Poetry Month Issue.

-KJE

Congrats, Kerry James!

Link:
Iron Horse Literary Review

You all are going to make me the proudest program director at AWP!

Congrats to Travis Mossotti!

Good news via e-mail from second-year poet Travis Mossotti:

My poem "Variations on a Political Theme" was accepted for publication at the Antioch Review.

Travis has been ill, so this was good news in the midst of his flu-fog!
Congrats and get better, Travis!

Link:
Antioch Review

SIUC at AWP Chicago 2009

SIUC will be in full effect as a sponsor at this year's annual AWP Conference at the Hilton Chicago, the nation's annual conference for creative writing students and programs. Here are some schedule highlights (SIUC folks in CAPS):

Saturday, February 14:
Joliet, 3rd Floor, 1:30 pm-2:45 pm
More Than a Collection: Imagining and Realizing Thematic Poetry Projects. (JON TRIBBLE, Oliver de la Paz, Jesse Lee Kercheval, Sean Nevin, Alison Townsend, Jake Adam York) A panel discussion featuring five Crab Orchard Series in Poetry authors who have published collections with Southern Illinois University Press that explore extended thematic concerns or ongoing poetic projects on topics including the imaginative interior life of a young boy, silent film, Alzheimer's, the Persephone myth and twenty-first-century America, and the martyrs of the Civil Rights Movement.

Lake Huron, 8th Floor, 1:30 pm-2:45 pm
In the World and of the World: The Post-Evangelical Writer. (Scott Kaukonen, PINCKNEY BENEDICT, David McGlynn, Kyle Minor, Angela Pneuman) Writing honestly about the devout of any religion, including Evangelicals, can be a delicate business, especially for those with more than an academic interest. If you appear too critical, the devout will paint you a heretic and circulate your name through the church prayer chain. If you appear too sympathetic, skeptics will view you with suspicion and recommend a good therapist. Yet in a cultural landscape where stereotypes abound on all sides, what possibilities—and challenges—exist for these writers?

Continental B, Lobby Level, 4:30 pm-5:45 pm
Twenty Years in Utopia: The RopeWalk Writers Retreat Aniversary Reading. (Ron Mitchell, RODNEY JONES, ALLISON JOSEPH, Michael Martone, Andrew Hudgins) RopeWalk Writers Retreat, a weeklong summer conference set in New Harmony, Indiana, the site of two 19th-century experiments in utopian living, celebrates its 20th anniversary with a poetry and prose reading by retreat faculty.

In addition:
Allison Joseph, booksigning for her new chapbook "Voice": Saturday, February 14, 10-11:30am at the Mayapple Press book table (table 653).

SIUC's Private Reception for Alums, Faculty, Current Students and Friends (not listed on the official schedule):
Friday, February 13
7:00-8:15 pm
Hilton Chicago, Private Dining Room 3

Look for Crab Orchard Review and SIU Press at the AWP Bookfair, tables 107 and 108.

Sigma Tau Delta Presentation: Beth Lordan

SIUC fiction professor Beth Lordan will speak on Monday, February 9th for SIUC's chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the international English Honor Society.

Her topic: the MFA in fiction writing

Bio:
Professor Beth Lordan is the acclaimed author of the books August Heat, And Both Shall Row, and But Come Ye Back. Her short fiction has also appeared in numerous literary journals, including the Atlantic Monthly, O. Henry Prize Stories, and Best American Short Stories. She is currently the Director of Irish and Irish Immigration Studies at SIUC.

Location:
Missouri Room, SIUC Student Center, 6-7pm

All are welcome to attend.

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

MFA '08 fiction grad Jared (JY) Sexton sends me good news via Facebook:

Hey Allison,

Just wanted to pass along word that my story 'Old' has been accepted for publication in the next issue of the Emerson Review.

Thanks,
-JY Sexton

Congrats, JY!

Link:
Emerson Review

More good news, via Jason Lee Brown (MFA '08)

The great news keeps pouring in! This time, there's nonfiction publication news from Jason Lee Brown (MFA '08, fiction):

"The Truth About the Fact: A Journal of Literary Nonfiction accepted my memoir “My First Time in Japan Visiting the In-Laws” for publication."

Congrats, Jason!

The Truth About the Fact

More Acceptances!

The acceptances keep rolling in for current students! This one's from third-year poet Kerry James Evans:

Allison,

Spoon River Poetry Review accepted "Operation Noble Eagle."

KJE

That Kerry's succinct, isn't he?
Congrats, Kerry James!

Link:
Spoon River Poetry Review

Catching Up With Michael Meyerhofer (MFA '06)

Here's an update from MFA poetry alum Michael Meyerhofer:

My poem, "Subatomic Redemption", was accepted by Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine. Another poem, "I Christen Thee My Higgs Boson", was accepted by Strange Horizons. A third poem, "Portrait of a Midwestern Exile on Wheels" was accepted by Valparaiso Poetry Review. "A Plea for the Cessation of Fruit Metaphors" was nominated for a Pushcart by North American Review. Finally, a piece previously published in Modern Haiku is being reprinted in white lies: The Red Moon Anthology of English-Language Haiku 2008.


Congrats, MM, on all your continued achievements!