Congrats to Alberta Skaggs!

Alberta Skaggs, current SIUC lecturer in fiction, Grassroots advisor
and MFA fiction grad has this news:

Dr. stephen dollinger (the director of the psychology department here
at siuc) and I have co-authored an article that has been accepted for
publication this fall in
the journal called Imagination, Cognition and Personality.

The article's name: Does the ACT Predict "Inside the Box" Thinking
or Creativity?: Creative Characters in the Personality Imagination
Exercise.

Congrats, Alberta!! Very intriguing!!!

new poems by SIUC-connected writers in Concelebratory Shoehorn Review

New poems by MFA poetry alum Adrian Matejka and by SIUC's own Jon Tribble appear in the new issue of Concelebratory Shoehorn Review:

Adrian's poems

Jon's poems

Crab Orchard Review to receive IAC Grant!

Kudos to Crab Orchard Review! The SIUC literary journal has been
awarded a 2011 grant of $5000 from the Illinois Arts Council!!!

Details here:
http://www.arts.illinois.gov/news/iac-announces-first-round-fy2011-
grants

Re: annual Women's History Month Poetry Contest: Please announce to classes

ANNOUNCING THE 2011 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:

$50 for first place $30 for second place $20 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: "Her Present, Her Future, Her Past"

DEADLINE: Monday, March 21, 2011 at 4pm

Submission Guidelines: Submit an entry packet with:

1) A cover sheet with your name, address, phone number, e-mail address, and poem title(s). 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. If sending entries via e-mail, please send in rtf file format only—send all poems in one file.

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.

Entries can also by e-mailed to 

roxpoetrycontest(at)gmail.com 

(replace (at) with @ in sending e-mail).

Winners will be honored at a special awards ceremony to be held March 24, 2011.

Guidelines: Roxana Rivera Memorial Poetry Contest @ SIUC

ANNOUNCING THE 2011 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:

$50 for first place $30 for second place $20 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: “Her Present, Her Future, Her Past”

DEADLINE: Monday, March 21, 2011 at 4pm

Submission Guidelines: Submit an entry packet with:

1) A cover sheet with your name, address, phone number, e-mail address, and poem title(s). 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. If sending entries via e-mail, please send in rtf file format only—send all poems in one file.

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.
Entries can also by e-mailed to
roxpoetrycontest(at)gmail.com
(replace (at) with @ in sending e-mail).

Winners will be honored at a special awards ceremony to be held March 24, 2011.

More Kudos for Pinckney Benedict and MIRACLE BOY!!!

This just in from SIUC fiction professor Pinckney Benedict:

My story "The Angel's Trumpet" has just won Appalachian Heritage's 2010 Denny C. Plattner Award for Outstanding Fiction. This is my second Plattner: my first was for the story "Joe Messinger is Dreaming" in 2007. Both stories are included in my new collection, Miracle Boy and Other Stories.

Congrats, PB!!!

http://community.berea.edu/appalachianheritage/default.html

Now It Can Be Told, Part Two: Michael Meyerhofer Wins Brick Road Poetry Press Book Contest!!

Hearty congratulations to SIUC MFA poetry alum Michael Meyerhofer for winning the 2010 Brick Road Poetry Press Book Contest for his third full-length collection of poems!!!

Details here:
Michael Meyerhofer wins Brick Road

Congrats, MM!!!

Now It Can Be Told: Travis Mossotti (MFA '10) wins May Swenson Poetry Prize!!!

Exciting news for Travis Mossotti (MFA '10, poetry)!! He is the 2011 winner of the May Swenson Poetry Prize! His poetry collection, About the Dead, will be published this year by Utah State University Press!!!

Details here:

Travis wins May Swenson

Congrats, TM!!!!

Congrats to Melissa Scholes Young!

Third-year fiction student Melissa Scholes Young has some crossover action to report!  Congrats, MSY!

"I got me a poem accepted in the Tampa Review.  My poem's called "Escape from Brazil." 

http://www.ut.edu/tampareview/trmain.aspx

Writers on the Road: Vanderbilt Edition

The Graduate Writers Forum of SIUC presents

Vanderbilt @ SIUC: Writers on the Road Series

featuring Vanderbilt MFA students reading from their work:

Amanda Abel
Chad Abushanab
Melissa Cundieff-Pexa
Jill Schepmann


Saturday, February 26th at 5 pm
Harry T. Moore Auditorium
Faner first floor, Door 7 into building

Poemspotting: Kerry James Evans

"Atomic Bible," a new poem by Kerry James Evans (MFA '09) appears in
the new issue of The Pinch, the national
literary journal from the University of Memphis:

Storyspotting: Alex Lumans

Fiction alum Alex Lumans (MFA '09) has new work here:

http://www.primenumbermagazine.com/Issue5_PrimeDecimals3.html

Allison Joseph to be featured at Valdosta State University

SIUC faculty poet will be a visiting writer at Valdosta State
University this week:

http://www.valdosta.edu/news/releases/joseph.021611

Congrats to Bryan Estes

Happy news for first-year poetry student Bryan Estes:

I just received word that PANK will be publishing my poem, "Getting the Drift," in their next issue.

http://www.pankmagazine.com/

Congrats, BE!!

news and notes about SIUC writing alums and faculty

MFA alum (MFA '05, fiction) Gillian King's piece "Fresno" appears in the new issue of River Styx (Number 84).

MFA alum Chris Allen (MFA '07, fiction) has a new poem published in H.O.D:

http://hofd.wordpress.com/

Faculty member Pinckney Benedict:

My new collection, MIRACLE BOY AND OTHER STORIES, is now available in the UK, from the wonderful folks at Salt Publishing. Audio version (read by me) forthcoming.

Jon Tribble: Publications and Appearances

Jon Tribble, Crab Orchard Review's managing editor and the soul of the MFA Program, has these news items to share:

Here are the four solid current or upcoming things (I'll save two others for when they feel real):

--My poem "Grease Trap" has been published in Two Weeks: A Digital Anthology of Contemporary Poetry, edited and produced by Ash Bowen and Johnathon Williams. Here is the link for those interested in this project:

http://linebreak.org/two-weeks/

--My poem "Lupus" was published online by Caper Literary Journal. Here is the link (you can actually comment on the poem):

http://caperlitjournal.weebly.com/5/post/2011/02/-jon-tribble-poetry.html

--Friday, February 11, A Panel Discussion with Publishers. University of Missouri--St. Louis, room 200 in Lucas Hall. One University Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63121. 6 PM. The UMSL MFA Program presents a panel of publishers from independent presses that specialize in books of literary fiction and poetry. Alex Schwartz from Switch Grass, Ben Furnish from BkMk, and Jon Tribble from Crab Orchard will discuss and answer questions about what they look for in manuscripts, how to submit, what to expect, and more. Free and open to the public. Call 516-6845 for more information. 

--Thursday, May 5, 2011, I will join Mary Elizabeth Braun, Acquiring Editor at Oregon State University Press (moderator); Kathryn Lang, Senior Editor at SMU Press; and Brian Doyle, Editor of Portland Magazine for an Editor's Panel at Oregon State University in Corvallis. I'll send more details as soon as I have them.

Check out new stories by SIUC MFA alums!

Here are links to newly-published stories by SIUC fiction MFA alums Jim Gill and Jared (JY) Sexton:

Jim Gill
Jim's story

Jared (JY) Sexton
Jared's story


Jim adds:
let others know that The Common is actively seeking submissions for their 2nd issue as well as the dispatches section.

Thanks for the tip, Jim!

Congrats to third-year poet Brenna Lemieux!!!

Great news on this cold day from third-year poetry MFA Brenna Lemieux!

I just found out that my poem "Two Purple Sponges" has been accepted by the Threepenny Review. Thought you might like some warm news to spice up this cold, snowy evening.

Congrats, BL!!  Great place to publish!

Congrats to Desiree Dighton: MFA '07 fiction

via Facebook:

"In the Cemetery Where Jim Morrison is Buried" will be published in the next issue of the fabulous new journal, Prime Mincer."

Congrats, DD!

Upcoming BHM Month Event: SIUC Writers

You are cordially invited to

"A Block of Writers: Conversation on Creative Writing"

Wednesday, Feb. 9         

SIUC Student Center Auditorium          

5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Conversation on why words matter, and the power of writing featuring:   

Allison Joseph, Jacinda T. Gides, Frank Chipasula, Joseph Brown.

New Pubs from Alums: Hamm and Mossotti

from Justin Hamm (MFA, fiction, '05):

Just wanted to pass along that my chapbook Illinois, My Apologies is now available from RockSaw Press.

from Travis Mossotti (MFA, poetry '10):

"Where We Are Going" and "Juniper Berry" were accepted at Italian Americana.

Congrats, guys!!

Publication Alert: Shawn Mitchell

My story "Imitation Feast" will be in the first issue of Prime Mincer:

The first issue comes out March 15th, and they're considering submissions until February 15th. They move fast.
Prime Mincer

More Forthcoming Publications!!

We're on a roll this morning!  Here's a note from Pete Lucas, first-year student in fiction:

My story "Running" has been picked up for publication in the February issue of The Montreal Review, which is nice because I've always had an affinity for French Canadians.

Congrats, PL!

Publication Updates from Current Students and Grads

from first-year student in poetry Bryan Estes:

I'm happy to report that my poem, "Oh," has made the cut for the first edition of Prime Mincer.

from Amie Whittemore (MFA '10, poetry):

I wanted to let you know that "Inevitable Attraction" and "Saplings" have been accepted for publication by Copper Nickel.

 

Travis Mossotti: Upcoming Publications!

Congrats to Travis Mossotti (MFA '10, poetry), who sends news of the following upcoming publications:

"I had the courage…" is forthcoming at Poet Lore; "Surgery" is forthcoming at Moon City Review; "Regionalism, Spiritualism, Confessionalism" is forthcoming at Quiddity. 

Great to hear from you, TM!

Publication Alert: Lane Kareska

Third-year fiction writer Lane Kareska writes with this happy news:

I just wanted to pass along that my short story "The Dragoon" was
recently published by Pill Hill Press in their new book Powers: A
Superhero Anthology. I just received my copy and it's a colorful,
energetic collection. Happy to be in it.

Congrats, Lane!! Sounds like a great fun read!!

Brenna Lemieux: Forthcoming Poem!

Great news this Tuesday afternoon from third-year poet Brenna Lemieux:

I'm writing with the glad tidings that my poem "On Bridge Street" has been accepted at Lumina Magazine. 

Thanks for keeping us all up to date on the lives & times of the MFA folks!

Congrats, Brenna!  It's a gift to be able to follow SIUC talent!

Pinckney Benedict Update!

from PB himself:

Although MIRACLE BOY AND OTHER STORIES (Press 53, 2010) was not a finalist for The Story Prize, it has been selected for the long list of "other notable 2010 short story collections, along with books by Nadine Gordimer, Joyce Carol Oates, Ron Rash, Brad Watson, and other folks whom I admire.

Story Prize Long List

Congrats, PB!!

More Publication Love for SIUC writers

Here's more news of current or upcoming publications by SIUC MFAs--both current students and grads:

Nick Ostdick (current second-year in fiction):
Anthills, a small press publication out of Milwaukee, has accepted a short-short of mine entitled 'How to Set A Car on Fire' for their Spring 2011 issue, due out in April.

Abby Wheetley (MFA, fiction, 2009):
"Regarding the Mothers" was accepted for publication in CaKe.

Kerry James Evans (MFA, poetry, 2009):
"Night Fishing" was accepted for publication in Prairie Schooner.

Matthew Guenette (MFA, poetry, 1999):
I have two new poems in the latest Barn Owl Review. I'm also the featured poet in the latest Anti-:
Matt Guenette

Congrats to the hardest-working writers I know!! SIUC MFAs rule!!!

New Year's Kudos to---

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

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

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


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

Congrats to Andy McFadyen-Ketchum!

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

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

Congrats, Andy!!

News from SIUC MFA alums!!

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


Travis Mossotti (MFA '10):

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


Kerry James Evans (MFA '09):

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

Pinckney Benedict Update!

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

Nobbie Awards

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

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

Storyspotting: Shawn Mitchell and Sarah McCartt-Jackson

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

NANO fiction

Good News Galore from Current Students and Grads

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

LINKS:
Yalobusha Review
Quick Fiction
Sycamore Review
Prime Number

Poemspotting: Brenna Lemieux

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

Congrats to Abby Wheetley (MFA '09, fiction)

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

Congrats, Abby!!

Breaking News: Meyerhofer Wins Chapbook Contest!

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

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

Congrats, MM!!!

LINK:
Palettes and Quills

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

Poemspotting: Sarah McCartt-Jackson

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

Congrats to Nick Ostdick!

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

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

Cool beans indeed! Congrats, Nick!

Sheepshead Review

Alumni News and Notes: Early December Edition

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

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

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

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

Congrats to Nick Ostdick!

News from second-year fiction writer Nick Ostdick:

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

Congrats, NO!

LINK:
Big Lucks

Pinckney Benedict Update!

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

LINK:
Weatherford Award

Writers on the Road Visit: U of Illinois writers visit

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

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

Bios:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Alumni News and Notes: Late November Edition

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

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

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

Link:
Justin

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

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

Congrats to Bryan Estes!

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

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

Congrats, Bryan!

LINK:
Compass Rose

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

My story "Fourteen" recently appeared in Matchbook:
Fourteen

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

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

Chad's website:

Monday, November 15, 2010

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

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

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

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

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

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

Congrats, Jim, on all this good news!

Allison Joseph to read at Western Kentucky University

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

Congrats to Mark Brewin!

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

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

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

LINK:
North American Review

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

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

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

Double bonus! Congrats, Jared!

LINKS:
DZANC Books
Inkspill

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

from Shawn Mitchell:

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

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

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

Light refreshments will be served.

Congrats to Brenna Lemieux!

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

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

Congrats, Brenna!

LINK:
Hollins Critic


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

Congrats to Amie Whittemore!

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

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

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

Congrats, Amie, on all this good news!

LINKS:
Hollins Critic
Vermont Studio Center

Congrats to Ingrid Moody!

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

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

Congrats, Ingrid!

LINK:
Texas Review Press

Congrats to Justin Hamm (MFA '05)!

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

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

Congrats, Justin!

LINKS:
Cold Mountain Review
Rock Saw Press

Congrats to Peter Lucas!

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

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

Congrats, Pete!

LINK:
Owen Wister Review

Congrats to John Stanford Owen!

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

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

Congrats, JSO!

LINK:
Valparaiso Poetry Review

Congrats to Mark Brewin!

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

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

Congrats, MB!

LINK:
Cold Mountain Review

Writers on the Road: UMSL edition

Writers On The Road Reading at University of Missouri Saint Louis

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

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

Congrats to Kathleen Hale!

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

Congrats, Kathleen!

Catching Up with Andrew McFadyen-Ketchum

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

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

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

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

See you at AWP, Andy!

LINK:
New Letters

Travis Mossotti Update: Forthcoming Poems

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

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

Good work, TM!

Devil's Kitchen Literary Festival: Schedule and Author Bios

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

Welcome to Carbondale, visiting writers!

A Banner Day for Mark Brewin!

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

Note #1: 

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

Note #2:

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

Congrats, MB!  What a day indeed!

LINKS:

Greensboro Review

The Pinch

Congrats to Jared Yates Sexton (MFA '08)

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

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

It is indeed, JY!  Congrats!

LINK:

The Raleigh Review

Kudos to Rodney Jones!

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

LINK:

Pushcart Prizes

Kudos to Mark Brewin!

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

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

Congrats, MB!

LINK:
South Carolina Review

Poemspotting, movie-style: Travis Mossotti

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

Decampment, the film

Poemspotting: Travis Mossotti and David Bond

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

Travis
David

Fantastic News for Greg Schwipps (MFA '98)

Exciting news for SIUC MFA grad Greg Schwipps!:

Greg Schwipps wins Emerging Writer Award

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

Congrats to Sarah McCartt-Jackson

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

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

Congrats, Sarah! Well done!

LINK:
Tidal Basin Review

Congrats to Leslie Adams!

Great Friday news from second-year poet Leslie Adams!

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

Congrats, LA!

LINK:
Saw Palm

Allison Joseph to read at Lamar University, Beaumont, TX

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

Crossgenre action with Helena "Hel" Bell

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

Helena Bell fiction

Catching Up with Andrew McFadyen-Ketchum

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

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

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

Eclipse took "Golden Paper Wasp"

And Poet Lore took "Night Driving"

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

My best,
Andrew

Pinckney Benedict does Macomb (Illinois, that is)

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

Pinckney at WIU

Storyspotting: Nick Ostdick

from Nick Ostdick (second-year, fiction):

Two quick things here:

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

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

Congrats, NO!

Storyspotting: Melissa Scholes Young

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

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

Melissa

Rodney Jones to read in Saint Louis for River Styx

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

Congrats to Leslie Adams!

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

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

Congrats, Leslie!

LINK:
Hollins Critic

Poemspotting: Mossotti and Boyd

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

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

Upcoming Literary Events: October 2010

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

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


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

Festival Schedule here:
Devil's Kitchen

Faculty Focus: A Profile of Pinckney Benedict

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

Pinckney Benedict

Congrats to Mark Brewin!

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

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

Congrats, MB!

LINK:
Tidal Basin Review

Congrats to Mark Brewin!

Great news from current poetry student Mark Brewin:

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

Congrats, Mark!

LINK:
Quiddity

Congrats to Melissa Scholes Young!

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

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

Word Riot

Congrats, MSY!

Allison Joseph to read at Penn State Altoona

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

Congrats to Rachel Furey (MFA '09)

Fantastic news from fiction alum Rachel Furey:

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

Congrats, Rachel!

LINK:
Best American

upcoming alumni reading: Melanie Dusseau (MFA '03)

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

Riverfront Times of St. Louis Names Alum Best Local Poet

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

Congrats, AD!

Catching Up with Adrian Matejka (MFA '01)

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

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


Congrats, AD!

Grassroots Open Mic Party: Wednesday September 29

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

Jon Tribble & Allison Joseph in Little Rock, AR

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

Details here:
J&A at PT

Mitchell interviews Percy

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

Ben and Shawn

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

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

The Wilding

Faculty Reading: Pinckney Benedict at the New School, NYC

from Pinckney Benedict, SIUC fiction faculty:

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

Mega-Congratulations to Ben Percy (MFA '04)

from the Deals Section of Publishers' Weekly:

Deals

Congrats to Tim Marsh!

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

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

Congrats, Tim!

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

Congrats to Travis Mossotti!

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

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

Congrats, TM!