poetry publication alert: Mark Brewin (MFA 11, poetry)

Good news today from poetry alum Mark Brewin (MFA '11, poetry):

I am pleased to say that The Hollins Critic has accepted my poem
"Conversion" for publication.

Congrats, Mark!

Congrats to Nick Ostdick!

Third-year fiction MFA Nick Ostdick is on a roll:

Very stoked to say my short story 'Woundedness' has just been accepted for publication by the good folks at Main Street Rag for their Secrets anthology, forthcoming in 2012.

Congrats, NO!!!

Congrats to Maggie Graber!

First-year poetry MFA student Maggie Graber also has publication news:

I just got news from Yes, Poetry that they're accepting my poem "4
Poets and a Bicycle Walk Through Empty Parking Lot" and it will be
featured in their January issue.

Congrats, MG!!!!

Congrats to Sequoia Nagamatsu!

Second-year fiction MFA Sequoia Nagamatsu has great news:

West Branch will be accepting my story, Before You Melt into the Sea,
for their web edition (w/ some cash to boot). The person that emailed
me was also the former editor at the Kenyon Review for a while and
said he had advocated for my work in the past, which was also an added
bonus to say the least. Yay!

Congrats, Sequoia! Well done!

Devil's Kitchen Literary Festival Event Schedule: 2011

This week is the 10th! annual Devil's Kitchen Literary Festival:

Information here:
Festival Schedule

Congrats to Mark Brewin!

Mark Brewin (MFA '11, poetry) writes with happy publication news:

I am pleased to say that Copper Nickel has accepted for publication my
poem "Turkey Point."

a new anthology is born!

Congrats to third-year fiction writer Nick Ostdick, who writes this
morning with very fine news:

Some big news, actually. I've spent the last few months working on
this and I'm overjoyed to say my anthology of short stories inspired
by hair metal songs is forthcoming mid 2012 from Orange Alert Press, a
Chicago-based indie publisher. The anthology is called Hair Lit, Vol.
1, and is packed with amazing writers. Seriously, it's pretty insane.
I'm thrilled!

Superb work, Nick! Congrats!

Newly Published: Imaginary Logic by Rodney Jones

Rodney Jones, poet and longtime SIUC faculty poet, is celebrating the publication of his new book, Imaginary Logic!

Details here:
Imaginary Logic

Panel for Undergrads Considering the MFA: Thursday, 4 pm, Faner Humanities Lounge

the SIUC Graduate Writers Forum will be hosting an MFA program
Application/Info panel for undergrads interested in pursuing an MFA in
the near future. Please notify any students you think may be
interested in such a session. We'll be discussing funding, the nuts
and bolts of application packets, letters of reference, statements of
purpose, the GRE, writing samples, and what exactly the value of an
MFA is/isn't. The panel will be on Thursday, October 20th in the Faner
Humanities Lounge.

Exciting news for first year poet Maggie Graber!

First-year MFA in poetry Maggie Graber has great Friday news:

My following poems will be featured in the summer 2012 issue of Avatar Review:

"Bees Turn House into Hive"
"In the Garden"
"Poem for the Glassmaker"
"The Sweatshirt"

Congrats, Maggie!

LINK:
Avatar Review

Congrats to Melissa Scholes Young!

Melissa Scholes Young (MFA '11, fiction) writes with news of publication:

I have a poem entitled "Safety" up at Switched-on Gutenberg Issue 17:
Accidental. Judy, Mark, and Brenna had their hands all over this one.

http://www.switched-ongutenberg.org/current/Young.htm

Congrats, MSY

Mini-Conference on "Life After the MFA": October 15, 2011

On Saturday (yes, you read that right) Oct 15th, SIUC faculty poet
and MFA Program Director
Allison Joseph will lead a mini-conference on "life after the MFA."

Here's the mini-conference schedule:

1-3pm: CVs and Resumes, Academic Job Searches (How to read a job posting)

break

3:30 pm-5pm: Non Academic Jobs for MFAs, getting recommendations,
post-MFA fellowships, writing colonies andconferences; Should I get
another degree?

We will meet in the Faner Humanities Lounge.

Judy Jordan to speak for Sigma Tau Delta

SIUC faculty poet Judy Jordan will speak and read new poems for Sigma Tau Delta on Thursday, October 13th at 6 pm in the SIUC Student Center Mackinaw Room. All are welcome to attend.

Congrats to Nick Ostdick!

Happy news from Nick Ostdick (third-year fiction):

Super good news this morning: my short-short 'Junk' has been accepted
for publication by the Emprise Review for their forthcoming issue. No
firm date yet, but very cool. Thanks!

Congrats, NO!!!

Congrats to Beth Lordan!

Congrats to fiction faculty member Beth Lordan whose story "A Useful
Story" (which first appeared in New England Review, volume 31, number
1) has been cited as a "Distinguished Story of 2010" in Best American
Short Stories 2011!

Catching Up with Travis Mossotti (MFA '10)

Here's what Travis Mossotti (MFA '10, poetry) has been up to:

Pub Updates:
Got two: "Dust" got picked up at Burnside Review (with a reading in
Portland, OR at the Crow Manor House Wednesday, February 22, 2012);
"Santorini" got picked up at Cream City Review.

Other:
Interview with Tim Green should also be coming out soon with Rattle.
Edward Byrne at Valparaiso Poetry Review nominated "My Brother's
House" for "Best of the Net 2011." I'll be down in your neck of the
woods this Friday, October 7th: Reading @ 4pm in Harry T. Moore
Auditorium. Reading at the River Styx Reading Series in St. Louis with
Erika Meitner on Monday, October 17th @ 7:30pm @ Duff's in the CWE.
Invited to the Utah Humanities Book Festival October 26th & 27th for a
reading at the Salt Lake City Main Public Library, a screening of
"Decampment," followed by a reading at Utah State University the next
day.

See you soon, TM!

Congrats to Staci Schoenfeld!

First-year poet Staci Schoenfeld has these upcoming publications to announce:

My poem "Misdiagnosed" will be published in the Fall 2011 issue of
Appalachian Heritage. "Miscellaneous Merchandise" and "On the Way Home
from Lexington to Frankfort Via Leestown Road" will be published in
Accents Publishing's Bigger Than They Appear: Anthology of Very Short
Poems in November.

Congrats, Staci!!!

Shawn Mitchell update

Third-year fiction student Shawn Mitchell has been very busy:

I've got a few things up over at the Fiction Writers Review, inc.:

An appreciation/review of Pinckney Benedict's "Miracle Boy":

http://fictionwritersreview.com/reviews/miracle-boy-and-other-stories-by-pinckney-benedict

which is the book of the week over there right now!

An interview/conversation with Elif Batuman and Geoff Dyer at the Cuirt
Festival in Galway:
http://fictionwritersreview.com/interviews/writing-whatever-you-want-whenever-you-want-to-write-it-a-conversation-with-elif-batuman-and-geoff-dyer

A short appreciation of the Granta Book of the Irish Short Story:
http://fictionwritersreview.com/blog/stories-we-love-the-granta-book-of-the-irish-short-story

In fiction:

My story "The Pink Missive" just ran over at Johnny America just
today: http://www.johnnyamerica.net/
My story "She Was Beautiful, Yes" ran over at The Montreal Review awhile ago:
http://www.themontrealreview.com/2009/She-Was-Beautiful-Yes.php

Congrats, Shawn!

SIUC Poet to Read at Central Methodist University

SIUC faculty poet Allison Joseph will read from her work at Central Methodist University on Wednesday, Sept 28, 2011:

Details here:
Poetry Reading, Fayette, MO

2011 Devil's Kitchen Literary Festival @ SIUC

Here's information on our upcoming annual fall literary festival

2011 Devil's Kitchen Literary Festival
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday, October 26 – 28
(All Events in SIUC's Morris Library)

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26

8:00 – 9:15 p.m.
Readings by Amina Gautier & Rodney Jones
John C. Guyon Auditorium (1st Floor Morris Library)

9:15 – 10:00 p.m.
Festival Reception (sponsored by the SIUC Dept. of English)
1st Floor Rotunda (Morris Library)

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27

—panel discussion, John C. Guyon Auditorium (1st Floor Morris Library)—

11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Visiting Writers Panel featuring Amina Gautier, Alyson Hagy, Katherine
Riegel, Ira Sukrungruang, & Jerry Williams

2:00 – 3:15 p.m.
Readings by Brian Barker & Camille Dungy
John C. Guyon Auditorium (1st Floor Morris Library)

3:15 – 4:30 p.m.
Reception and Book Signing featuring all festival readers
1st Floor Rotunda (Morris Library)

4:30 – 6:00 p.m.
Readings by the 2011 Devil's Kitchen Reading Award Winners
Jerry Williams & Alyson Hagy
John C. Guyon Auditorium (1st Floor Morris Library)

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28

11:00 – 11:50 a.m.
Readings by Katherine Riegel & Ira Sukrungruang
John C. Guyon Auditorium (1st Floor Morris Library)

2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
The Anthology Pathology: How to Edit a Creepy Book (Editors and
contributors discuss and read from two new anthologies--The Book of
Villains and Surreal South '11: Monsters and Ghosts)
John C. Guyon Auditorium (1st Floor Morris Library)

The festival is sponsored by GRASSROOTS, the Southern Illinois
University Carbondale Department of English's undergraduate literary
magazine. The Devil's Kitchen Fall Literary Festival is made possible
through funding from the SIUC Fine Arts Activity Fee, the SIUC
Creative Writing Program's Visiting Writers Series, and CRAB ORCHARD
REVIEW.

Festival author links:

Brian Barker website: http://brianbarker.net/

Laura and Pinckney Benedict bios and information on the Surreal South
anthologies on the Press 53 website:
http://www.press53.com/surrealsouth.html

Camille Dungy website: http://www.camilledungy.com/

Amina Gautier website: http://www.aminagautier.com/

Alyson Hagy author page at Graywolf Press with links to her books:
https://www.graywolfpress.org/index.php?option=com_phpshop&page=shop.author&product_id=302&author_id=39

Rodney Jones page at The Poetry Foundation:
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/rodney-jones

Katherine Riegel website: http://www.katherineriegel.com/

Ira Sukrungruang website: http://www.sukrungruang.com/

Jerry Williams bio and Q&A on the blog How a Poem Happens:
http://howapoemhappens.blogspot.com/2010/02/jerry-williams.html

Josh Woods bio (bottom of the page) and his anthology The Book of
Villains at Main Street Rag Publishing website:
http://www.mainstreetrag.com/Villains.html

A Profile of the SIUC MFA Program

courtesy the Daily Egyptian, SIUC's student newspaper:


Profile

more Brewin news

Mark Jay Brewin Jr. (MFA '11, poetry) is definitely on a roll:

I am pleased to say that Cave Wall has accepted for publication the
untitled, prologue-poem for my book which I will affectionately refer
to as by its first line "Water was always the problem
surrounding...".

Congrats, MB, on all your recent publication acceptances!

Update: Kevin McKelvey (MFA '04, poetry)

An update from Kevin McKelvey, poetry alum:

So I'm still doing writing-in-the-schools programs, now with my UIndy
students through Second Story (secondstoryindy.org). My students are
also editing, designing, and publishing books for second through
eighth graders at local schools. Here's an article about some of that
work, which I co-wrote with my collaborators from a local IPS school,
Second Story, and a class at Butler University:

http://www.ascd.org/ascd-express/vol6/625-mckelvey.aspx

Great work, Kevin! Keep us posted!

more Brewin news

Mark Brewin (MFA '11) has more news:

I just found out I was a finalist in the 2011 New Letters Literary Award.

Congrats, MB!!

list of finalists here:
http://www.newletters.org/finalists_2011.asp

A Portrait of a New Literary Journal: Prime Mincer

Read here about Prime Mincer, a new literary journal founded by SIUC MFA alums and current creative writing graduate students:

Prime Mincer

Kudos to Lumans and Brewin

News from some recent alums:

Alex Lumans (MFA '09, fiction):

A story of mine entitled "The Dictionary of Your Fears" was published
yesterday at Necessary Fiction. And the day before, they posted an
essay of mine with a far too long title ("Parochial Plaids,
Self-Cogitation, the Water Moccasin Myth, and "I Might Want to Come
Back": How You're Already Trying to Figure Out What This List Means").

Also, Blackbird accepted my story "Signs and Wonders" for publication.

Mark Jay Brewin, Jr. (MFA '11, poetry):

I am happy to say that my poem "So Intricate, So Inconceivably
Complex" has been accepted for publication in Columbia Poetry Review.
You, Rodney and Judy have all seen this poem in every incantation, and
it would not have been picked up without your diligent work. Thanks
very much.

Congrats, Alex and Mark!!!

Writers Workshop, Carbondale Public Library, starting 9/20/11

Third-year MFA students Shawn Mitchell and Nick Ostdick will be
running a semester-long creative writing class/workshop at the
Carbondale Public Library every Tuesday from 6:30PM-8PM starting
September 20th.

Update: Rachel Furey (MFA '09)

Spectacular news from Rachel Furey (MFA '09, fiction):

I hope all is well in Carbondale.
I thought I'd pass along news of recent publications. My short story
"Jody's Solo" took second place in the American Fiction Prize and will
be published in Volume 12 of American Fiction: The Best Unpublished
Short Stories by Emerging Writers. The story was also a finalist for
the Normal School Fiction Prize, so I am happy it found a home. Also,
my story "Stealing Scalpels" will appear in Fifth Wednesday Journal,
my story "Baby Girl" in the Tidal Basin Review, and my story "The
Blood Donation" in New Texas.

Fiction Forthcoming from Nick Ostdick!

Congrats to third-year MFA fiction writer NIck Ostdick:

My flash fiction 'About That' has been accepted for publication by the good folks over Big Lucks for their 'real talk' issue.

Congrats, Nick!

Big Lucks:
Big Lucks

Congrats to Pete Lucas!

Second-year fiction MFA student Pete Lucas has this great news:

My short story, "For the Good of the Family" received an honorable
mention in Glimmer Train's June Fiction Open.
list of honorable mentions
List

Alumni Publications: New and Forthcoming

SIUC MFA alums have been busy:

Brenna Lemieux (MFA '11, poetry):
Ploughshares has just accepted my poem "Precision," for its Winter 2012 issue.

Mary Jay Brewin, Jr. (MFA '11, poetry):
My poem "Kansas Burning" was accepted for publication at storySouth. I
like the sound of that.

Melissa Scholes Young (MFA '11, fiction):

My interview with Devil's Kitchen's very own Jennine Capo Crucet is
up at Fiction Writers Review. Enjoy!

http://fictionwritersreview.com/interviews/how-to-leave-and-why-you-stay-an-interview-with-jennine-capo-crucet

Congrats to all on these excellent publications!

SIUC MFA Program Ranked at #25 in 2012 Poets and Writers rankings!

Poets and Writers Magazine has ranked the SIUC MFA Program in Creative Writing at #25 in the nation!

Details here:
the Top 50

Welcome to Carbondale, New MFA Students!

MFA Carbondale is happy to welcome the following new students to Carbondale:

Josh Bontrager, Poetry
Jenny Flack, Fiction
Mary Kate Flannery, Fiction
Elise Foster, Fiction
Brett Gaffney, Poetry
Maggie Graber, Poetry
Josh Gray, Fiction
Ben Guerette, Fiction
Patrick Hunt, Fiction
Austin Kodra, Poetry
Zach Macholz, Poetry
Staci Schoenfeld, Poetry
Ashley Sigmon, Fiction

Welcome and thanks for coming!

MFA Orientation: Monday, August 15 @ 3:30 pm

Come one, come all (MFA students and faculty that is):

MFA Orientation for New and Returning Students
MFA Program in Creative Writing
Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Meeting time: 3:30 pm
Meeting date: Monday, August 15th, 2011
Meeting place: Harry T. Moore Auditorium, Faner Hall

We will welcome our new class of MFA students officially to the SIUC MFA Program!

Travis Mossotti to be featured on "The Writer's Almanac"!

2011 MFA poetry alum Travis Mossotti has more good news:

Just found out that Garrison Keillor is going to be reading my poem, "Crossing the Gap" on NPR's The Writer's Almanac this upcoming Monday, August 8th 2011. The broadcast will be available online at
http://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/, The Writer's Almanac official website.

Great news, Travis!!!

Congrats to Nick Ostdick!

Third-year fiction MFA student Nick Ostdick starts August off with some very good news:

My story 'Thursday' has been picked up by Anthills for their sixth issue due in November. It's the first story from thesis to be picked up. How 'bout that, huh?

Congrats, Nick!!!

Travis Mossotti update

Travis Mossotti is now a daddy!  And yes, his poems are still being accepted everywhere:

Genie and baby are doing great: sleeping, feeding, sleeping, feeding, well, you get the picture. I read Cora the last half of "Song of Myself" between last night and the early hours of the morning. She was a fan. Might move on to some Allison Joseph next.

Got some pub news: 5AM took "At the Deli Counter" for publication this winter, and Dark Horse accepted "Delivering the Bad News" for this fall.   

Congrats on the publications, Travis, and congrats to you and Genie and the birth of Cora!

Mark Brewn publication update

Poetry alum Mark Brewin (MFA '11, poetry) writes:

I am pleased to announce that my poem "On Garages" was accepted for publication at Arroyo Literary Review. Thanks very much to all of my peers and professors from SIUC for helping this piece get this far. I hope all is well, and--I must say--I miss The 'Dale quite a bit.

Congrats, MJB!

Brenna Lemieux publication update

MFA '11 grad Brenna Lemieux writes with fine poetry publication news:

I'm writing with some publication news for a steamy summer day. I just found out that Prairie Schooner will publish my poems "Three-Fingered Willy" and "Mislaid Memory about Pigeons," and RHINO has accepted "Ear Training.

Congrats, Brenna!!!!

Fantastic News for Alex Lumans!!!

Great news from fiction alum Alex Lumans (MFA '09):

I was awarded a fellowship to attend the MacDowell Colony. So, this fall, I'll be there for seven weeks in the deep dark woods of New Hampshire.

American Short Fiction accepted a story of mine, "The Unicorns," for publication in their web exclusives. It will be on their website in August.

The Normal School accepted my story "Limes" for publication.

I received Honorable Mention in the 2011 Press53 Open Award for Short Story and I was also a finalist in their Short-Short Story category.   http://www.press53.com/OpenAwards_2011.html

And my stories in The Yalobusha Review and The Journal are now officially out.  http://thejournalmag.org/archives/112

Congrats, Lumans!!!!

Good News While Waiting!

Travis Mossotti (MFA '10) sends good news while he and wife Genie wait for the new addition to their family:

Good news as we await the little one to arrive by stork, Manchester Review took "Hills" for their October 2011 issue. A decidedly American epic poem, scooped up by a British mag. Go figure.

Congrats, TM!

Kevin McKelvey update

News from poetry alum Kevin McKelvey (MFA '04):

The Indiana Arts Commission awarded me a grant to write poems about the Wabash River in Indiana. Looking forward to new poems and research, and also offering readings and writing workshops in Geneva, Huntington, Peru, Logansport, Delphi, Lafayette, Perrysville, Terre Haute, Vincennes, and New Harmony. 

Congrats, Kevin!!!

Catching up with Brooks Rexroat (MFA '11)

Great news from fiction grad Brooks Rexroat:

Exciting publication news from my home state and abroad...
The Cleveland Review has accepted my short story, "Destroying New Boston." It should be posted July 31 at clevelandreview.net.
My short-short "Legacy" will appear in the upcoming 13th issue of The Literary Bohemian, published out of the Czech Republic. literarybohemian.com


Congrats, Brooks!!!

Congrats to Pete Lucas!!

Good news on a hot day for second-year fiction writer Pete Lucas:

My short story "A Selfish Gift" will be published in the next print issue of Gertrude.

website: gertrudepress.org


Congrats, Pete!

Mid-Summer Alumni News: July 11, 2011

News from:

Chad Simpson (MFA 05, fiction):

My story "The Woodlands" is the July web exclusive over at American Short Fiction. The story's here: http://www.americanshortfiction.org/index.php?Itemid=7, and there's an interview with me about the story here: http://www.americanshortfiction.org/blog/?p=4631.

I also received some good news from folks with SIUC ties: My story "American Bulldog"--from COR's Land of Lincoln issue--has been chosen by John McNally to appear in Jason Brown and Shanie Latham's New Stories from the Midwest 2011, which is going to be put out by Indiana University Press.

And: My story collection was recently named one of three finalists for Sarabande's Mary McCarthy Prize. I'm pretty sure I'm not the only former Saluki on the list of finalists and semi-finalists: http://www.sarabandebooks.org/?page_id=71

Helena "Hel" Bell (MFA 08, poetry)

a flash fiction piece I wrote has just been published by Brain Harvest:

http://www.brainharvestmag.com/2011/07/please-return-my-son-who-is-in-your-custody/

Congrats to Ruth Awad!!!

Congratulations to third-year poet Ruth Awad for winning this year's poetry contest from Copper Nickel!

Details here:

Copper Nickel

new Josh Woods anthology coming soon!

Great news from Josh Woods (MFA '09, fiction):

I've got a new anthology out that features very cool work from two other SIUC MFAers, Lumans and Flaherty. The anthology is a collection of stories about villains called, believe it or not, The Book of Villains. It releases Aug. 30th, but pre-orders get a massive discount. Below is the link.

 

Please help me spread the word!

 

http://www.mainstreetrag.com/Villains.html

Josh is also the editor of the Versus Anthology (Press 53, 2009).  

 

Catching Up with Tim Marsh (MFA '06, fiction)

Great news for fiction grad Tim Marsh (MFA ''06):

I have some news for the blog: This autumn I'll have stories appearing in Quiddity and Sweet. I've also just received a writer's fellowship to the Can Serrat residency program in Barcelona, which will give me 4+ weeks in Spain either this November or next April, 2012.

Congrats, Tim, on all your good news!

Melissa Scholes Young Update

Melissa Scholes Young (MFA '11, fiction) has loads of juicy news:

I have the poems "Coconut Water," "Piranha Fishing," and "Escape from Brazil" in the spring editions of Cold Mountain Review, Tampa Review, and Tapestry.  Also, I got a big girl job teaching writing full-time at American University beginning this fall.  Couldn't have done any of that good stuff without the amazing folks at SIU. A million thanks to you and Jon and the whole crew. See you in D.C.!

Congrats on all this great news, Melissa!!!!

Congrats to Sequoia Nagamatsu!

Great news for second-year fiction MFA student Sequoia Nagamatsu:

Just got word that my story, "The Passage of Time in the Abyss", has been accepted for the 2012 issue of Gargoyle Magazine. And I'd just like to give a shout out to everyone who helped me with this one esp. those who reminded me of Guillermo Del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth in their critique letters, which ended up being a quite helpful model. Huzzah!

Congrats, Sequoia!!!!

Matt Guenette (MFA '99) update

News from Matt Guenette (MFA '99, poetry)

The July issue of Diode (http://www.diodepoetry.com/) will run a handful of poems, including a number from the soon-to-be publishedAmerican Busboy.

The July issue of iO Poetry (http://iopoetry.org/) will run a review I wrote of Julie Hanson's book Unbeknownst.

My poem "Wasps" was accepted by the Spoon River Poetry Review.

My poem "The Produce & Me" appears in the latest issue of Crab Creek Review.

My poem "Job Performance" has been accepted for publication in Prime Mincer.

Congrats, Matt on the upcoming publication of your second book, American Busboy!

http://www.amazon.com/American-Busboy-Matthew-Guenette/dp/1931968977

Brooks Rexroat (MFA '11) news

Great news from Brooks Rexroat (MFA '11, fiction):

Weave Magazine has accepted my short story,  "Moving Day." It'll be printed and shipped out in January; in the meantime, I'm quite excited that I'll be teaching this fall at Xavier University in Cincinnati. 

Congrats, Brooks!!!!

Surreal South '11 to feature fiction alums

Surreal South 11, the third volume in the anthology series edited by Laura and Pinckney Benedict, will feature work by A.K Thompson, Alex Lumans, and Josh Woods, all recent alums of the SIUC MFA program. Congrats to all, especially to Pinckney and Laura for continuing this project!

Details here
Surreal South 11

Young Writers Workshop 2011: Back for Another Summer

The faculty, staff and participants of SIUC's 13th Annual Young Writers Workshop cordially invite you to join them for this year's Reading Series. All events are free and open to the public!

Young Writers Workshop 2011 Reading Series: Southern Illinois University Carbondale

JUNE 21, 2011:
SIUC Faculty Reading: Pinckney Benedict
Faner Hall, Harry T. Moore Auditorium, 8 pm
SIUC fiction faculty member Pinckney Benedict will read selections of his work.

JUNE 22, 2011:
SIUC Graduate Creative Writers Reading:
Ruth Awad, Shawn Mitchell, and Andrew McSorley
Faner Hall 1005, 4-5 PM

Visiting Writer Reading: Allison Joseph and Jon Tribble, poets
Harry T. Moore Auditorium) 8PM
SIUC MFA Program Director Allison Joseph and Crab Orchard Review Managing Editor Jon Tribble will read from their nationally-published works of poetry.

JUNE 23, 2011:
SIUC Graduate Creative Writers Reading:
Dan Paul, John Stanford Owen, and Sequoia Nagamatsu
Faner Hall 1005, 4-5 PM

Visiting Writer Reading: Travis Mossotti, poet
Harry T. Moore Auditorium 8 PM
Travis Mossotti received his MFA in poetry from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. His poetry continues to appear widely. Mossotti was awarded the James Hearst Poetry Prize from the North American Review in 2009. His first collection of poems, About the Dead (Utah State University Press, 2011), was awarded the 2011 May Swenson Poetry Award.

JUNE 24, 2011:
SIUC Graduate Creative Writers Reading:
Pete Lucas, Max Schleicher, and Nick Ostdick
Faner Hall 1005, 4-5 PM

Visiting Writer: Michael Meyerhofer, poet
Harry T. Moore Auditorim 8 PM
Michael Meyerhofer’s third book of poems, Damnatio Memoriae, won the Brick Road Poetry Book Contest. Previous poetry books are Blue CollarEulogies (Steel Toe Books) and Leaving Iowa (winner of the Liam Rector First Book Award). He also has a fantasy novel, Wytchfire, that is forthcoming from Triskaideka Books. His work has appeared in Ploughshares, North American Review, Arts & Letters, River Styx, Quick Fiction and other journals, and can be read online at www.troublewithhammers.com.

JUNE 25, 2011:
Young Writers Workshop Participant Reading
Cisne Auditorium, Pulliam Hall 34, 1:30 PM

Travelstead and Scholes Young to read at River Styx's HYP June edition

River Styx ’s popular summer reading series kicks off with The Hungry Young Poets, the fourteenth season of readings by six poets under the age of 33. We hope you can join us at Duff's Restaurant, located at 392 North Euclid in the Central West End , on June 20 at 7:30 pm.

Among the readers this June are our own Melissa Scholes Young (MFA '11, fiction) and Jonathan Travelstead (third-year, poetry)


Hungry Young Poets Series

NB: SIUC poets Andrea Wagner and Andrew McSorley will read for the July HYP! Salukis represent!

great news for Rick Pechous (MFA '11)

from Rick Pechous (MFA '11, fiction):

I'm happy to report that The Nashville Review is wanting to publish a longer piece of mine, "The Eagle Has Conjured Itself into a Dry Leaf Floating in the Wind," for their fall issue. It should be out December 1st. It's all really, very exciting.

Congrats, Rick!!!

Congrats to Nick Ostdick!

Third-year fiction MFA student Nick Ostdick has new publication news:

A flash fiction of mine called 'How To Keep Your Boy' was just published in THE2NDHAND. Great little mag.

Congrats, Nick!!

http://the2ndhand.com/THE2NDHANDTXT/

Fantastic news for Kerry James Evans (MFA '09)

Congratulations to Kerry James Evans (MFA '09, poetry) on this fantastic news!!!!

My book, Bangalore will be coming out late 2013 with Copper Canyon Press.

Superb work, KJE!!!  Proud of you!

Joplin Benefit: Langston Out Loud

LANGSTON OUT LOUD: A BENEFIT FOR JOPLIN

Tuesday, June 14, 2011
4-6 pm
Harry T. Moore Auditorium, Faner Hall 1326

featuring readings from the work of Joplin's favorite son, Langston Hughes

The event is free and open to the public.
There will be drawings for door prizes and donations are welcome.

All donations raised will go to MIssouri Southern State University's fund for displaced students, faculty and staff members.

Congrats to Rick Pechous!

MFA '11 grad Rick Pechous has new publication news to report:

I'm happy to report that Knee-Jerk Magazine has accepted my short piece, "Life with Angela" for publication. It's up now as part of their June issue. You can read it here:

http://kneejerkmag.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=176:life-with-angela-by-rick-pechous&catid=13:stories

Congrats, Rick!!!

Catching Up with Jim Gill (MFA '99)

Fiction alum Jim Gill (MFA '99) writes with this update:

I have another short piece at The Common, an old piece that finally found a home. 

http://www.thecommononline.org/dispatches/night-fishing-devils-kitchen-lake

Also, I thought I'd let you know that I've recently been promoted and will be, for at least the next year, program director of the English Dept at Northwest Christian University here in Eugene.  Yeah, I know, me head of anything seems strange, much less an English Dept, but there it is.  I'm actually very excited to continue working with great colleagues and students in an even larger capacity.  Here's my faculty bio page if you want to post that.  The picture of me is pretty goofy looking, but I guess the camera doesn't lie.  

http://www.nwcu.edu/about/contact-us/by-department/arts-and-sciences/gill-james.aspx

Congrats, Jim!!!

more good news for Amie Whittemore

Hits just keep on coming for Amie Whittemore (MFA '10, poetry)

My flash fiction piece "She rhymed with jump, I rhymed with rope" has been picked up by the Bellingham Review.

Great cross-genre action, AW!!!

Congrats to Amie Whittemore!

Congrats to Amie Whittemore (MFA '10) on this upcoming publication:

I just wanted to let you know that my poem, "The Other Field" has been accepted for publication by The Fourth River.

 

Great news, AW!!

fabulous news for Jessica Easto!

Second-year fiction writer Jessica Easto has great news:

 

I've just been notified that I've won a scholarship (free room, board, tuition) to participate in the Oxford American's first Summit for Ambitious Writers this summer (http://summit.oxfordamerican.org/)!!! David Remnick, Kevin Brockmeier, and Wells Tower (among many delightful others) are on faculty. Couldn't be more excited!

 

Sounds fantastic, Jessica!!!  Many congratulations!

 

Catching Up with Michael Meyerhofer (MFA '06, poetry)

News from one proflic alum:

My third poetry book, "Damnatio Memoriae," should be released by September. You can still pre-order it here: http://www.brickroadpoetrypress.com/preorder/119-order-damnatio.html. My fifth chapbook, "Pure Elysium," is at the printers and should be out soon, as well. Oh, and a lil' side project, a fantasy novel called "Wytchfire," was accepted for publication by an indie press called Triskaideka Books. It's (hopefully) the first of a series, to be released in print and e-book format, probably also around September.

Congrats, MM!!

Congrats to Melissa Scholes Young!

Melissa Scholes Young (MFA '11) writes with poetry publication news:

My poem "Safety" was just accepted for publication by Switched-on Gutenberg.  It'll be out in the fall.

Congrats, MSY!

Congrats to Leslie Adams!

Third-year MFA poet Leslie Adams sends great news from Ireland:

North American Review has accepted "Making Camp" for publication. Nice news to go with the gorgeous weather here. Can't wait to see everyone in a few weeks!

Congrats, Leslie!  We've missed you!

MFA Graduation GALA--May 6, 2011

The Creative Writing Program of Southern Illinois University Carbondale's Department of English

cordially invites you to attend

our MFA Celebration

May 6, 2011

6-7 pm: Reception
7-9 pm: Readings

at the Varsity Center for the Arts, 418 South Illinois Avenue, Carbondale, Illinois

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

Janelle Blasdel
Lane Kareska
Brenna Lemieux
Charlie Lemmink
Richard Pechous
Brooks Rexroat
A,K. Thompson
Melissa Scholes Young
Katie Zapoluch

Please join us in wishing them congratulations and godspeed.

Congrats to John Stanford Owen!

MFA graduate student in poetry John Stanford Owen has late afternoon good news for the blog!

I'm happy to announce "Devil's Drop" will be appearing in Third Coast.

Congrats, JSO!!!

Melissa Scholes Young to Read at Hungry Young Poets Series

from Melissa Scholes Young (MFA '11, fiction--but she writes (and publishes) everything):

I'm reading some poetry about Brazil for the Hungry Young Poets Summer Reading Series June 20th in St. Louis.  

http://www.riverstyx.org/events/index.php

Congrats, MSY!!!

Congrats to Renee Wells (MFA '06, poetry)

on her new job at Michigan Tech! I'll let Renee tell you about it:

I'll be working at Michigan Tech as their new Assistant Director of the Center for Diversity and Inclusion and Coordinator of LGBTQ Outreach. I will also teach LGBT poetry in their diversity minor.

Congrats, Renee!!!

Upcoming Publications for Kerry James Evans (MFA '09)

the news from Kerry James Evans:

Hope all is well in the 'dale. I've had a few poems accepted. Ploughshares accepted "Blackbird," Tampa Review accepted "Buffalo Rock" and Water-Stone accepted "Killing the Snake." 

Congrats, KJE!!  Great publications!!!

Update from Rachel Furey (MFA '09)

Fiction alum Rachel Furey writes with news of a critical nature:

I hope all is well in Carbondale and the semester is rounding itself
out well! This is not a creative publication, but since you wanted to
know, I will pass it along. My essay "Sentence Fragments, Sound, and
Setting in Suttree and The Road" has been accepted for publication in
The Cormac McCarthy Journal. It was exciting for me to see that I
could perform in this arena of writing as well.

Congrats, Rachel! Way to go!

Congrats to Bryan Estes!

news from Bryan Estes, first-year poet:

I just received word from The Minnesota Review that they would like to use one my erasure poems for the cover of their next issue. 

How unusual!  Congrats!

Congrats to Brooks Rexroat

MFA 11 grad Brooks Rexroat (hey, at this point, third-year student hardly applies) has more great news:

I found out this weekend that "Basement Party," a short story inspired in part by the untimely passing of R&B singer Nate Dogg, will appear this June in The Montreal Review. They must like what we're doing: roughly 20 percent of the fiction they've accepted this year has come from current SIUC folks.

Congrats, Brooks!!! You are on a roll!

SIUC's Jon Tribble to be part of Oregon State's first Editorial Festival

Jon Tribble, Crab Orchard Review's managing editor and Series Editor for the Crab Orchard Series in Poetry will be part of Oregon State University's first

Editorial Festival:

Details here:

http://oregonstate.edu/cla/english/visiting-writers-series-2010-2011

Benefit Reading for the Victims of the Southern Tornadoes

SIUC faculty and graduate students will read from the work of Alabama
authors on Thursday, May 5th from 4 PM to 6PM
in the Harry T. Moore Auditorium, Faner Hall.

Featured reader will be Alabama native and SIUC's own Rodney Jones.

Donations welcome.

Farewell to Jacinda Townsend

MFA Carbondale wishes a fond farewell to Jacinda Townsend, who is leaving the creative writing faculty at SIUC for a position on the creative writing faculty at Indiana University. Carbondale's loss is Bloomington's gain! We will long remember your talent, your laughter, your beauty and your smarts! Best of luck, Jacinda!!

Fantastic News from Fiction Alum Jared (JY) Sexton

via Facebook, Jared (JY) Sexton (MFA '08) made this wonderful announcement:

The good people at Atticus Books have optioned my book of stories, An End to All Things. Really excited about this and am thankful for all of the people who've been supportive and kind over the last few years.

Congrats, Jared!!  Fine work!

http://atticusbooksonline.com/

News from fiction alums Jim Gill and Alex Lumans

from Jim Gill (MFA '99)

My story "The Poacher" is in the current issue of Night Train.  

http://www.nighttrainmagazine.com/contents/gill_11_1.php

from Alex Lumans (MFA '09):

he Journal accepted a story of mine called "The America Indian is Dead" for its next issue.

And I have two new poems now online: "With Teeth" at Strange Horizons and "The North Pacific Land-Bridge that Reappears Every Seventeen Years" at The Pedestal.

http://www.thepedestalmagazine.com/

http://www.strangehorizons.com/2011/20110321/lumans-p.shtml

Congrats, guys!  Thanks for the links!

John Owen and Nick Ostdick to read in Rivertown Reading Series

SIUC's own John Owen and Nick Ostdick will read on May 7 at the
Yeiser Arts Center as part of the Rivertown Reading Series.
Congrats, John and Nick, on being selected to read in the Series!

Yeiser Arts Center website:
http://www.theyeiser.org/events.html

More good publication news for Tim Marsh (MFA '06 fiction)

Fiction alum Tim Marsh is on a roll:

This morning within ten minutes of each other (which has never happened), I received good news from two more magazines. Knee-Jerk will run my story "Relegation, North Sumatra" in an upcoming issue, and Mason's Road will publish my piece "Skydiver". Pretty cool.

Congrats, Tim!  Keep the good news coming!

 

Congrats to Lane Kareska!

Third-year fiction MFA student Lane Kareska has happy news to start the week:

I just received the very pleasant news that my short story "Cursed" will be included in issue 32 of Berkeley Fiction Review. It's a dark one, featuring James Dean's haunted car, an ex-con and garden shears. 

Congrats, Lane!

Paul Guest to teach at the University of Virginia

With great pride, MFA Carbondale blog announces the appointment of
Paul Guest (MFA '99) to the creative writing faculty at the
University of Virginia!
Congratulations, Paul!!!!

Travis Mossotti (MFA '10) update

South Dakota Review took "Smokestacks," & Water~Stone Review took a longer poem "If we are humans then let us be fools."  (Kerry James also got a long poem in Water~Stone so I'll be in good company).

Catching Up with Tim Marsh (MFA '06)

Latest note from Tim Marsh (MFA '06, fiction):

I'm in Okinawa right now, surfing, exploring, the usual.

Small news for the blog: My piece "Courage" was accepted by Foliate Oak, and my essay "Banjar Dalung" was taken by The Kartika Review, to appear this May.


Congrats, world traveler!

2011 Academy of American Poets Prize Winners: Graduate Division

Poet Jake Adam York chose Leslie Adams' "Meditation with Lines from Wallace Stevens" as winner of this year's Academy of American Poets Prize for SIUC graduate students. He also singled out for honorable mention Jung Hae Chae's "Language Acquisition" and Andrea Wagner's "Arkansassy."  

Congratulations to all.

Storyspotting: Chad Simpson

Fiction alum Chad Simpson (MFA '05) announces the publication of a new story:

My story "Adaptations" was published yesterday at Necessary Fiction. 

You can check it out here: http://necessaryfiction.com/stories/ChadSimpsonAdaptations

Congrats, Chad!!!

Congrats to Brooks Rexroat!

Third-year MFA Brooks Rexroat has more good news!  Congrats, Brooks!

A second batch of good news in one week: Subtle Fiction, an online magazine out of New Zealand, has taken my story "Theft Against Such Beauty." Not only did they accept it--they posted it right away.

subtlefiction.wordpress.com

Undergraduate Poetry Prize @ SIUC: Deadline 4/14/11

Undergraduate Student Poetry Prize
Cash Award and One Year Membership to the Academy of American Poets

To Enter

Submit: Up to 3 poems
Deadline: Thursday April 14th at 4pm

SIUC undergraduates may 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 address is
good until), phone number, e-mail address and poem titles, plus an
address that is good after May 15, 2011.

2) Poems on individual, separate pages. Include title(s) on poems,
but no names, please.

Mossotti Update: Upcoming Publications

Travis Mossotti (MFA '10) has news of upccoming publications:

Saint Ann's Review took "Outside Pinckneyville" and "Wheat Field with Crows." Nimrod took "The Story of a Plant." Also, all April long I'm writing articles for basalt's website, a literary journal out of Eastern Oregon University in La Grande, Oregon. Stop by and check them out.

Congrats, TM!  Great to see you at Little Grassy!

Congrats to Brenna Lemieux!!

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

Hi, Allison --

I've just heard that Greensboro Review will be publishing my poem "Grief as a Half-Swallowed Kite." What swell news for a swell spring day, huh?

Thanks!

Brenna

Congrats, Brenna!!  Way to work it!

Congrats to Brooks Rexroat!

Third-year fiction student Brooks Rexroat has great news:

Alt Hist Magazine has accepted my story, "To the Stars." My first fiction publication, and it's a paying gig.

Congrats, Brooks!!!

news from Kerry James Evans (MFA '09, poetry)

Kerry James Evans (MFA '09, poetry) sends fine news from Tallahassee:

New Letters nominated my poems from their issue for a Pushcart. 

Narrative Magazine accepted six poems for publication. 

I am the recipient of a Kingsbury Fellowship at Florida State, which allows me to only teach one class in the fall and spring semesters, and includes a $9000 award. 

Congrats, KJE!!!

Storyspotting: Chad Simpson edition

Fiction alum  (MFA '05) Chad Simpson has new stories just published!

"my pretend heart" appears in Issue Three of Twelve Stories (ahttp://www.readtwelvestories.com/my-pretend-heart/) and "smoke" appears in the Spring 2011 issue of Moon Milk Review (http://www.moonmilkreview.com/2011/spring-2011-fiction-smoke-by-chad-simpson/).

Mark Brewin keeps racking acceptances up!

Third-year poet Mark Brewin writes with news of another accepted poem:

Guess I must have done something right: West Branch has accepted another poem for publication, ¨Marriage.¨ They like me, they must really like me.

Congrats to you, MB!

MFA Graduate Paul Guest Awarded Guggenheim Fellowship!!

Hearty congratulations to Paul Guest (MFA '99) on being awarded a
2011 Guggenheim Fellowship!

Details here:
http://www.gf.org/fellows/current?page=2

Reminder: Little Grassy Literary Festival starts today!!!

The Little Grassy Literary Festival starts today with a reading from
Traci Brimhall and Jake Adam York!

Details here:

http://news.siuc.edu/news/March11/032311amh11064.html

Publication News from Andy McFadyen-Ketchum (MFA '09, poetry)

MFA grad Andy McFadyen-Ketchum sends along good news:

Cimarron Review just took "First Catch," the first of the father-story poems to be taken...finally!  And The Writers Chronicle will soon be publishing my interview with Andrew Hudgins.

Congrats, AMK!!!

Allison Joseph to read at Converse College, South Carolina

SIUC poet Allison Joseph travels this week to Converse College in South Carolina for a reading from her work:

Converse College guest writers