The best thing for poetry...

"The best thing that could happen to poetry is to drive it out of the universities with burning pitch forks. Starve the lavish grants. Strangle them all in a barrel of water. Cast them out. The current culture, in which poetry is written for and supported by poets has created a kind of state-sanctioned poetry that resists innovation. When and if poetry is ever made to answer to the broader public, then we may begin to see some great poetry again – the greatness that is the collaboration between audience and artist." - Patrick Gillespie at PoemShape.

10 Best Poisonings in Literature

Did your favorite make the list?

New Lit on the Block :: Sleet Magazine

Edited by Susan Solomon, Nate Thomas, Kathleen McEathron and "Sleet Lady," Sleet publishes poetry, fiction, and flash fiction, with a new submission category for "irregular": "a genre-crossing bit of writing - something that overflows borders or maybe never had any. It could be an impression, a vignette, a one-line flash. An irregular must be able to stand on its own. We are still in the process of defining this little mutant, but for now the guidelines are minimal. Send us literary-only work that is between 1 line and 500 words. It may be comprised of a single piece or a combination of work."

Published online with number one accessible in the archives, number two includes:

Poetry by Jamie Lynn Buehner, Sara Dailey, Alan Elyshevitz, Howie Good, Jim Heynen, Bradley Hoge, Jenny McDougal, Patricia McGoldrick, John N. Miller, M.V. Montgomery, Katherine D. Perry, Floareau Tutuianu, Danny Sklar, and Scott Whitaker.

Flash Fiction by A.T. Cross, John Dutterer, Justin Ekstedt, Michael Onofrey, Michelle Reale, Paul Rogalus, and Brad Rose.

Fiction by Joshua James Wilson Mattern, and an interview with writer Jim Heynen.

Open Letter to New Publishers

Once again, Writer Beware Blogs!, specifically Richard White, has stolen my heart with this latest post, which begins:

Dear New Publisher:

You may have noticed people discussing your company on various web sites. Normally, this would be a good thing, I mean, free publicity, right? But, when you go to these sites, they may be discussing your company in unflattering terms and asking all kinds of questions about your ability to get books into bookstores.

"But, wait. They can't say that about my baby."

Actually, yes they can.

Read the rest, including a comprehensive list of questions that ANYONE thinking about starting up a new press should be able to answer FIRST if they really expect a serious venture to result (and anyone thinking of publishing with a "publisher" should ask of them as well!).

Film :: Wide Screen Journal

"Wide Screen is a peer-reviewed, open access journal. It is devoted to the critical study of cinema from historical, theoretical, political, and aesthetic perspectives. With radical changes in the modes of production, distribution, and exhibition, the journal aims to combine the best of academic and journalistic critique of cinema to inform readers about the various critical vantage points from which to understand cinema in this dynamic environment."

Currently accepting papers on Cinemas of the Arab World.

Endings :: Poesia

Delta House Publishing Company, and home to Indian Bay Press, will end their seven year run of publishing Poesia with the Spring 2010 issue to be released April 1, 2010.

2010 Best European Authors

Best European Fiction 2010 is the inaugural installment from Dalkey Archive Press of what will become an annual anthology of stories from across Europe. This year's edition is edited by acclaimed Bosnian novelist and MacArthur “Genius-Award” winner Aleksandar Hemon. The authors featured include: Ornela Vorpsi, Antonio Fian, Peter Terrin, Jean-Philippe Toussaint, Igor Štiks, Georgi Gospodinov, Neven Ušumović, Naja Marie Aidt, Elo Viiding, Juhani Brander, Christine Montalbetti, George Konrád, Steinar Bragi, Julian Gough, Orna Ní Choileáin, Giulio Mozzi (AKA Carlo Dalcielo), Inga Abele, Mathias Ospelt, Giedra Radvilavičiūtė, Goce Smilevski, Stephan Enter, Jon Fosse, Michal Witkowski, Valter Hugo Mãe, Cosmin Manolache, Victor Pelevin, David Albahari, Peter Krištúfek, Andrej Blatnik, Julián Ríos, Josep M. Fonalleras, Peter Stamm, Deborah Levy, Alasdair Gray, and Penny Simpson.

Had Enough Twilight Yet?

Hachette Book Group's Yen Press has announced a March 16 publication date for their 350,000-copy run for their first installment of the graphic novel version of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight. The book will be divided into two volumes, common for longer works, and will be black-and-white with color interspersed.

Movies :: Water for Elephants

Now casting Water for Elephants. I knew if I waited long enough I wouldn't have to read the book...

Bloomsbury Whitewash Redux

How many times can you say you're sorry? Twice, if you're Bloomsbury.

Graduate Poet Readers Wanted

For SAMLA’s conference in 2010, four graduate students in poetry will have the opportunity to read at the Graduate Student Poetry Circle. Since the focus of the 2010 SAMLA Convention is “The Interplay of Text and Image,” poets will read from their work that embraces this sense of interplay. Poets selected will read for fifteen minutes and will also speak for approximately five minutes on how their work or another contemporary poet’s work plays with text and image. The conference will take place in Atlanta, Georgia from November 5th-7th.

Please send a bio, a sample of three poems, and a brief paragraph that describes how your work or how a contemporary poet’s work merges text and image by February 15th to Charlotte Pence: cpence1-AT-utk-DOT-edu). Travel funds are available on a competitive basis through SAMLA.

Glimmer Train Short Story Award for New Writers

Glimmer Train has just chosen the winning stories for their November Short Story Award for New Writers competition. This competition is held quarterly and is open to any writers whose fiction hasn’t appeared in a print publication with a circulation greater than 5000. No theme restrictions. Word count should not exceed 12,000. (All shorter lengths welcome.) The next Short Story Award for New Writers competition will be held in February. Glimmer Train’s monthly submission calendar may be viewed here.

First place: D.M. Gordon of Leeds, MA, wins $1200 for “The Work of Hunters Is Another Thing.” Her story will be published in the Spring 2011 issue of Glimmer Train Stories, out in February 2011. [Photo credit: Ellen Augarten.]

Second place: Amanda Korman of Williamstown, MA, wins $500 for “From the Needle of Gwen.”

Third place: Tara Stillions of La Mesa, CA, wins $300 for “General, After the Tornado.”

A PDF of the Top 25 winners can be found here.

Also: Very Short Fiction competition (deadline soon approaching! January 31)

Glimmer Train hosts this competition twice a year, and first place is $1200 plus publication in the journal. It’s open to all writers, no theme restrictions, and the word count must not exceed 3000. Click here for complete guidelines.

Jobs & Fellowships

The Brown International Writers Project is currently seeking nominations and applications for its one-year fellowship with residency. Deadline: Feb 15

The English Department at Quinnipiac University accepting applications for Assistant Professor beginning in Fall 2010. Feb 28

St. Lawrence University invites Fiction or creative non-fiction writers with significant publications and teaching experience to apply for the position of Viebranz Visiting Professor of Creative Writing for the academic year 2010-2011. Dr. Sidney Sondergard, English

Monmouth University Assistant Professor, Creative Writing (Fiction) and Literature. Feb 28

New Lit on the Block :: Bananafish

Bananafish Magazine is "an online venue for exceptional, short-form literature with a focus on wit, originality, and innovation," with Founding Editor Daniel McDermott and Assistant Editor Elaine Strome.

The inaugural issue, January 2010, features works by Teri Carter, Nathan Leslie, Kenneth Pobo, Anne Wagener, William Farrant, Eirik Gumeny, Nick Chambers, and Lindsay Champion.

Bananafish is open for submissions of fiction and memoir.

Writers: Stop Navel Gazing

The Death of Fiction: Lit mags were once launching pads for great writers and big ideas. Is it time to write them off?

"Stop being so damned dainty and polite. Treat writing like your lifeblood instead of your livelihood. And for Christ's sake, write something we might want to read."

By Ted Genoways in Mother Jones, Jan/Feb 2010.

[via Gerry Canavan]

Updates

Added to NewPages Guide to Literary Magazines
The Basilica Review - poetry
Palimpsest Journal
Bananfish – fiction, memoir
Dark Lady Poetry
Miracle Monocle - fiction, poetry, microfiction
Scarab - iPhone poetry and prose
The Tower Journal - poetry, fiction, essays, book reviews

Added to NewPages Guide to Independent Publishers and University Presses
Luminis Books
Canarium Books

New Lit on the Block :: Eclectic Flash

Eclectic Flash editors Brad Nelson, Sheila Smith, Grandpa Fitz, Jason Smith, and Deborah Dalcin, have released the first issue, available online as PDF and also in print format. EF is pen to all styles and genre of poetry, prose, fiction, nonfiction, short script, essay, experimental, literary, horror, sci fi, etc. - as long as it's fewer than 1000 words. The first issue is packed with works from fifty writers, and submissions are being accepted for the next issue.

Eclectic Flash is currently running a flash fiction and poetry contest. To enter, write a FF story or poem based on some element in a video posted on their site (and make a $1 donation).

[Re-posted with corrections.]

New Lit on the Block :: Atonal Poetry Review

"There is new voice for avant-garde and experimental poetry that can now be heard. An electronic journal that showcases unconventional writers and subject matter far from the main stream featuring beat, postmodern, jazz, and free verse poetry from all over the world." Published by J.P. Farrell and edited by Michelle Garvey, Dominick Montalto, Atonal Poetry Review has launched its inaugural issue.

Contributors come from Canada, Ireland, The United States, India, Norway, England and Germany. Featuring poet Dr. Lorne Foster, other authors include Ben Velazquez, J.R. Slonche, Joe Wetteroth, Rebecca Singh, Jason Joyce, Daniel Klawitter, Devika Menon, Catherine Frazer - and many more for a total of 30 poets.

Atonal Poetry Review is currently accepting submissions of poetry and certain essays, reviews and interviews - see their website for specific information.

eBooks Required by Law

A new state law, effective January 1, 2020, will require that all textbooks used in public and private postsecondary institutions be made available in electronic form "to the extent practicable" either "in whole or in part." Senate Bill 48 states that "the electronic version of any textbook shall contain the same content as the printed version and may be copy-protected." [The Chronicle of Higher Ed]

New Lit on the Block :: Fractions

Founded in Wichita, KS in the summer of 2009, Fractions is are a bimonthly independent arts publication that features visual artists, writers, musicians, film makers, craftspeople, culinary artists and other individuals engaging in creative pursuits. It presents work from individuals, local to international, amateur to professional. Fractions is available via Issu on their website as well as in print. It is supported by contributions from the community.

Book Art

Check out these book-ish photos by Parsley Steinweiss on InDigest Magazine.

New Lit on the Block :: 5x5

5x5 is radio terminology used to signify that the signal has excellent strength and perfect clarity. And 5x5 is also a "nascent, printed literary magazine" publishing poetry, fiction, nonfiction, comics & visual arts in a palm-sized (5"x5"), saddle-stiched format. The most recent issue includes works by James Hannibal, Jory M. Mickelson, Ian Denning, Jonathan W. Sodt, Ryler Dustin, R.M. Hanson, Nathan Burgoine, and Jenni B. Baker. Each issue is themed, but as the editors point out, "themes are meant to be suggestions only...play with our themes...tell us your leaps of imagination and wordplay...we don't want to box you in."

Submission are open to high school and beyond, with free subscriptions offered to high school students.

The Antigonish Review Contest Winners

The newest issue (159) of The Antigonish Review includes the winners of the 2009 Great Blue Heron Poetry Contest - First, Jennifer Houle; Second, Eve Joseph; Third, Eleonre Schomaier - and the Sheldon Currie Fiction Prize - First, Sheila McClarty; Second, Laura Rock; Third, Ian Bullock.

TMR William Peden Prize

Each fall, The Missouri Review selects the best fiction published in TMR during the previous volume year as the William Peden Prize in fiction. This year, James A. McLaughlin was named for his story, "Bearskin," which appeared in volume 31 number 2. This year's judge was Greg Michalson, co-publisher of Unbridled Books.

New LIt on the Block :: Spilt Milk

Ben Spivey, Kyle Whitley and Jennifer Whitley, editors of Warm Milk Printing Press, have begun a new venture in publishing Spilt Milk, an online literary magazine. The first issues, Fall 2009, includes authors Eric Beeny, J.A. Tyler, Kenneth Radu, Howie Good, Greg Santos, and Donal Mahoney. Spilt Milk is open for submissions of works between 500-5000 words.

Books Banned on Planes

The Literary Type - the blog of The New Quarterly: Canadian Writers and Writing - reports that Edmonton International Airport's newest security, while allowing purses and laptops onto planes, will not allow books or magazines. Wha-the-fuh?

New Lit on the Block :: Leveler

Edited by Jennifer H. Fortin, P.J. Gallo, Evan Glasson, and Yotam Hadass, Leveler offers a new approach to publishing poetry online. Each week, the editors publish one poem, alongside which they offer their comments about the work: "To assure our readers we are being responsible editors and to increase the transparency of our editorial process as a whole, each poem published by LEVELER will be accompanied by a brief note on our selection entitled 'levelheaded.' Here we will look at what a poem conveys and how. In no way do we claim 'levelheaded' is a final, authoritative take on any corresponding poem. Instead, we hope to provide readers with another way into the poem, thereby encouraging closer readings, and ultimately, challenges to our findings."

The editors also offer their readers an opportunity to respond to each poem as well: "we encourage thoughtful responses to individual poems and challenges to our own observations and interpretations."

While Leveler has the next month of poems planned, they are open for submissions.

Currently published or waiting in the wings are poems by Priyadarshi Patnaik, Karen Neuberg, Gerald Yelle, Nate Pritts, Jay Snodgrass, Mark Jackley, Heather McNaugher, Stephen Danos, Ron Green, Chris Caldemeyer, Nancy Devine, Tom McCauley, and Rob Schlegel.

Frederick Douglass on Haiti

From his Lecture on Haiti by Frederick Douglass, delivered in Chicago at the Dedication Ceremonies at the World's Fair, in Jackson Park, January 2, 1893:

"Haiti is a rich country. She has many things which we need and we have many things which she needs. Intercourse between us is easy. Measuring distance by time and improved steam navigation, Haiti will one day be only three days from New York and thirty-six hours from Florida; in fact our next door neighbor. On this account, as well as others equally important, friendly and helpful relations should subsist between the two countries. Though we have a thousand years of civilization behind us, and Haiti only a century behind her; though we are large and Haiti is small; though we are strong and Haiti is weak; though we are a continent and Haiti is bounded on all sides by the sea, there may come a time when even in the weakness of Haiti there may be strength to the United States."

[Thanks to Gabriel Gudding for the link.]

Yale Open Courses

Open Yale Courses provides free and open access to a selection of introductory courses taught by distinguished teachers and scholars at Yale University. The aim of the project is to expand access to educational materials for all who wish to learn.

Under English: Milton with John Rogers; The American Novel Since 1945 with Amy Hungerford; Introduction to Theory of Literature with Paul H. Fry; and Modern Poetry with Langdon Hammer (pictured).



These are full-semester courses with separate video segments for each session and a syllabus with reading list.

New Lit on the Block :: Palimpsest

Palimpsest is edited and published by the CU Humanities Club and the CU Literaria Society, and though the majority of the contributors to this first issue have Colorado connections, the publication also includes and welcomes non-Colorado contributors.

More inclusive in terms of content, Palimpsest seeks "engaging work in all genres of the Humanities, including literary fiction and poetry, film and theater scripts, creative nonfiction, visual art (including painting, drawing, segments of graphic novels, photography, film stills, and documentation of installation or performance work), audiovisual submissions including film, music, and electronic text (for publication on Palimpsest website), librettos and musical scores, handwritten work and text-art, artistic and philosophical manifestos, literary theory, scholarly essays, and new translations into English of work in all applicable genres."

Distribution of the print publication seem limited, but complimentary copies will be sent to those who inquire.

New Lit on the Block :: Dark Lady Poetry

Founding Editor Amber Victoria Tudor and Web Designer Kevin Jobe bring Dark Lady Poetry to the web on a monthly basis. Already in its forth issue since late 2009, Dark Lady Poetry has featured such writers as A.P. Chambers, Louie Crew , Joseph Fonseca, Jennifer A. Hudson, Lola Nation, Benjamin Neal, Michael Padilla, Ivy Peterson, Judith Skillman, Yermiyahu Ahron Taub, Broadie Thornton, Ivy Torres, Clifford K. Watkins, Jr., and Brandon Whitehead.

Dark Lady Poetry accepts all forms of poetry, and is open for submissions.

KR Features North American Indigenous Authors

The Kenyon Review Winter 2010 is a special issue "Devoted to work by North American Indigenous authors" and edited by Simon Ortiz, including a conversation with Ortiz by Janet McAdams. A full list of contents is available on their site.

Espresso Near You, Soon

Espresso Book Machine and Xerox have made a deal, providing the user-on-demand book maker with a powerhouse sales force. Paper books arm wrestle back against Kindle...

New Lit on the Block :: Jelly Bucket

Jelly Bucket - once the term used for a coal miner's lunch pail - has become something quite different at the hands of the Eastern Kentucky University Creative Writing Program. An annual of poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction and artwork, the publication is unique in providing an eight-page color insert in each issue dedicated to visual art that incorporates text and/or features an aspect of the book arts. This first issue highlights the poetry and handmade journals of poet/artist Hank Lazer. Also included in this issue are works by Mary Molinary, Dan Sociu as translated by Adam Sorkin, Roger Pincus, Tony Crunk, Gaylord Brewer, Heather van Deest, and many more.

Jelly Bucket is open for submission from February 1 through June 1, accepting only original, unpublished works.

Pacific University Reviewers

In response to a call for reviewers, I heard from two university professors who offered to have their students write literary magazine reviews for NewPages. The first group of reviews this month come from Kathlene Postma at Pacific University in Oregon. Postma is editor of Silk Road literary magazine, and explain that "the students are regularly asked to assess other journals in order to strengthen their own work on Silk Road. These are avid readers - of every submission we receive and of literature in general," she says. “They approached these journals from NewPages with an open mind and a desire to get a grasp on what’s happening in the world of small press publishing. They are excited to share what they found with other passionate readers and writers.”

The student reviews are noted by the addition of "Pacific University" after the reviewer's name. Check out what these avid readers, current editors, and up-and-coming writers have to say about the publications. The Pacific University reviewers welcome your feedback.

TMR Creative Non-Fiction Winner

Judy Copeland was the winner of The Malahat Review's 2009 Creative Non-Fiction Prize. Final Judge John Threlfall chose her entry "Where Sea Meets Sky" from among 105 submissions. Copeland's childhood memory of postwar Japan can be read in the most current issue, 169/Winter 2009.

American Short Ficiton New Editor

American Short Fiction welcomes Jill Meyers as its new editor beginning with the Winter 2009 issue. In her editor's note, Meyers discusses Rebecca Solnit's Field Guide to Getting Lost as a metaphor for reading fiction, and invites her readers to come in and "get lost" in the publication.

New Lit on the Block :: Scarab iMag

Editors Brian Wilson and Ian Terrell are touting Scarab as the first literary magazine for your iPhone. The publication promises to deliver eleven new works of poetry and prose and one interview per issue - only for your iPhone and iPod touch. There is a fee for per use of the app, but Wilson and Terrell note that "22% of the purchase price for each issue goes directly to the artists involved."

The first issue includes authors Isris Goodwin, Dan Rosenberg, Bryan Parys, Sarah Stickney, Major Jackson, Hannah Larrabee, Sean Bishop, Leah Williams, Alicia Ostriker, and Michael Venditozzi.

The Way of Wayward English

In the NYT article "This Is English, Rules Are Optional," Neil Genzlinger takes a look at the English language with Jack Lynch, professor of English at Rutger's University and author of The Lexicographer's Dilemma.

Crazyhorse Winners

The 2009 winner of the Crazyhorse fiction prize, Elizabeth Oness, and the Lydia Hull Memorial Poetry Prize, Kary Wayson, have their works published in the Fall 2009 issue available now.

Crazyhorse also announced fiction writer Jennine Capó Crucet as the winner of The Winthrop Prize, Crazyhorse's Emerging Writer & Residency Prize. She will receive $1000 and a brief residency at the College of Charleston.

Passings :: David Franks

Baltimore poet David Franks was found dead in his home on Thursday, January 14,2010. He had been battling cancer and other health issues, though a cause of death has not yet been released. Joe Wall - "David’s web guy, collaborator, friend" - has posted a note asking for comments, stories, etc. to help rebuild David's web site, which had lost content due to a server error. Visit the site here.

Closings :: Bodhi Tree, CA

Phil Thompson and Stan Madson, owners of Bodhi Tree Bookstore (Los Angeles), reportedly told their staff last week that the store will be shutting its doors in a year's time after almost 40 years in business. With both owners in their 70s, they decided to sell the building on Melrose Avenue to a real estate developer. Read more on WEHONews.com.

Passings :: Laura Hruska

Laura Hruska, co-founder of the Soho Press in 1986 (along with her husband, Alan Hruska, and their friend Juris Jurjevics) died January 9, 2010 at her home in Manhattan. Hruska is noted for helping launch the careers of many prominent writers, including Edwidge Danticat, Dan Fesperman, Robert Hellenga, Susan Richards, Garth Stein, and Jacqueline Winspear. As of January 1, Hruska's daughter Bronwen Hruska took over as publisher of Soho Press. Memorial services were held on January 15.

Mrs. P Writing Contest Winner

Announced today, the winners of the Mrs. P National Writing contest: Gabrielle Fuller, 8,from NC with her comic fairy tale, “Pretty Princess and Funky Frog” and Isabella Penola, 12, from NY with her poignant tale of an elderly gardener, “Spattered Mud and Crushed Petals."

Mrs. P's website is a free interactive digital storybook destination that has begun to receive award recognition for its kid-friendly content. Classic children’s stories are brought to life in the Magic Library by TV star Kathy Kinney as Mrs. P.

Puritan Lives

After a sixteen-month hiatus, Editors Spencer Gordon and Tyler Willis have brought back
The Puritan in a new online format. This inaugural online issue includes poetry by Angela Hibbs, Nathaniel G. Moore, Andrew Faulkner, Catriona Wright, Mike Spry, Pearl Pirie, Monty Reid, fiction by John Lavery, John Goldbach, Eva Moran, Michael Bryson, Sarah Dearing, Michael Blouin, Rebecca Rosenblum, and interviews with Sheila Heti and Jan Zwicky.

The Puritan is also accepting submissions of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, interviews, and reviews, as well as art for covers related to the publication content.

Black Holes and Creative Comments

Brief, but refreshing to see such creative writing in a post comment string:

Anekanta - Go Play!
Wha da fuh...??? Matter flows away from the black hole, and thus the galaxy doesn't swallow itself?

This makes me happy! Now I can establish my galactic empire without fear of it imploding due to natural forces! Tremble, mortals!

Bill-Lee
@Anekanta - Go Play!: Do you have a chief minion yet? Cause I've been looking for an evil overlord to boss me around...

Read the rest here.

Wallace Stevens Walk

The Friends & Enemies of Wallace Stevens in Hartford, CT, dedicated the Wallace Stevens Walk this past summer: thirteen granite makers, each etched with a stanza from his poem "Thirteen Ways to Look at a Blackbird." The walk retraces WS's steps from his workplace, The Hartford building at 690 Asylum Avenue, to his former home at 118 Westerly Terrace. If you can't make it there in person, the organization's website includes an aerial map and photos from each of the thirteen marker locations.

Hayden's Ferry Review AWP Intro Award

AWP Intro Award Winners Rebecca Morgan Frank (Poetry - "Intellectual Property") and Kendall Sand (Fiction - "Bad Poetry") are published in the most recent issue of Hayden's Ferry Review (Fall/Winter 2009-2010).

Two-Year College Lit Mags - Who Cares?

You should, and here's why, according to Jessica Powers who interviewed several editors of two-year college literary magazines.

New Lit on the Block :: Southern Women's Review

Edited by Alicia K. Clavell, the Southern Women’s Review is a newly established on-line literary journal that allows others access to artistic excellence through Southern Literature and Photography. The second issue features over 100 pages of creative works from poets, fiction and creative non-fiction writers, photographers, and more. The next reading period for the publication begins March 1, 2010.

Best of - Comics & Graphic Novels

By Steve Duin of The Oregonian - The Best of 2009: Comics and Graphic Novels

Police Poetry

Art at Work: The Portland Police Poetry Calendar. This could only happen in Portland. I'd be happy to be proven wrong.

Dominican Republic Women's Poetry

Upcoming on The Moe Green Poetry Discussion on BlogTalk Radio - January 13 at 6:00 PM - Join Rafael and Brett as they talk to Judith Kerman the translator of Praises & Offenses: Three Women Poets from the Dominican Republic. While the three poets presented in this bilingual collection present a rich contrast of linguistic and stylistic elements, each of them addresses shared political and cultural issues, illuminating what it means to be a woman living in the modern day Dominican Republic. Judith Kerman, who has translated a number of female poets from the Caribbean, notes that “contemporary women poets from the Dominican Republic are the most under-served group when it comes to English-language translation, in particular full-length collections or anthologies.” Thus, this exciting new anthology from BOA contains much that was previously unavailable to the English reader.

Lit Mags - Got Interns & Remote Readers?

Lyz Lenz from Lesley University is compiling a of list of literary magazines that have interns and/or readers who work remotely. Please help her with this research by contacting her at eclenz-at-gmail.com as well as sharing this post.

New Lit on the Block :: OVS Magazine

OVS Magazine was started in 2009 by Stephen and Ivy Page to give new and established artists and poets a place to publish their work in a respectable peer-critiqued journal. OVS Magazine is an online and print literary journal based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, edited by staff and guest authors/artists.

The first issue of OVS features an Interview with Maxine Kumin, poetry by Maxine Kumin, Terry Lucas, Jana Wilson, Tayve Neese, Susan Vespoli, Steven Riel, Sarah Luczaj, Beverly Walker, Alan King, Ryan McLellan, Peter Schwartz, Paul Fisher , Matthew Ostapchuk, Jenn Monroe, Jeff Friedman, Janice Krasselt Medin, Christoper Crawford, Kathleen Vibbert, Carol Lynn Grellas, Eric Crapo, Heidi Therrien, and artwork by Jim Fuess, Mike Lewis, Peter Schwarts, and Beth Page.

Swindle Your Poetry

Swindle is "a community for discovering and sharing contemporary poetry. Poems get into Swindle in one of two ways — through our automated feed crawler (which scrapes new poems from publications such as The New Yorker, Poetry Magazine, and Rattle), and through submissions from our users." You can add a link by sending Editor Johnathon Williams a link to your (valid) RSS feed.

Women Writers of Haitian Descent

Women Writers of Haitian Descent (WWHOD) promotes and explores the fiction, non-fiction, and journalistic works of Haitian women writers internationally. WWOHD serves as a literary forum for new and established writers, be they closeted essayists, budding novelists, gifted storytellers, or inspiring poets. The organization gives them validation alongside a platform for their work. WWOHD also engages in select community and literacy oriented projects.

WWHOD is currently seeking short stories for their anthology: The Haiti I Knew, The Haiti I know, The Haiti I want to Know: Contemporary Writings by Haitian Women, an anthology of prose by women in Haiti, and women of Haitian descent living abroad, that they hope will strengthen the voice of Haitian women in the world of literature.

New Lit on the Block :: Basilica Review

Senior Editor Heather Cadenhead, and Poetry Editors Renee Emerson and Sarah LeNoir debut The Basilica Review. This first issue features the work of poets both established and new, the prize-winning and the previously unpublished: Julie L. Moore, Bobby C. Rogers, Todd Davis, Terri Kirby Erickson, Isaiah Vianese, Luci Shaw, Gary Leising, Leslie D. Bohn, Kristen Miller, Jack Ridl, Amy Anderson, Michael Schmeltzer, David Craig, Adam Penna, and Jenn Blair.

The Basilica Review is currently open for submissions and publishes in an online, PDF format.

Jobs

The Department of English and the BFA program at Stephen F. Austin State University seeks applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Creative Writing, with a specialization in fiction and a strong secondary strength in creative nonfiction or poetry. Jan 20

Norwich University one-year visiting Instructor/Assistant Professor of English—Creative Nonfiction/Advanced Writing. Feb 5

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Department of English and the Creative Writing Program seek to bring an emerging talent to campus for a one-year teaching appointment as the Kenan Visiting Writer, a position that alternates between poetry & prose. Michael McFee, Director, Creative Writing Program. Feb 1

Narrative Introduces the iStory

Narravtive's iPhone Application debuts in early 2010. To celebrate the launch of the App, they’re inviting iStory submissions - short, dramatic narrative, fiction or nonfiction, up to 150 words long for publication both in the magazine and on the iPhone.

2010 National Ambassador for Young People's Literature

Katherine Paterson has been named the Library of Congress National Ambassador for Young People's Literature.

NewPages Writing Contest Guides

Check out the NewPages Guides to Writing Contests where we list quality contests for individual works for publication as well as for books/chapbooks. These pages are updated regularly, so check back for new listings.

Holiday Stories Wanted

Chris Heavener, Editor/Publisher of Annalemma Magazine, writes: "We're working on a new zine called Holiday in Cambodia. The idea is to collect a bunch of true stories surrounding the Holidays, compile them into a zine and donate the proceeds to Anne Elizabeth Moore, an author and activist who is teaching young Cambodia women how to make zines."

There will be an open fee for submissions, meaning submitters are encouraged to send whatever they think is a fair submission fee. "Could be zero dollars, could be $100. Yup, just like the Radiohead thing." This book will be available to purchase for $10 on January 31st, 2010. All proceeds from sales, as well as submission fees, will go directly to Anne’s amazing work with young Cambodian women.

Click here for more info. Deadline is January 15 - so don't delay!

Missouri Review Extends Contest Deadline

The Missouri Review's Audio & Video Contest 2009 deadline has been extended to January 17th. Submit your entry in Audio/Voice-Only Lit or Video Documentary.

Published Without Permission

That's not nice.

Poem: Kazim Ali

As a mythology teacher, I enjoy contemporary literary interpretations of the classic myths/characters. The title of this poem by Ali first reminded me of Björk's "Venus as a Boy." Some of my favorites in this same vein are in the collection Becoming the Villianess (Steel Toe Books, 2006) by Jeannine Hall Gailey.

Persephone as a Boy
by Kazim Ali

He never says what he feels.
His father used to say, “Your face is like a flower.”
He wilts when he thinks about loneliness...

Read the rest on West Branch online.

KR Online Features Veronica Forrest-Thomson

From Kenyon Review Online:

On Saturday, January 17th, 2008, Christ’s College, Cambridge, and the Centre for Modernist Studies at the University of Sussex co-hosted a daylong symposium on the work of Veronica Forrest-Thomson, author of three poetry collections and the influential critical work Poetic Artifice: A Theory of Twentieth-Century Poetry. The publishers Shearsman and Allardyce, Barnett issued a new edition of her work in 2008: Veronica Forrest-Thomson: Collected Poems. The symposium came on the heels of this publication, in an effort to further increase the visibility of Forrest-Thomson’s life and work.

The Kenyon Review is pleased to continue that goal by publishing a special online retrospective of a selection of Veronica Forrest-Thomson's poetry as well as six of the papers presented at the symposium.

Chapbook Roundtable

John Madera of The Chapbook Review asks a number of chapbook editors/publishers to participate in a roundtable discussion on defining the chapbook, what they look for in publishing chapbooks, commerce and publicity, and many other related issues. [via Genevieve Kaplan of Toad Press]

Gina Myers :: NewPages Book Review Editor

NewPages welcomes Gina Myers as the new Book Review Editor! Gina lives in Saginaw, Michigan, where she works as an adjunct English instructor and freelance writer. She completed her M.F.A. at The New School, and her first full length collection of poetry, A Model Year, was published in July 2009 by Coconut Books. In her spare time, she publishes Lame House Books and contributes editing to H_NGM_N and 360 Main Street. In addition to writing poetry, she is an active book reviewer, with recent reviews appearing at BookSlut and The Poetry Project Newsletter. Gina is excited to join the team at NewPages, and looks forward to bringing more attention to quality work produced by independent publishers. She hopes to expand the monthly book reviews and publishing news updates, allowing more voices to be heard and more books and authors to be spotlighted.

Passings :: Rachel Wetzteon, Poet

Rachel Wetzsteon, a prominent poet whose work was known for its mordant wit, formal elegance and cleareyed examination of the solitary yet defiant lives of single women, was found dead on Monday at her home in Manhattan. She was 42. (NYT Books)

NewPages Updates

Added to the NewPages Big List of Literary Magazines
Bartleby Snopes – fiction
Glitter Pony – poetry
Litterbox Magazine – art, poetry, fiction, nonfiction, recipes
Little Red Leaves – poetry, multimedia
Still – fiction, poetry, nonfiction, multimedia, interview
Scheherezade's Bequest – fiction, poetry
Halfway Down the Stairs – fiction, nonfiction, poetry

Added to the NewPages List of Alternative Magazines
Abilities (CA)

2010 Cockefair Chair Writer in Residence

Margot Livesey has been named the 2010 Cockefair Chair Writer-in-Residence at the Univeristy of missouri-Kansas, March 22 - March 26, 2010. She will present a reading and book signing as well as discussion on fiction at the university. Full event details can be found on the New Letters website events calendar.

NDQ Examines Higher Education

The newest issue of North Dakota Quarterly (75.2) focuses on "Higher Education," and is aptly introduced by Editor Robert W. Lewis with consideration for "Lower Education." Included in this issue, along with poems by Lee Slonimsky and Carolyn Raphael as well as a packed review section, is this incredible line-up of essays:

Thomas Van Nortwick - "Living in the Moment: A Teacher's Thoughts on Higher Education"
Fred Whitehead - "The Citadel Revisited"
Steiner Opstead - "University of North Dakota Commencement: August 1, 2010"
Paul T. Bryant - "Academic Comparisons"
Sheryl O'Donnell - "University Inc.: Transforming the Groves of Academe"
Dan Rice - "Higher Education: Where We've Gone Wrong"
Laurel Reuter - "Wise Counsel, Glorious Company"
Joan Rudel - "On Becoming a Teacher"
Gaynell Gavin - "Leavings"
Michael Graham - "Notes on Teaching in Prison"
Donald Gutierrez - "Three Universities and Three Cities: A Memoir"
Gregory Gagnon - "Survival, Identity, Sovereignty, and Indian Agency: Contributions to Indians Studies Scholarship"
Louise Erdrich - "What's in Our Name?"

New Letters Readers Awards Winners

New Letters magazine has announced the New Letters Readers Awards Winners for Vol. 75, Issues 1-4, 2008-2009:

Fiction, "Layover" By Matthew Pitt

Poetry, "Poem at Christmas" By Winfield Townley Scott

Essay, "Double Vision" By D.L. Tucker

Runners up and honorable mentions can all be viewed on the New Letters website. Readers are invited each year to nominate their favorites. For 2009-2010, selections can be make from volume 76, issues 1-4.

Required Reading: MQR's Issue on Bookishness

BOOKISHNESS: The New Fate of Reading in the Digital Age
Michigan Quarterly Review, Fall 2009

"We... live at a double moment: the death of the book and the dearth of reading face off against a proliferation of virtual books, the overabundance of writing. At such a time, everything seems up for grabs in ways both threatening and promising; it's either a brave new world or Brave New World that confronts us... Without abandoning our sense of what is lost, we mustn't lose the imagination of what is potentially—and increasingly, actually—to be gained..." — Jonathan Freedman, "Bookishness; A Brief Introduction"

Essays
Leah Price, "Reading As If for Life"
Alan Liu, "The End of the End of the Book: Dead Books, Lively Margins, and Social Computing"
Phil Pochoda, "UP 2.0: Some Theses on the Future of Academic Publishing"
Jessica Pressman "The Aesthetic of Bookishness in Twenty-First-Century Literature"
Paul N. Courant, "New Institutions for the Digital Age"
Zeynep Devrim Gürsel, "The Taste of Mice"
Benjamin Busch, "Growth Rings"
David Kirby, "The Traveling Library"
Michael Wood, "Distraction Theory: How to Read While Thinking of Something Else"
Stephen Burt, "Poems about Superheroes"

[Cover image: Ann Arbor's Shaman Drum Bookshop "Going Out of Business Sale" signs.]

Film Fans - Salmagundi Must-Have Issue

Always worth the cover/subscription price, so an absolute steal this issue, Salmagundi magazine Fall 2009-Winter 2010 is a special issue devoted to the great German film-maker Margarethe von Trotta, whose film Marianne and Juliane won the Venice Film Festival Award for Best Film and Best Director and whose other films - Rosenstrasse, Sheer Madness, Sisters, Rosa Luxemburg among them - have received numerous international awards. One of von Trotta's latest feature films, The Other Woman, starring Barbara Sukowa, which has never been released in the United States, will be available as a DVD, sealed inside the special issue of Salmagundi.

Anderbo on Your Phone

You can now read the online literary journal anderbo.com on your iPhone or Blackberry - no app required.

Kore Award Nominations

The Association for the Study of Women and Mythology announces the Kore Award for best dissertation in women and mythology, offered annually in even-numbered years for dissertations completed in the previous two calendar years. Applicants can be from any discipline, including but not limited to literature, religious studies, art or art history, classics, anthropology, and communications. Creative dissertations must include significant analysis of mythology in addition to creative work. All dissertations must be in English. Applicants must include letter of recommendation from dissertation advisor or member of dissertation review committee. All materials must be sent electronically. Deadline for applications: January 15, with award to be given at AWM national conference, April 13-15, near Scranton, PA. Submit to: goldcrow47-at-comcast-dot-net

Jobs

Seton Hill University seeks published genre novelist (priority for popular mystery/crime/suspense writer; will also consider fantasy or romance author) for tenure-track position in our low-residency MFA program in Writing Popular Fiction, starting June 2010. Michael Arnzen, PhD. Feb 3

University of Central Oklahoma seeks a full-time, one-year temporary, non-tenure-track, visiting writer. Feb 15

Arc Poetry Magazine Poet in Residence, October 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011. Application deadline: Jan 31