Stephanie Griffin, owner of Twenty-third Avenue Books in Portland, Oregon, put everything she had into keeping her bookstore alive, but it wasn’t enough as she now finds herself on the streets.

Footnotes for What is Happening Somewhere
JodiAnn Stevenson
Published May 23, 2009 in Abjective

1. Drink the drown summer. Someone’s babies dream of drinking drum. First it settles on you as nonsense, noise. As if words have been strung together aimlessly. And, maddeningly, regular syntax seems to be in use — it sounds like it should make sense. Shouldn’t that mean something?

2. And the sounds it makes are fine. Babies bring dreams to seams. Seams fit in a line. They are so fine that they are fun and even beautiful. Sometimes too beautiful to be confused. A long line of gold ribbon running from the butcher’s truck, a knife.

Read the rest on Abjective.

Americans for the Arts Announces Professional Development Fund for Emerging Arts Leaders of Color

Please post this announcement to your listservs and networks, and share with others in your community!

Americans for the Arts is pleased to announce that Chicago-based Joyce Foundation has renewed its support for Americans for the Arts’ Professional Development Fund for Emerging Arts Leaders of Color. A total of five Joyce Fellows from the Great Lakes region (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin) will be selected to participate in this program in 2009.

Fellows will receive stipends of $3,000 to support their attendance at the 2009 National Arts Marketing Project Conference, Arts Advocacy Day 2010, and the 2010 Americans for the Arts Convention. In addition, fellows will have special opportunities to meet field leaders, work alongside mentors, and receive individualized career coaching. An additional five fellows will be selected in 2010.

The application deadline for this year is August 14, 2009. Download application materials and eligibility information at Americans for the Arts, or for more information contact Stephanie Evans at [email protected] or by phone at 202.371.2830.

The Central Oregon Community College (COCC) Barber Library seeks applications for the fifth year of the Library Scholar-in-Residence Program. The appointment will continue the focus on creative writing with a Writer in Residence. The appointment begins September 1 and offers the selected scholar a shared office in the library, a computer and network use, and faculty level research access for up to one year. Deadline: July 31, 2009

American Book Review offers a focus on the question of teaching creative writing in its May/June 2009 issue, including their introduction: “Why Teach Creative Writing?” and responses from Lee K. Abbott, Angela Ball, Leslee Becker, Kelly Cherry, Bret Anthony Johnston, Anna Leahy, Lance Olsen, Julie Shigekuni, and Steve Tomasula.

There’s a great deal to be garnered from these thoughtfully concise responses, not only for writers, but for teachers, students, and all who call themselves readers.

Yes, readers: just because you’re not a “creative writing” teacher/student/writer doesn’t mean you have no stake in this issue. Much in the same way we concern ourselves with the ingredients in the foods we eat, reading about this issue of teaching creative writing has much to to with understanding the ingredients of what we consume when we read.

Leslie Balkany, museum educator at the Ackland Art Museum, is the founder and leader of the Art and Literature in the Galleries program. The program explores the ways in which visual art and literature complement each other.

Read more on Chapel Hill News.

Test your literary knowledge on seven questions from the GCSE English Literature Quiz (General Certificate of Secondary Education – an academic qualification awarded in a specified subject, generally taken in a number of subjects by students aged 15–16 in secondary education in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland).

Bedbug Press has gone on an indefinite hiatus. Contact information is available on their website for questions re: any orders.

A note from Paul Dry of Paul Dry Books that is worth reflection:

Dear Reader,

What words would you use to describe yourself as a reader? Recently I came across two that describe the kind of reader I’d like to be: Ingenuous and Discerning. Since they suggest opposing tendencies I think they describe a good reader. By putting each at the center of a trio, I hope you’ll see what I mean.

Place “Ingenuous” between “Gullible” and “Close-minded”:

Gullible———-Ingenuous———-Close-minded

And place “Discerning” between “Picky” and “Clueless”:

Picky————Discerning———Clueless

In each trio, the term to the left of the middle one is its degraded caricature, and the one to the right, its contrary.

The Ingenuous Reader reads without preconceptions of the author’s intentions or abilities. She’s ready to enjoy and learn from the writing. But there’s a risk to her openness: the Ingenuous Reader may be gullible. Discernment protects her from gullibility. On the other hand, a reader may come to an unknown book so leery of it that she is closed to its possibilities. At this end of the scale of judgment, discernment again guides the reader. To remain ingenuous, we need discernment.

The Discerning Reader makes distinctions, notices and evaluates style, and appreciates a writer’s rhetorical and dialectical abilities. Pickiness is this reader’s characteristic vice. He may have decided that his taste is impeccable and, hence, be unwilling to consider new styles and genres. But in avoiding pickiness, this reader doesn’t want to fall on the other side of discernment into what I’ll call cluelessness. Ingenuousness keeps The Discerning Reader open but not clueless.

The qualities of ingenuousness and discernment are twin pilots, each helping the other to hold the center. Ingenuousness alerts readers to good writing, wherever it comes from. Discernment allows the reader to praise (or criticize) a book, no matter what associations the book carries with it. These paired virtues lead to accurate enthusiasm.

I think we develop these qualities by reading a lot and thinking about what we’ve read and talking or writing about it-and then by reading more books. It’s a happy, and happily endless, cycle.

Sincerely,

Paul Dry
Paul Dry Books

From our local paper, The Bay City Times:

STERLING – The MediLodge of Sterling, a rehabilitative and skilled nursing facility, is asking area residents to send birthday cards for a resident who is turning 102 on July 11.

Eleanor Wenner has lived at the facility for two years and will be celebrating her 102nd birthday with her husband of 64 years, Al, on July 11.

Other than her husband, who resides in the facility with her, Wenner has no other family members to help her celebrate, said Jeri Harris, marketing director at MediLodge.

The cards will be opened at 2 p.m. July 14, during the birthday celebration with staff and residents fo mediLodge. The event is open to the public.

If you would like to send Wenner a card, mail them to Eleanor Wenner, c/o MediLodge of Sterling, 500 School Road, Sterling, MI 48659.

For more information, call Jeri Harris at the MediLodge of Sterling (989) 701-0071.

Seems some Harvard guys got together for this behind-the-scenes remake of Marcel Proust’s Swann’s Way – remade in the zombie version, Swann’s Blood.

On the coattails – or should I say dragging entrails of – Seth Grahame-Smith’s zombiefied Pride and Prejudice, this making-of video is a nice jab at the remake (dare I say) genre.

James Leaf as Director William St. Forte introduces the work: “To me a great film tells you something about yourself, and often I find that something is: you’re a zombie.”

St. Forte later comments on working with the scriptwriter: “His first draft was very introspective. But I found if I just changed the word ‘memory’ to ‘bloodsplosion,’ well, everything worked out alright.”

Steven De Marco as BJ Hardon (really?) as Marcel Proust: “When did this happen? I have no bloodsplosion about it.”

Ten minutes of total literary fun.

River Styx independent literary magazine invites applications for the part-time position of Managing Editor. The areas of primary responsibility include general editorial, event coordination, volunteer management, grant writing, and data base management. Candidates must have a minimum of a BA, with experience in literary publishing and computer literacy in both MAC and PC environments. Attention to detail, creativity, self-initiative and a passion for literature are critical to success in this position. Experience with nonprofit management is highly desirable. Please send application letter, resume, and writing samples by July 6 to: Richard Newman, Editor, River Styx, 3547 Olive St., Suite 107, St. Louis, MO 63103 or email to richard.newman<-at->riverstyx<-dot->org

In a previous post, I had a bad link to The Splinter Generation, so I hope to correct that here, and also make a quick note that they are looking for more fiction submissions. So, all you summer-time story writers, get those drafts polished up and sent in! Their new site is looking great!

***[previous post content]***

The Splinter Generation, a one-time-only publication received so much positive attention, the editors have decided to re-launch the journal as an ongoing publication featuring short fiction, poetry and nonfiction from writers born between 1973 and 1993. They’ve also given the site a new look, added some great new editors and are now accepting submissions.

The Splinter Generation is looking for the best poetry, creative nonfiction and fiction. In particular, they’re looking for work that captures what it is to be a member of this generation. Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis, but the reading period will end on November 1.

Darkness is about seven page story about Darryl Cunningham’s time working on an psychiatric ward.

If you’re looking for grants, fellowships, residencies, or other like resources for writers and artists, then get hip with Mira’s List: “Mira’s List is a free service for artists, writers, composers and others in the arts.Here you will find up-to-date information, resources and deadlines for grants, fellowships and international residencies. Money, time and a place to create.”

On McSweeney’s: “Comments written by actual students extracted from workshopped manuscripts at a major university.” My favorite: “Is this a typo or are you being experimental?” It’s a short list, to which I’m sure many of us could add our own…

Loyola College seeks a full-time Affiliate Instructor in Writing to teach first-year core writing course and upper-level course(s) in area(s) of expertise. One year contract, with possibility of renewal.

The Savannah College of Art and Design is seeking candidates for a part-time faculty position in nonfiction writing, specifically creative nonfiction and/or magazine journalism.

Lebanon Valley College (PA) invites applications for a one-year, full-time position as a visiting assistant professor of English beginning fall 2009. July 1

From Inside Higher Ed: Can You Afford to be an Adjunct? – and it’s not just about the pay. Miss Poor Prof gives insight into taking the “adjunct hit” and how to mitigate its effects.

No where can you find international issues more quickly anthologized through literature than in literary journals. Readers wanting to educate themselves on cultures and issues, and teachers wanting to engage students in global issues have instant access through numerous print and online publications. International Poetry Review* is one such journal, devoting its most recent issue to Georgia (v35n1). Guest Editor Dominik Irtenkauf introduces the issue with his comments, “Mythology in Georgia Today.” It begins:

“In global terms, Georgia has become more popular because of the Caucasus conflict. When it comes to attracting the attention of the media, all too often, only bad news is good news. However, the newspaper headlines aside, Georgia is a country whose rich cultural history repays our careful attention…Nowadays, Georgian writers, poets most of all, suffer from financial and cultural deprivations in their country. Nevertheless, literature is strong there because of its rich heritage and voluptuous poetic language.”

The issue includes the original poems, written in a Georgian alphabet Irtenkauf calls “all its own, not to be confused with the Cyrillic,” and Bela Tsipuria, PhD in Georgian Literature, Tbilisi State University, provides an introduction worthy of its own study for the value of Georgian history she provides readers.

This issue of IPR is an outstanding example of the importance of literature in developing a broadly informed view of world cultures.

*The IPR website it a bit outdated, but Editor Mark Smith-Soto assures me updates are in the near future.

Vancouver author Gerry Gilbert died this past week. From Remembering.ca:

“I’ve used up my reality” Tuesday, April 7, 1936 – Friday, June 19, 2009 Gerry, poet, moved into the past tense Friday in Vancouver after a lifetime dedicated to writing, photography and art. He will be greatly missed by his son Jeremy in Toronto and daughter Tamsin Bragg (Ritchie) in Saltspring Island, and by his grandchildren Cassandra and Drew Storey in Saltspring, and Matilda in Toronto. Gerry waspre-deceased by his daughter Lara, sister Linda, and parents Ralph and Betty, all of Vancouver. Gerry, once called the “Jude the Obscure of the Vancouver poetry scene,” published many books of poetry and prose, including “Moby Jane,” “Grounds” and “Azure Blues” and was for many years host of “radiofreerainforest” on Co-op radio. He published “BC Monthly,” a writing journal, and had numerous photographic and audio-visual exhibitions. Through BC Monthly and radiofreerainforest, he was the most active of all the poets in the Vancouver poetry community in promoting and supporting the work of other poets from all the many groups and schools in the city. He lived for the last 40 years in and around Vancouver’s Downtown East Side, subsisting on his writing. His family would like to extend their gratitude to Marlene Swidzinsky and James Campbell, Jamie and Carol Reid, and the staff of St. Paul’s Hospital palliative ward. Gerry’s ashes will be spread over the waters by Jericho Beach, to join his family there who preceded him.

The most recent issue of Alimentum: The Literature of Food (Issue 8) begins with a preface by publisher Paulette Licitra. Its beginning here is something I think many lit mags would agree with, and many readers will find encouraging in seeking out and not being afraid to explore the kind of literature being published these days. Licitra writes:

A couple of years ago someone took me aside and, in a wise-man-giveth-advice tone, told me to take “literature” out of Alimentum‘s subtitle.

“Literature scares people,” he said.

Imagine that. Literature – the word, the idea, the stuff itself – scary. Not scary as in frightening, but as in boring. He thought literature was synonymous with snooze. As if, from this label, people would expect to find dry, bland, sleepy stuff between our covers.

Nothing’s asleep between these covers. Every word is awake and raring to go.

The one thing we didn’t want Alimentum to be is boring. In fact, one of our modi operandi is UNboring. Along with delightful, charming, chewing, tasty (even disturbing), and whoa and wow. And GREAT writing tops our list.

And guess what great writing is called?

Literature.

Even Merriam-Webster says so:

Literature: writings in prose or verse; especially: writing having excellence of form or expression and expressing ideas of permanent or universal interest.

Now who wouldn’t want to read something like that. Turn these pages and you’ll find: literature profound and soul-searching, ironic and funny, irreverent and silly, naive and sophisticated. And sexy, too.

Ivory Sherman speaks out against Urban Lit: “Books were the last thing that the African-American people had that didn’t promote negative stereotypes; but like a virulent virus, urban literature came and destroyed the true essence of books.”

A list of the most looked up words by readers of the New York Times.

The Book Beat Backroom has scoured and compiled a list of top 10 summer reading lists from a variety of educational sources as well as links to NPR, Berkley High School, and Reading is Fundamental.org: “These reading lists of recommended children’s books and young adult books are generally organized by grade level. Many of the elementary children’s reading lists include children’s picture books. Many of the recommended reading lists for middle schoolers include a mix of children’s books and young adult books. You’ll find classics and recently published children’s books and young adult books on these 2009 summer reading lists for preschoolers to grade 12.”

Michael Thomas won the 2009 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, one of English language fiction’s richest prizes. His novel, Man Gone Down, depictes the difficulty of attaining the American Dream for an African American.

Seton Hill University seeks published novelist of popular fiction (preferably mystery/suspense), to teach and to mentor novel-length theses in the graduate low-residency Writing Popular Fiction program (half-load), and to teach undergraduate courses in creative writing and first-year composition. Michael Arnzen, Division of Humanities.

Full-time Editor-Berkley Books, Penguin Group(NY).

Simon & Schuster Associate Publisher, Touchstone/Fireside (NY).

Full-time Editor, John Wiley and Son’s Inc (Malden, MA).

Full-time Associate Editor, Palgrave Macmillan (New York, NY).

Writer/Editor, Membership Resources for adult audiences, Girl Scouts USA.

Kimmel Harding Nelson Center (Nebraska) offers up to fifty juried residencies per year to working artists from across the country and around the world. Residencies are awarded to visual artists, writers, composers, interdisciplinary artists, and arts or arts education scholars. Residencies are available for two-, four-, six-, or eight-weeks stays. Each resident receives a $100 stipend per week, free housing, and a separate studio. Deadline September 1, 2009.

I have now received two notices of extended deadline from Eastern Kentucky University’s MFA program for their new publication of Jelly Bucket, so, either they’re not getting enough submissions or not enough GOOD submissions. C’mon NewPages readers/writers – get off yer summer duffs and submit:

“The new literary journal for EKU’s MFA program would like to announce a special call for non-fiction submissions. The deadline has been extended to July 15th. All submissions should be sent to: nonfiction(at)jellybucket(dot)org. All contact information should be on your submission. The inaugural issue will be released this November. Payment will be two contributor’s copies.” (Tasha Cotter, Poetry Editor/Editor-In-Chief)

DEADLINE EXTENDED TO JULY 15

First Person America: In These Hard Times

A national competition seeking the best videos, photographs, and stories describing how individuals, families and communities are managing during these hard times.

Writing submissions – up to 2,500 words.
Film and video submissions – up to five minutes, excluding credits.
Photography submissions – may include up to five photographs, with or without accompanying text of up to 100 words per image.

Submission deadline: June 30, 2009

Interlochen Arts Academy, world renown for its school-year academy and summer arts programs, now offers an Adult Arts Program.

Narrative has a weekly Literary Puzzler feature, challenging readers to participate. Last week it was the infamous six-word story form, and this week: Neologisms, which asks readers to submit their own best new words. Winners receive a three-month pass to Narrative Backstage or a digital edition of 18 Lies and 3 Truths. Win or not, the puzzlers are fun to play.