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The Stonecoast Newsletter

Nov. 14,2011 Greetings Stonecoasters,

I hope everyone’s writing has been going well even as things start to ramp up for residency. As of now, I find myself suffering from a mild case of writer’s block. Writer’s block has achieved legendary status over the years. When you tell fellow writers you have writer’s block, it’s like telling them you have Bubonic Plague or Ebola, something incredibly nasty, slow, and painful. Thankfully, writer’s block won’t give you skin boils or turn your insides into mush and thus make you bleed out of places you didn’t know you had, but it will drive you crazy. No matter how you perceive writer’s block, there are many ways to deal with and overcome it. For me, I take the stubborn approach of plowing through it. I continue to write everyday even if it is just a little. I usually write down whatever comes to my head. It might be a few lines to a paragraph, and the topic could be anything, the color of an object or something I ate that was tasty. There are many other ways to remedy writer’s block and plenty of sources that will tell you how. But ultimately, it comes down to you and what works best. There is no “one way” when it comes to writing or any creative medium for that matter. However, it is my thinking that the worst thing you can do when confronted by writer’s block is to do nothing.

That is all for now. Please email your updates to stonecoastnews@usm.maine.edu by Friday, NOVEMBER 25, NOON EST TIME. Send any feedback about the newsletter to Robin Talbot at rtalbot@usm.maine.edu. Take care mates,

Mariel

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Upcoming Important Deadlines & Dates* DUE: November 23, 2011 (FOURTH SEMESTER STUDENTS ONLY) Mail Signature Pages and envelopes to Advisor—It is the student's responsibility to make sure that the thesis will have the required original signatures in place by the deadline. See Community Handbook for details. DUE: December 7, 2011 Final Evaluations—All final evaluations of faculty and students must be sent in hard copy and in triplicate, with three original signatures, to the MFA office by the “receive-by” date.

*Please remember that this is only a partial list of deadlines.

A complete list can be found in your Stonecoast Community Handbook.

Stonecoast News Current Student News ADAM MILLS recently acted as Assistant Editor on the first volume of ODD?, a new anthology series devoted to weird fiction edited by Ann and Jeff VanderMeer. The first volume of ODD? is currently available in e-book form from a variety of vendors, including Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Mills has also assisted the VanderMeers with the creation of promotional material for their newly released anthology The Weird: A Compendium of Strange and Dark Stories. Further work for the VanderMeers will include acting as the news/blog rover for Weird Fiction Review (www.weirdfictionreview.com) and assisting website editor Angela Slatter in the organization and editing of the site's upcoming 101 Weird Writers feature. THOMAS MORRISSEY’s first novel, Faustus Resurrectus, will be published by Night Shade Books on April 2, 2012. Alumni News ELSA COLON’s poem, "Word Balloons" is finally coming out in Star*Line (Volume 34, Issue 3 July–September 2011). About Star*Line: http://www.sfpoetry.com/starline.html

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ANTHONY D'ARIES' essay Chalk, which appeared in the Fall/Winter 2010-2011 issue of Solstice Magazine, has been nominated for a 2011 Best of the Net nonfiction award. anthony_daries@yahoo.com ZACHARY JERNIGAN’s previously published stories, "Map Ref. -4.296° N 239.193° E" and "The Succession of Knoorikios Khnum," have been picked up by Pink Narcissus Press (www.pinknarc.com) for their forthcoming anthologies Daughters of Icarus and Queer Fish 2. His story, "Young Lions," has been picked up by Crossed Genres (www.crossedgenres.com) for their December/January issue. His story, "The War is Over and Everyone Wins," is in the January issue of Asimov's Science Fiction (www.asimovs.com), on shelves until December 8th. jerniganzachary@gmail.com COLIN SARGENT (2004) just marked 25 years as editor, publisher, and owner of Portland Magazine (capped off by a recent celebration trip for his staff to Bermuda). He's also beginning his third year toward his PhD in Creative Writing at Lancaster University in the UK, with a concentration in the novel. His poem, "Tanga Tanga Trees" appears in amphibi.us (June 20 issue). On November 26, he'll be reading from his new novel manuscript as one of three Local Writers at The Local Buzz, 327 Ocean House Road, Cape Elizabeth. Come hear local writers Alice Persons, Colin Sargent, and Rick Wile read from their work. Nov. 26, 4-5pm. 541-9024 capelocalbuzz.com. DAVID SLOAN (Poetry '09) has had two recent poems accepted for publication. "Snakebites and Bricks" appears in the current Prairie Wolf Press Review (go to prairiewolfpress.com, click on Issue II, Fall 'll); "Takedown" is included in Passager's Fall issue. Faculty News AARON HAMBURGER's story "The Teacher's Son" was published in the new anthology Sudden Flash Youth (Persea Books), also featuring the work of Dave Eggers, Alice Walker, and Steve Almond. ELIZABETH HAND received the World Fantasy Award, her fourth, for her novella "The Maiden Flight of McCauley's 'Bellerophon'" at the 2011 World Fantasy Convention in San Diego.

NANCY HOLDER and her co-author Debbie Viguie’s new young adult dark fantasy novel, Unleashed, book one of the Wolf Springs Chronicles, will be released on November 22. A trailer for the book, which can be seen at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWYj_jG4qcw&feature=youtu.be will be featured in select theatres during the release of Breaking Dawn along with a promotional CD. ELIZABETH SEARLE reads from her new novel, Girl Held in Home and performs an excerpt from her one-act play Stolen Girl Song on Nov. 18th at 8 at the Armory Center for the Arts in Somerville, MA in the Poet's Theater series currated by Stonecoast alum. Richard Cambridge. She also reads Nov. 20th at 7 in NYC in the Sunday Salon Series at Jimmy's43 at 43 East 7th St (link below). Her novel was reviewed in the Boston Globe ("Over-the-top comedy...Touching, as well as funny"). Elizabeth has nonfiction in the November issue of the New England film and TV magazine, Imagine.

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NYC Sunday Salon link: http://www.sundaysalon.com/nyc-november-20-2011-men-undressed.htm

Personal News from Students, Faculty, and Alumni

MELODY FULLER is among the writers listed on Occupywriters.com, along with several Stonecoast faculty. JOANNE TURNBULL’s grandchildren, Jordan Rose (5 lb. 9 oz.) and Nola Jane (5 lb. 7 oz.), were born Nov. 8, 2011, Jordan at 2:02 and Nola at 2:03.

Other News & Calls for Submission Meetings, Readings, and Other Interesting Offerings Calls for Submission

USM Bookstores Host Book Signing with John Connolly New York Times bestselling author John Connolly will be on the USM Portland campus at 7 p.m., Tuesday, November 15 for a reading and book signing of his new book, “The Infernals.” This event, hosted by the USM Bookstores, will take place in the University Events Room, seventh floor, Glickman Family Library, Portland. The event is free and open to the public. “The Infernals” is the newest installment in Connolly’s young adult series. The book follows the story of Samuel Johnson and his dog, Boswell. The two must escape the wrath of demons seeking revenge for Samuel’s part in foiling the invasion of Earth by the forces of evil. During the event, Connolly will read an excerpt from his novel and sign copies of his books. He will also discuss his ‘Twenty Mysteries You Must Read Before You Die’ list. Connolly is the author of such international bestsellers as “The Burning Soul” (2011), “The Whisperers” (2010) and “The Gates” (2009). His first novel was published in 1999. He divides his time between his hometown, Dublin, Ireland, and Portland, Maine. For more information about the event, contact Barbara Kelly at 780-4072 or bkelly@usm.maine.edu.

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Literary Journal of the University of New Orleans

FICTION AND POETRY EDITOR’S PRIZES CALL for Submissions October 1 – December 31

THE JAMES KNUDSEN EDITOR’S PRIZE FOR FICTION

WINNER: $500, publication and a year subscription. FINALISTS will be named on our website. 2011 Judge: Joseph Boyden - Submissions must be original, previously unpublished work of fiction, no longer than 7500 words. - Reading fee: $15, includes a one-year subscription to Bayou - You may enter more than one story, but each submission must arrive in a separate envelope with its own cover sheet and entry fee. - We accept novel excerpts if the submission stands alone as a complete short story. The KAY MURPHY PRIZE FOR POETRY WINNER: $500, publication and a year subscription. FINALISTS will be named on our website. Inaugural Judge: Kay Murphy - Submissions must be original, previously unpublished poetry. - Reading fee: $10, includes a one-year subscription to Bayou. - You may enter up to three poems per entry. ALL ENTRIES: - Please include a cover sheet with your name, address, phone number, email address, and the title of your submission. Do not include your name on the pages of the story. Any story with identifying material will be disqualified. - We accept simultaneous submissions, but please indicate this on your cover sheet. You must notify us immediately if your work has been accepted elsewhere. - All manuscripts should be in 12pt Times New Roman and double spaced with standard 1” margins. Send your submission, cover sheet and check made payable to UNO FOUNDATION to: Bayou Magazine Department of English University of New Orleans 2000 Lakeshore Dr. New Orleans, LA 70148 Please read the full guidelines and instructions at www.uno.edu/bayou.

Knox Robinson Publishing (2010) is unique in that we are an international, independent publisher specializing in historical fiction, historical romance and medieval fantasy. We are keen to sign authors who write in these areas. We welcome the submission of well-written, original and engaging manuscripts in the areas in which we specialize. Unagented manuscripts direct from the author are accepted. As an international company based in London with a presence in New York, we

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currently publish writers from five countries. We have enjoyed international success with our books, and we are looking for promising new writers to join us. Click here for submission guidelines.

Doire Press is pleased to announce its 2012 1st Annual International Poetry & Fiction Chapbook Competition Winners will each receive 75 copies of their own professionally edited and printed chapbook, published by Doire Press. Chapbooks will be perfect-bound, contain up to 40 pages, feature colour front and back covers, as well as their own isbn and barcode. Fiction entries: one short story (4,000 words max) Poetry: 4-6 poems (10 pages max) Deadline: January 9, 2012 Judges: Fiction: Alan McMonagle, author of Liar, Liar. He was second prize winner of the 2006 Séan O’Faoláin short story contest and one of four Irish writers long-listed for the 2009 Frank O’Connor Award.

Poetry: James Martyn, author of Shedding Skin. He was short-listed for a Hennessy Award in 2006 and for the Francis McManus award in 2007 and 2008. Submission Guidelines: €10 for first entry, €8 for each additional entry. Cheques or money orders to be made payable to Doire Press. Entry fees can also be paid via Paypal through the Doire Press website. Email submissions will also be accepted with an additional €1 printing fee per entry. Send entries via postal mail to: Doire Press, Aille, Inverin, County Galway, Ireland. Entries must include cover page with full contact information and title of story or first poem. Entrant’s name must not appear anywhere on the manuscript. To read the full list of contest guidelines, submit via email or to pay by Paypal, please visit our website at www.doirepress.com. For any questions, email doirepress@gmail.com. Three Omnidawn Poetry Book Competitions: The winner of each of the three Omnidawn poetry book competitions wins either a $1,000 or a $3,000 cash prize, publication of the book by Omnidawn, 100 free copies of the winning book, and extensive display advertising and publicity. http://www.omnidawn.com/contest/poetry-contests.htm

*LUMINA'S SUBMISSION DEADLINE IS NOVEMBER 15TH!* *We are seeking poetry, fiction, and nonfiction from emerging and established writers for our 11th annual edition.* *LUMINA is also seeking submissions for the NATIONAL POETRY CONTEST, judged by Carolyn Forche, poet, translator, social activist and author of The Blue

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Hour, The Angel of History, and The Country Between Us.* Writers may submit up to five poems of no more than 60 lines, and up to three prose selections no longer than 5000 words. Visit www.slclumina.wordpress.com for further information and to submit your work. Poets, writers, and artists whose work is accepted for publication will receive a free copy of the 2012 edition of *LUMINA*, as well as an invitation to read at our launch, held in conjunction with Sarah Lawrence's annual Poetry Festival in mid-April. *LUMINA* is the annual print publication produced and edited by a volunteer staff of the graduate writing students at Sarah Lawrence College. Thank you for your support! 2012 Bristol Short Story Prize 2012 Bristol Short Story Prize is open to all writers, UK and non-UK based, over 16 years of age. Stories can be on any theme or subject and entry can be made online via the website or by post. Entries must be previously unpublished with a maximum length of 3,000 words (There is no minimum). The entry fee is £7 (about $11) per story. The closing date for entries is March 31st 2012. Prizes: 1st £1000 (about $1570) plus £150 Waterstone's gift card 2nd £700 ( about $1100) plus £100 Waterstone's gift card 3rd £400 (about $630) plus £100 Waterstone's gift card 17 further prizes of £100 (about $150) will be presented to the writers whose stories appear on the shortlist. All 20 shortlisted writers will have their stories published in the Bristol Short Story Prize Anthology Volume 5. The winning story will, also, be published in Bristol Review of Books and Venue magazine. The 20 shortlisted writers will be invited to an awards ceremony in Bristol in July 2012 when the winners will be announced and the anthology launched. Any shortlisted writers unable to attend the awards ceremony will be sent their anthologies and prize money. Judging panel : Ali Reynolds (literary consultant, former Random House editor) Bidisha (writer, broadcaster, critic) Anna Britten (writer, journalist at Venue Magazine) Chris Wakling (novelist, Creative Writing tutor) To mark the launch of our 2012 competition we are offering the Kindle format ebook version of our latest anthology for only £0.86p fromamazon.co.uk <http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bristol-Short-Story-Anthology-ebook/dp/B005EHQEHW/ref=pd_rhf_p_t_1>and $1.33 from amazon.com <http://www.amazon.com/Bristol-Short-Story-Anthology-ebook/dp/B005EHQEHW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1318423586&sr=8-1>.

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<http://www.amazon.com/Bristol-Short-Story-Anthology-ebook/dp/B005EHQEHW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1318423586&sr=8-1> This offer will run until the end of November.