Category Archives: Literary News

Joanna Russ

Posted on by ninjanurse

My Boat

What a week! First Pheobe Snow, and now science fiction goddess Joanna Russ has died.

She was one of the best and most original writers of the 70′s, and will be missed.

I found one of my favorites of her short stories on Google Books. When I first read it I didn’t catch her Lovecraft references, but I always loved the story for its fantasy of outsider kids achieving a transformation into their best selves. Perhaps that’s what makes children so brave, their dreams of who they’ll be when they grow up–

My Boat by Joanna Russ.

Darn! The above link connects to Google Docs, but if you can sign in, ‘My Boat’ is there– not perfect format but very readable. Good luck and enjoy.

Bake, Baby, Bake!

Posted on by Kiersten Marek

From Cranston Councilman-Elect Steve Stycos (Congratulations, Steve! I am proud to have worked for your campaign!), some advice for the season and news of upcoming events:

BAKE, BABY, BAKE

The Pawtuxet Village Farmers Market will have plenty of good food left this Saturday, Saturday November 13 and at our big final Thanksgiving market Saturday November 20.

It’s getting cold, so it is a good time to bake and keep your kitchen warm too. Barden Orchards has several varieties of apples for pies or crisps. The Xiongs have potatoes, carrots and greens. Zephyr Farm has eggs, onions and squash for frittatas. Bob Fratantuono has green house tomatoes. Bernie Bieder has honey.

The recently concluded political campaign was loaded with talk about supporting small business, but the best way to help small businesses is to buy local. Many other Rhode Island markets close at Halloween, but we stay open for another three weeks of growing and buying local.

UPCOMING HALL LIBRARY EVENTS

Saturday November 6th, 10 AM-12 PM: Read to a Dog. Children in grades 1 and up are invited to read to Abby, a certified therapy dog. Space is limited. Call Megan at the Hall Library to register for a time slot.

Sunday November 7th, 2 PM: The “Jazz in the Hall” series concludes with a newly formed band from the Edgewood area. The Philtones play everything from the American Songbook to bebop classics. The band is made up of Phil Mullen, sax; Phil Plant, guitar, Bob Asprinio, bass; and Rick Couto, on the drums. The audience will enjoy their enthusiastic and professional style.

Wednesday November 17th, 6:30 PM: Reading in the Hall. The library book discussion group will discuss This I believe: the personal philosophies of remarkable men and women edited by Jay Allison and Dan Gediman. Based on the National Public Radio series of the same name, This I Believe features eighty essayists from the famous to the unknown, completing the thought that begins the book’s title.

See you Saturday at the market.

I especially like the library event for kids to read to Abby, the certified therapy dog! Sounds like fun!

New Poet Laureate Named

Posted on by David Jaffe

I appreciate the beauty of language, the taste and feel of it in my mouth, the casual way it lies upon the printed page and reflects light and truth. Because I love language, I love poetry and so pay attention to events such as the naming of a new U.S. Poet Laureate. Yesterday, the New York Times reported that W.S. Merwin was appointed to that august position. That article is here. In honor of the occasion, I offer you a taste of Mr. Merwin’s work:

Good People

From the kindness of my parents
I suppose it was that I held
that belief about suffering

imagining that if only
it could come to the attention
of any person with normal
feelings certainly anyone
literate who might have gone

to college they would comprehend
pain when it went on before them
and would do something about it
whenever they saw it happen
in the time of pain the present
they would try to stop the bleeding
for example with their own hands

but it escapes their attention
or there may be reasons for it
the victims under the blankets
the meat counters the maimed children
the animals the animals
staring from the end of the world

More can be found here and here. Enjoy!

Bananagrams Writing Contest Sponsored by The Newport Review!

Posted on by Kiersten Marek

The great trifecta reward for talented writing was once considered to be fame, fortune and sex, but we have an even better incentive to write great prose and poetry: The Newport Review Writing Contest!

Win $200 (a total of $500 in cash prizes will be awarded) for writing a clever, insightful or otherwise kick-ass story for our Bananagrams Writing Contest!

Forget fortune. Forget fame! We have Bananagrams Prizes! If you are a runner-up, you will get your very own bag of Bananagrams, complete with 126 tiles and a very cute zipper banana.

But wait! There’s more! If you act now, you can get a free Newport Review bumper sticker mailed right to your very home. Supplies are limited, so don’t delay! Let everyone who is tailgating you know of your literary leanings!

For more information and contest guidelines, go here!

Oh the Wonders of Joyce Carol Oates

Posted on by Kiersten Marek

Joyce Carol Oates has finally written a memoir — based on the experiences surrounding her husband Raymond Smith’s death in 2008. From The Wall Street Journal:

Joyce Carol Oates has published more than 50 novels, more than 30 short-story collections and an endless stream of essays and reviews—and that’s not counting her novellas, plays and children’s books. Now, at 71 and newly remarried, she is tackling a subject she has seldom explored in her work: herself.

Ms. Oates recently finished writing a more-than-400-page memoir detailing the aftermath of her husband Raymond Smith’s death in February 2008. She describes the book, “A Widow’s Memoir,” as practical and darkly funny (Ms. Oates says she plans to include a “widow’s handbook” with advice on fundamentals such as how to pick out a grave plot).

What a wild couple of years it must have been for Ms. Oates — between losing her husband and falling in love, remarrying and moving to a new home. Can’t wait to read the memoir!

Autumn Reading for The Newport Review at Barrington Library

Posted on by Kiersten Marek

As a Board Member for The Newport Review, I will be attending a reading we are holding at the Barrington Library tomorrow evening. Here are the details:

Autumn Evening Reading

Please join authors and editors from Newport Review for an Autumn Evening Reading on Tuesday, September 29 at 7 PM at Barrington Public Library.

Poets and prose writers featured in Newport Review will share their work, and Newport Review editors will be on hand to talk to local writers, artists and other members of the arts community about how they can get involved with this locally published, internationally-read online zine.

Amanda Surkont, author of Pondicherry Square (Little Pear Press, 2009), will be the featured reader, and copies of her new book will be available for purchase and signing.

This program is free and open to all. Refreshments will be served.

Should be a very enjoyable occasion for the literary-minded folks, and those who just like to get out to a free event with refreshments!

Newport Review Summer 2008 Issue Now Online

Posted on by Kiersten Marek

The Newport Review (of which I am a board member and editor) now has its new issue online and it’s a sight to see. The photography alone is worth the trip. We also have some great flash fiction from Bob Thurber, our 2008 Flash Fiction First Prize winner, and a stunning new piece of memoir from Mary Callahan, who was first published on Kmareka in 2002.

Congratulations to Kathryn who has been doing the work of creating the new issue in her spare time (lol) — between two librarian jobs and two teaching gigs. She is a wonder woman of her very own kind. Many thanks to all of the editors, webmasters, interns, and, of course, writers who contributed to this issue.

Please make a donation to The Newport Review, to help keep one of our state’s beautiful creative outlets alive.

Writing Retreat Weekend in August

Posted on by Kiersten Marek

For the writers among us looking for opportunities to focus and get quality feedback, here is a writing retreat weekend being facilitated by Kathryn Kulpa, one of the original writers for Kmareka back when we were a quarterly, and a teacher and editor of superior talent:

Writing Retreat Weekend

Are you looking for a great way to relax, recharge, and devote a whole day (or two) to nothing but writing? Attend a Writing Retreat Weekend led by award-winning fiction writer, editor and teacher Kathryn Kulpa. Spark your creativity in a supportive atmosphere, with group mini-workshops and personal consultations.

The writing retreat weekend is scheduled for Saturday, August 16 and Sunday, August 17 from 9:30 to 5:30 in Somerset, MA (about 20 minutes from Providence). You may attend either day, or come to both sessions for a special price. The program includes delicious home-cooked food, group writing exercises, private free-writing time, a chance to share new work with peers for feedback, and a one-on-one editorial consultation. Write outdoors in a large, shady backyard or indoors in air-conditioned comfort.

The cost for this workshop/retreat is $90 per day, or a special price of $150 if you attend both days. Limited financial aid is available.

Attendance is limited to eight. Pre-registration is strongly suggested. Just email Kathryn Kulpa at kathrynka@yahoo.com with the date(s) you plan to attend. You can also pre-pay through PayPal.

Can’t make it that weekend? Other writing retreats are planned. Feel free to email Kathryn Kulpa with any questions.

Newport Review Announces Flash Fiction Contest Winners

Posted on by Kiersten Marek

The Newport Review, a small online literary publication, (disclosure: I’m on the board) recently announced the winners for their flash fiction contest:

Newport Review is proud to announce the winners of our 2007 Flash Fiction Contest. We are especially excited to be publishing two new writers this year: Emily Oliver, a student at Pitzer College in Claremont, CA, and Natalie K. Beach, a student at Wilbur Cross High School and the ACES Educational Center for the Arts in New Haven, CT.

Congratulations to all our winning and honorable mention writers, and thank you to all the writers who entered our contest. Although it isn’t possible for us to publish all the stories we received, be assured that we read and gave our careful attention to all of them.

2007 Flash Fiction Contest Winning Stories:

First Prize, $100: “Wooden Matches,� Bob Thurber, North Attleboro, MA

Second Prize, $75: “Morning Sickness,� Natalie K. Beach, New Haven, CT

Third Prize, $50: “Marks,� Emily Oliver, Newtown, CT

Honorable Mention: “Will-O’-the-Wisp,� Natalie K. Beach, New Haven, CT

“Clear Vision,� Dimetra Makris, Amherst, MA

Information on upcoming issues of The Newport Review, readings, and contests, is available at The Newport Review Blog.

A Thanksgiving Gift

Posted on by David Jaffe

On this day, give thanks for all the world—in its infinite and curious wisdom—proffers and provides. And be sure to give back…

THE GIFT

I wanted to thank the mockingbird for the vigor of his song.

Every day he sang from the rim of the field, while I picked blueberries or just idled in the sun.

Every day he came fluttering by to show me, and why not, the white blossoms in his wings.

So one day I went there with a machine, and played some songs of Mahler.

The mockingbird stopped singing, he came close and seemed to listen.

Now when I go down to the field, a little Mahler spills through the sputters of his song.

How happy I am, lounging in the light, listening as the music floats by!

And I give thanks also for my mind, that thought of giving a gift.

And mostly I’m grateful that I take this world so seriously.

© 1990 – Mary Oliver (from House of Light)