Recent Accomplishments and Awards
Recent Accomplishments and Awards
New Books
Tom Mula (PT Faculty), The Hackers of Oz, Dog Ear Publishing, November 13, 2012.
Megan Stielstra (PT Faculty) and Andrew Reilly, Briefly Knocked Unconscious by a Low-Flying Duck: Stories from 2nd Story, Elephant Rock Books, November 12, 2012.
Patricia Pinianski, aka Patricia Rosemoor (PT Faculty), Holiday in Crimson, Entangled Publishing (Dead Sexy Imprint), November 2012.
David Peak (MFA Alum), Glowing in the Dark, Aqueous Books, October 30, 2012.
Ksenia Rychtycka (MFA Alum), Crossing the Border, Little Creek Books, October 15, 2012.
Michael A. Black (MFA Alum), Sacrificial Offerings, Five Star, October 10, 2012.
Patricia Pinianski, aka Patricia Rosemoor (PT Faculty), Born to be Wild, Entangled Publishing (Dead Sexy Imprint), October 10, 2012.
Ryan Klos (MFA Alum), Backdrops and Backgrounds: A Portrait Photographer's Guide, Amherst Media, Inc., October 5, 2012.
Mort Castle, ed. (PT Faculty), All American Horror of the 21st Century, including work by Jeff Jacobson (MFA alum, adjunct), Tina Jens (adjunct), and Sam Weller (MFA alum, faculty), Wicker Park Press, October 2012.
Mort Castle (PT Faculty), New Moon on the Water, Dark Regions Press, 2012.
Books Forthcoming
Eric May (Faculty), Bedrock Faith (working title), Akashic Books, 2014.
Chris L. Terry (MFA Alum), Zero Fade, Curbside Splendor, September 2013.
Lauren Fields (MFA), My Dear Watson, Lethe Press, April 2013.
Lauren Fields (MFA), Dysfunction, Queer Mojo, January 2013.
Wes Sturdevant (MFA Alum), Distractions: A Graphic Novel, February 2013
Arnie Bernstein (MFA Alum), Swastika Nation: Führers, Politicians, Mobsters and the Rise and Fall of the German American Bund, St. Martin's Press. Fall 2013
Gina Frangello (PT Faculty), A Life in Men, Algonquin Books, No date available
Lauryn Allison Lewis, The Beauties, No date available.
Judy Veramendi (MFA Alum), The Rabbi's Daughter and the Runaway Irishman. No date available.
Jeff Jacobson (PT Faculty), has signed a two book deal with Kensington Corp. The first novel, Sleep Tight, will be released in September 2013; and the second, as-yet untitled novel with be released in the fall of 2014.
Chris DeGuire, (PT Faculty), I Have a Bad Feeling About This, Wicker Park Press, Spring 2013
Kurt Kennedy, (MFA Alum), Laying Lincoln Down, Wicker Park Press, 2013
Mort Castle (PT Faculty), Writing Historical Fiction, Self-Counsel Press.
Work in Anthologies
Sam Weller (Faculty), "The Lord of the Wasteland," Hair Lit: Vol. 1, Orange Alert Press, January 2013.
Megan Stielstra (PT Faculty), "Heart's Not Metal," Hair Lit: Vol. 1, Orange Alert Press, January 2013.
Mort Castle (PT Faculty), "A Billion Monstrosities," and "If You Take My Hand, My Son," J.N. Williamson's Illustrated Masques, Gauntlet Press (limited edition) and IDW Publishing (mass market).
Mort Castle (PT Faculty), "Counselor," The Burning Maiden, EvilEye Press, October 28, 2012.
Mort Castle (PT Faculty), "A Secret of the Heart," Shadows Outside of Time, Dobre Histoire Publishing.
Mort Castle (PT Faculty), "Gideon's Time," Najlesze Horrory A.D. 2012, Polonsky Publishing.
Mort Castle (PT Faculty), "Nerwin, the Docent," Halloween Classics, Eureka Publishing.
Lott Hill (PT Faculty), "Crazy For You," Briefly Knocked Unconscious by a Low-Flying Duck: Stories from 2nd Story, Elephant Rock Books, November 12, 2012.
Megan Stielstra (PT Faculty), "This Teacher Talks Too Fast," Briefly Knocked Unconscious by a Low-Flying Duck: Stories from 2nd Story, Elephant Rock Books, November 12, 2012.
Sam Weller (Faculty), "Amber," Briefly Knocked Unconscious by a Low-Flying Duck: Stories from 2nd Story, Elephant Rock Books, November 12, 2012.
Eric May (Faculty), "A Cautionary Tale?" Briefly Knocked Unconscious by a Low-Flying Duck: Stories from 2nd Story, Elephant Rock Books, November 12, 2012.
Deb R. Lewis (PT Faculty), "Why I Hate Strawberries," Briefly Knocked Unconscious by a Low-Flying Duck: Stories from 2nd Story, Elephant Rock Books, November 12, 2012.
Julia Borcherts (PT Faculty), "Running On Empty," Briefly Knocked Unconscious by a Low-Flying Duck: Stories from 2nd Story, Elephant Rock Books, November 12, 2012.
C.P.Chang (MFA Alum), "Tribes," Briefly Knocked Unconscious by a Low-Flying Duck: Stories from 2nd Story, Elephant Rock Books, November 12, 2012.
Randall Albers (Chair), "Here Comes Trouble," Briefly Knocked Unconscious by a Low-Flying Duck: Stories from 2nd Story, Elephant Rock Books, November 12, 2012.
Bobby Biedrzycki (PT Faculty), "Counting Days," Briefly Knocked Unconscious by a Low-Flying Duck: Stories from 2nd Story, Elephant Rock Books, November 12, 2012.
Patricia Ann McNair (Faculty), "Return Trip," Briefly Knocked Unconscious by a Low-Flying Duck: Stories from 2nd Story, Elephant Rock Books, November 12, 2012
Rob Duffer (PT Faculty), "What They're Saying" The Way We Sleep, December 2012
Megan Stielstra (PT Faculty), "Third of Your Life," The Way We Sleep, December 2012
Awards
Nami Mun (Faculty), awarded a Fellowship from The Hermitage Foundation and the Spirit of Youth Award from National Runaway Safeline.
Cyn Vargas (MFA), "Open House," won 53-word story contest on Press 53, January 24, 2013.
Same Weller (Faculty) and Mort Castle (PT Faculty), Shadow Show: All New Stories in Celebration of Ray Bradbury earned inclusion on the Preliminary Ballot for the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in the Anthology category.
Mort Castle (PT Faculty), New Moon on the Water earned inclusion on the Preliminary Ballot for the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in the Fiction Collection category.
Mort Castle (PT Faculy) and Sam Weller (Faculty), Shadow Show: All-New Stories in Celebration of Ray Bradbury, received a Golden Bot Award from Wired Magazine as one of the Best Books of 2012 in the Adult Fiction category.
Christopher Marnach (MFA), "Death Week at the Funeral Card Company," awarded First Place in the November 2012 Glimmer Train Short Story Award for New Writers contest.
Sahar Mustafah (MFA), "Shisha Love," nominated for a 2012 Pushcart Prize by WordRiot.
Patricia Ann McNair (Faculty), won two 53-Word Story contests on Press 53: "Things I Wish You Heard" — December 20, 2012; "The Night I Said I Was Leaving" — January 10, 2013.
Patricia Ann McNair (Faculty), The Temple of Air named Chicago Writers Association's Book of the Year in Traditional Fiction for 2012.
Joe Meno (Faculty), Office Girl named a Best Book of 2012 by both Kirkus Review and Daily Candy.
Sahar Mustafah (MFA), "Shisha Love," First Place Award for Fiction, Literary Guild Complex, October 24, 2012.
Patricia Ann McNair (Faculty), The Temple of Air listed as a "Don't Miss" October Best Books for nationwide mall mailer Shoptopia.
Bobby Biedrzycki (PT Faculy) and Diana Pando (Alum), semi-finalists for the 19th Annual Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Award.
Nami Mun (Faculty) received the 21st Century Award from the Chicago Public Library Foundation and the Chicago Public Library. She was presented with the award during the Carl Sandburg Literary Awards Dinner on October 17, 2012.
Marcus Sakey (Alum), The Two Deaths of Daniel Hayes, named as a finalist for Thriller Award for Best Hardcover Novel.
Patricia Ann McNair (Faculty), Devil's Kitchen Reading Award in Prose, Southern Illinois University, for The Temple of Air. Reading to be held in October
Chelsea Laine Wells (FW Alum), "Heart of Gold" nominated by PANK for a 2012 Pushcart Prize.
Geling Yan (MFA Alum), The Criminal Lu Yanshi, named Best Novel of 2011 by the Chinese Academy of Fiction Writing, December 25, 2012.
Short Fiction Published
Christopher Marnach (MFA), "Death Week at the Funeral Card Company," Glimmer Train, Spring/Summer 2014.
Chris L. Terry (MFA Alum), "The Gleam," Moon City Review, March 2013.
Cyn Vargas (MFA), "The Last Time," The Subterranean Quarterly, January 1, 2013
Adam J. Galanski (UG), "Rejoice," Crack The Spine Literary Magazine, January 2013.
Mike Bogart (MFA), "Monkey House," Big Pulp, December 2012.
Mikaela Jorgensen (MFA), "Flinging Up Sand," Foliate Oak Literary Journal, December 2012.
Mort Castle (PT Faculty), "Music on the Michigan Avenue Bridge," Pseudopod.com.
Aimee Stahlberg (MFA), "Escaping," Hypertext Magazine, November 2, 2012.
Cyn Vargas (MFA), "That One House," Curbside Splendor, October 30, 2012.
Liz Grear (MFA), "Susie is Dying," Black Heart Magazine, September 10, 2012.
Megan Stielstra (PT Faculty), "Incredible," Joyland Retro Vol. 1 No. 2, 2012.
John Richard Crawford (Undergrad), "The Ratchet" (poem), Criminal Class Review, forthcoming 2012.
Lynn Shapiro (PT Faculty), "A Fish Out of Water," Fall 2012.
Robert Hobson (Undergrad Alum), "Not Everything Goes Bump," Stupefying Stories, November 4, 2012
Nonfiction Published
Randall Albers (Chair), "Alouicious," Brevity, May 2013.
Christopher Marnach (MFA), "Apocalypse Not," Glimmer Train Bulletin, January 2013.
Greg Baldino (UG Alum/Staff), reviews in Rain Taxi: "Live Forever: Interview with Sam Weller and Mort Castle," and review of Through the Valley of the Nest of Spiders by Samuel Delany," October 2012; review of Hip Hop Apsara by Anne Elizabeth Moore, December 2012.
Greg Baldino (UG Alum/Staff), articles in NewCity: "Occasional Porn: Interview with C. Spike Turner," November 28, 2012; "On the Margins of the Margins: Three Trans-Queer Reviews," November 26, 2012; "From Stage to the Page: An Interview with Megan Stielstra," October 12, 2012; "Machines for Reading: On Chris Ware's Building Stories," October 10, 2012.
Greg Baldino (UG Alum/Staff), review of Gun Machine by Warren Ellis, Bleeding Cool, October 30, 2012.
Wyl Villacres (Undergrad), "Apostando Con Mi Padre... and Winning," The Good Man Project, December 1, 2012.
Sahar Mustafah (MFA), "Interview with Andrew Scott, author of Naked Summer," Prime Numbers Magazine, Issue 29.
Mort Castle (PT Faculty), "Defining Horror," Cośna Progu, Dobre Histoire Publishing.
Mort Castle (PT Faculty), "Write Like Poe," The Complete Handbook of Novel Writing, Writer's Digest Press.
Abby Sheaffer (Undergrad Alum), "Entranced: St. Charles' Secret Spiritualist History," Kane County Chronicle, October 27-28 2012.
Abby Sheaffer (Undergrad Alum), "Gluten-Free Dining in Chicago: A Celiac's Response," Chicago Tribune, October 24, 2012.
Cyn Vargas (MFA) "No, I'm Not a Boy," The Lighthouse Jukebox on CRIS Radio, October 9, 2012.
Rob Duffer (PT Faculty), review of This Is How You Lose Her by Junot Diaz, NewCity, September 19, 2012.
Greg Baldino (Alum/Staff), "Machines for Reading: The Architecture of Chris Ware's Building Stories," NewCity, October 11, 2012.
Megan Stielstra (PT Faculty), "A Room of One's Own in the Middle of Everything," The Rumpus, 2012.
Editing
Casey James Bye (MFA Alum) and Jessa Marsh Bye (MFA Alum), The Way We Sleep, Curbside Splendor Publishing, December 2012.
Megan Stielstra (PT Faculty) and Andrew Reilly, Briefly Knocked Unconscious by a Low-Flying Duck: Stories from 2nd Story, Elephant Rock Books, November 12, 2012.
Mort Castle, ed. (PT Faculty), All American Horror of the 21st Century, including work by Jeff Jacobson (MFA Alum, Adjunct), Tina Jens (PT Faculty), and Sam Weller (MFA Alum, Faculty), Wicker Park Press, 2012
Reviews and Media Attention
Nami Mun (Faculty), interviewed by Mary Schmich, "A Literary Journey that Started on the Streets," Chicago Tribune, October 21, 2012.
Randal Albers (Chair), interviewed by Jane Sullivan, "How Much to Disclose for Comfort," The Age.com, December 2012.
Five faculty members — Randall Albers, Sam Weller, Joe Meno, Patricia Ann McNair, and Nami Mun — were mentioned in the December 16, 2012 edition of Printers Row, "The Year in Review: Memorable Literary Moments from 2012."
Arnie Bernstein (MFA Alum), interviewed by a number of television and radio stations, including a radio station in Sydney, Australia, about Bath Massacre: America's First School Bombing, December 2012.
Jotham Burrello (PT Faculty) and Megan Stielstra (PT Faculty), interview by Alex Stedman, "Independent Publisher Survives against Odds," The Columbia Chronicle, November 26, 2012.
Patricia Pinianski, aka Patricia Rosemoor (PT Faculty), interviewed by Cathy Clamp, "Born to be Wild by Patricia Rosemoor," The Big Thrill, December 1, 2012.
Patricia Pinianski, aka Patricia Rosemoor (PT Faculty), interviewed by Joyce Lamb, "Patricia Rosemoor Knows the Magic of Christmas," USA Today Online, December 6, 2012.
Joe Meno (Faculty), The Boy Detective Fails featured on the Hipster Lit Flow Chart on Goodreads, November 27, 2012.
Ksenia Rychtycka (MFA alum), Crossing the Border, interviewed by Patti Abbott on Pattinase Blogspot, November 26, 2012.
Shawn Shiftlett (Faculty) interviewed by John Keilman, "Chicago's Would-Be Authors Tackle National Novel Writing Month," Chicago Tribune, November 24, 2012.
Sam Weller (Faculty), interviewed on The Short Form, November 5, 2012.
Nami Mun (Faculty), interviewed by Courtney Crowder, "Life's Tough Lessons: Lack of Schooling Didn't Prevent Author Nami Mun From Learning," Chicago Tribune, October 12, 2012.
Devon Polderman (Faculty), interviewed by Chris Terry (MFA Alum), for the Faculty Spotlight on Columbia College Chicago's newsletter, The Loop.
Nami Mun (Faculty), interviewed by John Wawrzaszek, "Nami Mun Receives 21st Century Award," Gapers Block Book Club, October 15, 2012.
Joe Meno (Faculty), Office Girl reviewed by Lucinda Rosenfeld "Personal Days: Office Girl, by Joe Meno" New York Times Sunday Book Review, October 5, 2012.
Bob Hartley (MFA Alum), Following Tommy, reviewed by Noel Ignatiev, PM Press, September 5, 2012.
Bob Hartley (MFA Alum), Following Tommy, reviewed by Brian O'Neill, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, September 2, 2012.
Bob Hartley (Alum), interview on WBTNU News, "Author Bob Hartley Discusses New Book "Following Tommy," Racial Tensions in Chicago's West Side," September 7, 2012.
Readings, Presentations, and Performances
Randall Albers (Chair) and Megan Stielstra (PT Faculty), reading from Briefly Knocked Unconscious by a Low-Flying Duck: Stories from 2nd Story, at 57 Street Books, January 25, 2013.
Nami Mun (Faculty), will be the Keynote Speaker for Night Ministry, the Keynote Speaker for WBEZ/Neighborhood Writing Alliance, and the Keynote Speaker for Literature for All of Us.
Sam Weller (Faculty) and Megan Stielstra (PT Faculty), reading from Hair Lit: Vol. 1, at the Book Cellar, January 12, 2012.
Patricia Ann McNair (Faculty), reading from "Return Trip," Briefly Knocked Unconscious by a Low-Flying Duck: Stories from 2nd Story on Interlochen Public Radio, January 23, 2013
Wyl Villacres (Undergrad), moderator for "Bloggers Blogging About Blogging," Conaway Center, December 12, 2012.
Laura Uhl (Undergrad), featured reader at Gumbo Fiction Salon on December 12, 2012, hosted by Tina Jens (PT Faculty).
Randall Albers (Chair) and Patricia Ann McNair (Faculty) reading at Left Bank Books, St. Louis, Missouri, December 8, 2012.
Sahar Mustafah (MFA), "Shisha Love," First Place Award for Fiction, Literary Guild Complex, read at Chopin Theatre, October 24, 2012.
Randall Albers (Chair), presented his paper "Revelation and Transgression: Moving past Self-Censorship" at the National Association of Writers in Education conference in York, England, November 9-11 2012.
Ann Hemenway (Faculty), contestant on "Shame that Tune," on November 9, 2012.
Selena Fragassi (Alum) hosting Damien Echols discussion of his memoir Life After Death, November 14, 2012.
Megan Stielstra (PT Faculty), performance for Write Club, part of The Chicago Humanities Festival, November 2012.
Jon Natzke (Alum) and Jesse Jordan (Alum), readings at Reading Under the Influence, October 3, 2012.
Megan Stielstra (PT Faculty), Deb R. Lewis (PT Faculty), and CP Chang (MFA Alum), reading in support of Briefly Knocked Unconscious by a Low-Flying Duck: Stories from 2nd Story at the Wordstock Literary Festival in Portland, October 13-14, 2012.
Judy Veramendi (MFA Alum), production of her play Alegrias y Lagrimas at the Raven Theater, September 30 - October 2, 2012.
Sam Weller (Faculty) and Mort Castle (PT Faculty), readings from Shadow Show: All New Stories in Celebration of Ray Bradbury at the Book Cellar, September 27, 2012.
Nami Mun (Faculty) and Eugene Cross (PT Faculty), reading at DePaul University, September 20, 2012.
Chris DeGuire (PT Faculty), featured reader at Gumbo Fiction Salon, September 20, 2012.
Kathie Bergquist (PT Faculty) and Megan Stielstra (PT Faculty) presented on a panel about public readings and reading series at the Chicago Writers Conference on September 15, 2012.
Megan Stielstra (PT Faculty), "An Early Morning Love Letter to the Chicago Literary Scene," presented at the Chicago Writers Conference on September 15, 2012.
Mary Beth Hoerner (MFA Alum), Naomi Huffman Undergrad Alum), Danny Laloggia (MFA), Jill Winski (MFA Alum), Reading Under the Influence, September 5, 2012.
Judy Veramendi (MFA Alum), Alegrias y Lagrimas, September 30 - October 2, 2012 at the Raven Theater, 6157 N. Clark Street.
Richard Chwedyk (PT Faculty), appeared on the panels "Teaching Science Fiction," "George Melies and the First SF Film," "The Mechanism and the Writer," and "Tree Studios: Birthplace of Fantasy Art," at Chicon 7 — The World Science Fiction Convention, September 2012.
Career News
Nami Mun (Faculty), will be Visiting Professor, City University of Hong Kong, Visiting Lecturer, Vermont Studio Center; Visiting Lecturer, Cleveland State; Visiting Lecturer, Hamline University; Visiting Lecturer, Fresno State University.
Nami Mun (Faculty), Reader/Panelist at AWP Boston 2013.
Nami Mun (Faculty), Judge for PEN/Robert W Bingham Prize (an award of $25,000).
Greg Baldino (UG Alum/Staff), signed contract to contribute an essay to the anthology Batman Desde la Perfieria for Alpha Decay in Barcelona, Spain, due in 2013.
Randall Albers (Chair), invited to teach at Bath Spa University, UK, November 5-6 2012.
Patricia Pinianski (PT Faculty), taught a workshop on crafting suspense for Sisters in Crime Chicagoland: SinCC Writers' Workshop Day at Schaumburg Township Public Library, October 13, 2012.
Ryan Klos will be teaching 2D computer art at a community college, 2012.
Brian Costello's (PT Faculty), band Outer Minds second album, Those Machines, released November 2012.
Matthew Jankiewicz (MFA), Auggie Drucker and the Crystal Palace and Claire and Her Clarinet printed live at the Graph Expo, October 2012.
