Accomplishments
Spring 2008
Publication/Broadcast
Jessica Young, grad student/adjunct faculty, "Reaching Out in Community" broadcast on Eight Forty-Eight, April 4, 2008, "While riding the el, I witnessed a moment of community in a city where it's often hard to find."
Deb R. Lewis, adjunct faculty, short story, "Red String Theory," Susurrus at www.susurrusmagazine.com.
Rob Duffer, adjunct faculty, "Reflections on the Credit Crunch," Chicago Public Radio, Eight Forty-Eight, 3/17/08. www.chicagopublicradio.org/Content.aspx?audioID=19582
Lisa Schlesinger, full-time faculty, New Rep, "Supporting Voice/Dissenting Voices: Critical Perspectives on My Name is Rachel Corrie and Pieces," edited by Meron Langsner and M. Bevin O'Gara, essay "This Is Far And Not Here."
Sharon Mesmer, alumna, poem "Stupid University Job," American Academy of Poets' "Poem of the Day," on April 28, 2008, as part of National Poetry Month. Poem emailed to their 25,000-member listserv.
Sharon Mesmer, alumna, new book of poetry is The Virgin Formica, Hanging Loose Press, April 2008.
Lisa Redmond, FW adjunct faculty and alumna, has an essay, "The Language vs. Dialect Debate" in AIMprint: New Relationships in the Arts Learning, (copy edited by David Peak), sponsored by the Center for Community Arts Partnerships.
Cynthium Johnson-Woodfolk, FW adjunct faculty and alumna, has an essay, "Keepin' It Real," in AIMprint: New Relationships in the Arts Learning, (copy edited by David Peak), sponsored by the Center for Community Arts Partnerships.
Joe Meno, full-time faculty, story, "I Want the Quiet Moments of a Party Girl," Other Voices 47, fall/winter 2007
Sheba White, FW MFA candidate, story, "Yellow," Other Voices 47, fall/winter 2007
John Schultz, professor emeritus, story, "Honeymoon," Other Voices 47, fall/winter 2007
Megan Stielstra, adjunct faculty, story, "Incredible," Other Voices 47, fall/winter 2007
Jonathan Messinger, adjunct faculty, story, "Hiding Out," Other Voices 47, fall/winter 2007
Emily Gindlesparger, FW alumna, story, "Savage Manor," Other Voices 47, fall/winter 2007
Megan Stielstra, adjunct faculty, interview "Megan Stielstra Talks with Audrey Niffenegger," Other Voices 47, fall/winter 2007
Stacy Bierlein, FW alumna, editor, A Stranger Among Us: Stories of Cross Cultural Collision and Connection, OV Books
Drew Ferguson, MFA alum, former adjunct faculty, novel, The Screwed Up Life of Charlie the Second, Kensington Books, now on Amazon.
Kristin Bair O'Keefe, MFA alumna, former adjunct faculty, article "A Writer's Shanghai," Poets & Writers online www.pw.org/mag/.
Awards
Hair Trigger 29, Gold Crown (CSPA)
CSPA Gold Circle Awards:
C.S.E. Cooney; 1st Pl Exp "Glass Eyes";
Max Glaessner; 2nd Pl Exp "Don's Lament"
Wancy Young Cho; 1st Pl Trad "In a Glimpse"
Drew Bazini; 2nd Pl Trad "Distraction"
Stephanie Shaw; 3rd Pl Trad "Octopus"
Molly Each; CM Trad "The Fort"
Nina Nguyen; 1st Pl Essay "A Death"
M.R. Morrison; 2nd Pl Essay "Heavy or Prolonged Bleeding"
Bahiyyih Davis; 3rd Pl Essay "Run"
Meredith Grahl; CM Essay "Your Father the Bird"
C. Maul Rice & Matt Nighswander; 1st Pl Cover Design "Untitled"
C. Maul Rice, Mary Johnson, Corey Plazak; 1st Pl Title and contents page Hair Trigger 29
Matt Nighswander; 2nd Pl Photographs "Welcome to New York"
Matt Nighswander; 2nd Pl Portfolio of Work Hair Trigger 29
Patricia Pinianski, adjunct faculty, Best Harlequin Intrigue for Wolf Moon, 2007 Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award.
Patricia Pinianski, 2007 Career Achievement Award for "body of work creating outstanding Series Romantic Adventure.
Chuck Belanger, grad student, "Finders-keepers," winner of Bathsheba Monk's Short Story Contest. www.bathshebamonk.com. Written in Betty Shiflett's class.
Kirk Barrett, FW student, story, "Sarajevo Roses," 3rd place in the 8th Annual Writer's Digest Short Short Story Competition.
Kathie Bergquist, nonfiction, A Field Guide to Gay and Lesbian Chicago (Lake Claremont Press, April 2006). Book received a 2006 Midwest Independent Publishers Award.
Marianne Wolf-Astrauskas, MFA alumna, won the Illinois Woman's Press Association Communicator of 2008; the award honors career success and service to both the community and the IWPA/National Federation of Press Women.
Reading/Performance/Presentations
Deb R. Lewis, April 25 and May 4, Serendipity's Theatre Collective's 2nd Story Festival 2008, at Webster's Wine Bar, 1480 W. Webster. Also, Bobby Biedrzycki, Megan Stielstra, Julia Borcherts, Rob Duffer, Lott Hill, Sam Weller, Jonathan Messinger. See www.storiesandwine.com.
Ryan Dolan's ten-minute play Hope on the Brown Line was accepted in the American Theatre Company's Big Shoulders Festival. (item submitted by Jim Sherman)
Lydia Diamond, former FW adjunct faculty, Harriet Jacobs, play produced by Steppenwolf, "Ferociously, scrupulously achieved," TimeOut Chicago.
Megan Stielstra, MFA alumna, adjunct faculty, performing April 20 at the 2nd Story Annual Storytelling Festival preview and May 10, Faking It. Also, 2nd Story at the Goodman Theatre from 11:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m., Friday, May 2 for Looptopia 2008. Also, two panels "Breaking Form: Multi-format Writing Processes" and "Giving Good Read: Reading Curators and Hosts Discuss What Makes a Reading Great" at the Pilcrow Lit Festival, May 22 – 25.
Media Attention
Alexis Pride interviewed by Richard Steele about Where the River Ends on WBEZ's Eight Forty-Eight, March 18, 2008, with plugging of Story Week 2008
John Schultz interviewed by Jim Jones, Chicago Reader staff writer (www.chicagoreader.com) following the preview showing of the Chicago 10 film at the Film Row Cinema.
Job/Internship/Promotion
Felicia Schneiderhan (nee Jones), grad alumna, writing stories for Sun-Times travel section. Taught 24 hours of workshops to kids and adults at the Midwest Writing Center, gave reading at Deere-Wiman mansion, along with hosting reading of participants' work.
Margaret Wappler, FW alumna, is now a staff writer at the LA Times. After graduating from Columbia, she got her MFA at Cal Arts.
April Hanson Galarza, FW alumna, is now editing second grade textbooks at Pearson Educational. Along with Literary Writers' Network members launched 10,000 Tons of Black Ink.
Other
Susan Babyk, MFA alumna, plays guitar, kazoo, and sings in her jug band The Hump Night Thumpers; release show is Friday, April 11 at The Hidden Cove, 5336 N. Lincoln. See Humpnightthumpers.com. Hump Night Thumpers is an extension of a jug band class at the Old Town School of Folk Music. Their new CD is "Hare of the Jug."
Publication/Broadcast
Jessica Young, grad student/adjunct faculty, "Reaching Out in Community" broadcast on Eight Forty-Eight, April 4, 2008, "While riding the el, I witnessed a moment of community in a city where it's often hard to find."
Deb R. Lewis, adjunct faculty, short story, "Red String Theory," Susurrus at www.susurrusmagazine.com.
Rob Duffer, adjunct faculty, "Reflections on the Credit Crunch," Chicago Public Radio, Eight Forty-Eight, 3/17/08. www.chicagopublicradio.org/Content.aspx?audioID=19582
Lisa Schlesinger, full-time faculty, New Rep, "Supporting Voice/Dissenting Voices: Critical Perspectives on My Name is Rachel Corrie and Pieces," edited by Meron Langsner and M. Bevin O'Gara, essay "This Is Far And Not Here."
Sharon Mesmer, alumna, poem "Stupid University Job," American Academy of Poets' "Poem of the Day," on April 28, 2008, as part of National Poetry Month. Poem emailed to their 25,000-member listserv.
Sharon Mesmer, alumna, new book of poetry is The Virgin Formica, Hanging Loose Press, April 2008.
Lisa Redmond, FW adjunct faculty and alumna, has an essay, "The Language vs. Dialect Debate" in AIMprint: New Relationships in the Arts Learning, (copy edited by David Peak), sponsored by the Center for Community Arts Partnerships.
Cynthium Johnson-Woodfolk, FW adjunct faculty and alumna, has an essay, "Keepin' It Real," in AIMprint: New Relationships in the Arts Learning, (copy edited by David Peak), sponsored by the Center for Community Arts Partnerships.
Joe Meno, full-time faculty, story, "I Want the Quiet Moments of a Party Girl," Other Voices 47, fall/winter 2007
Sheba White, FW MFA candidate, story, "Yellow," Other Voices 47, fall/winter 2007
John Schultz, professor emeritus, story, "Honeymoon," Other Voices 47, fall/winter 2007
Megan Stielstra, adjunct faculty, story, "Incredible," Other Voices 47, fall/winter 2007
Jonathan Messinger, adjunct faculty, story, "Hiding Out," Other Voices 47, fall/winter 2007
Emily Gindlesparger, FW alumna, story, "Savage Manor," Other Voices 47, fall/winter 2007
Megan Stielstra, adjunct faculty, interview "Megan Stielstra Talks with Audrey Niffenegger," Other Voices 47, fall/winter 2007
Stacy Bierlein, FW alumna, editor, A Stranger Among Us: Stories of Cross Cultural Collision and Connection, OV Books
Drew Ferguson, MFA alum, former adjunct faculty, novel, The Screwed Up Life of Charlie the Second, Kensington Books, now on Amazon.
Kristin Bair O'Keefe, MFA alumna, former adjunct faculty, article "A Writer's Shanghai," Poets & Writers online www.pw.org/mag/.
Awards
Hair Trigger 29, Gold Crown (CSPA)
CSPA Gold Circle Awards:
C.S.E. Cooney; 1st Pl Exp "Glass Eyes";
Max Glaessner; 2nd Pl Exp "Don's Lament"
Wancy Young Cho; 1st Pl Trad "In a Glimpse"
Drew Bazini; 2nd Pl Trad "Distraction"
Stephanie Shaw; 3rd Pl Trad "Octopus"
Molly Each; CM Trad "The Fort"
Nina Nguyen; 1st Pl Essay "A Death"
M.R. Morrison; 2nd Pl Essay "Heavy or Prolonged Bleeding"
Bahiyyih Davis; 3rd Pl Essay "Run"
Meredith Grahl; CM Essay "Your Father the Bird"
C. Maul Rice & Matt Nighswander; 1st Pl Cover Design "Untitled"
C. Maul Rice, Mary Johnson, Corey Plazak; 1st Pl Title and contents page Hair Trigger 29
Matt Nighswander; 2nd Pl Photographs "Welcome to New York"
Matt Nighswander; 2nd Pl Portfolio of Work Hair Trigger 29
Patricia Pinianski, adjunct faculty, Best Harlequin Intrigue for Wolf Moon, 2007 Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award.
Patricia Pinianski, 2007 Career Achievement Award for "body of work creating outstanding Series Romantic Adventure.
Chuck Belanger, grad student, "Finders-keepers," winner of Bathsheba Monk's Short Story Contest. www.bathshebamonk.com. Written in Betty Shiflett's class.
Kirk Barrett, FW student, story, "Sarajevo Roses," 3rd place in the 8th Annual Writer's Digest Short Short Story Competition.
Kathie Bergquist, nonfiction, A Field Guide to Gay and Lesbian Chicago (Lake Claremont Press, April 2006). Book received a 2006 Midwest Independent Publishers Award.
Marianne Wolf-Astrauskas, MFA alumna, won the Illinois Woman's Press Association Communicator of 2008; the award honors career success and service to both the community and the IWPA/National Federation of Press Women.
Reading/Performance/Presentations
Deb R. Lewis, April 25 and May 4, Serendipity's Theatre Collective's 2nd Story Festival 2008, at Webster's Wine Bar, 1480 W. Webster. Also, Bobby Biedrzycki, Megan Stielstra, Julia Borcherts, Rob Duffer, Lott Hill, Sam Weller, Jonathan Messinger. See www.storiesandwine.com.
Ryan Dolan's ten-minute play Hope on the Brown Line was accepted in the American Theatre Company's Big Shoulders Festival. (item submitted by Jim Sherman)
Lydia Diamond, former FW adjunct faculty, Harriet Jacobs, play produced by Steppenwolf, "Ferociously, scrupulously achieved," TimeOut Chicago.
Megan Stielstra, MFA alumna, adjunct faculty, performing April 20 at the 2nd Story Annual Storytelling Festival preview and May 10, Faking It. Also, 2nd Story at the Goodman Theatre from 11:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m., Friday, May 2 for Looptopia 2008. Also, two panels "Breaking Form: Multi-format Writing Processes" and "Giving Good Read: Reading Curators and Hosts Discuss What Makes a Reading Great" at the Pilcrow Lit Festival, May 22 – 25.
Media Attention
Alexis Pride interviewed by Richard Steele about Where the River Ends on WBEZ's Eight Forty-Eight, March 18, 2008, with plugging of Story Week 2008
John Schultz interviewed by Jim Jones, Chicago Reader staff writer (www.chicagoreader.com) following the preview showing of the Chicago 10 film at the Film Row Cinema.
Job/Internship/Promotion
Felicia Schneiderhan (nee Jones), grad alumna, writing stories for Sun-Times travel section. Taught 24 hours of workshops to kids and adults at the Midwest Writing Center, gave reading at Deere-Wiman mansion, along with hosting reading of participants' work.
Margaret Wappler, FW alumna, is now a staff writer at the LA Times. After graduating from Columbia, she got her MFA at Cal Arts.
April Hanson Galarza, FW alumna, is now editing second grade textbooks at Pearson Educational. Along with Literary Writers' Network members launched 10,000 Tons of Black Ink.
Other
Susan Babyk, MFA alumna, plays guitar, kazoo, and sings in her jug band The Hump Night Thumpers; release show is Friday, April 11 at The Hidden Cove, 5336 N. Lincoln. See Humpnightthumpers.com. Hump Night Thumpers is an extension of a jug band class at the Old Town School of Folk Music. Their new CD is "Hare of the Jug."