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From My Bookshelf: Famous Drownings in Literary History, by Kevin Haworth

by Erika Dreifus on
4

Okay, Kevin Haworth’s latest book, an essay collection, isn’t on my physical bookshelf. But it is among my recent Kindle purchases. And I recommend it.

I recommend it not only because, in the years since I interviewed him about his prize-winning novel, Kevin has become a friend and valued colleague in the arena of Jewish literary culture (even if we don’t always agree). I recommend it because Kevin is a talented writer whose nonfiction is at least as compelling as his fiction; because his is a voice worth knowing; and because his take on elements of Jewish identity in our time–whether he writes about the circumcision of his son, the culture of the Catskills, or what it’s like to leave Ben Gurion Airport just after the Israeli victims’ bodies have returned there from a terrorist attack in Bulgaria–should reach a wide audience.

If you’d like a taste of the previously published essays that featured in this collection, may I recommend the one titled “The News from Bulgaria”? I suspect strongly that after you read it, you’ll want to learn more about Kevin and his book.

Monday Markets/Jobs/Opportunities for Writers

by Erika Dreifus on
2

Monday brings the weekly batch of no-fee competitions/contests, paying submission calls, and jobs for those of us who write (especially those of us who write fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction).

  • First up: The latest issue of the WritersMarket.com newsletter listed three book publishers that are open to (unagented) submissions: The Permanent Press, which publishes “literary fiction, and occasionally non-fiction”; River City Publishing, which features Southern writers/stories; and Arte Público Press, which publishes “contemporary novels, short stories, poetry, and drama based on U.S. Hispanic (Cuban American, Mexican American, Puerto Rican, and others) cultural issues and themes. Arte Público also is interested in reference works and non-fiction studies, especially of Hispanic civil rights, women’s issues and history.”
  • And speaking of presses, there’s a new one to let you know about: the CUNY Journalism Press. “The CUNY Graduate School of Journalism has launched a new academic press to publish books related to journalism, Dean Stephen Shepard announced Sunday, Oct. 14. Shepard said the new imprint will publish 3-5 books per year, beginning in 2013. ‘We think that publishing more thoughtful, insightful books about journalism at this critical time in the history of news and information is important for journalists, important for writers and, especially, important for readers,’ Dean Shepard said.” Check the website for more information and proposal information.
  • It never hurts to check in with the Chicken Soup for the Soul website to check the list of anthology projects in the works. (Thanks for the reminder, Writer Abroad.)
  • “The Gaius Charles Bolin Fellowships at Williams College are designed to promote diversity on college faculties by encouraging students from underrepresented groups to complete a terminal graduate degree and to pursue careers in college teaching. The Bolin Fellowships are two-year residencies at Williams, and up to three scholars or artists are appointed each year. Fellows devote the bulk of the first year to the completion of dissertation work—or in the case of MFA applicants, building their professional portfolios—while also teaching one course as a faculty member in one of the College’s academic departments or programs. The second year of residency (ideally with degree in hand) is spent on academic career development while again teaching just one course. Eligibility: The Bolin Fellowships are awarded to applicants from underrepresented groups, including ethnic minorities, those who are first-generation college graduates, women in predominately male fields, or disabled scholars.” NB: If you’re applying in the “post-MFA” capacity, you must be a recent degree recipient, since “only those with degrees granted in 2012, or to be granted in 2013, are eligible to apply.” Application deadline is November 15, 2012, and there’s no app fee. (NB: As a reminder, you’ll find lots more post-MFA fellowships listed here.)
  • The Writers Guild of Alberta (Canada) seeks a part-time Program Assistant, NetGalley is looking to add a UK-based Community Manager, and The New Victory Theater (New York) is advertising for a PR Associate.
  • “Mediabistro is looking for a dynamic, spirited instructor to teach a new class on Crime Novel Writing online this winter. Class meets for 8 weeks and will teach students how put together a draft and pitch their book to agents and editors. Ideal candidate is either a published author with a large audience, or an editor or agent.” (Site registration required to access full announcement.)
  • “The Creative Writing Program at the Lewis Center for the Arts, Princeton University is seeking distinguished writers for a potential part-time opening in poetry. The position is one or two semester appointments. The position will begin in February 2013.”

    • Once again, there are plenty of other college-level teaching job announcements this week. Please keep reading to discover them. (more…)

    Friday Finds for Writers

    by Erika Dreifus on
    Disabled

    The weekly collection of writing-related resources, news, and reflections to read over the weekend.

  • First up: Here are two very different takes on the MFA degree that I’ve run across this week: Brett Ortler’s generally positive assessment of his experience with “poetryland” on the Virginia Quarterly Review blog (h/t @DanielNester), and a more cynical view of “MFA Fever” on the Chronicle of Higher Education‘s site from the pseudonymous “Henry Adams.”
  • True words of wisdom from author Kyle Minor: “Advice to My Younger Self.” (Although I can’t help realizing that I may have broken point #22 by posting the links just above!)
  • Every issue of Shelf Unbound magazine is a treat, but the current issue, focusing on books in translation, is a special gift.
  • Am I getting jaded? Neither of this week’s two big awards announcements–finalists for the National Book Award and the latest Nobel literature laureate–piqued my interest much.
  • Finally, two worthy posts regarding litmags and submissions thereto. First: Becky Tuch’s “Myths About Lit Mags” over on the Ploughshares blog. And then, take a look at what a whole slew of editors have to say about what to include in your cover letter. I’m only sorry I discovered these posts too late to include it in the “resources” section of the handout that participants will receive tomorrow in my Philadelphia workshop, “Publish Your Work!” (you can still register, by the way!).

    • Have a great weekend, all. See you back here on Monday.

    Jewish Literary Links for Shabbat

    by Erika Dreifus on
    Disabled

    Photo Credit: Reut Miryam Cohen
    Every Friday morning My Machberet presents an assortment of Jewish literary news from around the Web.

  • Let’s start with this: “The editor of a Polish Jewish monthly was awarded a European Union Prize for Literature for a novel that deals with Holocaust memory. Piotr Pazinski, the editor of the Warsaw-based Midrasz, won the award for his novel ‘Pensjonat’ (‘Boarding House’), which was published in Poland in 2010.”
  • Next up: If you’ll be in New York October 21-22, you may want to stop by the Center for Jewish History, which will be hosting an impressive Second-hand Book Sale. “Authors include: Sholem Aleichem, Marc D. Angel, Paul Arnsberg, Martin Buber, Chaim Grade, Itzik Manger, Thomas Mann, Isaac Bashevis Singer, Stefan Zweig, and others.”
  • December will bring us a new book from Elie Wiesel. This time, he has written a memoir, Open Heart, which stems from his recent experience as a bypass patient.
  • Job alert: “JNS.org, a Boston-based international wire service providing content to Jewish publications across the U.S., is seeking a Washington correspondent to cover major developments in the nation’s capital for a Jewish audience.”
  • If you’ve been wondering how Deborah Feldman has been faring since the publication of her controversial Unorthodox, here’s an update. (Hint: Security guards are involved.)

    • Shabbat shalom.

    Wednesday’s Work-in-Progress

    by Erika Dreifus on
    4

    Remember last winter when I mentioned that I was mulling over applying for membership in the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA)? Well, after shelving the question for awhile, I went ahead and applied last month. And over the weekend, I learned that my application was accepted. So, here I am, a newly minted ASJA member!

    At this point, I’m still exploring the various “members-only” resources and lurking around the discussion boards. But once again, I’d love advice from any of you on how to maximize my membership’s usefulness.