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Listen to Etgar Keret Read from “Suddenly, A Knock on the Door”

by Erika Dreifus on
2

On November 15, I had the great pleasure and privilege of attending an event featuring Israeli author Etgar Keret. Held at Baruch College of The City University of New York, the session was titled “The Real and the Imagined: Talk and Reading with Etgar Keret,” and it featured readings from Keret’s latest collection, Suddenly, A Knock on the Door. Directly after the reading, Keret headed to the airport for a flight home to Israel, interrupting his tour to return to be with his family during Operation Pillar of Defense.

A friend had hoped to join me at Baruch, but that didn’t work out. So I took my trusty iPhone–equipped with its iTalk application–along instead. And I recorded the session to share via e-mail with my friend after the fact. (My learning how to e-mail a large audio file could be a story in itself, but I’ll spare you those details.)

The event’s organizer contacted Keret’s agent and asked if it would be OK for me to post the audio publicly. To my delight, the answer is YES!

So, I happily present to you: Etgar Keret. (If you have the new collection and want to follow along as Keret reads from it, you can go ahead bookmark “What Animal Are You?” and “Healthy Start”–both of these stories were translated by Miriam Shlesinger, by the way–before you click here to begin listening.)

NB: I couldn’t upload the file directly to my website–it’s too large. So I’ve attempted to use the file-sharing program that helped me send the file to my friend. I hope it works! (The file will expire on December 25, so please listen soon!)

Monday Markets/Jobs/Opportunities for Writers

by Erika Dreifus on
Disabled

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).

  • Cha: An Asian Literary Journal has announced a contest for unpublished poems about “Betrayal.” Cash prizes for top three and up to five “high commended” poems. All winning poems will be published in the journal’s March issue. No entry fee. Deadline: January 15, 2013.
  • “The editor of The Buenos Aires Reader is “wide-open to submissions from writers writing in English, whether they are expats or natives, as long as they are describing life in Latin America. Yes, that’s right — you don’t have to just write from, in or about Argentina.” Will consider fiction, non-fiction, poetry, opinion, profiles and interviews. Pays: “USD $25 via PayPal, or ARS $100 in person. Payment is made within a month of publication.” No simultaneous submissions. (via Duotrope.com)
  • From Grub Street, Inc., (Boston): “Thanks to the generous support of our donors, each quarter we offer $200 scholarships to at least five writers. Recipients may use their scholarship at any time in the year. To apply for a Winter 2013 scholarship, please email the following to rowan@grubstreet.org by December 5th at 12pm: a 5-10 page sample of your work, and a one-page letter detailing your financial need and desire to take a Grub Street class. Applicants will hear from the selection committee within one week after the deadline.”
  • Paid, part-time internship opportunity with the Jewish Book Council in New York. Apply by December 17.
  • Coming soon: the December issue of The Practicing Writer. Featuring end-of-year book recommendations and, as usual, a slew of no-cost contests and paying submission calls. Don’t miss it!
  • Guidelines are now available for the NYFA Emergency Relief Fund that I mentioned here last week. Plus, PEN American Center has simplified its Writers Fund application for victims of Hurricane Sandy (grants up to $500).
  • “The Coe College [Iowa] English Department invites applications for a tenure-track appointment in Creative Writing and literature with an emphasis on poetry to begin in August 2013.”
  • Syracuse University (N.Y.) is looking for part-time faculty to teach AAS 338: Creative Writing Workshop. “The course AAS 338: Creative Writing Workshop exposes students to techniques of craftsmanship and use of meditation to expand the visionary experience, and aesthetic sensibilities that involve African American Culture. Students gain their experience through a workshop of poetry and prose.”

    • Talking About Poetry (and Israel) on the Radio

    by Erika Dreifus on
    4

    If you’re reading this before Sunday morning, November 25 (around 9 a.m., Eastern time), you still have time to prepare to catch me on the radio! I’ve been asked to appear on Shalom USA Radio to read my poem, “Questions for the Critics,” and talk a bit about its genesis. I’m looking forward to this opportunity (even if I’m slightly terrified to be broadcasting live). If you want to listen in, you can do so here. Please wish me luck!

    Friday Finds for Writers

    by Erika Dreifus on
    2

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

  • Many congratulations to Stephanie Vanderslice on being named Arkansas Professor of the Year. (If you didn’t catch our Q&A with Stephanie regarding her recent book, Rethinking Creative Writing in Higher Education: Programs and Practices that Work, it’s archived here.)
  • A big thank-you to The Kenyon Review for posting audio of Elie Wiesel’s acceptance speech on November 8, when he received the 2012 Kenyon Review Award for Literary Achievement.
  • Agree with the idea that the Internet has become a realm of (too much) niceness? Roxane Gay suggests that you think again.
  • I’m still laughing over this McSweeney’s item: Raymond Carver’s OKCupid profile, edited by Gordon Lish.
  • Like many of you, I’ve got Alice Munro’s latest, Dear Life, on my tbr list. Munro’s Q & A with The New Yorker‘s Deborah Treisman only increased my interest.

    • 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.

  • On the occasion of the publication of Herman Wouk’s latest novel, Adam Kirsch revisits Wouk’s major writings and career.
  • A big thank-you to The Kenyon Review for posting audio of Elie Wiesel’s acceptance speech on November 8, when he received the 2012 Kenyon Review Award for Literary Achievement.
  • Paid, part-time internship opportunity with the Jewish Book Council in New York. Apply by December 17.
  • Further thoughts stemming from Philip Roth’s retirement announcement, from Jason Diamond and D.G. Myers.
  • Right after his November 15 reading at Baruch College, Etgar Keret headed home to Israel. Shortly thereafter, it seems, he wrote this.
  • This week was, again, a time when I (to paraphrase a rabbi friend) thought often of our cousins in the East. To stay informed, I relied extensively on The Times of Israel, Tablet, Jeffrey Goldberg, and the URJ’s Israel page.

    • Shabbat shalom to all. And special thanks to RJ.org for publishing my poem, “Questions for the Critics,” on Tuesday.