Spring 2007 the Coast Line Newsletter of the Department of Creative Writing at the University of North Carolina Wilmington the Year of Scholarships

Spring 2007 The Coast Line Newsletter of the Department of Creative Writing at the University of North Carolina Wilmington The Year of Scholarships

It’s been a banner year in UNCW’s Department of Creative Writing — with an impressive array of student, alumni, and faculty books and publications, an active program of community involvement, and an engaging roster of guest authors, as well as the @ department’s first named scholarship. Our writers continue to change the world around them — through the power of words. The Jesse Rice-Evans North Carolina Sorosis Award Creative Writing Scholarship ach year, the North he Creative Writing Department thanks ECarolina Sorosis, a Tdonors Mark Griffis and Dave Robertson women’s civic organization, for creating the department’s first scholarship, honors a writer by giving named in honor of Jesse Rice-Evans. a $500 scholarship in that Still in her teenage years, not yet a high school writer’s name to one of graduate, UNCW’s undergraduate Jesse was students chosen by creative selected writing faculty members. to attend This year, Christine York the North received the award, named Carolina in honor of Wilmington Governor’s author Celia Rivenbark. Scholarship recipient Christine York (left) with author Celia Rivenbark School. She York is also the recipient of is a true hu- the Chancellor’s Achievement Award four out of the manitarian, five semesters she has been enrolled for at UNCW, and often taking continued on page 14 risks speak- Left to right: Mark Griffis, Dr. John Rice, Jesse Rice-Evans, ing out and Marla Rice-Evans, Dave Robertson Changing of the Guard: continuing A new chair for the CRW Department to stand for what is good in our world. Her dedication and perseverance serve as inspiration for this endow- he Department of Creative Writing held its first election ment. Tof a new chair in January of 2007. Two members of the This $2,200 scholarship will be awarded to a rising faculty, Wendy Brenner and Philip Gerard, agreed to stand for senior in the Department of Creative Writing for the the office and prepared written statements of their vision of the department’s future. They each met with the faculty, MFA first time in 2007. The scholarship will be used to pro- students, and CAS Dean David Cordle, as well as with current vide financial support up to the cost of tuition, fees chair Phil Furia. and books as funding permits. In order to be eligible, After a secret ballot, the department recommended that the recipient must be registered for twelve or more Philip Gerard be named chair, and Dean Cordle concurred credit hours. Because it is a merit scholarship, it is also with that recommendation. In his message to the department, Dean Cordle described Gerard as continued on page 11 continued on page 14 Student News

Congratulations to the student whose creative work shows tributed significantly to the morale, following UNCW students outstanding promise, was awarded community spirit, and excellence in both the MFA and BFA to Hillary Wentworth. of the MFA program. This year it programs for their recent was warded by faculty and student publications and presentations. The Robert H. Byington Leader- nomination to Hannah Abrams. ship Fellowship honors the out- Kristin Cole presented a paper at standing leadership and pioneering The Lavonne Adams Award, cre- the National Council of Teachers of work of Dr. Robert H. Byington in ated by MFA students, is awarded English in November 2006. establishing the Creative Writing by student nomination and vote. It is designated for a graduating MFA Ashley Hudson was a finalist in the student who, throughout his or Washington Square Review 2006 Po- her enrollment in the program, has etry Contest judged by Nick Flynn. shown an all-around dedication to She also won the Columbia Journal’s @ the MFA program, his or her work, and the creative writing community. 2007 Poetry Contest, judged by Since June 2006, the following Matthea Harvey, and will be pub- The recipient should have contrib- students have been featured uted to the academic and social lished in the July 2007 edition of in Wilma!, Wilmington’s the journal. health of the program, as well as the magazine for women, in their writing community at large. This “On the Cusp” series: Miriam Parker’s short story “Made year this award went to Emily Gor- man-Fancy. for TV Movie of My Life” was Megan Sheperd published in the December issue of Jennifer Rose Fourteen Hills. The Furia Award is funded by Lau- Stevie Kohler rie Patterson of UNCW’s Comput- Hannah Abrams Sumanth Prabhaker’s essay “A er Science Department. The recipi- Janie Miller ent of the award is an MFA student Hard Truth About Waste Manage- Simona Chitescu ment” has been published online at who, through coursework, MFA Lauren Hodges exam, and/or thesis, demonstrates identitytheory.com and was chosen Jen Weathers for Best American Fantasy 2007. the greatest historical understanding Miriam Parker of their genre. This year the award Daniel Terry went to Cynthia Ramsey. BFA student pub- “On the Cusp” is funded by a lished his poem “Hymn to Ophelia” grant from the George Link The Gerard Fellowship is given in the national undergraduate liter- Foundation. ary journal The Albion Review. to an incoming graduate student working toward an MFA and is Congratulations to the follow- based on merit. The award is funded ing MFA students, recipients by Charles Green III. This year’s of this year’s departmental recipient was Jason Mott. awards. Program and is funded by Philip Gerard. It is awarded at the start of the thesis year to an MFA student The Shannon A. Morton Fellow- of outstanding creative achievement ship, a graduate merit scholarship, who has demonstrated unusual awarded by faculty nomination, generosity of spirit toward faculty, designated for a second year MFA staff, and peers and who has con-

The Coast Line • Spring 2007 Faculty News

Lavonne Adams has been invited Barbara Brannon contributed tumn House Book of Contemporary to be an Artist-in-Residence at articles to several recent issues of Poetry (Autumn House); Never Be- the Harwood Wilmington Maga- fore: Poems of First Experience (Four Museum of Art zine. Her book, Way Books); Blues for Bill: Tributes in Taos, New The Ferries of North to William Matthews (University of Mexico, to work Carolina: Traveling Akron Press); The Giant Book of Po- on her collection the State’s Nauti- etry (Level4Press); Mississippi Review of poems based cal Highways, was (online); and the Southern Review. on the paint- published in spring Clyde Edgerton’s Solo: My ings of Georgia of 2007. Adventures in the Air won the 2006 O’Keeffe. She Wendy Brenner’s essay “Love Regan Old North also coordinated a team-taught, and Death in the Cape Fear State Award for interdisciplinary version of “CRW Serpentarium” Nonfiction. The 202: Explorations in the Creative appears in the New York Times Process.” The course features guest anthology Best described Solo as lecturers by faculty in Creative American Maga- a “spare, heartfelt Writing, Studio Art, Art History, zine Writing 2006. celebration of Music, Drama and Film Studies, Her essay in Ox- the flying life.” with workshop sections taught by ford American was Jonathan Yardley, graduate teaching assistants in Cre- one of five final- reviewing Solo in the Washington ative Writing. ists, along with an essay by adjunct Post, called the book an “engaging Tim Bass’s short story “Magen- faculty member John Jeremiah memoir . . . amiable in its account ta Chickens” has Sullivan, for the 2005 National of how one learns to fly.” Clyde is been published in Magazine Award in Feature Writing only the second writer, after Tim Aries magazine. selected by the American Society of McLaurin, to receive both the Fic- He also developed Magazine Editors. She published tion and Nonfiction awards from a new course, new nonfiction and fiction inOx - the Literary and Historical Associa- Writing for Digi- ford American and Fairy Tale Review. tion. Clyde Edgerton and Philip tal Media, which Her short short story has also been Gerard were featured writers in an will be part of the published in Esquire’s online “nap- article emphasizing North Carolina’s digital arts minor kin fiction archive”— stories written rich literary history published in in Computer Science that begins on Esquire cocktail napkins—and the January 2007 Wrightsville Beach next fall. can be found at http://www.esquire. Magazine. Karen Bender’s short story com/napkinproject. Phil Furia published America’s “Theft” has been published in the Mark Cox’s work has recently Songs: The Stories Behind the Songs of Harvard Review appeared in Under the Rock Um- Broadway, Holly- and will also be brella: Contemporary American Poets wood, and Tin Pan included in Best from 1951–1977 Alley (co-author, American Mystery (Mercer University Michael Lasser; Stories 2006. “Re- Press); Homage to Routledge). He fund,” published in Vallejo (Green- was interviewed Ploughshares, will house Review on Bob Edwards reappear in Push- Press); Manthol- Weekend and other cart Prize 2007. ogy: Poems of the national radio programs. He also Male Experience wrote and emceed musical tributes (University of Iowa Press); The Au- to the Gershwins at Charleston’s

The Coast Line • Spring 2007 Alumni Publications

Anne Barnhill (MFA, 2001) has 2006) nonfiction book and MFA placed her memoir, At Home in the thesis about women in combat will Alumni Readings Land of Oz, with London publisher be published by Stackpole Books in Jessica Kingsley. The book will be 2007. Kirsten’s extensive research Eli Hastings (MFA, 2004) is the published in the U.K., Australia, for this book also led to her article author of Falling Room (2006), the and the U.S. in 2007 or early 2008. on teaching Arabic to U.S. Marines latest in the University of Nebraska’s Pamela Benbow’s (MFA, 2001) before their deployment, which was American review of the book Epinetron: Storia published in Leatherneck Maga- Lives Publish- Di Una Forma Ceramica Fra Archeo- zine last year and won a national ing line, a logia E Cultura, by Italian scholar Paragon Award from the National series edited Chiara Mercati, appeared in the Council for Marketing and Public by acclaimed spring 2006 American Journal of Relations. writer Tobias Archaeology. The Epinetron, an Attic Gwendolyn Knapp’s (MFA, Wolff.His female pottery vessel, was also the 2006) story “There Are Surfers in work has subject of Pamela’s MFA thesis, a Iowa” appeared in Crazyhorse 70. appeared in novel. Thomas J. Kunz’s(MFA, 2004) many noted Emma Bolden’s (MFA, 2005) essay “A Strategy For Adjuncts: journals, chapbook, “How to Recognize a How to Acquire Classes in the 11th including Lady,” which contains poems from Hour” appeared in the August issue Cimarron Review, the Seattle Review, her thesis, will be published as part of the AWP Job List. Tom’s short and the Tulane Review. He has been of Toadlily Press’ Quartet Series. story “High Def” appeared in the nominated for a Pushcart Prize, and Her poem “Epistle IV: An Attempt September issue of Other Voices he won the Alligator Juniper nonfic- to Explain or at Least Keep Still” magazine. tion contest. appeared in Verse. “Solamen Miseris Rob Lurie’s (MFA, 2005) Catherine McCall’s memoir, Socios Habuisse Doloris” appeared biography No Certainty Attached: Lifeguarding: A Memoir of Secrets, in Margie, and “Procedures” ap- Searching for Steve Kilbey has been Swimming, peared in Spoon River Poetry Review. bought by Verse Chorus Press of and the Emma’s short story “Sympathy” was Portland, Oregon. It will be released South, was the winner of the 2007 Georgetown in the U.S., the U.K., and Australia published by Review contest. She also presented in spring 2007. Harmony in a pedagogy paper titled “Beyond Nate Perrine (MFA, 2005) has 2006. It was Show Don’t Tell: The Image as a two poems featured on gtweekly. named one Foreign Language” at the 2006 com—Good Times Weekly, the news of the “50 AWP Conference. and entertainment weekly of Santa Hot Summer Jason Frye’s (MFA, 2006) Cruz County (California). Books” by poems “Buffalo Creek” and “Belt- Cindy Ramsey’s (MFA, 2006) Entertain- line Lights” appeared in Coal: A nonfiction book and MFA thesis, ment Weekly Poetry Anthology, published by Blair The Boys of the Battleship North and chosen to receive one of three Mountain Press. Carolina, was published by John F. Reader’s Prizes by Elle. Nina de Gramont’s (MFA, Blair Publishers to coincide with the 2006) novel and MFA thesis, Gos- ship’s 66th birthday and the crew’s sip of the Starlings, has been ac- next reunion. cepted for publication by Algonquin Kim Shable’s (MFA, 2004) col- Books. umn, “Random Thoughts,” appears Kirsten Holmstedt’s (MFA, in The Columbus Dispatch.

The Coast Line • Spring 2007 From the BFA Program

any fine writers are pursu- I, Katrina Ming the Bachelor of Fine Arts from Days of Dark Miracles by Daniel Terry degree at UNCW. Recently, senior Daniel Terry was awarded a UNC My father is the Sun and he is relentless Undergraduate Re- in his need to penetrate and remake the world search Opportunity in his image. My mother is the Sea and, despite rumors to the contrary, is not changeable and will not be moved Expansion Initiative by his advances. She will suffer just so much of his hot love Grant, which enabled before, panting and swelling with desires not her own, him to travel to New she heaves him off. In the aftermath of their false passions, Orleans and Missis- even the air is sweating. sippi to complete his And I, Katrina, am born the bastard child collection of poems, Days of Dark of lovelessness. Miracles, about hurricane Katrina and the Gulf Coast. What am I, that the Sun creates me thoughtlessly? What am I, Daniel read selections from his that the Sea gives me up? collection for the UNCW Board How can my head be full of thunderous thoughts of Visitors meeting in November and lightning needs when I am only hours old? Why 2006. is my throat burning with latent heat while my brow In March 2007 he will be read- is caked in ice? Why do I grow so swiftly? Why is my heart, ing selections from his collection the center of my being, so cloudless, my core so empty? at the AWP (Associated Writers Why this deluge of tears? and Writing Programs) national Why will I destroy you? conference in Atlanta and in April at the College English Association For this question alone, I have an answer — conference in New Orleans. Daniel I go where the greater winds lead me, received a travel grant from UNCW where the trade winds blow. Those same winds that steered Columbus to the West Indies. to present at the CEA. That brought the conquistadores to the Aztecs. In the past months, poems from Daniel’s collection have been pub- I did not choose you any more than I chose lished in Oberon, The Albion Review, to be what I am. For all my strength, I am like you — a victim Hinges, and The River: The Natchez of the wind — driven by what is outside of me. Try to understand my fury as you should, by now, Poetry Anthology. understand your own — after all, I’m not the first Days of Dark Miracles was select- to be forced here from Africa, weeping and bound ed as a finalist by Patricia Fargnoli for the Mississippi. in the 2006 Stevens Poetry Manu- script Competition. And I know as well as you do that landfall will kill us both.

For more information about the BFA This said – I am no coward, no willing suicide. program, contact the coordinator, Lavonne Adams, I will not be forgotten. [email protected]. I am heady now with power and I will be all that I can be before Artic fronts can cool my rage, before the land bleeds me dry, before mountain walls, like levees, hold me still for one last cry.

The Coast Line • Spring 2007 Crossing Borders by Ashley Talley

his past May, I had the op- Some of the highlights of my ting for much of my novel. Tportunity to travel to China trip included climbing Taishan, one Her father built the home in the with the assistance of a travel grant of the five sacred peaks of Taoism, early 1920s in what was then the In- from the UNCW Graduate Student standing under the famous portrait ternational Settlement but now is a Association. My thesis is a novel of Chairman Mao and looking multi-family dwelling, crowded and set mostly in Shanghai, and it’s across the vastness of Tiananmen in disrepair, with bicycles stacked in very loosely based on my family’s Square, walking on the Great Wall the front yard and laundry hanging relationship to Asia over the past of China, and watching the grace- from every window. Nevertheless, hundred years. Being able to walk ful movements of people practicing the sight, like the entire trip, was an through the streets my Mema tai’chi on the banks of the Yangtze amazing and inspiring experience. described, entering buildings where in the early morning. her father and her husband worked, The best moment, though, had and just observing and absorbing to come after walking for miles the chaotic energy of Shanghai, Bei- through Shanghai in the rain, jing, and the little towns between searching for an address on a street was absolutely incredible. It gave without signs or numbers, and me insight for my thesis, but it was finally coming to it—Number 2, a very personal learning experience Columbia Circle, the house where as well. Mema grew up and the actual set-

Around Town by Janie Miller

n Sunday, February 18, 2007 Messer’s Lyric Essay class. Lyric community, and to leave behind an Ograduate students from the essay is a style of writing that is annual legacy for future UNCW creative writing department at one part poem to another part graduate students. The ties between UNCW opened their exhibition, nonfiction essay. Therefore the class language and image are both mys- The Red Wheelbarrow: An Exhibition brought poets, nonfiction writers, terious and explicit, leaving the op- of Word and Image at ERA Furniture and fiction writers together in a portunity for exploration limitless. and Art Gallery located in down- unique environment where ex- town Wilmington. The exhibition perimentation and risk-taking were ran through February 28th. welcome. Around the middle of the The exhibition featured nine semester a conversation about art writers from poetry, fiction, and and writing between MFA students non-fiction that collaborated to Erin Bond and Janie Miller planted bring various perspectives together the seeds for the show. By October, on the relationship between image nine writers were committed to the and language. Through written and idea of producing a language-art visual mediums, each artist explored show. how they visually “read” a photo- This conceptual art show in- graph, as well as the ways in which cluded paintings, collage, drawings, Left to right: Red Wheelbarrow artists (back) Beth language affects their visual artwork. photography, and still life sculpture. James, Visha Burkhart, Janie Miller, Jen Shepard, The roots of this show began The artists’ hopes were to share Alison Harney; (front) Erin Seabolt-Bond, Audrey Weis, Hillary Wentworth. in the spring of 2006 during Sarah their efforts and discoveries with the

The Coast Line • Spring 2007 Bald Head Island Writing Retreat

he weekend of March 23-25, In addition to housing intact to Cuba. After the talk, writers will T2007, UNCW will help host maritime ecosystems, Bald Head have the opportunity to meet and a creative writing retreat on Bald Island is a renowned vacation socialize. Head Island, off the coast of south- destination. With activities ranging Saturday includes field trips to eastern North Carolina. from golf to beachcombing on the the marshes of the Smith Island Set in a pristine maritime forest, Cape Fear (where the shells can be Complex and Bald Head Woods, the Bald Head Island a preserved component of the NC Creative Writing Coastal Reserve. Classes in craft in Retreat uniquely em- fiction, poetry, and creative nonfic- phasizes writing from tion are offered in the afternoon place. It is a collabora- by faculty of UNCW’s Depart- tive endeavor between ment of Creative Writing. Saturday the UNCW Depart- evening will feature a talk by Clyde ment of Creative Writ- Edgerton, followed by an open mic ing, the Bald Head student reading. Island Conservancy, Sunday is devoted to and the NC Coastal workshops in the genre of your Reserve. choice. The weekend retreat provides spectacular), Bald Head is a unique The cost of the workshop is expert instruction in the craft of mix of natural setting and human $300. This includes classes, lec- writing as well as directed work- habitation. Bald Head Islanders tures, talks, tours of the maritime have sought to develop a world- forest and marshes, and catered class resort in the midst of some of meals (with the exception of Friday the best examples of salt marsh and night dinner). Housing is available maritime forest anywhere in the at additional cost in three forms: Southeast. This interplay between dormitory-style rooms at the Con- the human and natural worlds pro- servancy, group homes, and single vides inspiration. rentals. All Bald Head housing is at On Friday night, March 23, a 20% discount. For information participants will arrive on Bald on registering or housing, contact Head Island by ferry and convene Lisa Bertini at (910) 962-3070. at the conservancy Turtle Central shops in several genres. Writers are for a talk by David Gessner about invited to participate in field trips his new book, Soaring with Fidel, to the preserved environments of which follows the osprey migration Bald Head Island, affording an insight into the ecology and history of this unusual area with the aim of informing their writing. Readings by acclaimed authors Clyde Edgerton, David Gessner, Karen Bender, Robert Anthony Siegel, and Mike White will also be held.

The Coast Line • Spring 2007 Writers’ Week 2007

The Department of Creative Writing hosts the Writers’ Week Symposium for one week each spring semester. Activities include workshops, panels, readings, and manuscript conferences. Writers’ Week brings together visiting writers, faculty members, students, and the community interested in the art of writing. This year’s Writers’ Week is scheduled for March 12-16. The following guests join UNCW faculty in presenting Writers’ Week 2007.

Adrienne Brodeur is a consulting editor at Harcourt Trade Publishers. Keynote speaker Susan Orlean She is the founding editor of Zoetrope: has been a staff writer forThe New Yorkersince All-Story, a 1992. She had been contributing both signed fiction maga- articles and “Talk of the Town” pieces since zine she started 1987. Orlean has written more than fifty “Talk with filmmaker of the Town” pieces, as well as “Profiles and Francis Ford Reporter at Large” articles, and is currently Coppola. She writing a series of American popular culture was Zoetrope’s columns called “Popular Chronicles.” Prior to editor-in-chief joining TheNew Yorker, Orlean was a con- 1995–2002, tributing editor at Rolling Stone and also at during which time Zoetrope won the Vogue. Previously, she had been a columnist, prestigious National Magazine Award first for theBoston Phoenix, and then for the Boston Globe Sunday Man for Best Fiction. Her first novel, Magazine. She has also written for The New York Times Magazine, Camp, was published by Random Spy, Esquire, and Outside. Orlean has written several books, includ- House in 2005. ing The Bullfighter Checks Her Makeup: My Encounters with Ordi- Amy Hughes is an affiliate liter- nary People (Random House, 2001), a collection of stories; Red Sox ary agent at McCormick & Williams. and Blue Fish (Faber & Faber, 1987), a compilation of columns Previously, she was a publicist at Simon she wrote for the Boston Globe Sunday Magazine, “Saturday Night” & Schuster, an editor at Penguin, (Knopf, 1990), a journal of essays which chronicle the Saturday and has done free- nights she spent in communities across the country; and The Orchid lance editing and Thief(Random House, 1998), a narrative about orchid poachers writing for several in Florida. The Orchid Thief was made into the movie Adaptation, publishing houses adapted for the screen by Charlie Kaufman and directed by Spike and magazines. Jonze. Sydney Lea’s most recent collection of poems is Ghost Pain (Sarabande Books, 2005). volume, To the Bone: New and Selected In My Father’s Foot- Lea founded New Poems (Univ. of Illinois Press, 1996), steps (Norton, 2004). England Review in was co-winner of the 1998 Poets’ Prize. He co-edited, with 1977 and edited His stories, poems, essays, and criti- Stanley Plumly, Search it until 1989. Of cism have appeared in the New Yorker, Party: Collected Poems his seven previous Atlantic Monthly, the New Republic, the of William Matthews poetry collec- New York Times, Sports Illustrated, and (Houghton Mifflin, tions, Pursuit of a many other periodicals, as well as in 2004), a recent finalist Wound (Universi- more than forty anthologies. for the Pulitzer Prize. Matthews edits ty of Illinois Press, Sebastian Matthews is the author Rivendell, a place-based literary journal. 2000), was one of three finalists for the of a collection of poems, We Generous His poetry and prose have appeared Pulitzer Prize for poetry. The preceding (Red Hen Press, 2007), and a memoir, in Atlantic Monthly, Georgia Review, The Coast Line • Spring 2007 Writers’ Week 2007

New England Review, Poets & Writers, tailed look behind the scenes at the Books, 2006), and in the journals and Virginia Quarterly Review, among workings of the music business as Tikkun, Pierogi Press, Boston Review, others. well as at the mind of a performer Volt, Fence, Denver Quarterly and Jason Ockert is the author of Rab- who chases after superstardom with elsewhere. She has bit Punches (Low Fidelity Press, 2006), failure ever at his heels. taught creative a collection of short Dao Strom is the author of writing at Pratt stories. He is the Grass Roof, Tin Roof, a novel (Mari- Institute and Poets winner of the 1999 ner Books, 2003), and The Gentle House in New Atlantic Monthly Order of Girls and Boys (Coun- York City, and at Fiction Contest terpoint Press, 2006), a book of Middlebury Col- and the 2002 Mary stories. She is a graduate of the Iowa lege in Vermont. Roberts Rinehart Writers Workshop, and has been Dana Sachs Award. His work the recipient of an NEA Literature is the author of the novel If You has appeared in Fellowship, a Lived Here (William Morrow, Black Warrior Review, Mid-American James Michener 2007) and The House on Dream Review, and the Oxford American and fellowship and the Street: Memoir of an American Wom- is forthcoming in the Indiana Review. Chicago Tribune/ an in Vietnam (Algonquin, 2000), One of his stories has recently been Nelson Algren and co-author of Two Cakes Fit for selected for the 2007 New Stories from Award. a King: Folktales from Vietnam. Her the South Anthology. John Sul- essays, reviews, and Jacob Slichter is a writer livan is a writer- articles have ap- and drummer from Champaign, at-large for GQ peared in such pub- Illinois, who graduated from and a recipient of a 2004 Whiting lications as National Harvard. His band, Semisonic, Writers’ Award. His memoir, Blood Geographic, the was formed in 1992 with guitarist/ Horses: Notes of a Sportswriter’s Son International Herald singer/songwriter Dan Wilson and (Picador, 2005) was named a Book Tribune, and Travel bassist John Munson. After signing of the Year by the Economist. His & Leisure Family. A with MCA Re- writing has appeared in the Paris Re- resident of Wilmington and part- cords in 1994, view, New York Magazine, The New time instructor at UNCW, Dana Semisonic York Times, and Harper’s, where he was the recipient of a Fulbright released several spent four years as a senior editor. Fellowship in 2005 that enabled her albums, in- Suzanne Wise is the author of to spend a year in Vietnam research- cluding Great The Kingdom Divide, Feeling the poetry collection ing a nonfiction book on Operation of the Subjunctive. Her poetry has Babylift, the evacuation of several Strangely Fine, also appeared in the anthologies thousand Vietnamese children from and All About American Poetry: Saigon at the end of the American Chemistry. the Next Genera- War. Best known in the United States for tion (Carnegie- their chart-topping single “Closing Mellon Univer- UNCW Writers’ Time,” Semisonic’s platinum-selling sity Press, 2000) Week is supported in success landed them in the media and Legitimate part by a grant from spotlight and on airwaves and stages Dangers: Ameri- the North Carolina around the globe. Slichter’s critically can Poets of Arts Council. acclaimed memoir, So You Wanna the New Cen- Be a Rock & Roll Star (Broadway tury (Sarabande Books, 2004), is a literate and de- The Coast Line • Spring 2007 Visiting Writers 2006–07

Gerald Stern, the first poet laure- bring a wide range of distinguished writ- Visiting Writers ate of New Jersey and the newly elected ers to the UNCW campus. chancellor of the Academy of American The Department of Creative Writing is Poets, has taught George Singleton has published more committed to bringing the best authors in all genres to be a part of our writing at the Univer- than 100 stories in magazines such as community. Visiting writers spend a sity of Iowa Writers’ Atlantic Monthly, month or a semester living and teaching Workshop as well Harper’s, Playboy, among our own students and faculty, or as at other colleges Zoetrope, Georgia come for shorter stays. Their workshops, and universities. He Review, Shenandoah, critiques, informal discussions, and is the author of four- Southern Review, public readings richly complement our teen books of poetry, and North Ameri- curriculum. including This Time: New and Selected can Review. His Poems, which won the National Book stories have been UNCW’s Creative Writing Graduate Award in 1998, and most recently, anthologized in seven editions of New Student Association Everything Is Burning (2005) and Stories from the South. Singleton is also hosted the 2007 American Sonnets (2002), all published the author of four collections of short AWP Reading with by W. W. Norton. His book of personal stories: These People Are Us (2001), The award-winning essays, What I Can’t Bear Losing: Notes Half-Mammals of Dixie (2002), author Margot From a Life, was released by Norton in Why Dogs Chase Cars (2004), and Livesey. Her November 2003. Not God After All, a Drowning in Gruel (2006). His novel bestselling books book of aphorisms or petite narratives, Novel was published in 2005 by Har- include Banishing was published in October 2004 by court. Verona (Henry Holt, 2004), The Autumn House Press. Joy Williams is the author of four Missing World (Knopf, 2000) and Eva Stern’s honors include the Paris novels—the most recent, The Quick Moves the Furniture (Henry Holt, Review’s Bernard F. Conners Award, and the Dead, was a finalist for the 2001), a New York Times Notable the Bess Hokin Award from Poetry, the Pulitzer Prize in 2001—and two earlier Book, an Atlantic Monthly Best Book of Ruth Lilly Prize, four National Endow- collections of stories, as well as Ill Na- the Year and a PEN/Winship finalist. ment for the Arts grants, the Pennsylva- ture, a book of essays that was a finalist Bob Reiss’ most recent book is The nia Governor’s Award for Excellence in for the National Book Critics Circle Coming Storm. Reiss has written more the Arts, the Jerome J. Shestack Poetry Award for criticism. Among her many than a dozen of books, ranging from Prize from American Poetry Review, honors are the Rea Award for the short global thrillers to nonfiction explora- and fellowships from the Academy story and the Strauss Living Award tions of environmental issues. In 1992 of American Poets, the Guggenheim from the American Reiss published The Road to Exrema, Foundation, and the Pennsylvania Academy of Arts a nonfiction work Council on the Arts. In 2005, Stern and Letters. exploring the issues was selected to receive the Wallace of Brazilian defores- Stevens Award for mastery in the art of tation. His current poetry. work of fiction,The Side Effect (2006), is a suspense thriller Katherine Buckner set amongst power- ful pharmaceutical companies. He has Reading Series written for Smithsonian Magazine, Roll- ing Stone, GQ, Glamour, Parade, The The Buckner Reading Series was estab- lished by Charles F. Green III, alumnus Washington Post Magazine, and other of UNCW class of 1971, in honor of his national publications. friend Katherine Buckner. It allows us to

10 The Coast Line • Spring 2007 Outreach Programs

more elementary and middle schools Young Writers’ as well as investigate the possibility Workshop of expanding the program to include Leland area schools. With an expansion he Young Writers’ Workshop, a of the program, she would eventually Tweek-long camp for high school like to include the BFA students in the students interested in learning more program as well. about the craft of writing, marked its Cole is also looking to create other fifth consecutive summer in 2006. opportunities for Writers in Action This year’s Young Writers’ Workshop graduate student participants, such will begin on Tuesday, June 19 and run as reading to younger elementary For more information on YWW, school students and organizing holi- through Saturday, June 23. visit The schedule involves morning day-themed readings. She’d even like www.uncw.edu/writers to organize a reading at the end of the writing exercises, which help students or email year for the Writers in Action students. generate new poems, stories, and es- [email protected]. says, craft lectures by various creative writing faculty members and graduate GUARD students, and afternoon workshops. from page 1 “ a person of energy Writers In Action and vision who will work to ensure that your Other activities for the week include an department’s development continues unin- open mic, a T-shirt decorating party, riters in Action is a project in terrupted.” The dean added the department and an excursion to the south end of Wwhich MFA Creative Writing was “very fortunate in this process to have Wrightsville Beach for a special end- of candidates conduct creative writing two excellent candidates, both fully quali- -camp reading. The workshop is held sessions with area elementary, middle fied for the job and highly regarded by their on the UNCW campus each year. school, and high school students. peers.” He also praised Phil Furia “for his many contributions as chair for these three Students stay in the residence halls and Individually, or in groups, the men- take meals in the dining facility. years. He has done a difficult job very well, tors spend approximately ten classes always with grace and good humor. Creative This year the program coordina- teaching fiction and ten classes teach- Writing is a stronger department due to tors, Peter Biello and Kara Norman, are ing poetry. The program serves as an Phil’s efforts.” proud to announce that this year the excellent way to interest young people Philip Gerard will assume office in July, workshop will be awarding scholarships in writing, help them improve their as the department readies itself to move to a to writers of exceptional talent. grammar skills, and provide opportuni- renovated Kenan Hall. As one of the few in- ties for graduate students to work with dependent departments of creative writing in the country, UNCW’s program will have its young people and acquire valuable own building in a central campus location. teaching experience. Renovations are designed to enhance every This year, three MFA students are aspect of the department and its programs. participating in the program, working Gerard, who founded the creative writ- at various schools throughout New Ha- ing program when he came to UNCW in nover County. This past year, the pres- the early 1990s, says that “in fall 2007, the ent coordinator of Writers in Action, Department of Creative Writing will have Kristin Cole, expanded the program to come of age: all of our faculty offices, graduate teaching assistant offices, administrative Gregory Elementary and Noble Middle spaces, classrooms, and reception space will School, in addition to continuing the be in the same location, along with the Pub- relationship that the previous coordi- lishing Laboratory and the offices ofEcotone . nator built with the SAGE program I . . . find it personally very gratifying to at Blair Elementary. Her future goal preside over this stage of the maturation of is to expand the program to include our academic writing community.”

The Coast Line • Spring 2007 11 The Publishing Laboratory by Joy C. Davis

Joy C. Davis’s article first appeared in the UNCW Publishing Lab. The and the cover art match up with UNCW Magazine, fall 2006, and is lab represents a microcosm of the the content and the vision of the reprinted here with the permission of processes and economics of book author.” Alison Harney likened the the author and editors.

he word “laboratory” often Tconjures up images of dark rooms, bizarre chemical combina- tions and workers in white coats. For the love of The University of North Carolina Books Wilmington Publishing Laboratory offers a far different experience. In this unique lab, the essence of publishing in the larger world by us- bookbuilding experience to “con- crisply cut paper and the stac- ing print-on-demand technology to structing a sculpture.” cato rhythm of students typing design and manufacture short print Brannon remarked, “We not runs ranging from a single copy to only enable students to publish on keyboards lingers in the air as thousands. their visions in tangible forms like machinery offers a curiously strong Under the visionary guidance of chapbooks (a small collection of comforting warmth. producer, literary agent and former works), but The lab is a valuable element of HarperCollins publisher Stanley also support the Creative Writing Department, Colbert, the Pub Lab produced its the surround- because “for most writers the world first publication, a reprint of J. Mar- ing commu- of publishing shall Crews’ history of Wilmington nity by pro- is a complete College, in 2001. ducing niche mystery. The lab Since 2002, the Pub Lab has regional works gives students operated under the direction of that pass under real hands-on Barbara Brannon, a veteran edi- the radar. We experience with tor and publisher who also teaches take pride in all aspects of classes in editing, publishing and being a spe- publishing- the art of bookbuilding. Bindery cialty press for unusual books.” - editing, book equipment, provided initially by The Pub Lab published its design and mar- a grant from Friends of UNCW, first novel, Sorayya Khan’sNoor , keting-- helping us fulfill both the is maintained by graduate teach- in 2005. Works such as Audubon artistic and vocational needs of our ing assistants Alison Harney, Kerry North Carolina Education Direc- students,” said Chair Phil Furia. Molessa and Sumanth Prabhaker, tor Andy Wood’s Backyard Caro- Graduate assistant Alison Har- who also oversee the graphic design lina: Two Decades of Public Radio ney agreed: “For many, all of these of the department’s promotional Commentary. The lab also lends its questions arise about how to earn communications. expertise to the Creative Writing a living after achieving an MFA As a teaching tool to enrich Department’s national literary jour- degree. The Publishing Lab allows both undergraduate and graduate nal, Ecotone, published twice a year. us to foresee work in the industry creative writing courses, the lab pro- while still pursuing our own writing vides students with what professor craft.” Mark Cox called “the ability to hold A rare treasure, few other the work, see the beautiful art- to post-secondary institutions have see how the font, the typography a program with the capabilities of 12 The Coast Line • Spring 2007 by Jay Varner, managing editor, Ecotone Ecotone

t’s been an exciting year for Ecotone, Our first two issues relied heavily upon subscribers. For the spring semester, we Iwhich has continued to establish solicited pieces—a common tactic for have focused our efforts on university itself as a vital and unique voice in the a young journal with minimal name and public libraries throughout the crowded landscape of literary journals. recognition. For our third and fourth country, hoping many will subscribe to For a journal still in its infancy, Ecotone issues, nearly all of the work has come Ecotone. has already accomplished more than its through the mail. Great writers are This past fall, the Landfall Foun- contemporaries have in ten years. None aware of Ecotone and look to contribute dation awarded Ecotone a $4,000 of it would have been possible without work that fits within our distinctive grant—almost enough money to cover the sustained support of the Creative literary niche. the printing cost of a single issue. After Writing Department. The journal’s With our third issue, we launched this success, we have targeted similar small but hard-working staff has done an exciting new Maps feature, con- organizations in the hopes of increasing a phenomenal job promoting Ecotone, ceived and orchestrated by fiction edi- funding for the journal. raising funds, reading submissions, and tor and designer Sumanth Prabhaker. While working on the daily upkeep copy editing. It’s the perfect mix of artwork and of the journal and overseeing the push And it hasn’t been without criti- story that plays into Ecotone’s focus of for subscriptions, there is a sense that cal notice. Best American Poetry 2006 blending boundaries. Aimee Bender’s Ecotone will continue to grow. We are included Gerald Stern’s poem “Home inventive maps appeared in our third considering the possibility of holding Sick” from our debut issue. Reg Saner’s issue and Rick Moody’s flowchart nar- Ecotone’s first writing contest in the essay “Lions in the Street” from the ratives will appear in issue four. By next fall or spring. And we will continue same issue was named a notable essay fall, we hope this innovative project to expand our creativity within the in Best American Essays 2006. Most will feature prominently in each issue, journal and push harder for sales and recently, Alicita’s Rodriguez’s “Imagin- taking over the color inserts. subscriptions. We’re confident that ing Bisbee” from our third issue was But for all of these accomplish- Ecotone will garner even more attention selected for Best Stories of the Southwest ments, we continue to push the busi- and acclaim. 2007. ness side of the journal. It’s not the It’s not just readers who are most glamorous part of working on responding—so are writers. Submis- Ecotone but it’s one of the most impor- For more information about sions continue to pour into our office. tant in terms of building our subscrip- Ecotone, contact tion base and revenue. editor-in-chief Associate editor Miriam Parker David Gessner at maintains Ecotone’s website and has [email protected] or taken the lead on our distribution. e-mail DeBoer’s Inc. currently distributes 200 copies of Ecotone to bookstores [email protected]. throughout the country, the first such deal we’ve made, and certainly not the last. This is vital for the journal, not just in terms of money but also name recognition. Our biggest concern remains increasing subscriptions. In the fall, we lowered our subscription rates in an attempt to boost interest and sales. Following this, we advertised more ag- gressively and sent out the firstEcotone email newsletter to more than 3,000

The Coast Line • Spring 2007 13 Rice-Evans continued from page 1 Sorosis continued from page 1 necessary for the recipient to have a merit scholarship awarded by the form. It’s difficult for me to -de achieved a GPA of 3.0, and he or Honors Program. Her general love scribe the importance of writing in she must maintain that average to of learning has manifested itself in my life except to say that I go into be eligible for renewal. a double major/double minor in withdrawal without it.” Qualified recipients shall Creative Writing/Film Studies and York is also a student athlete possess a demonstrated historical Spanish/Classical Studies. and the recipient of a soccer schol- record of community service and/or When considering her future arship awarded for her perseverance volunteerism in support of non- goals York remarks, “I have known on the field. profit organizations or programs. ever since I was little that I wanted An award reception that cel- Recipients shall further manifest to be a writer and some form of ebrated New Hanover County their continuing commitment to teacher. The exact form of each Library’s Centennial and the North perform community service and/ profession has changed from year to Carolina Sorosis Award for Cre- or volunteerism throughout their year until I decided that the perfect ative Writing was held at the North undergraduate tenure at UNCW. It solution was to get a doctorate and Carolina Sorosis Clubhouse on is the hope of the donors that Jesse’s become a professor while still pur- Nov. 12, 2006. example will inspire the recipients suing a career as a screenwriter.” of this scholarship to achieve their She intends to continue writing greatest potential and take positive fiction on the side, but says, “Sto- stands in their sphere of influence. ries have always come to me in film

Order Publishing Laboratory books and Ecotone Quantity Author/Title ISBN Retail price Extended price Andy Wood, Backyard Carolina 978-0-9719308-8-9 $14.95 Sorayya Khan, Noor 0-9719308-7-2 $16.99 UNCW Creative Writing, Show & Tell: Writ- $19.95 ers on Writing (5th ed.) Ecotone (specify sample issue ______) $5.00 Return this form with your payment to: 7 % NC Department of Creative Writing, UNCW Sales Tax 601 S. College Rd., Wilmington NC 28403 (910) 962-7063 TOTAL q Check enclosed Make payable to UNCW

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14 The Coast Line • Spring 2007 continued from page 3 and insane and unlike any other. nac.” Her book Astoria, published The comedy lures you in, the scenes by the University of Pittsburgh Spoleto Festival, to Duke Ellington in Manhattan seduce you, the Press Poetry Series in 2006, was at Kenan Auditorium, and to Bur- poetry stabs you in the heart.” The reviewed in the New York Times, ton Lane at the New York Histori- New York Times described it as a which said, “Mörling’s surprising cal Society. “skillfully constructed novel” and juxtapositions fascinate and delight Philip Gerard’s article “The Art of praised “Lee’s ability to amp up . . . [her] dreamy amazement at Creative Research” appeared in the the tension, comic and otherwise, the world’s weird plenty never feels AWP Chronicle, until the book begins to seem like affected or calculated . . . It’s a rare October–No- it could spontaneously combust.” and refreshing delight to encounter vember 2006. Also, Rebecca’s short story “Slat- such lovely ingenuousness.” He has also been land,” originally published in the Robert Siegel’s second novel, invited to speak at Atlantic Monthly, was produced as a All Will Be Revealed, has been pub- the Chautauqua film for the Canadian Broadcasting lished by MacAdam/Cage. Publish- Institution in New Company. It aired on Bravo and ers’ Weekly called it “fascinating” York, one of the won several awards from the Sas- and “seedily seductive.” TheAtlanta oldest and most venerable intellec- katchewan Motion Picture Associa- Journal-Constitu- tual, artistic, and religious institution for Best Art Direction, Best tion praised it as “a tions in America. Photography, Best Original Sound, spirited novel ... David Gessner’s book Soaring and Best Drama Under 60 Minutes. well-turned . . . with Fidel: An Osprey Odyssey from Sarah Messer gave a reading elegant . . . beguil- Cape Cod to Cuba from her book Red House: Being a ing.” For more and Beyond was Mostly Accurate information, visit released this April Account of New www.robertanthonysiegel.com. by Beacon Press. England’s Old- Michael White’s third collec- “Gessner writes est Continuously tion of poetry, Re-entry, was pub- beautifully, full of Lived-In House lished by the University of North grace and humor,” (Viking, 2004) Texas Press in April 2006. It was says Publishers’ Weekly. For more in- to the friends of named a Notable formation go to www.ospreyworld. the University of Book of 2006 by com. North Carolina Libraries. She also North Caro- David’s essay about moving gave a lecture on the writing of Red lina Poet Laureate south, “Learning to Surf,” which House and Marshfield history at the Kathryn Stripling originally appeared in Orion maga- Issac Winslow House in Marshfield, Byer, who said the zine, has received the annual award Masschusetts. In October 2006, book ”throws the for best nature essay from the John she was a poet in residence for three door wide open Burroughs Association. He accepted days at Bowdoin College. While onto a world that the award at their annual meeting there, she met with faculty and is fiercely observed and fearlessly, at the American Museum of Natu- students and gave a reading of new even obsessively, rendered.” ral History in New York on April 2. work. You can listen to her read Rebecca Lee’s first novel,The online at www.fishousepoems.org City Is a Rising Tide, was published or on podcast at Apple iTunes. by Simon & Schus- Malena Mörling’s poems were ter in summer chosen on three dif- 2006. National ferent occasions by Book Award winner Garrison Keillor to Jonathan Franzen be read on his pub- said of it, “Lee’s lic radio program novel is beautiful “The Writer’s Alma-

The Coast Line • Spring 2007 15 The Coast Line

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