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LGBT Cultural Pioneer Edmund White and Irish Novelist Edna O’Brien to be Honored for Lifetime Achievement

PEN America announced last week that it will honor author and LGBT cultural pioneer Edmund White with the annual PEN/Saul Bellow Award for Achievement in American Fiction.

White at the 2011 Brooklyn Book Festival courtesy of David Shankbone under CC BY 3.0

EDMUND WHITE  (b. 1940) is an American novelist, memoirist, and an essayist on literary and social topics. Much of his writing is on the theme of same-sex love. His books include The Joy of Gay Sex (1977) (written with Charles Silverstein, a writer, therapist, lecturer and gay activist), his trio of autobiographic novels, A Boy’s Own Story (1982), The Beautiful Room Is Empty (1988) and The Farewell Symphony (1997), and his biography of Jean Genet. His website is HERE.  His Amazon page is HERE.

If you are viewing this from an email subscription, you’ll likely have to link through to the site to watch this video.

The 2018 PEN/Nabokov Award for Achievement in International Literature will go to the extraordinarily prolific Irish novelist Edna O’Brien, whose acclaimed work broke down social and sexual barriers for women in Ireland and elsewhere.

Edna O’Brien at Hay Festival 2016 courtesy of Andrew Lih under CC BY-SA 3.0

EDNA O’BRIEN, DBE (b. 1930) is an Irish novelist, memoirist, playwright, poet and short story writer. Philip Roth described her “the most gifted woman now writing in English”, while the former President of Ireland, Mary Robinson, cited her as “one of the great creative writers of her generation”.

O’Brien’s works often revolve around the inner feelings of women, and their problems in relating to men, and to society as a whole.Her first novel, The Country Girls, is often credited with breaking silence on sexual matters and social issues during a repressive period in Ireland following World War II.The book was banned, burned and denounced from the pulpit, and O’Brien left Ireland behind.

O’Brien  received the Irish PEN Award in 2001. Saints and Sinners won the 2011 Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award, the world’s richest prize for a short story collection. Faber and Faber published her memoir, Country Girl, in 2012.  Her Faber & Faber author’s page is HERE. Her Amazon page is HERE.

If you are viewing this from an email subscription, you’ll likely have to link through to the site to watch this video.

PEN America will also honor:

  • poet Kamau Brathwaite with the PEN/ Voelcker Award,
  • translator Barbara Harshav with the PEN/ Manheim Medal for Translation, and
  • author Dave Kindred with the PEN/ ESPN Lifetime Achievement Award for Literary Sports Writing.

The PEN/ Laura Pels Foundation for Theater Awards will be conferred on playwrights:

  • Luis Alfaro for Master American Dramatist,
  • Sibyl Kempson for American Dramatist in Mid-Career, and
  • Mike Lew for Emerging American Playwright.

White, O’Brien, and PEN America’s other career achievement award winners will accept their prizes at the 2018 PEN America Literary Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, February 20, at the NYU Skirball Center near Washington Square Park. Featuring readings, performances, and edge-of-your-seat live announcements of the winners for the year’s prizes, this annual celebration of literature and free expression has become one the city’s premier literary events drawing the biggest names and the hottest new voices in literature. Special guests, finalists, and presenters in attendance will include:

  • Tanwi Nandini Islam
  • Yahdon Israel
  • Hari Kunzru
  • Victor LaValle
  • Colum McCann
  • Lynn Nottage
  • Philip Roth
  • Layli Long Soldier
  • Monique Truong
  • Kevin Young
  • David Zirin
    … and many more

Hosted by author, social activist, and political commentator
Sally Kohn

A full list of finalists for the 2018 PEN America Literary Awards is available HERE . All book award winners will be announced at the ceremony. Purchase tickets HERE. I understand that this is the first year tickets are being made available to the general public. Student tickets are discounted.

Compiled with thanks to PEN America, White’s website, Faber & Faber, Wikipedia and Amazon.

PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect open expression in the United States and worldwide. It champions the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Its mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible.

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SUNDAY ANNOUNCEMENTS: Calls for Submissions, Contests, Events and Other Information and News

HELP FOR AT-RISK POETS, WRITERS, ARTISTS

A Place for Freelance Writers and Artists, The Haven Foundation (created by Stephen King) “gives financial assistance to provide temporary support needed to safeguard and sustain the careers of established freelance artists, writers and other members of the arts and art production communities who have suffered disabilities or experienced a career-threatening illness, accident, natural disaster or personal catastrophe. Grants are awarded and renewed at the discretion of the Haven Foundation Board.” Details including eligibility guidelines and application are HERE.

The Authors League Fund (writers helping writers) has assisted professional writers and dramatists who find themselves in financial need because of medical or health-related problems, temporary loss of income, or other misfortune. Details HERE.

Human Rights Watch administers the Hellman/Hammett Grants program for writers who have been victims of political persecution or are in financial need.Hellman/Hammett grants typically range from $1,000 to a maximum of $10,000. In addition to providing much needed financial assistance, the Hellman/Hammett grants focus attention on repression of free speech and censorship by publicizing the persecution that the grant recipients endured. Details HERE: 212 292 4700

PEN Writers’ Fund Grants of up to $2,000 available to published writers in acute financial crisis. No membership necessary. Application and details HEREarielle@pen.org Note the next deadline is February 15.

FELLOWSHIP

The Oxford American welcomes submissions for The Oxford American Jeff Baskin Writers Fellowship. Fellow will receive a $10,000 living stipend, housing, and an editorial apprenticeship with the Oxford American toward a nine-month residency in the thriving creative capital, Central Arkansas. Submissions are open until March 24, 2018. Read more about eligibility and guidelines, here.

CALLS FOR SUBMISSIONS

Opportunity Knocks

COTTON XENOMORPH a relatively new “journal produced with the mission to showcase new and ecstatic art” focused on social justice. Its editors categorize it as a “no creeps” publication … that is, no xenophobes, sexist, fat-shamers and the like … much the spirit of The BeZine. Nice!  Although new, it’s clearly getting its groove on with a nice mix of poetry, fiction and visual arts are of interest. No submission charges. No payment. Copyright remains with the author. Details HERE.

ECOTONE MAGAZINE, Reimaging Place, a publication of University of North Carolina Wilmington, is published twice a year and features prose and poetry. Submissions are open from August 15–September 5, and again from December 15–January 5. Mark your calendar. Details HERE.

FIELDS MAGAZINE publishes fiction, nonfiction, poetry and visual arts. Submission are accepted on a rolling basis. Query for articles, profiles, interviews and essays. $3 submission fee to help defray operational costs, which may be deferred in hardship cases. Details HERE.

HERON TREE:  invites submissions through 8 April 2018 for a special series devoted to visual poetry crafted for presentation in a black-and-white format. “Visual poetry” means different things to different people, and the editors are open to a wide range of submissions, including but by no means limited to: concrete poetry, calligrams, altered text, erasures, typewriter art, asemics, abstractions, collages of words and/or images, poems in which visual arrangement is primary and unconventional, and poems that aren’t readable out loud but communicate visually. Accepted pieces will be published on the Heron Tree website (herontree.com) and collected in a free, downloadable PDF e-volume.  Editorial reading and decisions are on a rolling basis. For more information about how to submit your work, visit herontree.com/how.

JOURNAL OF MODERN LITERATURE, UNIVERSITY OF INDIANA PRESS is published quarterly and welcomes submission on scholarly studies of literature in all languages. Details HERE.

NARRATIVELY, Human Stories, Boldly Told ” is devoted to original and untold human stories, delivered in the most appropriate format for each piece, from writing to short documentary films, photo essays, audio stories and comics journalism. We are always interested in adding new, diverse voices to the mix and we pay for stories. We accept both pitches for story ideas and completed submissions …”  Details HERE.

OXFORD AMERICAN publishes fiction and nonfiction and its window for submissions closes on September 1. Submission free. Details HERE.

WILDNESS REVIEW “is an online literary journal that seeks to promote contemporary fiction, poetry and non-fiction that evokes the unknown. Founded in 2015, each thoughtfully compiled issue strives to unearth the works of both established and up-and-coming writers.” This review works on a rolling submissions basis. Poetry (under 80 lines) and prose (under 2,500 words). No submission fees. No payment. Wilderness reviews does “nominate for most major prizes (Pushcart, Best of the Net, Best American, etc.) and continue to promote contributors after publication.” Details HERE.

WORDRUNNER eCHAPBOOKs publishes short stories collections and is open through April 15.  Some stories may be previously  published. Submission fee. Cash payment. Details HERE.

CONTESTS

Opportunity Knocks

THE ANTIVENOM POETRY AWARD sponsored by Elixir Press is for a first or second collection and is open through March 31. Cash award. Entry  fee. Details HERE.

THE ELIXIR PRESS 2018, FICTION AWARD for short story collections and novels is open for submissions through May 31 and offers a cash prize, publication and copies. Entry fee. Details HERE.

THE KILLER NASHVILLE CLAYMORE AWARD for English-language genre fiction (mystery and thriller) is open through April 1. Cash awards. Entry fees.  Details HERE.

THE NEW AMERICAN POETRY PRIZE “is awarded each year to a full-length collection of poetry. The winner receives $1,000 and a book contract, as well as 25 author’s copies and promotional support. The submission period is usually September 1 – January 1. Mark you calendar for 2018. Details HERE.

THE NEW AMERICAN FICTION PRIZE  is awarded each year to a full-length collection of fiction. The winner receives $1,000 and a book contract, as well as 25 author’s copies and promotional support. The submission period is usually February 15 – June 15.” Details HERE.

TIN HOUSE features fiction, nonfiction and poetry and accepts submissions March and September only. Details HERE.

EVENTS

  • Tin House Summer Workshop, July 8th-15th, Portland, OR is accepting application now. Details HERE.
  • National poetry Series Winners Reading, AWP Offsite Event, Tampa, Florida March 8 Details HERE.
  • Reading Queer: Poetry in a Time of Chaos, AWP off-site reading, Tampa, Florida, March 9 Details HERE.

100 Thousand Poets for Change (Official)'s photo.

FEB15 Reading: Michael Dickel, Kristine Snodgrass and Terri CarrionHosted by 100 Thousand Poets for Change (Official)

This reading and mixer event presents Michael Dickel, the first 2018 resident for the 100 Thousand Poets for Change On Lake Jackson Residency Program-Tallahassee, FL.

Michael Dickel’s (Meta/Phor(3)/Play) poetry has won international awards and has been translated into several languages. His most recent books of poetry include Breakfast at the End of Capitalism (2017) and The Palm Reading after The Toad’s Garden (2016). He is co-editor of Voices Israel Volume 36 (2010), was managing editor for arc-23 and 24, and is a past-chair of the Israel Association of Writers in English. With producer / director David Fisher, he received an NEH documentary-film development grant. Michael Dickel lives in Jerusalem.

Kristine Snodgrass is the author of most recently Out of the World (Hysterical Books, 2016), Co-director of Anhinga Press, and a professor at FAMU. She loves collaborating and is always searching for new projects with artists and poets.

Terri Carrión was conceived in Venezuela and born in New York to a Galician mother and Cuban father. Her poetry, fiction, non-fiction, translations, and photography has appeared and disappeared in print and online. She is assistant editor and art designer for Bigbridge.org., and co-founder of the global grassroots movement 100 Thousand Poets for Change.

 

Accessible anytime from anywhere in the world:

  • The Poet by Day always available online with poems, poets and writers, news and information.
  • The Poet by Day, Wednesday Writing Prompt, online every week (except for vacation) and all are invited to take part no matter the stage of career (emerging or established) or status (amateur or professional). Poems related to the challenge of the week (always theme based not form based) will be published here on the following Tuesday.
  • The Poet by Day, Sunday Announcements. Every week (except for vacation) opportunity knocks for poets and writers.
  • THE BeZINE, Be Inspired, Be Creative, Be Peace, Be – always online HERE.  
  • Beguine Again, daily inspiration and spiritual practice  – always online HERE.  Beguine Again is the sister site to The BeZine.

ONLINE POETRY COMMUNITIES

All Poetry dubs itself the largest poetry community, more than 500,000 poets. “Friendly advice and encouragement and detailed critiques when you’re ready. All Poetry hosts free contests with $50 cash prizes, active discussion forums, and an annual anthology to which you may contribute.” Free and optional paid monthly memberships are available. (I have not sampled this myself, but a friend has and reports a mostly positive experience. She was involved for several years.)

d’Verse Poets Pub “is a place for poets and writers to gather to celebrate poetry. We are many voices, but one song. Our goal is to celebrate; poets, verse & the difference it can make in the world. To discover poetry’s many facets and revel in it’s beauty, even when ugly at times.” This is a smaller and more intimate group than All Poetry (above) would appear to be. I can testify that there are some excellent poets participating and coaching one another. This is quite an ambitious project, long running and lead by a dedicated team.

YOUR SUNDAY ANNOUNCEMENTS may be emailed to thepoetbyday@gmail.com. Please do so at least a week in advance.

If you would like me to consider reviewing your book, chapbook, magazine or film, here are some general guidelines:

  • send PDF to jamiededes@gmail.com (Note: I have a backlog of six or seven months, so at this writing I suggest you wait until June 2018 to forward anything. Thank you!)
  • nothing that foments hate or misunderstanding
  • nothing violent or encouraging of violence
  • English only, though Spanish is okay if accompanied by translation
  • your book or other product  should be easy for readers to find through your site or other venues.

TO CONTACT ME WITH ANNOUNCEMENTS AND OTHER INFORMATION FOR THE POET BY DAY: thepoetbyday@gmail.com

TO CONTACT ME REGARDING SUBMISSIONS FOR THE BeZINE: bardogroup@gmail.com

PLEASE do not mix the communications between the two.

Often information is just that–information – and not necessarily recommendation. I haven’t worked with all the publications or other organizations featured in my regular Sunday Announcements or other announcements shared on this site. Awards and contests are often (generally) a means to generate income, publicity and marketing mailing lists for the host organizations, some of which are more reputable than others. I rarely attend events anymore. Caveat Emptor: Please be sure to verify information for yourself before submitting work, buying products, paying fees or attending events et al.

ABOUT THE POET BY DAY

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SUNDAY ANNOUNCEMENTS: Calls for Submissions, Contests, Events and Other Information and News

CALLS FOR SUBMISSIONS

Opportunity Knocks

CALLALOO,  a publication of John Hopkins University Press, “is the premier journal of literature, art, and culture of the African Diaspora, publishes original work by and about writers and visual artists of African descent worldwide,” welcomes submissions of fiction, poetry, critical articles, interviews, drama, and visual art.  This journal is published five times a year. Submission guidelines HERE.

COLUMBIA POETRY REVIEW accepts submissions during its reading period, July 1 – November 1 every year. Mark your calendar.  Submission fee $3.  Details HERE.

DRIFTWOOD PRESS publishes fiction, poetry, visual art, and craft essays and interview and welcomes “a wide variety of literary writing. We appreciate anything from stream of consciousness to minimalism, realism to absurdism, hybrid forms to experimental works, contemporary noir, or anything of literary merit.” Submissions fees. Details HERE.

GONE LAWN, a journal of poetry and progressive fiction, accepts submissions of “fiction, prose, prose poetry and verse, as well as visual narrative and work involving sound and motion” on a rolling basis. Details HERE.

INTO THE VOICE welcomes submission to be considered for Issue 8 through March 7, midnight EST.  This magazine features poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, feature articles, reviews, and visual arts. Details HERE.

MONZANO MOUNTAIN REVIEW is published out of New Mexico but is not restricted to residents there and submissions of flash fiction, poetry, visual art and photography are welcome. The deadline or Issue No. 2 is April 1, 2018. The theme is Summer Haunts / Summer Hauntings. Details HERE. 

STORM CELLAR, a literary journal of safety and danger and welcomes submissions of stories, creative nonfiction/essays, and poems. Details HERE.

THE BeZINE, Be Inspired, Be Creative, Be Peace, Be. Submissions for the March issue – themed Peace are welcome through February 10 at 11:59 p.m. PST. You may choose to address the theme from the world peace perspective or from the inner peace perspective.

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New rules: Please send text in the body of the email not as an attachment. Send photographs or illustrations as attachments. No google docs or Dropbox or other such. No rich text. Send submissions to bardogroup@gmail.com.

Publication is March 15th. Poetry, essays, fiction and creative nonfiction, art and photography, music (videos or essays), and whatever lends itself to online presentation is welcome for consideration.  No demographic restrictions.

Please read at least one issue and the Intro/Mission Statementand Submission Guidelines. We DO NOT publish anything that promotes hate, divisiveness or violence or that is scornful or in any way dismissive of “other” peoples.

The BeZine will be published on quarterly schedule in 2018 and for the foreseeable future:

  • March 2018 issue, Deadline February 10th. Theme: Peace.
  • June 2018 issue, Deadline May 10th. Theme: Sustainability
  • September 2018 issue, Deadline August 10th, Theme: Human Rights/Social Justice
  • December 2018 issue, Deadline November 10th, Theme: A Life of the Spirit

Suggestions for sub-themes are still being reviewed. Send yours to thebardogroup@gmail.com. (Current suggestions  include: domestic abuse, eckphrastic poetry, the meaning/importance of poetry, and restorative justice.)

The BeZine is an entirely volunteer effort, a mission. It is not a paying market but neither does it charge submission or subscription fees.

Previously published work may be submitted if you hold the copyright. Submissions from beginning and emerging artists as well as pro are encouraged and we have a special interest in getting more submissions of short stores, feature articles, music videos and art.

THE MASTERS REVIEW, A Platform for Emerging Writers‘ New Voices category “is open year round to any new or emerging author who has not published a work of fiction or narrative nonfiction of novel length. Authors with short story collections are free to submit.” Details HERE.

THE WALLACE STEVENS JOURNAL, a publication of Johns Hopkins University Press, “welcomes submissions on all aspects of Wallace Stevens’ poetry and life. Articles range from interpretive criticism of his poetry and essays to comparisons with other writers, from biographical and contextual studies to more theoretically informed reflections. Also welcome are previously unpublished primary or archival material and photographs, proposals for guest-edited special issues, as well as original Stevens-inspired artistic and creative works.” Details HERE.

Note: more info on Events, Comps and Calls at Anne Stewart’s poetry pf and on Trish Hopkins’ site.

CONTESTS

Opportunity Knocks

2018 FORCE MAJEURE FLASH CONTEST of Storm Cellar Quarterly through April 30. Submission fees. Cash awards. Details HERE.

GLIMMER TRAIN PRESS INC. announced it’s upcoming New Writer Award of the year this week. Deadline: 2/28. Cash award for first place is $2,500 and publication. This is open to emerging writers whose fiction has not appeared in any print publication with a circulation over 5,000. Most submissions run 1,000 – 4,000 words, but stories as long as 12,000 words are fine. Writing Guidelines. The complete 2018 Submission Calendar and guidelines are HERE.

NATIONAL BOOK FOUNDATION announced the National Book Award for Translated Literature. Submissions for the National Book Award for Translated Literature will open at the same time as submissions for all other categories, March 7. Details HERE.

Image may contain: flower, plant, text and nature

On Fire Cultural Movement

February 2 at 1:30am ·

The 12 Week Poetry Challenge – Week 02
“I think of you in colours that don’t exist –
that’s not to say that I don’t think of you at all” – Jemma Silvert
> Best poems will be read by a renowned poet each week. This week’s poetry judge is Aprilia Zank
> Two best poems will get a copy of ‘Aatish’, An Anthology of Poems and Photographs on World Social Issues.
> After 12 weeks, two poems will get a wildcard entry to Aatish 2, alongside a few of the best poets around the world including Gulzar, Irshad Kamil, Swanand Kirkire, Piyush Mishra, and many more.

#TheGreatIndianPoetryContest
#ComingSoon
#StayOnFire

THE 11TH SCRIPT PIPLINE TV WRITING COMPETITION is open through March 1.  $55 submissions fee. $25,000 winning prize. $1,000 to the runner up. Details HERE.

THE MASTERS REVIEW ANTHOLOGY PRIZE is open for submissions through March 31 for previously unpublished fiction or narrative fiction up to 8,000 words. $20 reading fee. Cash awards to the ten top emerging writers.  Rebecca Makkai is judging. Details HERE.

EVENTS

Michael Dickel (Meta / Phor(e) /Play) reading: On February 23, 7 pm, Hamilton, Ontario

SECOND LIGHT NETWORK OF WOMEN POETS (U.K.)

Dates for your diary,2018:

  • Friday 25th & Saturday 26th May, Spring Festival
  •  Monday 30th July to Friday 3rd August, Holland House Residential, and
  •  Friday 16th & Saturday 17th November, Autumn Festival

Accessible anytime from anywhere in the world:

  • The Poet by Day always available online with poems, poets and writers, news and information.
  • The Poet by Day, Wednesday Writing Prompt, online every week (except for vacation) and all are invited to take part no matter the stage of career (emerging or established) or status (amateur or professional). Poems related to the challenge of the week (always theme based not form based) will be published here on the following Tuesday.
  • The Poet by Day, Sunday Announcements. Every week (except for vacation) opportunity knocks for poets and writers.
  • THE BeZINE, Be Inspired, Be Creative, Be Peace, Be – always online HERE.  
  • Beguine Again, daily inspiration and spiritual practice  – always online HERE.  Beguine Again is the sister site to The BeZine.

KUDOS TO

  • PC Vandall for poetry published in Paris LitUp Press
  • Silva Zanoyan Merjanian for poetry published in LitUp Press
  • Iulia Gherghei for three poems in Setu Bilingua Magazine
  • Evelyn Augusto for her initiation of Guns Don’t Save People, Poets Do movement, Poet Takes a Stand Against Gun Violence in the United States
  • Tony Frisby for his well-received poem, A Name Painted in Blue this week on The Poet by Day. Tony emailed his appreciation to all for their acknowledements
  • Krysia Jopek for a job well-done:

YOUR SUNDAY ANNOUNCEMENTS may be emailed to thepoetbyday@gmail.com. Please do so at least a week in advance.

 

If you would like me to consider reviewing your book, chapbook, magazine or film, here are some general guidelines:

  • send PDF to jamiededes@gmail.com (Note: I have a backlog of six or seven months, so at this writing I suggest you wait until June 2018 to forward anything. Thank you!)
  • nothing that foments hate or misunderstanding
  • nothing violent or encouraging of violence
  • English only, though Spanish is okay if accompanied by translation
  • your book or other product  should be easy for readers to find through your site or other venues.

TO CONTACT ME WITH ANNOUNCEMENTS AND OTHER INFORMATION FOR THE POET BY DAY: thepoetbyday@gmail.com

TO CONTACT ME REGARDING SUBMISSIONS FOR THE BeZINE: bardogroup@gmail.com

PLEASE do not mix the communications between the two.

Often information is just that–information – and not necessarily recommendation. I haven’t worked with all the publications or other organizations featured in my regular Sunday Announcements or other announcements shared on this site. Awards and contests are often (generally) a means to generate income, publicity and marketing mailing lists for the host organizations, some of which are more reputable than others. I rarely attend events anymore. Caveat Emptor: Please be sure to verify information for yourself before submitting work, buying products, paying fees or attending events et al.

ABOUT THE POET BY DAY

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Poet Takes a Stand Against Gun Violence in the United States

What I like about Evelyn Augusto’s effort to help stop gun violence is that she combines poetry with action. She visits high schools to offer students tools that are not self-distructive. Evelyn’s contact info is at the bottom of the poster. Contact her if you’d like her to speak to your local high school.

At this writing, according to the Gun Violence Archive there have been twenty-five school shootings thus far this year resulting in twenty-five deaths and 118 injuries.

If you agree that we need to share this info – get the word out – please feel free to cut and paste this into a post on your own site or just use the WP reblog feature. Thank you!

MORE THOUGHTS