by Rebecca Thomas

The 2011-2012 academic year has been kind to WVU’s MFA students and alumni. We’ve been able to celebrate book releases, awards, grants, a start up literary magazine, and publications. Here are a few of the highlights from this year:

Alumni

Sarah Harris’s short story, “The Kitchen,” won first place in Nano Fiction’s Third Annual Nano Prize. Sarah won $500, and her story will appear in the fall issue. Read more about the results on Nano’s website.

Ida Stewart’s first collection of poems, Gloss, won the 2011 Perugia Press Award (a national poetry award for a first or second book by a woman). She is currently a PhD candidate in Creative Writing at University of Georgia. Read more about Ida Stewart here.

Ruka Press published Katie Fallon’s nonfiction book, Cerulean Blues: A Personal Search for a Vanishing Songbird. Read more about Katie and cerulean warblers here.

Two MFA alumni, Kristin Abraham and Matt Vandermuelen, are the editors of the online magazine Spitoon. Spitoon describes itself as “a quarterly, independent literary zine dedicated to the publication of quality contemporary and experimental poetry, creative nonfiction and fiction. This online journal will feature work by poets and writers, both well known and up-and-coming.” MFA alumna, Lori D’Angelo, has her short story, “Provisions,” in the second issue of the magazine. Read Lori’s story and the entire second issue here.

Lori D’Angelo recently won the prestigious Elizabeth George Foundation grant. The generous grant is awarded to unpublished and emerging writers. Read more about Lori, her novel, and the grant.

Sarah Einstein’s essay, “Self-Portrait-in-Apologies,” originally published in Fringe Magazine was awarded “The Best of the Net.” Follow the links to read Self-Portrait-in-Apologies and to read more about The Best of the Net.

Current Students

Justin Anderson, MFA candidate in Fiction, wins the prize for publishing beast. Justin had a whopping eight stories accepted for publication since the fall: “Consultant,” Chocorua Review; “Plans for an Orchard,” matchbook; “So, They Are Not Wholly Defenseless,” Pank Magazine; “Bathtub” and “Appropriators,” BLIP Magazine; “Automatic Pilot,” The Fiction Desk; “Alone, in this House,” Grey Sparrow Journal; and “Gardeners,” Controlled Burn.

Justin Crawford, MFA candidate in Fiction, had two short stories accepted this year. His story, “Converge,” will appear in an upcoming issue of Inwood Indiana. His short story, “Death and Progeny” will appear in an upcoming issue of The Meadow.

Rachel King, MFA candidate in Fiction, had her short story “Elevator Girl” published in The Farallon Review’s Spring 2012 issue. Three of her poems were published in nibble, November 2011.

Jessi Lewis, MFA candidate in Fiction, will have her short story, “Lesions,” published in an upcoming issue of Flyway.

Matt London, MFA candidate in Poetry, won the 2012 AWP Intro Award with his poem, “National Acoustic Symphonic Academy His poem.” His poem will appear in an upcoming issue of Hayden’s Ferry Review. “Talkies,” is published in Issue #10 of Past Simple.

Connie Pan, MFA candidate in Fiction, will have two poems, “Black Sleep” and “Almost,” appear in a forthcoming issue of Hawaii Review.

Christina Seymour, MFA candidate in Poetry, had her poetry exhibited at the Bellefonte Art Museum’s Speak Peace exhibit in February of 2012.

Kelly Sundberg won first prize in Slice Magazine’s “Bridging the Gap Contest.” Her winning essay, “Like Mourners’ Bread,” will appear in the 2012 issue of the magazine. Her essay, “Demolition” is in the Spring 2011 issue of Flyway, and her essay, “Runaway,” will appear in a forthcoming issue of Reed Magazine. Her poem, “Approaching Monday,” is featured in the upcoming July 2012 issue of Literary Mama.

This certainly is not the only alumni and current student news out there. If you have any news, please send it to Rebecca Thomas.