Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Philly Fiction 2 Hits the Airwaves

WXPN
Many thanks to everyone who packed the Kelly Writers House on January 25th for a special recording of XPN's LIVE at the Writers House featuring authors from Philly Fiction 2. The show will be aired on WXPN on Monday, February 1st, at 8pm. Listen in the Philadelphia area at 88.5 FM or tune in around the world at xpn.org.

Michaela MajounLIVE at the Writers House is hosted by Michaela Majoun (host of the XPN Morning Show) and featured excerpts from five stories in the acclaimed Philly Fiction 2. Authors Christine Flanagan ("Return to Ithaca"), Elise Juska ("Northeast Philly Girls"), John Carroll ("Baby Blue"), Benjamin Matvey ("Piece of Mind"), and Kelly McQuain ("Erasing Sonny") were on hand to talk to Michaela and read excerpts from their PF2 stories.

The show will later be posted at writing.upenn.edu/wh/involved/series/live/.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Philly Authors Showcase at the CCP featuring Philly Fiction 2 writers, Feb. 1

Join Don Ron Books and the Community College of Philadelphia at a special Philly Authors Showcase featuring writers from the acclaimed Philly Fiction 2. This special event will kick off the 2010 POETS & WRITERS FESTIVAL at the CCP. It will be held on at 6pm on Monday, Feb. 1, 2010, in C2-5, CBI Building (CCP Center for Business and Industry) at 18th and Callowhill Sts., 2nd Floor. The full schedule of all the 2010 PWF events is at:
http://www.ccp.edu/site/academic/creativewriting/writers_festival.html. All events are free and open to the public.

Tattoos, cheese steaks, and the Rocky statue: Philly Fiction 2 has it all. Contributors Elise Juska, Kelly McQuain, and Rachel Toliver as well as series editors Josh McIlvain and Christopher Munden will read from the second installment in their anthology series and discuss the editing and publishing process.

"What I love about all of these stories is that they could be happening to anyone, anywhere. But there is also something uniquely Philadelphia about them and the fact that their stories take place here make them that much richer." —Autumn Konopka, Philly2Philly.com For more on the Philly Fiction books, go to phillyfiction.com.

Details:
Philly Authors Showcase
Featuring Kelly McQuain, Rachel Toliver, Elise Juska, Christopher Munden, and Josh McIlvain
Community College of Philadelphia, CBI Building, C2-5
Monday, Feb. 1, 2010, 6pm

Update: Due to a scheduling conflict, author Marc Bookman cannot read as originally planned. Welcome aboard Elise Juska, a terrific local writer, who will be substituting for him. Thanks, Elise!

Directions:
CBI is the Center for Business and Industry Building at Community College of Philadelphia, corner of 18th and Callowhill Streets. Parking is available at the CCP parking lot between Callowhill and Spring Garden Sts. If you head north on 18th, the CCP lot is just north of the CBI building on the right. Take a ticket as you pull in. There is also street parking. C2-5 is on the second floor of the CBI building.

Don't forget:
You can get your Philly Fiction fix even sooner at the Kelly Writers House on Jan. 25th, with a special XPN LIVE at the Writers House recording. See below for more details.

Saturday, January 16, 2010

XPN's Live at the Writers House featuring Philly Fiction 2

Kelly Writers HouseJoin Don Ron Books, XPN (88.5 FM) DJ Michaela Majoun, and the Kelly Writers House for this exciting broadcast and reading event!

On January 25th at 7pm, LIVE at the Writers House presents the authors of Philly Fiction 2, a live taping featuring John Carroll, Christine Flanagan, Elise Juska, Benjamin Matvey, and Kelly McQuain in the Arts Cafe at the Kelly Writers House. Hosted by Michaela Majoun and produced by Erin Gautsche.

XPNLIVE at the Writers House is a long-standing collaboration between the Kelly Writers House and WXPN FM (88.5). Six times annually between September and April, Michaela Majoun hosts a one-hour broadcast of poetry, music, and other spoken-word art, along with musical guests, all from our Arts Cafe onto the airwaves at WXPN. You can listed to previous broadcasts at: http://writing.upenn.edu/~wh/involved/series/live/. This month features excerpts from the acclaimed anthology Philly Fiction 2, a collection of short stories highlighting Philadelphia as a city of literary inspiration.

John Carroll Philly Fiction 2John Carroll was born and raised in Philadelphia, lives in the East Passyunk Crossing area, and works at the Kelly Writers House. John's work has appeared in the Battered Suitcase, 34th Street Magazine, and Dragonfire, as well as the websites Phillyist and CHUD. In 2006 John won the Kelly Writers House Junior Fellows Award, which funded his yearlong experimental mail project, A Place to Stand Productions. In his story "Baby Blue," Phil bumps into his old high school American lit teacher in a Northeast bar watching an Eagles game. The teacher begins to force a bond between them over sports, and despite Phil's wariness, the two go to a Phillies game, where the teacher's uncomfortable antics fuel Phil's desire to escape.

Christine FlanaganChristine Flanagan's recent work has appeared in Philadelphia Stories, the Pisgah Review, and Burning Leaf. She will be reading from “Return to Ithaca”, which was nominated for a 2008 Pushcart Prize. Her other writing awards include the James D. Bartolomeo Prize from the Drexel Online Journal, Kumu Kahua Theatre Award, Chameleon Theatre Circle New Play Prize, and South Florida Writer’s Contest (drama) First Prize. Her fiction and plays have been produced at InterAct Theatre’s Writing Aloud, the Riant Theatre, the Actor’s Center, and the Northwest Playwright’s Guild. She teaches writing and literature at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia.
In "Return to Ithaca," An ad executive who can't control his anger must move back home with his aging parents when his wife issues a restraining order against him. In his efforts to rebuild his relationship with his wife with date nights and by not drinking, her sister—who is also his business partner—stands perversely in his way.

Elise JuskaElise Juska will read from her story "Northeast Philly Girls." Elise is the author of the novels The Hazards of Sleeping Alone, Getting Over Jack Wagner, and One for Sorrow, Two for Joy. Her short stories and essays have appeared in many publications, including the Harvard Review, Seattle Review, Berkeley Fiction Review, Calyx, Salmagundi, Black Warrior Review, the Hudson Review, American Literary Review, Esquire.com, and the first Philly Fiction. She teaches fiction writing at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Read more about Elise at elisejuska.com. "Northeast Philly Girls" is about a teenage girl from the suburbs who visits her aunt's family in Olney for the holidays and is struck by her young cousin's worldliness.

Benjamin Matvey's fiction has been featured in Sunday Salon, Generation X Journal, and twice in InterAct Theatre's Writing Aloud series. His story "Big Secrets" was named one of Cynic Magazine's "Best of 2008." His play Brie! The Musical Dissertation was produced in Philadelphia in the summer of 2005 and he hopes to bring it back for an extended run. He is currently working with a producer to bring his first screenplay, No Regrets, to the big screen, and has completed his first novel. "Piece of Mind" details the story of two kooky students falling for each other in the least likely of places.

Kelly McQuainKelly McQuain, a native of West Virginia, has lived in Philadelphia more than half his life. He holds an MFA from the University of New Orleans and an MA from Temple University. He has twice won fellowships from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, as well as Philadelphia City Paper writing awards in both fiction and poetry. His stories have appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Rough Trade, Obsessed, the James White Review, Skin & Ink, the Harrington Gay Men’s Fiction Quarterly, Wilma Loves Betty, Best Gay Erotica, and elsewhere. He is an associate professor of creative writing at Community College of Philadelphia. In his story, "Erasing Sonny," a boy growing up in South Philly is betrayed by his sister's boyfriend who tattoos something obscene on his back. After the boy's efforts at concealment fail, his visits to the doctor's office to get the tattoo removed coincide with his awakening sexuality and the disintegration of his family.

Details:
XPN Live at the Writers House
Featuring authors from Philly Fiction 2
Host: Michaela Majoun
Kelly Writers House
3805 Locust Walk
Philadelphia, PA 19104
tel: 215-746-POEM
Jan 26th, 2010
7pm

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Call for Submissions: Short Stories Set in South Philly

Don Ron Books (publisher of Philly Fiction & Philly Fiction 2) is seeking submissions for a new book titled South Philly Fiction, a collection of stories highlighting South Philadelphia as a source of literary inspiration. All stories must be written by authors who are from, have lived in, or currently live in the Philadelphia area. Submitted stories must be substantially set in South Philadelphia. (Boundaries: South Street and south, the Schuylkill, and the Delaware.) We’re not just looking for Italian Market tales; we want to hear about life in Gray’s Ferry, Passyunk Ave hipsters, Laotian immigrants, etc. Stories cannot exceed 7,500 words; there is no lower word limit. Unpublished and unknown writers welcome; any genre, no language restrictions. Fiction only, no poetry. Previously published stories are okay with permission to republish. There is no fee for submission. Stories must be received by April 15, 2010.

Send submissions to: phillyfiction@yahoo.com.

Write: “SPF, your last name, story name” in the subject line (e.g., “SPF, Franklin, Poor Richards Almanac”). Provide your name, address, phone number, and email, and enclose a brief bio that includes your affiliation with the city of brotherly love. Authors whose stories are selected will be expected to work with editors to fine tune their submissions. Selected authors will receive $20 and a copy of the published book. Don Ron Books reserves the rights to republish the stories in subsequent reprints, authors otherwise retain rights to their works. Email phillyfiction@yahoo.com with any questions. We look forward to reading your stuff!

See and print a PDF of the call at: www.donronbooks.com/South_Philly_Fiction_Call.pdf.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Philly Fiction 2 Reading at Head House Books, Jan. 12!

Come one, come all, to the charming Head House Books (619 S. 2nd Street, just south of South St.) on January 12, 2010. Philly Fiction 2 authors will read from their stories, plus reveal their favorite "strange" Philadelphia spots. The night will also feature an exciting "identify that local UHF advertisement" quiz for hardcore Philly folks with special prizes!

Elise JuskaElise Juska will read from her story "Northeast Philly Girls." Elise is the author of the novels The Hazards of Sleeping Alone, Getting Over Jack Wagner, and One for Sorrow, Two for Joy. Her short stories and essays have appeared in many publications, including the Harvard Review, Seattle Review, Berkeley Fiction Review, Calyx, Salmagundi, Black Warrior Review, the Hudson Review, American Literary Review, Esquire.com, and the first Philly Fiction. She teaches fiction writing at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Read more about Elise at elisejuska.com. "Northeast Philly Girls" is about a teenage girl from the suburbs who visits her aunt's family in Olney for the holidays and is struck by her young cousin's worldliness.

Bruce LangfeldBruce Langfeld grew up in Whitemarsh and spent most of his life in Philadelphia. He was a diehard fan of the city as well as a keen observer of all its problems. Bruce’s creative output was wide ranging — he was a guitar player, a songwriter, a fiction writer, a poet, and a contributor of scathing responses to poorly informed political bloggers. He taught at Temple’s intellectual heritage program, and was an enormous Flyers fan. He died in 2007, proud to have never read Ayn Rand. His story, "Give and Take," will be read by Don Ron Books publisher and Philly Fiction 2 editor Josh McIlvain. In the tale, everyone from the neighborhood thinks that Vic, a South Philly housing contractor, will always land on his feet because he's hardworking and honest. But when he can't pay back the local loan shark the money he borrowed to stave off his debts, he sinks into a world of darkness and sleazy underworld dealings.

Christine FlanaganChristine Flanagan's recent work has appeared in Philadelphia Stories, the Pisgah Review, and Burning Leaf. She will be reading from “Return to Ithaca”, which was nominated for a 2008 Pushcart Prize. Her other writing awards include the James D. Bartolomeo Prize from the Drexel Online Journal, Kumu Kahua Theatre Award, Chameleon Theatre Circle New Play Prize, and South Florida Writer’s Contest (drama) First Prize. Her fiction and plays have been produced at InterAct Theatre’s Writing Aloud, the Riant Theatre, the Actor’s Center, and the Northwest Playwright’s Guild. She teaches writing and literature at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia.
In "Return to Ithaca," An ad executive who can't control his anger must move back home with his aging parents when his wife issues a restraining order against him. In his efforts to rebuild his relationship with his wife with date nights and by not drinking, her sister—who is also his business partner—stands perversely in his way.

Joshua RobertsJoshua Roberts, author of "Well Liked," was born and lives in Philadelphia. His writing has appeared in Agni, Pindeldyboz, Eyeshot, Blue Mesa Review, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and other publications, and has earned Finalist rankings in the Heekin Group Foundation Fiction Fellowship and the Utah Writers at Work Fellowship Competition. He works for the School of Public Health at Drexel University. Bumping into his college girlfriend ten years after the fact, the narrator of "Well Liked" battles his obsession to find out all the details of her life that might cast her in a bad light. Is it his anger at his own lack of confidence or true indignation at her evident cluelessness or her own lack of artistic talent? His only solution to go to the art film she has made to determine whether or not her only success is in her mind.

Details:
Philly Fiction 2 reading
Featuring stories by: Elise Juska, Bruce Langfeld (read by Josh McIlvain), Christine Flanagan, Joshua Roberts
Hosts: Josh McIlvain and Christopher Munden (editors)
Head House Books
519 South 2nd Street, Phila. 19147
Tuesday, January 12, 2010, 7:30 p.m.

Email phillyfiction@yahoo.com or visit phillyfiction.com for more information. You can buy Philly Fiction 2 and the original Philly Fiction at Head House Books at anytime or go to phillyfiction.com for a complete list of where you can purchase these great books.