Colrain Publication News New York Quarterly Books has accepted Ben Myer's manuscript, now titled Lapse Americana, for publication in February, 2013. "I'd like to thank you again for all the help I got from you, Henry, Fred, and the other participants at the August manuscript conference. I'm very happy to report that the manuscript you helped me refine has been accepted for publication by New York Quarterly Books....The Colrain conference really helped me see things about the manuscript that I would have been blind to otherwise." Susan Jo Russell's chapbook, We are Not Entirely Abandoned, has been published by Finishing Line Press and is available now. Andrew Sofer's manuscript, Wave, has been chosen by Main Street Rag as part of the MSR Editor's Select Poetry Series and is scheduled for release in January, 2012. Andrew attended Colrain in 2007. Catherine Staples' manuscript, The Rattling Window, won theMcGovern Prize and is forthcoming from the Ashland Poetry Press in spring of 2013. "I am immensely grateful to you both; Colrain made a profound difference. Dean Rader, Catherine Prescott, M.B. McCaltchy and I have stayed in close touch, trading ms. reminding one another of some of the vital things learned at Colrain. For those of us without MFAs, that sort of writing community is vital and long lasting." Karen Holmberg has won the John Ciardi Prize from BkMk Press and her manuscript,Axis Mundi is scheduled to be published in the spring of 2013. "Thanks for all your feedback, support,time, and attention – the conference not only helped me make a better book, but gave a tremendous boost to my confidence in myself as a poet." Kimberley Pittman-Schulz's manuscript, Mosslight is the 2011 FutureCycle Press Poetry Book Prize winner from FutureCycle Press and is scheduled to be published in Fall, 2011. "Just wanted to write that you can add one more alumna to your collection of poets who have found a book publisher after attending one of your great manuscript workshops. It was a truly helpful weekend for me--I learned so much about publishers and gained new insight into my poetry that has helped me to strengthen my poems as well as my poetry manuscript....Getting a first book of poems published seems akin to playing the lottery--and it is a slow process where the reward is access to readers rather than dollars (though the prize money does give me a sense that my work is valued and will help offset all those reading fees over the years;--). Attending the Colrain workshop, working with you, Fred Marchant, Jeff Shotts, and Chase Twichell along with the support and shared experiences of other poets definitely helped me clear a path toward publication. Since I'm not a poetry academic for a living as so many poets tend to be, I've felt like an outsider, and your session helped me step inside. I'd been a finalist a few times over several years prior to the session, then my finalist frequency jumped to 6 times in about 18 months since the session, and now after so often being the bridesmaid, I get to be the bride. Hurray." Kelly Moffett's manuscript,When the God of Water Enters Your Basement, Bow has been accepted for publication by Salmon Poetry and is scheduled to be published in the spring of 2013. "I revised the book (even called it When the God of Water Enters Your Basement, Bow, per your advice) and sent it out. Salmon Poetry picked it up right away! I'm thrilled, since I deeply admire the authors associated with that press. It will be released Spring 2013. Your insights (and Martha's too) helped the book find its core form, its essential articulation. I can't thank you enough!" Brian Komei Dempster's manuscript,Topaz, has been accepted for publication by Four Way Books and is scheduled to be published in the fall of 2013. Brian attended two colrain conferences in 2010. "I owe a huge debt of gratitude to you and Colrain; I know that my participation in both the June and November sessions was instrumental to getting the manuscript to that next level, and your insights, guidance, and generosity played a large part in that final transformation of Topaz." Jo Sarzotti's manuscript, Mother Desert, is the winner of the 2011 Bakeless Prize and will be published by Graywolf Press in summer, 2012. Jo attended the conference in 2008. "The conference was invaluable in its showing me how to focus on the ms, something I didn't fully do even right after attending. It took a while to "get it." The conference procedures, the "homework" and various rationales for order and ranking, all helped me to see the process and the ms as "organic," that is, capable of growth and change, from moments inside particular poems to the general "arc" of the whole." David James' manuscript, Since Everything is All I've Got has been published by March Street Press. David attended the Colrain conference in October, 2010. Diana Gordon's chapbook, The Fourth World has been published by Adastra Press. Diana attended the Colrain conference in July, 2007. Sarah Perrier is the winner of the Editor's Choice, 2009 Akron Poetry Prize from the University of Akron Press, and her manuscript, Nothing Fatal, is now available here. "I’m so glad I got your note last week inviting people to consider the Colrain Conference coming up at the end of April. I won’t be attending this time around, but that’s primarily because I no longer have a manuscript to bring. The manuscript I brought last summer (then titled Voltage, but now retitled Nothing Fatal) is working its way through production at University of Akron Press right now, and due to be released in Fall 2010. I am grateful for the guidance and clarity the Colrain Conference provided me while I was working on Nothing Fatal." Joanne Diaz is the winner of the 2009 Gerald Cable First Book Award and her book, Violin, will be published by Silverfish Review Press in March 2011. Joanne attended the conference with the manuscript in June, 2008. " I am pleased to report that my book has finally been accepted for publication (I say "finally" because it has been a finalist so many times!). I am certain that the suggestions that I received at Colrain helped push the book along toward publication." Geraldine Zetzel, who attended Colrain in spring of 2009, has had her manuscript, now titled Mapping the Sands,published by Mayapple Press and named a "must-read book" for 2011 by Massachusetts Center for the Book. Charle Douthat's manuscript, now titled Blue for Oceans, will be published in November, 2010 by NHR Press, a new press run by the editors of the New Haven Review. Charles attended the conference in 2008. Sandra Cookson's manuscript,Two Loons Taken for Vultures, will be published in July, 2011 by Finishing Line Press. Amanda Reynold's manuscript,renamed Heinz 56, at Colrain, will be published in Fall/Winter 2011/2012 by Main Street Rag. Amanda Reynolds' chapbook, Degrees of Separation, has been accepted for publication by Pudding House Press and will be published in 2010. Amanda came to Colrain in March, 2010. Dean Rader has won the T. S. Eliot Poetry Prize for his manuscript titled Frog and Toad Confront the Alterity of Otherness (now titled Works and Days). It will be published in 2010 by Truman State University Press. Dean Attended Colrain with the manuscript in April, 2009. Elizabeth Knapp's manuscript The Spite House, has been selected by Richard Jackson for the 2010 De Novo Poetry Contest and will be published by C&R Press in the fall of 2011. Elizabeth attended Colrain in June, 2010. J.Lorraine Brown's chapbook, Skating on Bones, has been released by Finishing Line Press. She attended Colrain in 2007. Norman Stock's Pickled Dreams Naked, has been published by NYQ Books, a new book series recently started by the New York Quarterly. "I attended the conference in August 2007 with the manuscript. The pre-conference exercises and the workshops were very helpful in getting me to focus on the details of the manuscript. This also helped me to find a title for the book from within the poems rather than using the title of a poem." Kyle McCord's Gallery of the Beloved in Torment, is winner of the 2008 Orphic Prize, and is available from Dream Horse Press. Kyle attended with his manuscript in April, 2009 Elisavietta Ritchie's Cormorant Beyond the Compost was accepted for publication by WordTech Press (Cherry Grove imprint) and will be published in July 2011. Elisavietta attended Colrain in the summer of 2007. Cathy Strisik's manuscript, Thousand-Cricket Song, will be published in January, 2010 by Plain View Press. Cathy attended Colrain with the manuscript in November, 2008. Joni Wallace's manuscript, Blinking Ephemeral Valentine, was chosen by Mary Jo Bang for the Levis Prize and will be published by Four Way Books in Spring 2011. Joni attended Colrain with the manuscript in October, 2008. Grace Ocasio's manuscript, Hollerin from This Shack, has been published by Ahadada Books. Grace attended Colrain with the manuscript in April, 2007. Lucille Lang Day's manuscript, Curvature of Blue was published by Cervena Barva Press in March, 2009. Lucille attended Colrain with the manuscript in Summer, 2006. Rob Abbate's manuscript, Courage of Straw, was accepted for publication by Main Street Rag Press and is expected to be published in March 2010. Rob attended the conference in June 2007. Lesley Wheeler’s collection, Heathen, will be published in August 2009 by C&R Press, where it was a finalist for the DeNovo Prize. The manuscript also won the Elixir Poetry Prize (withdrawn). She attended the conference in August, 2007. "My meetings with Ellen Dore Watson and Chase Twichell were definitely worthwhile--they encouraged me to put my best work forward, cut weaker pieces, sharpen the book’s concept, hone my self-presentation, and generally keep up hope about the project. Other students in the workshop even gave me helpful feedback after the conference ended. I felt privileged to meet and talk with so many smart poets." Joanna Solfrian's manuscript, Visible Heavens, won the Wick Prize from Kent State Press and is due out in 2010. She attended the conference in 2007. "No doubt the Colrain weekend -- and the exercises from you, Steven, et al, -- forced the manuscript to endure the final rigors necessary to get it to press. " Veronica Patterson’s manuscript, Thresh & Hold, has been selected by poet Lola Haskins as the winner of the second annual Kenneth and Geraldine Gell Poetry Prize. The prize, for 2009, includes publication of the work in trade paperback by Big Pencil Press, an honorarium of $1000 payable upon publication, and a two-week fellowship at the Gell Center of the Finger Lakes, a retreat center in the Bristol Hills, Naples, New York. Amy Riddell's chapbook, Narcissistic Injury, has been published by Pudding House Press. Amy attended the March, 2008 conference. "Thank you, Joan for the support and the help at Colrain. I learned so much in your workshop." Jamie Ross, whose book Vinland won the 2008 Four Way Book Intro prize, attended Colrain with the manuscript in November, 2006. "To say you (Joan) and Fred and the Colrain conference were formative in this whole deal would be an understatement! I met Martha there, too—though you never could have told me at the time that I'd even be sending the collection to Four Way." (Note: Jamie's editor there was Jeffrey Levine from Tupelo Press.) Kathleen Sheeder Bonanno, a June 07 attendee, has won the Beatrice Hawley Prize from Alice James Books and her book Slamming Open the Door will be published in April, 2009. "There is no question in my mind that had I not attended the Colrain Manuscript Conference and received the kind of encouragement and judicious advice that I did there, I would not have won the Beatrice Hawley Award -- would not have revised my manuscript the way I did, or even had the confidence to send it out." Lorraine Healy, a March 2008 attendee, has won the the Patricia Bibby First Book Award and her book, The Habit of Buenos Aires, is forthcoming from Tebot Bach press in 2010. "Dear Joan and Fred, my manuscript has won the Patricia Bibby First Book Award and is forthcoming from Tebot Bach press. Thanks to both of you and to Martha and Jeff--it would not have happened without Colrain." Brian Culhane, another June 07 attendee, has had his manuscript A King's Question selected for the Emily Dickinson Prize from the Poetry Foundation. It will be published by Graywolf Press. Kathy Nilsson's chapbook-length manuscript The Arbattoir is scheduled for April 08 publication from Finishing Line Press. Kathy attended the first Colrain conference in March, 06. Norbert Hirschhorn's Mourning in the Presence of a Corpse was published in 2008 by Dar al-Jadeed Press. More information here. Kim Triedman's chapbook-length manuscript Bathe in it or Sleep has won the main street rag annual chapbook contest and will be published in October, 2008. Gunilla Kester's chapbook-length manuscript Time of Sand and Teeth will be published by Finishing Line Press in February, 2009. Gunilla attended the October, 2008 conference. "Colrain blew me away! ...Helpful is not the word. Revolutionary, perhaps? I loved the attention to detail, the devotion to craft, the lack of snobbery, and the practical approach." Stephen Rhodes, an August '06 attendee, has his first collection, The Time I Didn't Know What to Do Next , published by Wind Press. Information on the book can be found here. Holly Guran has won honorable mention in the Poets Corner Press competition, 2007, with her chapbook manuscript Rivertracks. It is now available from Poets Corner Press. Holly attended the Colrain conference in May, 07. Brian Johnson's manuscript, Torch Lake and Other Poems, has been accepted for publication by Del Sol Press. Brian attended the February, 2008 conference. Norita Dittberner-Jax, a May, 07 conference attendee, has had her manuscript, The Watch, published in June by Whistling Shade Press. Kristin Bock, a first conference attendee (March, 2006), will have her manuscript from the conference, Cloisters, published by Tupelo Press in 2008. "I'm so grateful to the Colrain conference! What struck me most about the Colrain experience was the kindness and generosity of the attendees, the workshop leaders, and the editors. Everyone worked hard, taking the time to provide thoughtful and detailed feedback on each other's work. The editors gave individual attention to each and every poet, answering all of our burning questions about our manuscripts and the often cryptic world of publishing. A heartfelt thanks to all!!" Elisavietta Ritchie's chapbook Real Toads, (composed from a portion of her Colrain manuscript Comorat Beyond the Compost Bin}, is available from Black Buzzard Press as part of their chapbook series. Elisavietta attended the Colrain conference in August, 07. Regina Nervo's book-length manuscript, Oceanus,has been published by West Coast Bias Press. Regina attended the Colrain conference in August, 06. Steve Fellner, a first conference attendee (March, 2006), won the third Marsh Hawk Press Prize with his manuscript from the conference, Blind Date With Cavafy. The prize for a first book of poetry includes a $1,000.00 award and publication. "The Colrain Manuscript Conference managed to pack into a weekend what a lot of grad school teachers never had time to do in their classes or individually: offer finishing touches to a manuscript eager to be picked up by a publisher." Lauren Rusk, also a first conference attendee, signed a book contract with Plain View Press for publication of her manuscript from the conference, Pictures in the Firestorm. "The most useful parts of the conference for me were doing the thought-provoking and instructive pre-conference assignments, hearing the editors speak on the panel about their motivations and daily realities, and receiving your insightful feedback on the parts of my manuscript we discussed in the workshop. Our time together remains vividly in my mind." LouAnn Muhm, another first conference attendee, had her chapbook manuscript, Dear Immovable, accepted for publication by Pudding House Press. "I just had a chapbook accepted for publication. I'm excited! The feedback I received at Colrain certainly helped me refine both the poems and the manuscript, so thanks to all of you!" LouAnn Muhm, UPDATE: LouAnn has had her full-length manuscript accepted as well: "In yet another testament to the power of the Colrain Manuscript Workshop, my full-length manuscript has been accepted by Loonfeather Press. I'm excited--Loonfeather is regional, but well-thought-of, and has had a few Minnesota Book Awards. I'm happy. Thank you all so much for your insightful comments and gentle direction--they were invaluable to me. I hope that when I have amassed another manuscript, I will still be able to come and work on it with you and with the excellent poets and publishers that you attract." Diana Adams, another first conference attendee, had her manuscript, Cave Vitae, accepted for publication by Plain View Press. "At the conference I learned to think of a book of poems as a larger poem, and using Fred Marchant's and Jeffrey Levine's experienced advice was able to completely reconstruct my book, giving it a new life, synchonized and more coherent." Allegra Wong, second conference attendee (August, 2006), has had her manuscript, A Pure Bead, solicited for publication by conference editor, Joan Houlihan (Del Sol Press). A Pure Bead will be published in early 2007. More information here. "My consultation with Dennis Maloney, White Pine Press, was helpful in several specific ways. Poets Joan Houlihan, Teresa Cader, and Fred Marchant are dedicated and dynamic workshop leaders. The workshops showed us what an editor is seeking. I know so much more about the publishing world." Anne Shaw, first conference attendee (March, 2006), has had her manuscript, Undertow selected as winner of the 2007 Lexi Rudnitsky Poetry Prize, to be published by Persea Books in December 2007. "I wanted to share my big news with both of you: I won the Persea Books contest! My ms Undertow is finally going to be published...I can't believe it. I am still in shock. I also want to thank both of you for the Colrain conference. I think it helped a lot in terms of making contacts, and getting me to think about the order of the book. When I went home I re-ordered and re-titled the ms, and I think that helped. The meeting with Martha Rhodes was very, very helpful too. At any rate, thank you both." Suellen Wedmore, third conference attendee (November, 2006), has won the Grayson Press Chapbook prize. "I just wanted to thank you again for the support and advice you offered at the Colrain Poetry Manuscript workshop. One thing I learned/deduced while I was there was that my manuscript was perhaps really two chapbooks--so I began sending out chapbooks instead of a full manuscript. And just last night I learned that I won the Grayson Press Chapbook prize with a book built around my war poems. Chalk one up for Colrain! And thanks again!" Charles Boyer, another first conference attendee, had his manuscript The Mockingbird Puzzle accepted for publication by Finishing Line Press. "I've had some good news. I had a chapbook accepted at Finishing Line Press, a Kentucky literary press. It should be coming out sometime in June. Thanks to all of you for your advice and encouragement with the poems!" Jonathan Weinert's manuscript In the Mode of Disappearnce won the 2006 Nightboat Books Poetry Prize. Jonathan attended the November 06 conference. Nancy Tupper Ling's manuscript Character won Honorable Mention in the Poets Corner Press Chapbook Contest 2007, and is forthcoming from FineLine Poets Press. Nancy attended the August 06 conference. Lucille Lang Day's manuscript The Book of Answers is available from Finishing Line Press. Lucy attended the August 06 conference. Lucy's most recent post-Colrain chapbook is God of the Jellyfish, from Cervena Barva Press. Barbara McGrath, an August, 06 attendee, has had her chapbook entitled Seawind published by Finishing Line Press. And More to Come! HOME