Colrain Poetry Conference

   

Colrain Publication News

  • 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."

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Kristin Bock, a first conference attendee (March, 2006), has won the Tupelo Press First Book Prize with her manuscript from the conference, Cloisters.

    "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!



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