Big News: 2013 Literary Awards

We are very happy to announce our first annual Literary Awards competition! We'll begin accepting entries in March, so get to work on putting your submission together. There will be four categories: Fiction, Poetry, Creative Nonfiction, and Literature in Translation. The winner for each category will receive $1,000 and publication in our Fall/Winter 2013-14 issue (vol. 10, no. 2).

The entry fee is $17 for one submission to one category. All entrants receive a one-year subscription to Ninth Letter. For more information on the contest, including who will be judging each category (hint: they're incredible) and formatting, etc., vist the contest page. 

Of course, we'll have more information as the contest entry period draws closer. 

AWP 13: 3 for 1 Subscription Returns

AWP is right around the corner. Lurking, some might say. Seriously, we always look forward to AWP araound here, which is why I can't wait to start telling you about some of the great things we have planned for this year. I'm happy to announce that once again Ninth Letter will be teaming up with our friends at Cincinnati Review and Mid-American Review to offer the 3 for 1 subscription deal! It's tradition now. 3 terrific magazines for the price of 1. Can't beat it. I'll have more details about it as we get closer to AWP.

Also, keep an eye out for an announcement concerning something else we're putting together. I can't say too much yet, but I will give you a hint: trilogy.

That's all the information I can release at the moment. I'll be sure to keep you informed, so keep checking back for more details. 

Quick Contributor News

Here's a couple updates concerning some of our contributors:

CNF editor, Philip Graham interviews William Gillespie (vol. 7, no. 2) about his novel, Keyhole Factory.

Also, the National Book Critics Circle Awards announced their finalist for 2012 today and we were thrilled to see some 9L contributors on the list: D.A. Powell (vol. 7, no. 2) for Useless Landscape, or A Guide for Boys, Lucia Perillo (vol. 3, no. 1) for On the Spectrum of Possible Deaths, and Adam Johnson for The Orphan Master's Son (vol. 1, no. 2). Congratulations! Winners will be announced on February 28.

We love sharing good news, so if you're a contributor and have news you'd like for us to share, be sure to contact us at info@ninthletter.com

Lions in Winter: A Literary Festival

This year's Lions in Winter literary festival kicks off on Friday, January 25th at Eastern Illinois University. The two day event features readings, workshops, and special sessions led by the festival's featured writers. And it is quite the line-up. The opening night celebration, which is free and open to the public, will include a reading by National Book Award winner, Jaimy Gordon. Other writers featured will include: Eduardo C. Corral, Tina May Hall, and Randa Jarrar.

On Saturday, January 26, 9L's very own Jodee Stanley will be on the editor's panel, which will also include Roxane Gay (PANK, and she is featured in our current issue, vol. 9, no. 2) Michael Nye (The Missouri Review), George David Clark (32 Poems), and Olga Abella (Bluestem).

For more information on the festival, including registration for workshops/sessions and the reading events, visit the Lions in Winter site.

It's going to be a great time. Hope to see you there!

The Web Edition is Here (Updated)

Well, this is just too exciting for words, but I think I'll manage. Our first ever web edition is now online!  It's everything you love about Ninth Letter (excellent writing and beautiful imagery) right on your computer screen. The web edition features the talent of creative writing students from across the country. We have fiction. We have poetry. You should not waste any more time and read the issue right now!

Update: bonus features for the new web edition are now available. Enjoy!