Cross-posted from valleylitlist@yahoogroups.com
PEN USA 2008 Literary Awards Deadline

From: Literary Awards

Dear Publishers, Editors, Writers, and Producers of Literary Works,

The deadline for PEN USA’s annual Literary Awards has been extended!

As many of you know, "Highway 99" is the seminal anthology of Valley poets, essayists, fiction and nonfiction writers. Published by Heyday Books's Great Valley Books imprint (with help from the James Irvine Foundation), it's the first book to anthologize the Valley's many accomplished writers. It was a work that was long overdue, as Central California authors are so often overlooked.

Ten years have passed since Highway 99's first publication, and now Heyday has released a 2nd edition containing some 80 new pages of Valley authors.

Big thanks to CSUF Assistant English Professor Steve Church for bringing New York Times bestselling author, Steve Almond, to Fresno State tonight!

Here's the announcement cross-posted from valleylitlist@yahoogroups.com:

Hi Friends,

Please mark your calendars for this upcoming reading featuring acclaimed
writer, Steve Almond, author of the new collection of essays, Not That You
Asked . Almond will read and sign books at Fresno State on Friday, Sept. 21
at 7:30 p.m. in the Alice Peters auditorium. Relaxed parking will be
provided.

I was lucky to hear local author, David Mas Masumoto (author of "Epitaph for a Peach" amongst others) read last Saturday night at the Fresno Art Museum, and it was an amazing event. The drumming, the music, his family--it's a delightful literary experience like I've never seen before. Mas is such a beloved Valley literary treasure, that I wouldn't miss his reading tonight at the Respite by the River.

Here's the official event announcement:

Valley author David Mas Masumoto will be speaking tonight at Fresno's monthly Respite by the River reading hosted at The River Center.

Thursday, August 16th, 6 p.m.
Valley author Aris Janigian will be speaking at Fresno's monthly Respite by the River reading hosted at The River Center.

Aris Janigian is one of the Valley's newest Armenian writers to emerge on the literary scene. He was the Finalist for the William Saroyan International Prize for Writing. His first novel, "Bloodvine," was published by Heyday Books.

http://www.heydaybooks.com/public/books/bv.html

The Respite by the River readings are co-sponsored by CSUF college radio station KFSR 90.7 FM. For more information contact:

Respite by the River

This month is the 50th anniversary of the publication of Jack Kerouac's "On the Road." Not only is this one of the greatest novels ever published, it has an impressive Central California Valley connection. Here's an excerpt from chapter 12:

For those aspiring Central California writers out there...

Cross-posted from valleylitlist@yahoogroups.com
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Please distribute to any poets you know. Thanks!

The Philip Levine Prize in Poetry 2007

The Philip Levine Prize in Poetry is open to all poets except current
or former students or faculty of California State University, Fresno.

$1500 prize and publication by Anhinga Press

Postmark Deadline: 9/30/07

Final Judge: C.G. Hanzlicek

The contest is named for poet Philip Levine who was the final judge in
2001, 2002, 2005. Philip Levine taught at California State

For those poets out there..

11th Annual Tuolumne Meadows Poetry Festival
Saturday, August 18th and Sunday, August 19th
Parsons Memorial Lodge, Yosemite National Park

*Featuring one of Central California's finest writers and farmers, David Mas Masumoto, author of "Epitaph for a Peach."

*Plus esteemed poets Dorianne Laux and Kay Ryan; and musician Shira Kammen (violin and vielle).

SATURDAY:
10 a.m. - 11:30
What Makes a Poem Memorable
Poetry Workshop with Dorianne Laux

2 p.m. - 3:30
Featured poets and music

7:30 p.m. - 10
Open reading and music

SUNDAY: