CHICAGO,IL. (June 24, 2009) – This June marked the release of New City’s eagerly anticipated annual Lit 50 List of “Who really books in Chicago,” and the Columbia presence was loud and clear once again. From a Department Chair faculty, poetry alums and a grad student, the Columbia literary community claimed seven spots, representing a spectrum of creative disciplines in a city that truly loves its lit.
#14 – Randy Albers
The Chair of the Fiction Writing Department was recognized for his work as the guiding force behind the power-house known as the Story Week Festival of Writers, which just celebrated its thirteenth year in May.
#37 – Gina Frangello
Frangello, who teaches the Fiction Seminar class in the Fiction Department, is the Executive Editor of Other Voices’ Books. She is also the author of the novel My Sister’s Continent, and the forthcoming compilation of short stories, Slut Lullabies, due in 2010. Visit her at www.ginafrangello.com and www.dzancbooks.org/OVBooks
#40 – Brandi Homan
A 2007 Poetry MFA alum, Homan serves as Editor-in-Chief of local feminist poetry press Switchback Books. She is the author of two full-length books of poetry, Hard Reds, and Bobcat Country, forthcoming in 2010, as well as a chapbook, Two Kinds of Arson. Visit her at www.brandihoman.com and www.switchbackbooks.com
#41 – Ellen Wadey
Wadey, who teaches in the English Department, is the Executive Director of the long-running Guild Complex, which hosts writing workshops and sponsored readings throughout the city. Learn more at www.guildcomplex.org
#42 – Bill “The Butcher” Hillman
Hillman, an MFA candidate in the Fiction Writing Department, is the founder and emcee of the ever-growing Windy City Story Slam. The Slam hosts several high-energy readings across the city throughout the year. Each slam boasts a theme, the most recent being “The War and Peace Show,” which featured internationally acclaimed writer Irvine Welsh. Learn more about the slam at www.windycitystoryslam.com
#44 – Jonathan Messinger
Messinger, who teaches a class on small-press publishing in the Fiction Writing Department, is one of the founders of the local indie publishing company Featherproof Books. He is also the books editor for Time Out Chicago, and author of Hiding Out. Learn more at www.featherproof.com
#46 – Kristy Bowen
A 2007 Poetry MFA alum, Kristy founded dancing girl press and studio in 2004, which publishes chapbooks by women poets. To date, the press has published more than fifty titles. She is also the publisher of the online lit zine wicked alice, and the author of three books of poetry; the fever almanac, in the bird museum, and the forthcoming girl show. Visit her at www.dancinggirlpress.com
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