ALUMS 

Peter Adrian Behravesh (Popular Fiction, W’18) narrated Sonia Sulaiman’s story “Handala. The Olive, The Storm, and the Sea” for the November 12 episode of PodCastle, as part of their Palestinian Voices series. You can listen to it here.

What do writers do when they’re not writing? Emma Bouthillette (Creative Nonfiction, S’12) answered that question for The Masters Review‘s monthly column curated by Assistant Editor  Jennifer Dupree (Fiction, W’15). In the short essay, she explores how yoga and meditation fuel her current work on a coming-of-body memoir in which she navigates the chronic conditions born out of a benign brain tumor, including hypothalamic obesity, and her journey towards radical self-acceptance. The column also features Elisha Emerson’s (Fiction, S’16) response to the same question and how walks lead her on the path back to the page.

Kathy Briccetti (Creative Nonfiction, W’07) has a new website that she’d like to share with you (and your literary agents)! She’s currently querying about her novel manuscript. “Whether They Be” is a gripping story about relationships and race in 1968 America. 

J Brooke (Poetry, S’19) developed a new column for The Rumpus (where they serve as the Prose Book Reviews Editor) called “Otherwise Lost,” where name authors write mini reviews of lesser-known written works of personal significance to them that, were they not sharing it, might be otherwise lost. The first one (penned by Porochista Khakpour, whom J met at Stonecoast) dropped this month but it’s for members only, so here’s a link if you want in and to read the column. J’s essay nomination for a Best of Net award by The Maine Review can be read here. And their newest published essay, “The First Time I Consider Ending My Life I Am Four,” can be found in the new print edition of Room Magazine at newsstands or here. 

Lexa Hillyer (Poetry, S’10) ‘s A Lantern in the Dark, her 12-week group coaching program for creative healing and book ideation, returns on January 6th, 2025. This small group journey is focused on leaving behind your fears, reconnecting to your creative voice, and committing—or recommitting—to starting a new novel or writing project. Let this be the year you finally come back to it! 

Nina B. Lichtenstein (Creative Nonfiction, S’20) welcomes all to Maine Writers Studio’s December 18th Literary Salon & Open Mic, with literary guest Helene McGlauflin who will read from her new and soulful collection of poetry Solstice, just in time for the annual much anticipated solstice! Find out more here. Nina is also teaching a generative writing workshop (hybrid: in person or on Zoom) at Maine Writers Studio on Sunday, December 15th, on the theme of “The Places We Belong (or not)”—and there are still a couple of spots open; details found here.

Nadja Maril (Fiction, W’20) is pleased to share that her hybrid piece “Reboot,” previously published in Instant Noodles Literary Magazine, has been nominated for Best of the Net and that her micro-fiction story “The First is the Best,” previously published in Blink-Ink, has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Nadja’s flash fiction piece “A Trip to the Dentist” will be included in the December issue of DuFrank Lit and her short essay “Noodle Kugel for the Holidays” will be appearing in the Holiday issue of Instant Noodles Literary Magazine. Check her blog at Nadjamaril.com for noodle kugel recipes.

Autumn Newman (Poetry, S’09) has a book review online at Tupelo Quarterly. The book reviewed is by Margaret Rockwell Finch, the mother of former Stonecoast Director, Annie Finch.

Marisca Pichette (Popular Fiction, S’21) made a return to Story Hour on November 20, reading her Clarkesworld piece, “Three Circuits of the Monoceros Ring.” She was joined by Vanessa Fogg, who read “Wings,” which was published in Translunar Travelers Lounge. It was a lovely evening! You can find the recording on the Story Hour website. In mid-December, Marisca will be leading her second workshop with Elegant Literature, on the topic of building the perfect author website.

Continued interest in sid sibo’s (sidney woods, Fiction, W’19) debut novel, The Scent of Distant Family, comes from Mark Stevens at Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers who will record a podcast interview in December. And returning to a long-ago short story workshopped with Debra Marquart, sid has also found a home at The Literary Hatchet for the environmental (in)justice piece titled “Where.”

Olive L.  Sullivan (Poetry/Fiction, S’15) has written a poem, “Aunt Jane’s Tomatoes,” for Eat Your Words: a Kansas Poetry Cookbook, edited by state poet laureate Traci Brimhall. Brimhall paired poets with recipes from Kansas chefs, who were tasked with creating recipes featuring inexpensive ingredients that would be readily available, including from farmers markets. The book will come out next year and the poems will also be displayed at the state fair.

Rhiannon J. Taylor/R. J. Howell’s (Popular Fiction, S’19) science-fiction short story “Grief’s Apogee” was published in Issue 6 of Heartlines Spec. The entire issue is currently available to subscribers. “Grief’s Apogee” will be published individually as free to read on the Heartlines Spec website on December 17th.

FACULTY  

Aaron Hamburger‘s (Fiction, Creative Nonfiction) novel Hotel Cuba has won the 2024 Bridge Book Award in American Fiction! He’s going to Rome, Italy to accept the prize. In addition, his new novel The Shiva Bandit has been sold to HarperCollins. Look out for it in 2026 or 2027. Here’s a short description: 

After her husband disappears fighting in World War II and the Nazis invade her village, an intrepid Jewish woman and her two daughters flee across the Soviet Union to Tashkent, Uzbekistan. They struggle to survive the war living among local Muslim women, desperate refugees, and elite Soviet cultural figures whom Stalin has evacuated out of the range of German bombers.

Elizabeth Searle’s (Fiction, Scriptwriting) short film Four-Sided—based on Elizabeth’s feature film script, A Four-Sided Bed—was screened in Florence, Italy, at Female Arts Florence on November 30, with Four-Sided director Vittoria Colonna in attendance. The film has now been accepted at over 20 film festivals, including several 2024 screenings. For information on the short film and also on the ongoing development of A Four-Sided Bed as a feature film, see www.afoursidedbedfilm.com.