Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Signs of Spring

I know we shouldn't mention this, with the east coast buried in snow, and apparently snow in 49 of 50 states... but a few feet from the door of the CALYX office there are crocus, daffodils and snowdrops blooming! Spring has begun here in Oregon, and although we have had our "setbacks" before (notably a snow mid-April last year!), it's starting to feel like we're coming out of the winter! And if it's spring... CALYX birthday isn't far behind!

CALYX was founded on March 11, 1976, by four women with a vision to provide a publication that celebrates the excellence and diversity of women’s literature and art. It has continued to give opportunities to new and developing writers - more than 4,000, and we lost count a while ago!

A few writers who were published first or early in their careers include Julia Alvarez, Ellen Bass, Chitra Divakaruni, Molly Gloss, Linda Hogan, Natalie Goldberg, Barbara Kingsolver, Colleen McElroy, Sharon Olds, Nobel Laureate Wislawa Szymborska (the first English translations in the U.S.A.), and Eleanor Wilner. Did you know CALYX Journal was also the first U.S. publisher of color art reproductions of the work of the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo?

We will be celebrating CALYX' 34th birthday here in Corvallis, Oregon, with a party on March 13th that includes music, refreshments -- and of course, readings! More on that soon. But if you are inclined to celebrate with CALYX, you can have a house party of your own! We would be delighted to provide more information to you -- email us at: info(at)calyxpress(dot)org.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Readings for issue 23:5

Hello there, dedicated followers!

It's Mollie, one of the winter interns here at Calyx! The sun is shining through the office window as Becky, Jan and I happily work away on great fun stuff for you.

So, you ask, what am I working on today? Readings for the new issue! I'm currently contacting bookstores to host readings in the San Francisco, Arlington, and New York City areas! Authors are starting to reply with availability and it's all terribly exciting!

Do you guys know of any great independent bookstores in these areas? We're hoping for Bluestockings in New York because we've worked with them before and they're great, but I would love the input of any readers in the S.F. or D.C. areas who know of some wonderful independent bookstores perfect for Calyx readings!

Hope you're all doing well and enjoying the sun/rain/wind/snow wherever you are!

--Mollie Peterson

Lois Prize 2010 is coming up

Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Submit Your Poems to the 2010 Lois Cranston Poetry Prize:

10. winner gets $300 prize
9. winner gets published in a beautiful magazine
8. finalists get a free 3 issue subscription to CALYX
7. finalists get published on CALYX website
6. semi-finalists get the recognition of being really close to winning (yes!)
5. it makes editors smile to see lots of different poets writing and sharing their work
4. fun for interns to carry mail from our PO box to our office
3. raises funds for CALYX--support women's literature!
2. it's exciting to wait and see if you win (contest! contest! contest!)
1. ALL contestants get 1 free issue of CALYX



We start accepting submissions March 1!
Send 3 poems and $15 entry fee to PO Box B Corvallis, Oregon 97339

See http://www.calyxpress.org/ for full contest details