Hot Off the Presses
New Letters tops literary giants, captures prestigious National Magazine Award
UMKC’s resident literary journal wins for Thomas E. Kennedy essay
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Beating out the likes of literary titans Harper’s, The Atlantic and The New Yorker, the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) literary journal New Letters took home the top prize in the essay category of the 2008 National Magazine Awards. New Letters won the award for Thomas E. Kennedy’s essay “I Am Joe’s Prostate,” which was published in the summer 2007 issue.
Kennedy, an American writer currently living in Denmark, co-opted the title for his essay from the popular “I Am Joe’s ____ [fill in the body part/organ]” Readers Digest series, but the similarity most definitely ends there.
In presenting the award, the judges wrote, “…Reader's Digest was never like this. Wince-inducing, outrageously honest and wickedly funny, Thomas Kennedy’s account of his prostate-cancer scare is essay writing at its most original. Laugh the whole way through, then ponder the subtext of medical testing gone haywire.”
Robert Stewart, UMKC assistant research professor and editor of New Letters, said Kennedy’s essay was initially chosen for New Letters not only because it was timely and important, but because it was true literature — both terrifying and hilarious at the same time.
“The National Magazine Award tells us that we at New Letters and at UMKC are doing work that can stand shoulder to shoulder with just about anyone,” said Stewart, accepting the award at the official ceremony in New York City. “Much of the credit for that goes to the true collegiality of the creative people at this university and the support of the College of Arts and Sciences.”
New Letters quarterly is available by subscription at www.newletters.org or by telephone at (816) 235-2610; subscription orders of two or more years will receive the issue with Kennedy’s award-winning essay as a free bonus.
The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), one of four University of Missouri campuses, is a public university serving more than 14,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students. Celebrating 75 years, UMKC engages with the community and economy based on a three-part mission: visual and performing arts, health sciences, and urban engagement.
Kansas City Literary Festival Line-up of Authors Set
Book lover's feast set for Sat., May 17 on Country Club Plaza
KANSAS CITY, MO.: The Kansas City Literary Festival (KCLF), scheduled for May 17, 2008 on the Country Club Plaza, is pleased to announce its line-up of authors. Close to 100 authors are expected at the event, which is in its second year. Festival hours will be 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Admission is free.
The 2008 festival will feature a number of highly acclaimed national authors in addition to quality local and regional authors. The festival will feature six stages: the main stage, the popular kids' stage and activity area, a poetry stage, a specialty authors' stage, a culinary stage and, new this year, a panels and workshops' stage.
Several of the most notable authors who will be at the festival are: Sharon Robinson, who writes children's books, including several about her father, Jackie Robinson; Deborah Rodriquez, author of Kabul Beauty School; Karen Tack, author of Hello Cupcake!; Ron Hansen, author of The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (recently a movie starring Brad Pitt); Dana Stabenow, author of A Deeper Sleep : A Kate Shugak Novel; Steven Saylor, author of Roma: The Novel of Ancient Rome; Walter Bargen, Missouri's Poet Laureate; Stephen T. Johnson, illustrator of Alphabet City and other children's books; Shane Evans, illustrator of numerous children's books including Shaq and the Beanstalk; and Kansas City's own Doug Frost, one of only three people in the world to simultaneously hold the titles, Master Sommelier and Master of Wine, and author of On Wine and Uncorking Wine.
We are thrilled with the line-up of authors we've signed up for this year's festival," said Valissa Smith, festival director. "There is a wide range of genres and authors for everyone."
Among the numerous special events planned during the week of the festival are:
· In association with the Kansas City Public Library, the Kansas City Literary Festival will kick off its festival week with author Valerie Hemingway. Former personal assistant to Ernest Hemingway and wife to his youngest son Gregory, her book Running with the Bulls delves into character and fascinating inner world of the legendary writer. The event, at the Kansas City Public Library-Plaza Branch will begin with a 6 p.m. reception, followed by Hemingway's presentation at 6:30 p.m. There is no admission for the event.
· Eat Pray Love's memorable and roguish character Richard from Texas will open the festival on May 16 with a special appearance at Community Christian Church, located at 47th and Main streets. A 5:30 p.m. reception will be followed by Richard's guest appearance at 6:30 p.m. in which he will read and talk. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door and may be purchased at the Plaza Customer Service located at 4745 Central St. in Kansas City, Mo., or at the Community Christian Church.
·On Sunday, May 18 several authors, fresh off their appearances at the previous day's festival, will be a part of Breakfast with an Author. The event is scheduled from 11:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Intercontinental Kansas City at the Plaza, 401 Ward Parkway, Kansas City, Mo. Seating is limited. Tickets are $20 and are available at Plaza Customer Service located at 4745 Central St. in Kansas City, Mo. or at the information booth the day of the festival.
A complete list of festival events is available by visiting www.kansascitylitfest.org.
This is the second year for the Kansas City Literary Festival. One of the many reasons BOOK-A-FRIEND came here to plan a festival was a national university study showing Kansas City as one of the most literate cities in the country. Kansas City has through the years been as high as the top 15 out of 70 cities and No. 2 in library utilization.
"Our No. 1 goal is celebrating the wonder of books and the benefits of reading," said David Ernst, president and founder of BOOK-A-FRIEND, the non-profit organization presenting the event. "Our mission is to help instill the habit of reading every day into Kansas Citians, and hopefully, the idea of life-long learning that can be achieved by reading."
Among the major sponsors thus far for the 2008 festival are Highwoods Properties, Linda Hall Library, Johnson County Library, Kansas City Public Library, Target, Andrews McMeel Universal, Time Warner Cable and Miller Nichols Foundation and J.E. Dunn, along with booksellers Rainy Day Books, Reading Reptile and Prospero's Bookstore. Sponsorship opportunities also are still available.
The festival's Web site is www.kansascitylitfest.org, which will be updated regularly with information about authors, programs, special events and other festival details.
Save The Date !
2nd Annual Kansas City Literary Festival
On the Country Club Plaza
May 17, 2008
Enjoy panel discussions, special readings, roundtable discussions, poetry, unique performances and cooking demonstrations on six stages!
Kansas City Literary Festival Scores Public Relations Coup
Winners of the 2007 PRISM for Pro Bono category
On Sept. 14, 2007, the Kansas City Literary Festival’s public relation team was honored for its work with a PRISM award in the Pro Bono category at the Public Relations Society of America Kansas City chapter’s annual banquet. The award recognized the work of Vicki Smith, Michelle Manuel and Kate Lee in marketing and publicizing the festival.
