1. Extraordinary success! All of the work by Susquehanna students who were consid-
ered as finalists has been accepted for publication in this year’s issue of plain china,
the magazine that features the best work from all the undergraduate literary maga-
zines in the United States.
Nonfiction:
“A Dictionary” by Nicole Lynn Redinski
“The Hive” by Abby Hess
“The Story” by Rebecca James
Fiction:
“Ceelie” by Bryce Bortree
“The Story We Tell People” by Rebecca James
Artwork/photography:
Renata Malionek
Mandy Vivaqua
Other finalists are from American University, Brown, Colorado College, Dart-
mouth, FSU, Grinnell, Harvard, Iowa, Mills, NYU, Oberlin, Princeton, Rice, Stan-
ford, SUNY Rockland, Temple, UCLA, UConn, UGA, and other schools from
across the country.
Plain China National Magazine for undergrads
To remove your name from our mailing list,
please respond to this email to let us know.
Questions or comments? E-mail us at
gfincke@susqu.edu or call 570-372-4164
Dan Beachy-Quick
October 22, 2014
Dan Beachy-Quick has
published five collections
of poetry, one of which
(Mulberry) was a finalist
for the Los Angeles Times
Book Award. Honored by
the Lannon Foundation, he
has also published two
books of essays and sto-
ries, most recently Won-
derful Investigations.
November 10, 2014
Nick Flynn's memoir Another
Bullshit Night in Suck
City won the PEN/Martha
Albrand Award for memoir; his
first collection of poems Some
Ether won the PEN/Joyce
Osterwell Award. His most
recent book is a memoir about
his decision to have a
child, The Ticking is the
Bomb.
Jeffrey Condran &
Robert Peluso
March 15, 2014
Jeff and Robert are co-
founders of the mid-list liter-
ary fiction press Braddock
Avenue Books. Jeff is the
author of the short story
collection A Fingerprint Re-
peated and the novel Prague
Summer. Robert has just
completed a novel The Ride
Out.
Melissa Bank
March 16, 2015
Melissa Bank is the bestsel-
ling nonfiction and fiction
author of The Girls’ Guide to
Hunting and Fishing and The
Wonder Spot. The 2008
film Suburban Girl was
adapted from Girls’ Guide
and starred Alec Baldwin and
Sarah Michelle Geller.
Cary Holladay
March 30, 2015
Cary Holladay is the author of
seven volumes of fiction, most
rece nt ly H orse Peo -
ple and The Deer in the Mir-
ror, which won the Ohio State
University prize in Short Fic-
tion. Winner of an O’Henry
Prize for Short Fiction, Cary
is a graduate of Selinsgrove
High School.
Dr. Fincke will have his new book of creative nonfiction, Vanishings, published by
Stephen F. Austin University Press late this Fall, 2014. He has had a short essay
published at brevity.com (Issue 45) called “During the Farm Show Parade”. He was
featured in the Kenyon Review Online for his personal essay “The Physics of De-
sire”. And, his poem, “Calculations: A Love Poem,” originally published in The New
England Review, was featured on Poetry Daily. He was one of 30 poets selected to
choose a poem to “consider” on Poetry daily, for which he chose Rupert Brooke’s
“The Soilder”.
Silas Zobel Dent’s collection of stories, “The Inconvenience of the Wings” will be
published by Fomite Press in 2015.
학부 번역, 아주 좋은 소식!
게리, 당신은이 공지는 매우 활발하고 원래하고 있습니다 ...
개인적으로 나는 그들의 도움을
Or, Tom Bailey’s book A Short Story Writer’s Companion has been translated into
Korean and published.
Julie Danho’ 99, who won the Slapering Hol
Press national chapbook contest for Six Por-
traits, launched the work in Sleepy Hollow, NY
on March 23rd. As part of the launch, the press
asked her to choose the mentor who was most
helpful to her in developing her writing, and Dr.
Fincke was pleased to learn that Julie chose him.
As a result he read with her that day.
Katie Pierce ’00 has been awarded a Dorothy
Rosenberg poetry prize. She received $5,000 as
an award for being, “A Young Poet With
Unusual Promise.” Katie currently co-chairs the
creative writing program at Mississippi State
University.
Sarah Farbo ’00 had a personal interview
featured in Lancaster City Living, a local
newspaper. She is now the Community School
Director which, through a partnership be-
tween Heads Up Lancaster and the School
District of Lancaster, works with Fulton Ele-
mentary community school to bring outside
academic opportunities to students.
Tara Laskowski ’02 has a story, “The Monitor”
in the current issue of Alfred Hitchcock Mystery
Magazine. Tara’s story, “Little Girls” will be
included in the anthology Flash Fiction Interna-
tional, to be published by Norton this year as
well. She also has a story included in the just-
released anthology The New Black: A Neo-Noir
Anthology.
Devon Taylor ’04 has an essay called, "There is
a Life" coming out this spring in CutBank
literary journal out of the University of Mon-
tana.
Ryan Rickrode’s ’11 story, “Weights and
Measures," which, he wrote during his enroll-
ment here, was published in The South Carolina
Review.
Chantal Gadoury ’12 has had her novel Seven
Seeds of Summer accepted for publication by
Waldorf Press.
Louis Land ’12 had five poems picked up by the
online magazine Frigg. He had two more pieces
appear in the magazine The Idle Class this fall,
and, his story "September" was published by the
Santa Clara Review. An essay will be appearing
in the inaugural issue of Dog Pond.
Cynthia Ring ‘13 will have her poem, "Jesus
Chocolate" published in volume 4 of And/Or
Magazine and her poem, "I prefer my flag"
published in volume 6 of Apeiron Review.
Eli Tomaszewski’s ’13 poem "keflavik" was a
finalist in the First Annual Pat Schneider Poetry
Contest.
Kaitlyn Bartlet ’13 had her story “Like Glass”
published in the May issue of Crack the Spine
Literary Magazine.
Nicole Lynn Redinski's ’13 essay, “A Diction-
ary,” has been selected by nonfiction judge Jack
Beatty as an honorable mention in Plain China:
Best Undergraduate Writing 2013
Rachel Word’s ‘13 poem “Masters” has been
accepted for the next issue of Catfish Creek.
Rebecca James ’13 "The Story," a personal
essay, won Ohio State’s nonfiction contest The
Journal against all nonfiction writers in the
country. It will be in the winter issue of The
Journal. And, "Did You Hear the One About the
Single Mother with the Drinking Problem," her
poem, was published in Juked online.
Sarah-Jane Abate ’14 has won the 54th annual
Hollins College Literary Festival Fiction Prize
for her short story “Driller.” Her work was
selected by novelist, poet, and critic Ben Lerner.
Janet Weis Writers Institute Scholarship
The Writers Institute at Susquehanna University will offer as many as 10
Janet Weis Writers Institute Scholarships of $17,500 each to creative writing
majors in 2013. The scholarships, partially funded by the Degenstein Founda-
tion, are renewable for four years ($70,000 total) as long as a 3.2 grade point
is sustained in the creative writing major. To be eligible for consideration,
students must apply with a 10-12 page portfolio of fiction, poetry, creative
nonfiction or a combination of these genres by Feb. 10. The winners, chosen
by the Susquehanna creative writing faculty, will be notified no later than
Feb. 28.
Juliet Gibson Prize
At least $750 given annually for the best student fiction or poetry published
in RiverCraft Magazine. The judge changes each year from among alumni of
the creative writing program who are invited to return to campus to give a
reading from published work. Runners-up also receive cash awards.
Winner: 2014- Sarah Harshbarger
Erik Kirkland Prize
At least $750 given annually for the best student creative nonfiction pub-
lished in Essay Magazine. The judge changes each year from among partici-
pants in the Visiting Writers Series. Runners-up also receive cash awards.
Winner: 2013- Alyssa Moore
Gary & Elizabeth Fincke Prize
At least $1000 given annually for the best portfolio produced by a senior
creative writing major. The judge changes each year from among partici-
pants in the Visiting Writers Series.
Winner: 2014 - Sarah-Jane Abate
Even though this makes the newsletter seem like a pitch for money, I’m
going to start with a summary of current creative writing endowments and
hope that many of you will take the time to consider. If you do decide to
contribute, the most important thing is to “designate” to a particular item
listed here or simply “designate” the Writers Institute.
My wife and I have now provided enough money to endow our annual
prize of $1,000 for the outstanding senior portfolio as chosen by an outside
reader. We are happy to do this and want very much to guarantee that the
endowment will have sufficient funds so that this prize will be given
“forever.” However, it is our hope that alumni and friends of the program
will also add to the endowment with gifts so that it will be possible for the
prize to increase to keep up with the inevitable rise in cost of everything. If
any of you decide to make such a gift, we thank you, and it should be desig-
nated for the Gary and Elizabeth Fincke Senior Portfolio Prize.
You all know there are two other endowed creative writing prizes, the
Juliet Gibson Prize and the Erik Kirkland Prize, both in memory of creative
writing students. The first honors the best work published in RiverCraft
(fiction and poetry) and the second honors the best work in Essay (creative
nonfiction. These endowments also need support in order to sustain their
annual awards of up to $1,000 each, including runners-up chosen by outside
readers. Again, if any of you decide to make such a gift, thank you, and
designate it specifically by the prize name. If you decide to make a gift,
please let me know at gfincke@susqu.edu that you have made a contribu-
tion, we want to thank all of you personally.
Thanks to all of you for at least considering this.
Gary Fincke, Director - Writers Institute
This year we had graduates receive Fulbright scholarships, and others pursue
successful jobs right out of SU.
Andrew Phillips ’12 Temple--Sociology
Abby Hess ’13 UNC-Wilmington—fiction (deferred)
Alexis Teats ‘14 Boston University—Film and Television Studies (deferred)
Deb Gravina ‘14 Arizona—poetry
Dylan Furlano ‘14 American—Public Anthropology (deferred)
Katherine Hunold ‘14 NYU—Magazine Writing
Kirstin Waldkoenig ’14 Montana—poetry (deferred) Fulbright Fellowship to Ger-
many
Nicki Powers ’14 Partial Fulbright Fellowship—France
Sarah Davis ’14 George Mason—nonfiction
Eli Tomaszewski ’14 received an honorable mention in the New Millennium Writ-
ings Nonfiction contest for the essay "cordata.” Plans are being made for the essay to
be anthologized by New Millennium.
Madison Clark '15 has a poem published online in Black Heart Magazine.
Kristen Brida ’15 was accepted by NYU's Writers in Florence program, where she
studied with poets such as Dorothea Lasky.
Carly Husick ’15 received a full tuition scholarship to go back to Cambridge for
three weeks at the end of this summer to study fiction as part of the Pembroke Col-
lege-National Academy of Writing Summer Program.
Anthony Santulli ’17 was nominated for a Pushcart Prize by Bartleby Snopes for his
piece, “The Vending Machine”.
Sarah Jane Abate ’14 won the fiction prize for the 54th annual Hollins College
national undergraduate literary competition.
Other finalists for fiction included:
Karen Stewart ’14 “The Last Time We Will Let Go”
Cecilia Gigliotti ’17 “Ear Training”
Alexis Teats ’14 “Having the Capacity to Compel”
And Poetry:
Alyssa Moore ’15 “A Night of Insomnia”
Amy Masgay ’14 “Morning”
Endowments
Faculty Publication
Readings
7:00pm, Isaacs Auditorium
Gary Fincke
1.22.2015—Vanishings
3.19.2014—A Room of Rain
Silas Zobal
4.27.2014—The
Inconvenience of the Wings
Lena Pennino-Smith ‘97 has released a family
album called "Happy as Clams" for kids 0 to 6
and their families, which garnered a "Parents
Choice" award.
Mallery Koons ’09 is Venue Manager at
BOUNCEinc.
Mike Jones ’10 is now the Assistant Editor at
Merion Matters.
Steve Urena ’11 writes for Ultimate Fighting
Championship and Maxim.
Andrew Turner ’12 is now Radio Host at
WFYL A.
Christina Harrington ’12 is Managing Editor
for LUMINA, the international lit journal run
out of Sarah Lawrence College, where she is
finishing her MFA. They hosted the launch for
Volume XIII in Seattle during AWP this year.
Dana Diehl ’12 has received a fellowship to
teach a 6-week, undergraduate Creative Writing
workshop at the National University of Singa-
pore this summer.
Gabrielle Robbins ’12 is now Assistant Direc-
tor at the Huntington Learning Center.
Chris Hooker ’13 has accepted an offer from the
Ithaca Times to be their sports editor. He’ll be
covering high school sports, as well as Cornell/
Ithaca college games.
Julie Brown ’13 will be an intern at the Young
Readers Center at the Library of Congress in
Washington D.C. this summer.
Melissa Bierly ’13 has accepted a position as
Content Editor for an online real estate website
called Movoto in San Francisco.
Nick Klug ’13 has landed a position as assis-
tant to an account executive at Miller Advertis-
ing in NYC. He will be helping with client
services, media planning and scheduling, and ad
preparation for print and online ads.
Megan McDermott ’14 has accepted a position
with a faith-based service program called the
Episcopal Service Corps. From late August of
this year through May 2015, she will be a part of
their Creating for a Cause program in Milwau-
kee.
Alum To Teach Senior
Portfolio
“Montana was incredibly beautiful, but
I’m really excited to be back in Selins-
grove. I’m looking forward to being a
part of the writing community here once
again,” says Ryan Rickrode ‘11 Creative
Writing major, from SU.
During his time as a student at SU,
Rickrode studied creative writing and
religion, worked in the Office of Commu-
nications, and helped edit RiverCraft and
The Susquehanna Review. After he
graduated SU in 2011, he pursued his
MFA at the University of Montana
where he had the opportunity to study
fiction and non-fiction from great writers
like Rick Bass. Since grad school, he’s
been writing and publishing, working on
launching an online literary magazine,
and working for a national campus minis-
try organization called InterVarsity
Christian Fellowship.
How will your successes after Susque-
hanna impact your teaching of senior
portfolio?
A lot of my post-Susquehanna success can
be traced back to practical things I picked
up in senior portfolio—how to send out
submissions like a professional, how to
give a good reading, how to apply to grad
school. I’m looking forward to sharing
what I’ve learned from my experiences
with students who are starting down
their own career paths.
What was the most influential aspect
of the class for you, in other words,
what stuck with you afteryou graduated?
For me, the most influential concept I
took away from senior portfolio was that
it’s important to be an “open node,” that
part of being a successful writer is being a
member of a wider writing community, a
person who actively supports, promotes,
and stays connected with other writers.
Having gone through the creative
writing program yourself, what do you
hope students will gain from senior
portfolio?
My hope is that students will leave the
class not only with practical knowledge
that will serve them after graduation, but
also a sense of confidence and the ability
to see themselves as professionals.
Major Homecoming Event
The Fifty-Year Anthology Launch
The first Susquehanna University student literary
magazine was published in 1964. Seven students
were on the staff, and there were three faculty
advisors. “Focus is a beginning,” wrote Nancy
Corson, the editor. “Hopefully, Focus will continue to grow.”
It’s grown and then some, and we’ve decided to celebrate fifty years of literary maga-
zines at Susquehanna by publishing an anthology of student work from nearly every
one of those years. We’ll launch the anthology at Homecoming— Saturday,
November 15th, at 5 pm preceded by a reception at the Institute House at 4 pm.
It’s been a joy and a lot of work and even a bit sad, sometimes, when the limits of
pages prevented us from including everything that merited a second life. The first
issue of Focus had 32 pages; the latest issues of RiverCraft and Essay, the two maga-
zines that currently feature the writing of Susquehanna students, contain 252 pages
combined. The line had to be drawn somewhere; deserving work had to be omitted,
but we hope as many of you as possible will return for this “reunion” and celebration.
The event will be listed on the alumni site as well as in the Homecoming brochure all
of you will receive.
Stop by the House at four o’clock and stay for the launch in the art gallery. We’d love
to see as many of you as possible!
2015
What an exciting mix of success we saw this past spring! 2014 graduates Kirstin
Waldkoenig and Nicki Powers are, through Fulbright scholarships, traveling to Germany and
France to teach English. Other graduates are continuing to study writing at the grad school of
their choice, like Katherine Hunold who has been accepted to NYU for magazine writing and
Deb Gravina, who will be studying poetry at Arizona. Alumni success also comes in the way of
publications (look how long that sections is!). Katie Pierce ’00 has been awarded a Dorothy
Rosenberg poetry prize as a “Young Poet With Unusual Promise.” Chantal Gadoury ’12 has had
her novel Seven Seeds of Summer accepted for publication by Waldorf Press. Rebecca James’ ‘13
personal essay "The Story," won Ohio State’s nonfiction contest against all nonfiction writers in
the country. And Sarah-Jane Abate ’14 has won the 54th annual Hollins College Literary Festival
Fiction Prize for her short story “Driller.”
The good news continues with Dr. Fincke, who will have his new book of creative
nonfiction, Vanishings published by Stephen F. Austin University Press late this Fall. Silas Zobal
is excited to have his collection of stories, The Inconvenience of the Wings published by Fomite
Press in 2015. Tom Bailey had his book, A Short Story Writer’s Companion translated into Korean!
Other fun things include our 2014-2015 Raji-Syman Visiting Writers Series, which is, juicy if I
may say. It’s packed full of writers like Dan Beachy-Quick, Melissa Bank, and Nick Flynn who
will definitely be greeted with a full crowd. Ryan Rickrode, an alumus of SU, is teaching Senior
Portfolio this semester. AND we are thrilled to welcome you to the launch of Susquehanna
Review’s Fifty-Year Anthology, a project Dr. Fincke and students have been working hard on
compiling. We’d love to see you stop by for any of the events that are to come this semester, and
don’t forget to let us know what you’ve been up to! Larell Scardelli 15’
Fall
Shaye Areheart
April 20, 2015
Shaye Areheart is a former
editor at Random House and the
publisher of Shaye Areheart
Books. She is currently the
Director of the graduate pro-
gram, Columbia Publishing
Course.
Patricia Smith
October 1, 2014
Patricia Smith is a four-time
winner of the National Poetry
Slam. Her collections of po-
ems have been selected for the
National Poetry Series, been a
finalist for the National Book
Award, and won the Lenore
Marshall Poetry prize from
the Academy of American
Poets. Her most recent col-
lection Shoulda Been Jimi
Savannah was a finalist for the
William Carlos Williams
Award.
610 University Ave.
Selinsgrove, PA178702014 -
The 2014-2015
Raji-Syman
Visiting Writers Series