Two speakers, a looming deadline, and a significant cash prize awarded

March 19 | Allan Gurganus Bookends book club guest

Allan Gurganus, on whom I have a serious writer’s crush, will be the special guest at a meeting of Bookends book club on Thursday, March 19th at 4 p.m. The meeting will be at McIntyre’s Books, Fearrington Village, Pittsboro, NC.

Gurganus’ terrific collection of short stories, WHITE PEOPLE, will be discussed. For more information, call (919) 542-3030.


March 31 | Glimmer Train deadline looms

A March 31 deadline for Glimmer Train literary journal submissions is looming. The topic is “Family Matters” and the first place winner gets $1,500 and publication in Issue 96. Second prize is $500; third place gets $300.

The editors say they’re looking for stories “about families of all configurations.” Most submissions, they add, run 1,500-6,000 words but up to 12,000 words is acceptable. For details and to submit, go to glimmertrain.com/familymatters.html.


April 23 | Jill McCorkle speaks at literary luncheon

Jill McCorkle, author of the acclaimed LIFE AFTER LIFE, will be the speaker at the 5th Annual Spring for Literary Luncheon Thursday, April 23, 2015 at Galloway Ridge in Pittsboro, NC. McCorkle will “share insights about her latest book, Life After Life, and what inspires her writing.”

There will be a cash wine bar from eleven to noon, followed by lunch and the author’s presentation from noon to two p.m. You can now register online or by mail. Orders will be processed as received so you’d best hurry. See chathamliteracy.org for details.


In other news | Elizabeth McCracken wins Story Prize

Elizabeth McCracken has won the annual Story Prize for THUNDERSTRUCK AND OTHER STORIES which comes with an award of $20,000.

“Each story in the collection reads like a masterwork, rich and confident and surprising, and together they form an electrifying whole,” the judges said. “She writes with such an open and compassionate heart that even the most damaged and lost of her characters thrum with life.”

McCracken’s previous book of stories, “Here’s Your Hat What’s Your Hurry,” was her debut in 1993. She is also the author of a memoir and two novels, including “The Giant’s House,” which was a finalist for the National Book Award in 1996.

Lorrie Moore, author of BARK and Francesca Marciano, author of THE OTHER LANGUAGE, were finalists.

All three books will be the subject of subsequent posts.