Santa Monica College has released its Spring 2015 issue of Santa Monica Review, SMC’s esteemed national literary arts journal.
To celebrate, a launch party/reading event – “Santa Monica Review Presents…” – will be held at 5 pm Sunday, April 26 in The Edye at the SMC Performing Arts Center, Santa Monica Boulevard at 11th Street, Santa Monica.
Tickets, available now through Brownpapertickets.com, cost $10. Refreshments will be served, and books will be available for purchase, and author signing. Abundant free parking on premises.
“Santa Monica Review Presents…” will be introduced by acclaimed novelist and short story writer Jerry Stahl (Permanent Midnight) and feature readings by four current and recent contributors to the journal: Dwight Yates (Bring Everybody), Janice Shapiro (Bummer), David Hernandez (Hoodwinked), and frequent contributor and SMC instructor Dawna Kemper.
The latest issue of Santa Monica Review – edited by Andrew Tonkovich, also host of the weekly show “Bibliocracy” on KPFK (90.7 FM) – presents 18 new original short stories, including work by Stephen Cooper (biographer of John Fante), a chapter from her novel by award-winning nonfiction writer Vicki Forman (This Lovely Life), ribald hilarity from LA favorite Benjamin Weissman (Dear Dead Person), and a new installment in her wild animal-occupied apocalyptic series from Alisa Slaughter (Bad Habitats). Other notable contributors include LA Times book critic and essayist David L. Ulin, and novelist Mark Maxwell (nixoncarver).
The issue proudly presents the work of two SMC creative writing workshop students, English instructor Kemper and Grace Singh Smith.
The Review’s launch party, says Tonkovich, “is a terrific opportunity to hear serious contemporary writing read by its authors, many with national reputations, some at the beginnings of their careers.” Past readings have featured Ron Carlson, Trinie Dalton, Michelle Latiolais, Karl Taro Greenfeld, and SMR founder and Santa Monica College creative writing instructor Jim Krusoe.
Santa Monica College and the Review will host a booth Apr. 18-19 at this year’s 20th anniversary Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, offering complimentary copies of the magazine to visitors at Booth # 72 at the USC campus, as well as distributing information on the College’s abundant academic and cultural opportunities.
Santa Monica Review, published twice yearly as part of Santa Monica College’s commitment to encouraging literacy and engagement with the literary arts, showcases established authors and emerging writers.
The Review has presented works of fiction and nonfiction, including writing by authors Alan Cheuse, Diane Lefer, the late James Houston, and Gary Soto. The Review – the only nationally distributed literary magazine published by a U.S. community college – has been included in the prestigious Best American Short Stories series and other outstanding anthologies.
Santa Monica Review is available for sale online and at the SMC Bookstore, Beyond Baroque in Venice, Skylight Books, and other area booksellers. Copies are also available by mail and by subscription through Santa Monica Review, Santa Monica College, 1900 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica 90405.
The publication costs $7 per issue or $12 for the two issues each year.
For more information, visit the Santa Monica Review website: www.smc.edu/sm_review or call 714.649.9051.
