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Presenting the 5.2 Cover and Presales
Brad Fruhauff
The Relief staff is churning out the next issue as quickly as possible, so we've got some great announcements coming at you this week starting with the cover (right) and presales.
The cover was created by artist Sandra Bowden, and we've got an interview with her below, but first...
Presales are now available!
As of right now, you can pre-order Relief Issue 5.2 for $11.47—25% less than retail. This offer is only available for the next few weeks we wrap up the production of the issue. Don't miss this opportunity to save a few bucks and receive 5.2 immediately after the journal has been printed. To pre-order, just click the Add to Cart button below.
An Interview with Sandra Bowden
Relief: Tell us a little about "Crossing" the painting featured on our cover for issue 5.2.
Sandra: The official description reads:
This small encaustic contrasts the vibrant textured red “X” or “cross” that strides across the face of the painting to the glow of the gilded surface.
I did it originally for my granddaughter’s eighteenth birthday. I wanted to create a cross that had dynamic movement, boldness, yet was subtle at the same time. The texture of the work demands attention, and the contrast of the red against the gold surface of the background adds dimension.
Relief: Much of your art has an obviously Christian bent to it. How would you describe the relationship between your faith and your artistic practice?
Sandra: The relationship between my faith and my art has always been intertwined. The works that I have created and the series of works that have emerged are a visual record of my intellectual and spiritual journey over the last 50 years. I follow the work, let it ask the questions, and then I search for the next piece as an answer to the questions and possibilities that the previous one has prompted, both artistically and spiritually.
Relief: What gets you excited about art and/or "Christian" art today?
Sandra: Here is something that i just wrote for Transpositions, a blog in England:
In 1980, I promised God that if it did not have to do with faith and art, then I would not do it. That decision has given me great freedom to be involved in Christians in the Visual Arts and the Museum of Biblical Art, along with continuing to be a practicing artist and a serious collector of religious art. All of these efforts are aimed at helping the church reclaim the arts. For over 20 years CIVA has offered an array of traveling exhibits of historical and contemporary art to churches, colleges, and seminaries, and as a result several hundred church related galleries have come into existence during that time. Mobia has mounted some of the most significant religious art exhibitions in the United States, receiving remarkable reviews. Our personal collection continues to grow and is loaned out to institutions as a way to engage people in the visual arts. Each of these efforts offers experiences and opportunities to expand understanding and appreciation of the arts. These are only a few of the many organizations, websites, blogs, symposiums and conferences that have sprung up to explore new ways of engaging the arts in the community of faith. There is a movement that is reviving the visual arts in the life of the church and it is very exciting.
Relief News Tuesday: 5.24.2011
Ian David Philpot
Now Accepting Graphic Narratives, Images, and Interviews!
Issue 5.1 has shipped, and the submission period for issue 5.2 opened May 1. New work is already flowing in, meaning our editors are starting to think about all the work they have to do again.
This issue we're excited to try out some new content, so we're announcing here that Relief will now accept graphic narratives and images for consideration. This is an experiment, so we won't run anything if we don't find work that meets our standards, but we're optimistic that through this site and word-of-mouth (that means you) we can find some great stuff.
This will make Relief, as far as we know, the only place you'll be able to find graphic narrative of a Christian/spiritual bent. There are others doing images, but we think there are plenty more great artists out there whose work needs a home.
We will also be accepting queries for author interviews. Guidelines for this new content can be found on our Submissions page.
Relief News Tuesday: 4.12.2011
Ian David Philpot
Thank You Christopher Fisher
Over the years, Relief has been stewarded by some amazing people, all of whom have served our literary vision as volunteer staff. This journal is a labor of love, and few have given their hearts as Christopher Fisher has, first as a Relief author (and Pushcart nominee), then as our Fiction Editor (there was dancing and woohoo-ing when he accepted the position), and finally as Relief's Editor-in-Chief. Whether as an author or editor, he has been an asset to this journal, so it is with sadness that I must announce his resignation.
In this next season of life, Christopher will be focusing his considerable talent on building his editing consultation business and returning to his own long-neglected creative writing. As much as we hate to see him go, we must admit that the world needs his writing, and we're grateful for the chances we've had to publish his work. His final issue (at least as Relief staff, though hopefully not as a Relief author) will soon be shipping, so make sure you've ordered your copy!
A New Role for Brad Fruhauff
With the position of Editor-in-Chief open, ccPublishing's Board of Directors was quick at work to find a replacement, since we will begin accepting submissions for issue 5.2 in just a few weeks. After careful deliberation, Brad Fruhauff, Relief's Poetry Editor, will be stepping in as interim Editor-in-Chief. Brad will continue his hard work as Poetry Editor, but he has agreed to take on the extra responsibilities until a permanent replacement has been found.
Relief News Tuesday 3.28.2011
Ian David Philpot
Issue 5.1 to Print and Shipping Soon!
You've been waiting patiently, and we've appreciated it. We're very excited about this issue, and we can't wait to start packing them to send to you. If you haven't purchased one yet, you've only got one week to take advantage of the presale price--$11.95 (20% off retail). Order now >>
LoveRelief Update
We know you love Relief. It's the reason that you're even reading this right now. But if you really love Relief, we'd appreciate it if you helped support us. As a non profit organization, we run off of donations and sales. All donations go right into operating costs. With a full volunteer staff, every dollar put into Relief can be seen either on this website or in our print materials. We've got less than 3 weeks to meet our goal of $1,500, and we still believe it is possible, but only if you make your mind up to click on the "ChipIn" button on the right.
Relief News Tuesday 3.8.2011
Ian David Philpot
#LoveRelief Update
So you may have already noticed, but our support raising campaign is really coming along. We're at 13% of our goal and feeling good about it. But do you know what would make us feel better? Giving to us if you haven't already so we can get that 13% over 20% by the end of this week.
If every person that visited our website last month gave us $1, we would have more than enough money to meet our campaign goal. If everyone who visited our website in the next two days gave us $1, we'd be over that 20% goal for this week. Just $1. That's a cup of cheap coffee. We're not asking you to donate the cost of a cup of Starbucks coffee--though we wouldn't mind it. But maybe if you just gave up the cost of a cup of coffee that you'd order at that run-down diner you visit too late on Saturday nights. Really, that's all we need here.
So if you've got some spare change sitting around, think of the positive effect it would have if you gave it to your favorite edgy Christian literary journal. :)
Introducing Travis Griffith, Blog Manager
Relief is proud to announce the arrival of Travis Griffith as the new Blog Manager. Travis has blogged for Relief in the past, and we appreciate his willingness to conquer the tasks that are required in this new staff position. Travis is a Relief published author, and he has a book out called Your Father Forever. Please join me in welcoming Travis to the Relief staff.
Relief News Tuesday 3.1.2011
Ian David Philpot
#LoveRelief Update
As you can see by looking in that left sidebar, we currently have 10% of our goal met in the #LoveRelief campaign. We would like to thank those who have already given to us, but we still need more of you to step forward to help us out. Each dollar given to Relief will help us continue to put out the quality writing that we receive everyday. To chip-in, click on the button in the sidebar that says "ChipIn!"
Relief Submissions Closed; Diner Submissions Open
As of today, submissions to Relief are closed. The submission period will open up again on May 1. At the same time, submissions are now being accepted for the fourth volume of the Midnight Diner! The Midnight Diner, Relief's sister publication, is a hardboiled genre anthology with a Christian slant. To submit or learn more, visit TheMidnightDiner.com.
Share a Story
BonniePonce
Bonnie Ponce encourages Relief readers to love Relief through donations. When I think about helping Relief through support raising, I think about my current job - support raising at a university.
Support raising, I think can have a negative stigma. Asking for money, even for a really good cause like Relief Journal, can be awkward for people. But the support raising process can lead to rewarding new friendships and shared stories.
Relief Journal allows authors to bare their souls through their writing and they reach a unique audience. Great questions are asked through poetry, fiction, and shared experiences. We support raise because we want people to continue to find their voice and share it with others.
I remember when I first heard about Relief. I was a little confused by the name but after I read the mission statement, I understood that Relief was raising the bar on Christian literature and bringing a fresh new point of view. I was thrilled to find like-minded people that wanted to write and read faith based fiction that dealt with the sinful and painful side of humanity but also the hope that we have in Jesus. I knew that I wanted to be a part of this group, to help support raise so these stories could continue to be shared.
Relief News Tuesday 2.8.11
Kimberly Culbertson
Relief Issue 5.1
The Relief staff is hard at work putting the finishing touches on the upcoming issue. If you didn't catch yesterday's blog, check out Editor-In-Chief Chris Fisher's post about how the cover captures the theme of the issue. Next week, we'll be announcing the winners of our Editor's Choice Prize in each genre, so stay tuned!
Ready to pre-purchase your copy at a discounted price? Click here.
Love Relief?
We do, too. The truth, though, is that this economy has been pretty hard on artistic ventures like literary journals. Though times are tough, we're committed to bringing you many more issues of Relief and The Midnight Diner. So we're about to get creative in order to make ends meet. Next week we'll give you the chance to get involved and to show a little love.
The New Cover
Christopher Fisher
One of my favorite parts of putting together an issue of Relief is working with the photographers and graphic artists who help the outside of our journal look as good as the work we publish inside. You see, I'm well aware that, while we all know that we shouldn't judge a book by its cover, we're all prone to do it anyway. Fortunately, Relief has developed great relationships with gifted visual artists who contribute to covers that are as original as our vision for a Christian literature that is both true-to-life and beautiful, gritty and wonderful.
The cover of our current issue is a composite of two images. The central image (the tree and sunrise in the doorway) is cropped from a landscape taken by J. Brisbin, a former Relief author and photographer whose work we featured on our last cover. Like his last, this image demonstrates the high dynamic range (HDR) technique, which is a favorite form of Brisbin's. As he explains it:
HDR is simply a way to capture an image that pretends it has more dynamic range than it actually has. The eye can see about 15000:1 contrast ratio, while photography can usually only capture 300:1 to 500:1. Highs get overexposed, lows get lost in shadow. HDR algorithms seek to compress multiple exposures of an image that expose various parts of that 15000:1 contrast ratio in "slices" by altering the exposure, then combining those images (3-12) using special software. What makes HDR cool, in my opinion, isn't this technical side of it, but the artistic result of the tone mapping software. Different algorithms produce different results and a vast range of effects can be produced by manipulating the knobs and switches in the tone mapping software. It can be time-consuming and takes a lot of trial-and-error but with the right composition, the effects can be stunning.
The second -- and much less technical -- image of the dark foreground, was taken by my wife, my youngest son, Josiah, and myself during a hike at a nearby abandoned and run-down house. (Actually, I took the picture from inside while they stayed safely outside and prayed the roof would not collapse on my head). With some clever arranging by Harriet Brewster, who also designed the cover for our last issue, the result is an image we're calling "Lazarus, Come Forth" for its juxtaposition of desolation with hope and beauty, and to hint at this issue's themes of isolation and communion.
And now that you've seen the cover, click on over to our store and pre-order a copy of your very own!
Our Deepest Thanks to Lisa Ohlen Harris
Kimberly Culbertson
Founding Editor Kimberly Culbertson pays tribute to one of Relief's finest.
As we enter our fifth volume, it is with sadness that we announce that Lisa Ohlen Harris will be no longer be serving as our Creative Nonfiction Editor. The upcoming issue, available for pre-sales now, will end her amazing run at the helm of all things CNF. For years she has lent us her talent and her heart, and we are deeply grateful.
Lisa began editing creative nonfiction for Volume 1, Issue 4, and her presence has marked Relief's journey over the years since, including doubling as CNF Editor and Assistant Editor for most of Volume 2. She has consistently shaped and crafted this fantastic genre, and we are proud that creative nonfiction has become such an integral part of Relief.
In the time I served as Editor-In-Chief, Lisa was a profound encouragement to me personally. She not only served on my team as a genre editor, but she shared her wisdom, provided a sounding board, challenged me when I started walking questionable paths, critiqued and sharpened my editorial statements, and reminded me of my strengths when I wondered if this whole adventure was just a little crazy (It is, by the way, which is why you need good people around you for the most perplexing of moments).
While we're dismayed to see her go, we are enjoying watching from the sidelines as she continues to flourish as a writer. Her first book, Through the Veil, was recently released from Canon Press, and has already been nominated for the Oregon Book Awards "Sarah Winnemucca Award For Creative Nonfiction" (the winner will be announced in April). Deanna Hershiser, a Relief author and blogger interviewed Lisa before the book was released, and recapped some of its journey quite nicely:
Sometimes editors edit because writing just hasn’t worked well for them. Not so with Lisa. Her first book, Through the Veil, will soon be released by Canon Press. Its offerings include an essay which was listed under “Notable Essays of 2008″ in Best American Essays 2009, along with two others that have made the Notable lists in volumes of Best American Spiritual Writing. Another of the book’s essays was shortlisted for a Pushcart Prize and received special mention in Pushcart XXXIII.
In fact, one of the essays Deanna refers to here, "Torn Veil" was published in Relief's Volume 1, Issue 4. Her success, both as an author and an editor, has helped Relief to become the journal that it is today. And so, as she moves on to new adventures, we at Relief will miss her dearly, but we'll be cheering her on as rabid fans.
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Kimberly Culbertson is the Founding Editor of Relief. These days serves on the board of ccPublishing, NFP (the company that publishes Relief and The Midnight Diner), alongside many other adventures. She and her husband live in Bloomingdale, Illinois, with their dog Latte. Their family-by-choice daughter, son, and godson now reside in California, and they are expecting their first biological child in February 2011.
Introducing 5.1 Authors
Ian David Philpot
The wait is over!
The next issue of Relief is here, and it looks great! Below is a list of authors and works that will appear in issue 5.1, but when you're done looking at the make-up, go ahead and order a presale for 20% off the list price.
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God She Could Tolerate Fiction | Michael Cocchiarale is Associate Professor of English at Widener University (Chester, PA). Some of his other stories have appeared in REAL, Galleon, Stickman Review, Dirty Napkin, Eclectica, and Flashquake. |
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Notre Dame Poetry | Michael G. Cornelius is the author/editor of ten books. |
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The Wonderful Thing About Forgiveness Fiction | Zach teaches reading and mathematics at a high school in Minneapolis, MN. His essays and reviews have appeared before in Rain Taxi Review of Books and Dappled Things. "The Wonderful Thing About Forgiveness" is his first published short story. |
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Those Prayers Poetry | Barbara Westwood Diehl is founding editor of The Baltimore Review. She works for the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and is a M.A. in Creative Writing student at Johns Hopkins University. Her poems and stories have appeared in a variety of print and online publications, including JMWW, MacGuffin, SmokeLong Quarterly, Confrontation, Measure, Little Patuxent Review, Potomac Review, American Poetry Journal, and Rosebud. She was raised Episcopalian, married a Methodist, and is now happily attending North Baltimore Mennonite Church. This is her first foray into publications with a Christian focus. |
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Simon, I Have Something to Say to You Creative Nonfiction | Tim Elhajj's work has appeared in Brevity, Guernica, Sweet, The New York Times, The Yalobusha Review, and others. He edits Junk, a nonfiction literary magazine that focuses on addiction. His first memoir, titled Dopefiend: A Father's Journey from Addiction to Redemption, is forthcoming from Central Recovery Press in September 2011. |
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Making the Perfect Loaf of Bread Creative Nonfiction | Leslie Leyland Fields is the author/editor of 7 books including Surviving the Island of Grace. Her most recent is The Spirit of Food:34 Writers on Feasting and Fasting Toward God, where this essay originally appeared. She teaches in Seattle Pacific University's MFA program, writes for Christianity Today, and commercial salmon fishes with her family on Kodiak Island, Alaska, where she eats salmon as often as possible. |
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The Last Enemy Creative Nonfiction | Hannah K. Grieser is the mother of five young sons and the wife of a literature professor. She also moonlights as a graphic designer. When she's not changing diapers, designing brochures, pulling weeds, or cleaning peanut butter fingerprints off the piano, she keeps a blog at http://cinnamonrollsandbacon.blogspot.com. |
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Doubt, The Problem of Ascribing Evil, Margins, Under the Archway, Civilization Poetry | David Holper has worked as taxi driver, fisherman, dishwasher, bus driver, soldier, house painter, bike mechanic, bike courier, and teacher. With all that useful experience and a couple of degrees, he has published a book of poetry called 64 Questions (March Street Press), as well as numerous other poems in literary journals including Relief. He teaches at College of the Redwoods and lives in Eureka, California, which is far enough from the madness of civilization that he can get some writing done. Another thing that helps is that his three children continually ask him to make up stories, and he is learning the art of doing that well for them. |
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First Breath, Elegy, Elegy for the Bell, Another Elegy Poetry | Robert Jonte graduated from the College of Charleston and worked for Crazyhorse Magazine. He studied with Morton Marcus in Western Michigan University’s Prague Summer Program and returned to the city to earn his Cambridge CELTA. Robert’s articles and poems have been published or are forthcoming in The Charleston City Paper, The Kingstree News, Miscellany, and Xenith. He currently teaches English in South Korea. |
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To Cain, Descending Moriah Poetry | Kolby Kerr is currently finishing his MFA at Seattle Pacific University. He writes and teaches in Dallas, Texas, where he lives with his wife, Emily. |
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Crusade for Lost and Frying Worms Fiction | Emily J. Lawrence is a young college graduate, eating tears and rejection letters as she waits for a "real job." She spends her time creating sentences nobody has ever muttered, metaphors never thought of, and characters who take over. Her work can be found in A Capella Zoo, Hawk and Handsaw, Luna Station Quarterly, and Glossolalia. She is an assistant editor at Literary Laundry. |
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Semantics Poetry | Judy Lorenzen holds a BA, English; MSED, Community Counseling (LMHP), and MA, Creative Writing from the University of Nebraska-Kearney. She received the 2007–2008 Outstanding Thesis Award for her poetry thesis, "Let Autumn Come." She also holds a Doctorate of Theology from an online seminary. She teaches high school English, is a Fine Lines online editor, and a past contributing writer for the Heartland Gatekeeper newspaper. Publications include The Nebraska English Journal, Nebraska Poet’s Calendar, Fine Lines, Times of Singing, 2009 Nebraska Shakespeare Sonnet Contest winner, 2010 Plains Song Review. She has three poems forthcoming in the Platte Valley Review. |
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Communion of the Saints Fiction | Director of Creative Writing and Professor of English at Lock Haven University, Marjorie Maddox has published Perpendicular As I; Transplant, Transport, Transubstantiation; Weeknights at the Cathedral; When the Wood Clacks Out Your Name: Baseball Poems; six chapbooks, and over 350 poems, stories, and essays in journals and anthologies. She is the co-editor of Common Wealth: Contemporary Poets on Pennsylvania (PSU Press, 2005) and author of two children’s books from Boyds Mills Press. The recipient of numerous awards, Marjorie lives with her husband and two children in Williamsport, PA. She gives readings and school visits across the country. For more info and reviews, please see http://www.lhup.edu/mmaddoxh/biography.htm. |
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The Dogs, Passage Poetry | D.S. Martin is a Canadian poet who has authored So The Moon Would Not Be Swallowed (Rubicon Press) and Poiema (Wipf & Stock)—which was an award winner at the 2009 Canadian Christian Writing Awards. His poems in this issue are from a series inspired by the life and writing of C.S. Lewis. Poems from this series have been previously selected for Anglican Theological Review, Relief 1.4, Ruminate, Sehnsucht, The Other Journal, and Windhover. Visit his blog about Christian poetry: www.kingdompoets.blogspot.com. |
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Like a Spread-eagled Cat Suspended Creative Nonfiction | Samuel Thomas Martin is the award-winning author of This Ramshackle Tabernacle, a collection of linked short stories that has received great reviews since its publication in June 2010 by Breakwater Books. Sam also runs the literary blog Dark Art Cafe and he is at work on a new novel about an ex-Norwegian death-metalist turned hippy. |
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Catholics Fiction | A graduate of the University of Iowa Writers Workshop, Margot Patterson has worked as a writer and editor in this country and abroad. She now lives in the greater Kansas City area. |
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The Art of Work Creative Nonfiction | A. S. "Pete" Peterson is the author of two historical adventure novels, The Fiddler's Gun and Fiddler's Green, and is a founding member of The Rabbit Room, a group of authors, musicians, pastors, and other artists engaged in an ongoing conversation about story, faith, art, and the importance of community. He lives and works in Nashville, Tennessee. |
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The Birth, He knew What the knew When He knew Poetry | Linda Ravenswood is an internationally acclaimed performance artist, specializing in Music, Fine Art and Writing. Her creative and critical work has appeared in print and in recordings since her first publication in Ireland, where she lived in 1993. She holds a BFA from CalArts (2000) and an MA from Mount St. Mary’s College (2009). She works in live performance, in independent films and recording projects, and has appeared on PBS. Recently five fine art/installation pieces of hers appeared at an exhibit of international artists at The Pico House Gallery in Downtown Los Angeles (Autumn 2010). She is the principal juror for The Southern California Women's Art Caucus (2010-2011). The work included in this edition of Relief will appear in her new book, Hymnal, from Mouthfeel Press (Spring 2011). Linda lives in Los Angeles, and is pursuing her PhD. |
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Elegy/Sound, Migration Quartet, The Vast - a ghazal Poetry | Michael Schmeltzer earned an MFA from the Rainier Writing Workshop at Pacific Lutheran University. He helps edit A River & Sound Review and is a three-time Pushcart Prize nominee. His work appears or is forthcoming in Natural Bridge, Water~Stone Review, New York Quarterly, Crab Creek Review, and Fourteen Hills, among others. He lives in Seattle. |
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Forgotten Things Fiction | Karen Schravemade lives and writes in Australia. Her short stories have won first place in the Bauhinia Literary Competition and the Warana Writers’ Week awards, and have appeared in Idiom 23 and the Faithwriters’ anthologies. Before having children she used to dream about writing acclaimed novels in her spare time. Now she dreams about having spare time, and her greatest ambition is to get a full night’s sleep. |
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The Secret, The Intercession of Time Poetry | Deborah J. Shore has poems forthcoming in Radix, Anglican Theological Review, Sea Stories, and Christianity and Literature. Additionally, she has won first place in two poetry competitions at the Alsop Review and has several other poems included in their print anthology. She has three books of Christian teaching under revision in addition to a couple of loosely formulated poetry manuscripts. |
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The Place between My Hips Creative Nonfiction | Elizabeth Slater lives in the Midwest. This essay is a part of a manuscript entitled, What Is Romantic, Honestly, which chronicles a successful attempt by her and her husband to have sex 183 times in a year. |
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In Her Shoes Creative Nonfiction | Wai Jia is a 23-year old final year medical student who dreams of becoming a missionary. Constantly inspired by the strength of the marginalised, her burden for the poor drives her passion for community outreach. She is the author and illustrator of Kitesong, a picture book which raised more than $110,000 to build a new Home for needy children in Nepal. Her next book, A Taste of Rainbow, will be launched in Feb 2011 to raise funds and awareness for people suffering from eating disorders in Singapore. She loves writing, cycling and rainbows. Read her blog at www.kitesong.blogspot.com. |
Also featured in this issue is Johana-Marie Williams' poem "Pablo Picasso, Woman with a Book."
So Close, So Far Apart
Christopher Fisher
I'm not a Catholic (and I've never even played one on TV), but I have so many friends who are that I'm always interested in what's going on in the Catholic Church. Today, Reuters has an interesting article on a recent--and I think very wise--warning from Pope Benedict concerning the subtle dangers of online social networks. In a message for the Catholic Church's World Day of Communications, Benedict says: "It is important always to remember that virtual contact cannot and must not take the place of direct human contact with people at every level of our lives."
I've long been bothered by a line from Andrew Lloyd Weber and Tim Rice's Jesus Christ Superstar: "Why'd you [Christ] choose such a backward time in such a strange land? If you'd come today you could have reached a whole nation. Israel in 4 B.C. had no mass communication."
On the surface, this seems like a really good question. But now, in the midst of this present "communication age," in which people the whole world over are growing more and more connected, while as persons, as individual men and women, so many are more isolated and lonely than ever, I think I'm beginning to understand that it simply wouldn't have worked. All of the mass communication in the universe could not relay what Christ had in mind with the Church--individual persons communing with one another as a whole. Feeding, soothing, and yes, touching one another. Greeting each other, as the New Testament says, "with a holy kiss," not a virtual finger poke.
The next issue of Relief will open up for presales this week, and the stories, essays, and poems inside follow a similar theme of isolation vs. communion. I hope you will order a copy as soon as it is available. Not only will you help us make our print run, you'll also get to read some of the finest writing we've published so far.
Relief's New Fiction Editor
Christopher Fisher
Ben Franklin, one of my all-time favorite editors, once said that "Guests, like fish, begin to stink after three days." But that was certainly not the case with Relief's latest "guest," Michael Dean Clark. Way back in July, I happily announced that Michael would be serving as Guest Fiction Editor for the upcoming issue of Relief. In the process of working with him to select this issue's fiction lineup and get each piece ready for print, I came to trust his skill and insight so much that I just had to ask him if he'd like to stick around--permanently. And I was even happier than before when he said yes.
I first met Michael back in 2009 when we accepted his story "Paddling Out" for publication in Relief 3.1, the infamous--or at least controversial--Love and War issue. Since then, he has been a returning author (with creative nonfiction appearing in Issue 3.2), one of our favorite and most dedicated bloggers, and a true friend of the journal. I'm thrilled to now call him part of the editorial team, because I know he will be an outstanding addition to the journal in 2011 and beyond.
So leave a comment and join me in welcoming Michael as Relief's new Fiction Editor.
Relief News Tuesday, 1.18.11
Kimberly Culbertson
Upcoming Issue of Relief
Our new issue is really coming together. Today we're happy to give you a preview of the cover art. We'll be announcing this issue's authors and opening pre-sales next Monday, so get ready for some excellent reading!
Join the Relief Team
Yesterday Chris Fisher blogged about some open open positions on our Relief staff. If you're passionate about literature and the Relief mission resonates with you, perhaps you'd like to lend your talents to this project for a season. Click here to learn more.
New Developments (And Needs) at Relief
Christopher Fisher
The Relief staff and I are happy to announce that we will soon be opening presales for our much anticipated and long awaited next issue. This issue features some wonderful new voices, as well as a few returning Relief authors, and I am truly thrilled to see it all finally coming together.
This one has been particularly challenging to bring to print, in part because we have a number of vacancies in our editorial and production staff, and it’s been something of a vicious cycle trying to fill those roles in the middle of a production phase: we’ve been working so hard to pick up the slack and keep things running that we haven’t had much time to train the new volunteers we so desperately need in those roles.
After the new issue’s release in the coming weeks, I expect to have a brief, but much needed lull, and at the top of my list of priorities for that time is to make sure Relief is fully staffed for the year 2011.
Think you might be interested in helping with Relief? Below are just a few of the positions we’re looking to fill.
Assistant Editor—will work with the Editor-in-Chief to develop production schedules and coordinate with other staff to ensure that deadlines are being met. The Assistant Editor will also have creative input on content, design, author promotion and networking, etc.
Copy Editor—edits all content for spelling, grammar, and to ensure that it is consistent with our house style guide before sending to the Layout Editor.
Relief Blog Manager—works with the Web Editor to set the weekly blog posting schedule and coordinates with Blog Contributors to ensure that deadlines are met. The Blog Manager may also be expected to write occasional blog posts and assist with building and maintaining our presence on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter.
Blog Contributor (several openings)—writes on timely, writing-related topics, especially pertaining to the intersection of faith and art. Blog Contributors must be willing and able to post on a regular schedule (either weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly).
Please note that these are not paid positions. We're looking for people who are passionate about Relief's mission and the literary culture in general. If any of these positions look interesting to you, send a brief 1-page resume or cover letter in .doc, .rtf, or PDF format to jobs@reliefjournal.com, and we’ll be happy to give it a look.
Note: We also will soon need to fill some positions with our sister publication, The Midnight Diner, and the growth of Relief is always opening new and unexpected needs for talented and committed volunteers. So check back here from time to time to see if new openings have been announced.
Relief News Tuesday 12.7.10
Ian David Philpot
Announcing Our Pushcart Nominations
The Pushcart Prize anthology is a thick volume produced every year with literary work selected from the best literary journals and small presses. We're proud to honor the following works with this nomination:
Poetry "Doubt," David Holper, Relief 4.2 "Fleeting," Jeanne Murray Walker, Relief 4.1
Short Story "Requiem for a Daughter," John Matthew Fox, Relief 4.1 "The Ice," Kenneth Steven, Relief 4.1
Essay "The Art of Work," A.S. Peterson, Relief 4.2 "Like a Spread-Eagled Cat Suspended," Sam Martin, Relief 4.2
Relief News Tuesday 4.13.2010
Ian David Philpot
The Fury before the Festival
Last weeks news was all about us preparing for Calvin, and that's what we're still doing 48 hours before the 2010's Festival of Faith and Writing begins! No worries though. God has been taking care of us.
For those of you who will be at the festival, we can't wait to see you! Beyond that, we can't wait to show you what we've got in store!
Teaser Alert: Michelle Pendergrass went overboard on the movie theme for our booth. It. Will. Be. Awesome!
For those of you who can't make it, you won't be missing out! We'll have pictures going up on the blog and on Facebook Thursday-Saturday, along with some video recaps every night that will feature the staff and any Relief/Diner published authors that stop by. Since we will be connected to both the website, Facebook, and Twitter all day, don't hesitate to ask any burning questions that you might have for us. We really want you all to share in the festival fun.
4.1 Cover
Though Relief has always been blessed with great content from great writers, we have also been blessed with connections to great artists who create fantastic covers for our content to be bound within.
This issue is no exception.
Our anticipated cover art will officially show up on the blog in the next couple weeks, but we are sure that you will be able to see it in many of the pictures that will be taken at Calvin, so keep your eyes open for it!
Relief News Tuesday 4.6.2010
Ian David Philpot
Calvin -- A week and a half away
Our hotel rooms are booked, rides coordinated, and we're e-mail wrestling to settle who gets to see what panel at what time. The entire ccPublishing/Relief staff is anxious to get into Grand Rapids, MI next Wednesday to set up for Calvin College's Festival of Faith and Writing. So it's probably about time we introduce our theme...
Calvin - At the movies!
So, it's probably not a surprise since you've seen our adjusted logo for a week new, but it's about to get a lot more interesting!
At Calvin, we will be introducing the cover of issue 4.1 as "Coming Soon" posters. We will also have business cards that look like movie tickets that will double as raffle tickets. We will be raffling two gift baskets a day that will have a copy of the journal, a 2 liter of soda, a bag of popcorn, a box of candy, and a couple of notebooks from our amazing sponsor (Quo Vadis).
Calvin - On the blog
For those of you who cannot make it to Calvin this year, you don't have to miss out on the experience. Next Wednesday--Saturday, we will be uploading pictures and videos of what's going on at the conference. This will include pictures of the new cover, staff, and published authors who stop by our booth. (We are even looking into streaming the Relief/Diner panel. No promises yet.)
Calvin - A social media frenzy
For the conference, we will be tweeting from @ReliefJournal as much as possible, but don't forget to catch tweets from ccPublshing President and Diner Editor Michelle Pendergrass (@michpendergrass), Relief Editor-in-Chief and Fiction Editor Christopher Fisher (@ReliefEditor), Poetry Editor Brad Fruhauff (@BradFruhauff), founding President and Editor Kimberly Culbertson (@KimCulbertson), and Web Editor Ian Philpot (@iphilpot).
We will also be using mobile uploads to send exclusive pictures directly to our Facebook page.
So friend us, follow us, and don't miss out!
Relief News Tuesday 3.30.2010
Ian David Philpot
Coming Soon...To Calvin!
As you heard from Michelle on Monday, we're all really excited about Calvin's Festival of Faith and Writing. We're going to have a special theme to our booth. To give you a hint: the theme is directly related to the logo at the top of this page. :) We can't tell you every aspect about our booth quite yet because we don't want to spoil the fun, but it's going to be awesome! Register now and don't miss us!
Coming Soon...To Your Doorstep!
We have finally received a new shipment of issue 3.2! All of you who ordered issues will be receiving them soon and all new orders will be shipped after that. Click here to order one.
Issue 4.1 will also be available for order very soon! We will be opening pre-orders at a discounted price around the same time that we unveil the cover art. We are very excited about this issues as it will be the first under the new Editor-in-Chief, Christopher Fisher.