Wesleyan University Press Receives NEA Grant for Poetry
Olivia Drake| Posted 12/20/06 |
| Wesleyan University Press will be the recipient of a $20,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. The grant was awarded for the publication, promotion and distribution of new collections of poetry.
The press requested support for the publication and promotion of 12 poetry books that will be published in the Wesleyan Poetry Series in 2007 and 2008. Forthcoming titles to be covered by the grant include New and Collected Poems by Barbara Guest, a new edition of Victor Segalens modernist classic Stèles, and Zong by Marlene NourbeSe Philip.
We are delighted that the NEA is recognizing the importance of Wesleyans program, explains Suzanne Tamminen, director of Wesleyan University Press. Their support will not only help us cover publishing costs; it will aid in our marketing efforts,  Leslie Starr, assistant director and marketing manager, says a portion of the NEA funds will go towards the presss Web site development. The press hopes to reach a larger student audience, and to increase the course adoption of its poetry books by utilizing the Web.
To this end, new Web pages will be designed for a select group of Wesleyan poetry books, specifically to enhance their usefulness in the classroom setting. These pages will provide context for the books, links to author interviews, reviews, and audio clips, as well as essay topics and suggested further reading, Tamminen says. The Presss staff consists of Tamminen, Starr, Stephanie Elliott, publicist; and Eric Levy, senior editor. Their office is located at 215 Long Lane in Middletown, across from the Physical Plant building. Wesleyan University Press is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2007. The press is best known for its poetry series, which has included such notable poets as James Dickey, James Wright, Robert Bly, Marge Piercy, Ellen Bryant Voigt and Yusef Komunyakaa, among others. The press has continued the tradition of publishing top-notch poetry, having won the 2004 National Book Award for poetry, for Jean Valentines Door in the Mountain: New and Collected Poems, 19652003, and the 2006 International Griffin Poetry Prize, for Kamau Brathwaites Born to Slow Horses. For more information visit http://www.wesleyan.edu/wespress/. |
| By Olivia Drake, The Wesleyan Connection editor |
Mike Mavredakis
Editorial Staff
Sarah Parke