Essay in THE BEST AMERICAN ESSAYS 2018;
(cited in BAE 2015, 2016, 2020); PUSHCART poetry finalist

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Summer 2013

Editor’s Note

Our 2013 Summer Awards Issue, one of our strongest publications, with winners and finalists from Africa to Australia, is dedicated to the memory of Kurt Brown, Solstice literary magazine’s distinguished poetry editor.  Kurt is author of many books of poetry and nonfiction, and he also edited anthologies to promote the work of other writers.  Our associate poetry editor, Ben Berman, spoke of Kurt’s generosity and dedication to fostering poetic excellence.  In the cover photograph, we see extended to us, out of the ethereal watery light, a spiritual offering of peace.

In Kurt’s honor, we announce The Kurt Brown Scholarship for Writers, a $500 award to help a writer in any genre to attend the Solstice MFA low-residency Program, with which we have a sisterly connection although Solstice magazine is an independent nonprofit.  Details for this award will be announced in a few weeks.

CONTEST WINNERS AND FINALISTS:  We are especially pleased to announce our POETRY PRIZE WINNERS, selected by Kurt Brown and Ben Berman.  Lynne Knight was awarded the $500 Stephen Dunn Prize in Poetry for “Smoke.” First Runner-up:  Wendy Mnookin for “Taffeta. Lipstick. Stockings,” and “Questions, 1969.”  Second Runner-up:  Marc Tretin for “Unopened Whiskey and Wine.”

Our Fiction Prize of $1,000 was awarded to Danielle Monroe, “Salsaholico.”  First Runner-up:  Elizabeth Gonzalez, “0=1.” Second Runner-up:  Karima Grant, “The Education of Aicha.” Finalists:  Thomas Benz, “House Crawl,” and Girija Tropp “Real Women.”  Editors’ Pick: Blair Fross, “The Road Kill Retrieval Kit.”  Featured story:  Sean Conway, “Knuckle Sandwich.”

Our Nonfiction Prize of $500, donated by Michael Steinberg, with final judge Randall Kenan, was awarded to Amy Nolan, “The Whirlpool.”  First Runner-up:  Emily Hipchen,“Gator Bites.”  Second Runner-up:  J.L. Schneider for “Hold Me Say You Will.”  Editors’ Picks:  Tracy Strauss, “Absolution,” and Penny Guisinger, “Provincetown.”

We offer special thanks to our managing editor, Susan Cassidy, for professionally proofing this issue, and to our readers Mike Miner and Michelle Cacho-Negrete for working with the various editors to select contest finalists.

We were deeply impressed with the especially high quality of contest submissions and truly wish we had the space to publish more.  Please read this issue, and you will marvel with us at the talent that exists.  Also, please click the Subscribe button and join our ever-growing, diverse community. Respectfully, Lee Hope

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Editors' Notes

  • Summer 2013 Editor’s Note
    by Lee Hope

Fiction

  • Runner-up
    0 = 1
    by Elizabeth Gonzalez
  • Runner-up
    The Education of Aicha
    by Karima Grant
  • Finalist
    House Crawl
    by Thomas Benz
  • Finalist
    Real Women
    by Girija Tropp
  • Editors' Pick
    The Road Kill Retrieval Kit
    by Blair Fross
  • Featured
    Knuckle Sandwich
    by Sean Conway
  • Winner
    Salsaholico
    by Danielle Monroe

Nonfiction

  • Winner
    The Whirlpool
    by Amy Nolan
  • Runner-up
    Gator Bites
    by Emily Hipchen
  • Runner-up
    Hold Me Say You Will
    by JL Schneider
  • Editors' Pick
    Absolution
    by Tracy L. Strauss
  • Editors' Pick
    Provincetown
    by Penny Guisinger

Photography

  • The Alchemy of Memory
    by Fran Forman

Poetry

  • Winner
    Smoke
    by Lynne Knight
  • Runner-up
    Taffeta. Lipstick. Stockings.
    by Wendy Mnookin
  • Runner-up
    Questions, 1969
    by Wendy Mnookin
  • Runner-up
    Unopened Whiskey and Wine
    by Marc Tretin
  • Talking with Mr. Murray in Bruegger’s Bagel Shop
    by George Drew
  • Poker with Mr. Murray After His Stroke
    by George Drew
  • Poem for Jake
    by George Drew
  • The Y Chromosome
    by Jeff Friedman
  • How Empires Fall
    by Jeff Friedman
  • Statement of My Creative Interests
    by Dawn Potter
  • Esse/Habere
    by Ellen Steinbaum
  • Good Day Sir or Madam
    by Ellen Steinbaum
  • The Boys
    by Margot Wizansky


Contributors

avatar for Amy NolanAmy Nolan
Avatar photoBlair Fross
Avatar photoDanielle Monroe
Avatar photoDawn Potter
Avatar photoElizabeth Gonzalez
Avatar photoEllen Steinbaum
Avatar photoEmily Hipchen
Avatar photoFran Forman
Avatar photoGeorge Drew
Avatar photoGirija Tropp
Avatar photoJeff Friedman
Avatar photoJL Schneider
Avatar photoKarima Grant
Avatar photoLynne Knight
Avatar photoMarc Tretin
Avatar photoMargot Wizansky
Avatar photoPenny Guisinger
Avatar photoSean Conway
Avatar photoThomas Benz
Avatar photoTracy L. Strauss
Avatar photoWendy Mnookin

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