KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Vol. 77, No. 3 and 4 editions of New Letters – the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s (UMKC) international magazine of writing and art – feature 210 pages of art energized by the connections among people and places.
“The joy of great art occurs when a poem, for example, reveals its topic to us and then sets it on fire,” said editor-in-chief Robert Stewart. “The writers in the new issue set their work on fire by revealing unexpected and surprising connections for the reader to discover along the way.”
In her memoir “Of What I Do Not or Cannot Remember,” Amy Lee Scott searches for connections to her past: her adoption from Korea and the mother whom she barely remembers. Brian Turner and H.C. Palmer write to span the divide between their experiences in war zones and ordinary life.
“The idea about the conversation between the author and the reader is to create an experience, a world of the poem that’s a livable place,” said Turner.
The issue offers a new poem by Marilyn Hacker titled “Fado: Black Boat,” as well as her translation from the French of Vénus Khoury-Ghata’s poem “House Cut Out of a Children’s Picture Book”. Robin Hemley’s short story “Dead Silence” envisions a futuristic talk show on which the dead make regular appearances. Novelist Hilary Masters traces a pop-culture phenomenon in his essay/memoir “Calling Flash Gordon”.
New Letters is published by the University of Missouri-Kansas City and distributed worldwide. Subscriptions are $22 per year (four issues), with discounts for longer subscriptions. For more information or to subscribe, call (816) 235-1168 or visit www.newletters.org.
The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), one of four University of Missouri campuses, is a public university serving more than 15,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students. UMKC engages with the community and economy based on a four-part mission: life and health sciences; visual and performing arts; urban issues and education; and a vibrant learning and campus life experience. For more information about UMKC, visit www.umkc.edu. You can also find us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and watch us on YouTube.