KANSAS CITY, MO. – New Letters – the University of Missouri-Kansas City‘s (UMKC) international magazine of writing and art – received 11 nominations from the Pushcart Prize Board of Contributing Editors, for works published in the magazine last year. “The Pushcart Prize: Best of the Small Presses XXXVI” (36th edition) honors literary excellence in writing.

Over the past several years, New Letters works have received several nominations and Pushcart Prizes. However, 2011 is the first year the magazine had two New Letters literary award-winning writers (Rose Bunch and Siobhan Fallon) and two international writers (Mariko Nagai of Japan and Dorthe Nors of Denmark) nominated.

While New Letters is committed to discovering new literary and artistic talent, the magazine also publishes the work of better-known writers. Two well-established New Letters writers, B.H. Fairchild and Gary Gildner, also received nominations for the Pushcart Prize in essay and memoir categories, respectively.

More than 200 contributing editors review hundreds of literary works and determine the annual recipients of Pushcart Prizes. The winners will be announced in early May and their work will be reprinted in the Pushcart Prize’s annual book, scheduled to be published in the fall.

New Letters is published by the University of Missouri-Kansas City and distributed worldwide. Subscriptions are available for $22 per year (four issues), with discounts for longer subscriptions. To order, call (816) 235-1168, email newletters@umkc.edu 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.