How to use this Page

The fine folks at Absinthe have come back after a year or so hiatus to get their Festival of International Film & Writing back into what plans to be an annual affair.

Last night I was able to attend the writing portion of the first night's events, catching reading from Benjamin Paloff, Chris Tysh, and Dunya Mikhail, as well as a short q&a session afterward.

The event is held in Farmington, MI, at the Masonic Hall, and it was really a nice set-up. There were probably close to 50 people in attendance, which all three writers commented upon. Dwayne Hayes, founder of Absinthe Arts 21, the 501(c)3 (that's right folks, you can donate and see it become a tax deduction) created to promote and provide access to international art and writing, was the host and MC for the evening.

Paloff read from both a collection of poetry he'd translated (Lodgings: Selected Poems of Andrzej Sosnowski), but also from a just released book he'd translated (Transparency by Marek Biencyzk), which is a book length essay on, well, transparency. He compared Sosnowski's work to that of Ashberry, and  read three of the poems and then the first section from the essay. Both were very interesting--I do believe I'll find myself ordering the essay.

Chris Tysh read next, maybe a dozen or so pages from what she's calling a transcreational effort. She's reworking French novels into verse--what she read from was based  on a novel by Duras that she  had reworked into verse couplets. It too was very interesting, both the description of the idea, and the writing itself.

Dunya Mikhail read three poems from her collection, The War Works Hard, and then noting that because Benjamin had told her he'd read her book, she would read some new work. She noted though that she wrote her poetry in Arabic, and did not consider her own translations to be the best translations of her own work--it was very interesting, she believes that when translating, one must be true to the work, but this is something she doesn't find herself very capable of doing when the original work is her own--it's her own, so she feels free to tweak when changing the language. But she ended up reading a few more of these new, uncollected poems, including reading the last one both in Arabic, and then in English, to give the audience a flavor of the different languages, the different rhythms, etc.

All three poets (and the MC) came across as very likeable and approachable and it seemed that the crowd all was enjoying what they'd come out to see. Were it not for surprise tickets to a Tiger/Yankee game this evening, I'd be back to see the reading froms Mariela Griffor, Anca Vlasopolos, and Jeffrey Angles this evening.

Per their blog:

Dzanc Books receives NEA grant to support the publication, promotion and national distribution of books of fiction.

Grant part of NEA announcement of 863 grants and $22.543 million in funding nationwide

November 22, 2011--Ann Arbor, MI—The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Chairman Rocco Landesman announced that the agency will award 863 grants to organizations and individual writers across the country. Dzanc Books is one of the grantees and will receive a grant to support the continuation of our publishing, promoting and nationally distributing books of fiction. The 863 grant awards total $22.543 million, encompass 15 artistic disciplines and fields, and support projects in 47 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

Through the course of 2012, Dzanc Books will publish books by Josip Novakovich, Eugene Cross, Jac Jemc, Matt Dojny, Josh Russell, Henning Koch, Seán McGrady, and George Singleton, a combination of debut authors, mid-career authors, U.S. born, and foreign authors. These will be published in both print and eBook form.

“Art Works is the guiding principle at the NEA,” said agency Chairman Rocco Landesman. “And I’m pleased to see that principle represented through the 823 Art Works-funded projects included in this announcement. These projects demonstrate the imaginative and innovative capacities of artists and arts organizations to enhance the quality of life in their communities.”

“Dzanc believes with absolute conviction in the undiscovered talent of writers at work today,” said Steve Gillis, co-founder and publisher at Dzanc. “It is part of Dzanc's mission to uncover these great works that may otherwise slip through the cracks. Our editors focus on the quality of the work, not the amount of money the writing might earn. It is Dzanc's belief that great writing will find its audience if given a chance to be published.   We are determined to present deserving talent to a broader audience, and coupled with the charity work we do and programs we run nationally in the schools and communities, nothing excites us more than to publish and tour a talented voice. We appreciate the NEA’s belief and support of our work.” 

In March 2011, the NEA received 1,686 eligible applications for Art Works requesting more than $84 million in funding. The resulting funding rate of 49 percent of eligible applications reflects both the significant demand for support and the ongoing vitality of the not-for-profit arts community despite current financial challenges. Art Works grants are awarded based on the applications received by the NEA and how those applications are assessed by the review panels.

For a complete listing of projects recommended for Art Works grant support, please visit the NEA web site at arts.gov.

                                                      About Dzanc Books

Dzanc Books was created in 2006 to advance great writing and to impact communities nationally with our efforts to  advance literary readership and our advocacy of creative writing workshops and readings. 

As a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization, Dzanc Books not only publishes literary fiction, but works in partnership with literary journals to advance their readership at every level. Dzanc is also fully committed to developing educational programs in schools.

For more information on Dzanc

From November 15 through December 14, 2010, Burke's Books of Memphis, TN is the Dzanc Books Independent Bookstore of the Month.  This gets Dzanc back on track with this program after a month off to take a look at what worked well September 15 through October 14 at Riverrun Bookstore in Portsmouth, NH, and tweak a couple of things as well.

Burke's has an incredible history--it's 135 years old for one thing--read much more here. 

There are two main aspects to the program:

1)  Dzanc Books will continue the donating of a title from our catalog, or one of our imprints.  The patron of Burke's Books will inform us of the library to which the donation will be made.  Dzanc Books has created fliers that have a simple form to fill out and send to us with the receipt, showing that the book was purchased during the correct dates, and was for a book of literary fiction from Burke's Books.  The books do NOT need to have been published by Dzanc or our imprints.

2)  Burke's Books, along with promoting the donation of books, will also promote the Dzanc Creative Writing Sessions, our extremely inexpensive and successful writer mentoring program.  For every order to the DCWS placed by a writer that notes on their order that they were sent our way by  Burke's, Dzanc will donate $5 to the Memphis Literary Council, a non-profit based near the bookstore.  Dzanc Books will make this donation in Burke's Books name in one sum at the end of the month.

Throughout the future of the Dzanc Independent Bookstore Program it is our goal to promote shopping at independent bookstores, develop better relationships with the stores we'll be working with, promote literary fiction, help writers via our DCWS program, and to donate both books to libraries, as well as money to worthwhile non-profits local to the bookstores we are working with.  Dzanc Books strongly believes that every single one of these aspects is vital.  Interested bookstores should email Dzanc Books at [email protected].

As noted over at the Dzanc Books News Blog, Dzanc Books has begun a new program called the Dzanc Books Independent Bookstore Program.  Following up on the giveaways to libraries and schools that Dzanc did during the month of July comes this new program working in conjunction with independent bookstores.

The Dzanc Books Independent Bookstore Program

August 16, 2010 - Ann Arbor, MI--Dzanc Books is excited to announce a new program, the Dzanc Books Independent Bookstore Program, which has Dzanc working in conjunction with one or two independent bookstores each month (from the 15^th—with a slightly delayed start this month—through the 15th, coinciding with our monthly online journal, The Collagist, to move forward with our mission of promoting literary fiction.

There was great interest during the month of July, where we at Dzanc donated books to many schools and libraries when provided proof of purchases of books bought at an independent bookstore.   We have decided to continue this offer.  We believe that by focusing on one or two bookstores each month, with the help of their cross-promotion, that we will be able to help inspire sales within the indie bookstore community of not only Dzanc books but all great books, while at the same time drawing attention to the many charitable programs Dzanc Books sponsors and runs, including our Dzanc Writer in Residence Programs and the Dzanc Prize, which the purchase of our books, and/or usage of our Dzanc Creative Writing Sessions helps our ability to sustain and advance these programs across the country.

The first store to celebrate this program with Dzanc Books will be the RiverRun Bookstore in Portsmouth, NH.  There are two main aspects to the program:

1)  Dzanc Books will continue the donating of a title from our catalog, or one of our imprints.  The patron of RiverRun Bookstore will inform us of the library to which the donation will be made.  Dzanc Books has created fliers that have a simple form to fill out and send to us with the receipt, showing that the book was purchased during the correct dates, and was for a book of literary fiction from RiverRun Bookstore.  The books do NOT need to have been published by Dzanc or our imprints.

2)  RiverRun Bookstore, along with promoting the donation of books, will also promote the Dzanc Creative Writing Sessions, our extremely inexpensive and successful writer mentoring program.  For every order to the DCWS placed by a writer that notes on their order that they were sent our way by  RiverRun, Dzanc will donate $5 to Seacoast Local, a non-profit based near the bookstore that promotes that people think local first when it comes to their money and time spent.  Dzanc Books will make this donation in RiverRun Bookstore's name in one sum at the end of the month.

Throughout the future of the Dzanc Independent Bookstore Program it is our goal to promote shopping at independent bookstores, develop better relationships with the stores we'll be working with, promote literary fiction, help writers via our DCWS program, and to donate both books to libraries, as well as money to worthwhile n

We're a month away as of today, and spots are filling up.  Get yours today!

As noted over at the news blog of Dzanc Books:

Dzanc Books has just received a very exciting offer - an anonymous donor has offered to match the first $10,000 donated to Dzanc Books, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, between now and January 31, 2010 for those of you looking to make a last second tax-deductible donation for 2009, or get a good jump on such for 2010.

This means ANY donation you can make, $1, $2, $5, etc. will be matched, and therefore doubled. This is a fantastic situation for Dzanc Books, and will allow us to do many wonderful things in our community related efforts.

Please, if you are able to make ANY kind of a donation, visit our support page at the website and do so - it's an offer that is too good for Dzanc not to capitalize upon.

Well, actually a combination act as Pete Anderson (read him) is doing his part to fight childhood cancer.  Get all the details here. 

By allowing his head to be shaved annually, Pete has raised over $3,000 the past four years, and the organization that sets up this event has raised over $20,000,000 since its inception.

As of receipt of mail at Steve's house late this morning, and the opening of a letter from the IRS, Dzanc Books is officially a tax exempt, 501(c)3 non-profit corporation in the eyes of the government.  Those of you who have been waiting anxiously for a solid tax deductible donation may feel free to visit the website, or just contact Dan via email, or this website.

Thanks to those of you who have been wishing us well and inquiring through this rather tiring process.