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Comma Press are looking for new Short Stories set in Liverpool for an anthology called 'Reberth.' The book will be published in December and will be made up of short stories from the ‘Cities on the Edge’. ‘Cities on the Edge’ is a partnership of six European cities: Bremen, Gdansk, Istanbul, Liverpool, Marseille and Naples. The Comma Press website explains: "At Liverpool's invitation, they have come together in Liverpool's European Capital of Culture ‘08 year to examine their roles as historic ports. The cities all share a sense of independence (almost as city states, as islands within their national territories). Equally, they are characterised by a critical edge; a rare combination of individualism and a strong sense of community; a reputation for creativity; and a long and vivid history. They are essential to the definition of the cultural identity of their respective countries, but don't always feel loved or understood by their countrymen. "Featuring two 2 stories set in each of the ‘Cities on the Edge’, ReBerth aims to give a flavour of the peculiar cultural potency of these cities: their diverse traditions and religions; their cultural practices (both old and new); their movement away from reliance on a shipping economy, and towards a model of cultural regeneration and exchange; and above all, their ‘edginess’. "We particularly welcome stories embracing the notion that port cities are a destination – and sometimes a stepping-off point - for migrant communities: people embarking on a new life; in search of sanctuary, salvation, or rebirth." What they are looking for: • Cohesive, subtle, insightful and well-shaped stories of literary merit. • Stories which touch on one or more of the above themes. • Stories set against the recognizable backdrop of the city of Liverpool (or in which geographical features of the city play a role in the story). • Contemporary stories (stories set within the past twenty-five years). What they are not looking for: • Character sketches, anecdotes, comic capers (particularly comic capers featuring ‘loveable rogues’), benign childhood memoirs. • Stories which set aside clunky, separate passages for scene setting, characterization, plot exposition or flashback. • Stories including any material to which the author does not own copyright (e.g. song lyrics). • Previously published works. Submissions should be between 1000 and 5000 words in length (approx). 2 submissions maximum per author will be considered. We will pay authors £200 for each story we use in the anthology. You are strongly urged to visit the ‘General Guidelines’ below and the Editorial page of the website (www.commapress.co.uk) for further guidance on submitting manuscripts. Email submissions as a double-spaced word document attachment before Friday 1st August 2008 to [email protected] Good luck

Last week David D. Perlmutter, a professor in the KU School of Journalism & Mass Communications, and author of Blogwars, took a look at whether book authors should blog. This week he investigates the influence of bloggers on “the people.” Be on the lookout for Blogwars which examines the rapidly burgeoning phenomenon of blogs and questions the degree to which blog influence–or fail to influence–American political life. Read Perlmutter’s other OUPblog posts here.

In Blogwars I compile much survey data that shows that people who blog about politics, as well as the readers and commenters—interactors—of political blogs, are not “the people.” That is, they are not a true cross-section of America: They tend to be male, white, upper income, higher education. But even if blogs are not vox populi, it does not follow that, as blog critics love to taunt, bloggers are the tinfoil-hatters of American political life. To the contrary, while bloggers may not be the people, there is growing evidence that they have an extraordinary and extra-proportional effect on the people, and on politics, campaigns and elections, public affairs, policy-making, press agendas and coverage, and public opinion. (more…)

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It’s not everyday I have an author who has written about blogs agree to post on the OUPblog! Today,  David D. Perlmutter, a professor in the KU School of Journalism & Mass Communications, and author of Blogwars, lets us know how truly bizarre it is to transition from penning a book to penning a blog post.  Be on the lookout for Blogwars which examines the rapidly burgeoning phenomenon of blogs and questions the degree to which blog influence–or fail to influence–American political life.

I begin my new OUP book Blogwars by claiming, only half facetiously, that there are good reasons not to write a book on blogs. New stuff is happening so fast, that it’s hard to keep up.

But that is the point: A blogger’s work is never done, nor, I hope, is that of a student of blogs. Bloggers cannot coast or rest on their laurels; their readers will abandon them or, worse, ask why they are failing them. Blogs are always unfinished, their work always to be continued, revised, and extended later. Books are supposed to be different. In a sense all books are orphans. Only in some screwball comedy movie is it possible for an author to change his mind and run into bookstores and add new material. (more…)

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On January 29, 7:30pm the Dole Institute of Politics at the University of Kansas will host a panel on “Military Blogging and America’s Wars.” The guests will include John Donovan, one of America’s leading milbloggers (who was invited to meet President Bush in the White House); Ward Carroll, a retired Navy Commander who flew F-14s and editor of www.Military.com; and Charles J. “Jack” Holt, chief of New Media Operations for the Department of Defense. David D. Perlmutter, a professor in the KU School of Journalism & Mass Communications , and author of Blogwars, will moderate the session.

In Blogwars Perlmutter examines the rapidly burgeoning phenomenon of blogs and questions the degree to which blog influence–or fail to influence–American political life. In the post below Perlmutter introduces us to Military Blogs.

The Greek philosopher Heraclitus is supposed to have said that “war is the father of all things.” It is absolutely true that where we live, the language we speak, the flags we fly, the beliefs we hold, the land we live on, and even our genetic heritage have been affected by who won and lost wars. Likewise, much of our technology was created for or improved toward making war. (more…)

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