Monthly Archives: May 2010

Take a Bow

Posted on by
Reply

On Friday, One Story hosted our first benefit, The One Story Literary Debutante Ball: A Celebration of Emerging Writers. And celebrate, we did.  We hosted a silent auction, showcasing original art that had been created from issues of One Story. Beside each piece was an excerpt from the story, as well as an artist’s statement, explaining how the words had moved them. We had everything from video art by Josh Pelzek, inspired by One Story issue #29, “Dreaming of You” by Matthew Purdy, to a piece of jewelry by Michelle Fantaci, inspired by One Story issue #73, “What is Alaska Like?” by Anna Solomon, to a guerilla theater perfomance, produced by Wingspace Theatrical Design, and inspired by One Story issue #97, Sam Allingham’s “Bar Joke, Arizona.” But my favorite part of the night was the presentation of the debutantes. Nine writers who published their first fiction in One Story flew in to Brooklyn from around the country, and made a grand entrance through a giant warehouse door, on the arms of established writers who have been mentors to them over the years. Comedian, actor, & One Story author John Hodgman did the formal introductions, reading the debutante bios and letting the cheering crowd know how far each of these authors has come since appearing in One Story. And finally, our publisher Maribeth Batcha gave a speech, where she said: 

“We choose our stories because they bring about an emotional response, because they make us think, cry, laugh, or wonder. We hope they will take you out of you own life for a brief time and pull you into unexpected worlds. We believe that as readers, we come out on the other side of a great short story knowing a bit more about the world than we went in. And we think this knowledge is important.”

More than 400 people came out to celebrate short stories and the writers who write them. One Story couldn’t have put this event together without Nathan Elbogen, the curator of The Old American Factory, our sponsors, our benefit committee, our board, our readers and everyone who attended the ball and bid on the artwork, as well as our managing editor Tanya Rey and the rest of the One Story staff, volunteers, and family members who all chipped and made it a huge success. We’ll be posting pictures and videos of the party soon. But for now, Maribeth and I would like to extend our great thanks to all of our supporters, as well as our writers, who have made One Story what it is today. Please stand up folks, and take a bow.

Literary Debutante Ball fashion advice from One Story’s Associate (Fashion) Editor:

Posted on by
6

An image from Amy Vanderbilt's "How to be well dressed."

I’ve been asked to act as fashion godmother for anyone wondering what to wear to this Friday night’s Literary Debutante Ball.  I must assume this is because I own the complete set of Amy Vanderbilt’s “Success Program for Women,” and quote regularly from its more illuminative tomes such as “Your European Vacation” and “How to Develop Poise and Self-Confidence.”

Happily, there is no dress code for our literary ball.  A straw poll reveals our staff is thinking cocktail dresses, sundresses and rompers for the ladies, blazers and ties over jeans, skinny jeans, khakis, or pants my grandmother would refer to as “slacks” for the gentlemen.  The American Can Factory in Brooklyn is a fun and creative place, so you could arrive dressed as a slice of Swiss cheese and feel right at home.  Unless someone else shows up dressed as one (heaven forbid).

Vintage prom dresses and tuxes, casual Friday office attire: all good!  Be comfortable.  Be brave.  Do your best.

Even more happily, it doesn’t matter what you wear.  What matters is whether you have a good heart and how many times you compliment the Associate Editor on her Swiss cheese costume.

Finally, I offer a few nuggets of fashion advice I’ve collected over the years:

“Glamour, always.”  – Dita Von Teese

“Before you go out, take one piece of jewelry off.”  – my grandmother

“Before I go out, I put one more piece of jewelry on.”  – Kim Kardashian

“It’s always better to be overdressed than underdressed.”  - Coco Chanel

“My mother taught us that it was always better to be underdressed than overdressed.”  Audrey Hepburn’s son, Luca.

“It’s not the clothes, it’s how you wear them.” – Me, 1987

“You cannot go to school with Swatch watches in your hair.” – my mother, 1987

“We’re calling because your daughter came to school with Swatch watches in her hair and refuses to take them out.  To make matters worse, after seeing her, several other girls have put their own Swatch watches in their hair.  We can’t have that.” – my principal, 1987

“Don’t forget yourself—make sure of yourself!”  Amy Vanderbilt’s Success Program for Women, How to Develop Poise and Self-Confidence.

“Nothing beats a nice pair of slacks.” – my grandmother

Hailey Reissman wins Sophie Kerr Prize!!

Posted on by
2

One of our favorite One Story interns from the past, Hailey Reissman (you might remember some of her ‘From the Trenches’ posts) has been awarded the Sophie Kerr Prize, the largest prize given to an undergraduate for writing!! I made a prediction this would happen years ago, when I first met Hailey and read her work at Washington College, and I’m over the moon that it all came true. She is not only an amazing writer, she is an amazing person. Dedicated, hard-working and true. Hailey is coming to our Literary Debutante Ball, so we’ll be able to raise a glass to her on Friday. Until then, read this great interview with the Baltimore Sun.

Art, inspired by One Story

Posted on by
Reply

Artist: Brandi Strickland, Inspired by One Story issue #124, "Frost Mountain Picnic Massacre" by Seth Fried

For the past few months,One Story has been working with over 30 visual artists to create original work based on issues of the magazine. All of this art has been generously donated, and will be put up for silent auction at our Literary Debutante Ball on Friday, May 21st.

We’ve organized an online gallery of the work that has come in, featuring artists such as Lothar Osterburg, Susan Leopold and Alison Elizabeth Taylor. We’ve got everything from jewelry to photography, from ceramics to paintings—each inspired by our stories. All bidding starts at 50-70% of Estimated Retail Value. Minimum bids range from $25-$1500.

Want to bid, but can’t make it to Brooklyn for the party? Just fill out our absentee bid form and email or fax it to us before noon on Friday, May 21st. In the meantime, browse our online gallery to see how the words and images came together.

P.S. All proceeds from the auction will go to keeping One Story’s pages turning. Please help us to continue supporting emerging writers. Make a bid, become a sponsor, or donate today.

Issue #135: Corporate Park

Posted on by
9

Once again, I’m turning the reins over to Contributing Editor Pei-Ling Lue, who has championed our latest issue, “Corporate Park” by Grant Munroe all the way from the slush pile to the final product. I hope everyone enjoys this strange and beautiful story. It’s always thrilling to publish an author for the first time, but even more so with a writer like Grant Munroe. We’re looking forward to seeing his career soar.–HT

At One Story, I’m the person who assigns stories from our slush pile, but every once in a while, I’ll come across a cover letter that’s compelling enough that I’ll read the story myself. This was the letter written by Grant Munroe:

Dear Editors,

The story that I’ve attached, titled, “Corporate Park,” may fit One Story. It’s strange, but humorous and timely. 

I’m currently enrolled in NYU’s MFA program for fiction, and live in Brooklyn and southwestern Ontario. I’m the author of an ongoing series of Corporate Folktales–humorous stories on contemporary corporate culture written as oral folk narratives–at McSweeney’s Internet Tendency. If published, this will be my first story in print. 

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Regards,
Grant Munroe

I liked that the letter was short, but conveyed everything I needed to know about his story. Also, we’re always looking for emerging writers, so the fact that this would be his first published story was another plus. When we met last winter to go over his story, I found out that Grant had attended a lecture on cover letters given by our  Hannah Tinti and that he kept her advice in mind when he wrote the cover letter.  

When I read “Corporate Park,” I found the premise of a mountain lion finding his way into a corporate building hilarious. It was also a perfect response to what’s going on during this current economic crisis. I haven’t worked in a corporate environment in ten years, but the bureaucracy and pettiness of the characters in this story brought me right back to those gray cubicles. 

Next week, on May 21st, we will be cheering Grant Munroe, along with 8 other debut authors, at One Story’s Literary Debutante Ball: A Celebration of Emerging Writers. If you’d like to meet Grant in person, you may purchase tickets here. And to read more about “Corporate Park,” check out Grant’s Q&A.

SMU Press threatened with closing–writers unite to save them!

Posted on by
Reply
This just in from One Story author Bruce Machart. Please spread the word and help save SMU Press!!-HT
 
It’s long been hell to be a Texan with a conscience.  Sure, we have beautiful, wide, endless vistas, handsome sunsets, some mighty fine vittles, and let’s not forget the music, but we also have overzealous lethal injection, rampant fanatical conservatism, and a government that entrusts the public school textbook adoption decisions to bible-thumping folks who seek to revise history without consulting…well, history.  And now this:  Southern Methodist University has put one of the nation’s stalwart champions of literary fiction on the chopping block.  More than a dozen years ago, my teacher and mentor at Ohio State’s MFA program, acclaimed short story writer Lee K. Abbott, began loaning me collections of stories from, as he put it, “one hell of a university press from down your way.”  SMU Press, which publishes somewhere in the neighborhood of ten titles per year (I think), has been the first home of some remarkable writers over the years.  Off the top of my head, I can recall titles by Janet Peery, Brad Barkley, Debra Monroe, Tracy Daugherty, and a wonderful recent collection by David McGlynn.  So please, tell these folks who tell us “Don’t Mess with Texas” not to mess with the State of Literature in America.  The more letters we can get emailed to Kathryn Lang, the press’ senior editor, the more ammunition (and Texans respect ammunition, after all) she will have when she protests this unilateral decision at the next board meeting.  You needn’t write anything lengthy, but please write today!  Future collections of short stories depend upon it!
Here’s the article from the Dallas Morning News.
And here is Kathryn Lang’s email:
-Bruce Machart

From the Trenches: An OS Intern’s Top 5 Art Picks

Posted on by
Reply

With the One Story Literary Debutante ball little more than two weeks away (5/21!), our office is now filled with art for the silent auction. Some of the pieces come from artists with studio space in our building, the Old American Can Factory. A few days ago I got to stop by May Luk’s studio to see what type of ceramic she is working on for “Foreign Girls” by Tom Grattan. Without giving too much away I can say that the vase is lovely. It’s a perfect match for the story, sort of delicate with May Luk’s beautiful attention to detail and somewhat whimsical design. The most exciting part about the artwork coming in is how each piece is so different from any of the others in the same way that One Story has no real genre or prerequisite as a publication except telling a good story. Each of the pieces does just that. Not surprisingly, my favorite pieces of art coincide with my favorite stories. From the pieces I’ve seen so far my top five are:

1. May Luk’s ceramics inspired by “Foreign Girls” by Tom Grattan
2. Jan Meissner’s photograph inspired by Terese Svoboda’s “Bomb Jockey” (image above)
3. Dale Williams’ oil and pencil on wood drawing inspired by Ben Miller’s “The Man in Blue Green”
4. Becca Heuer’s photograph inspired by Adin Bookbinder’s “Meteorology”
5. Brandi Strickland’s collage inspired by Seth Fried’s “Frost Mountain Picnic Massacre”

More info on the art and silent auction to come soon. Happy bidding!

Intern out.

Introducing Our Debutantes

Posted on by
1

One Story’s Literary Debutante Ball: A Celebration of Emerging Writers is now just 18 days away. Here at the office we’re a little crazed. Art is coming in and being photographed, performances are being planned, volunteers are being recruited. It’s our first ever benefit, and we are figuring it out as we go along.

But today, we’d like to take a moment to announce one of the most important aspects of the evening – the debutantes and their escorts.

On the evening of May 21, 2010, comedian John Hodgman will be presenting 9 writers who published their first work in our pages. At One Story, publishing a debut writer always excites us — a first publication is a milestone in a writers life and we do our best to help our writers celebrate. The ball is allowing us to do this in a big way, to look back at some of our debut writers, to present them in person, and to see how far they’ve come.

Each one of our debutantes has selected a mentor to escort them in the procession.  The mentors are established writers who have helped these writers at important points in their careers. The debutantes and their fabulous escorts are:

Tickets for the event are selling faster than we expected. If you’d like to join us for the Literary Debutante Ball in Brooklyn on the 21st, click here.