The Weekly Atticus: Dispatch from AWP

This Week at Atticus Review

March 26, 2022

A recap of the week's writing at Atticus Review. Intro by Keene Short.

Greetings from Philly! It's been a few years, but

Atticus

is back in the conference game, pushing books and Submittable links with hundreds of fellow writers and readers.

I've lost my voice multiple times a day pitching

Atticus Review

and Atticus Books to friends and strangers alike at the

book fair in Philadelphia. I'm thrilled by the interest people have in all things Atticus. It's refreshing to see so many familiar faces, to be surrounded by writers and editors as invested in the literary world as I am, and to finally meet some contributors in person.

Yesterday, our fiction editor Michelle Ross had a book signing at our table for her most recent short story collections,

and

. Meanwhile, Michelle and I have been selling back copies of novels published by Atticus Books before its hiatus. I know we're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but I'm pleased by how many people have walked by complimenting the cover art we've used. Being surrounded by so many books has me excited for what Dan and his team of readers will publish next.

, fiction reader Kari Treese explores a similar need for writerly connection. Meanwhile on the website, Karen Paul Holmes has a

built around looking for a lost object,

exploring past relationships, and Darci Schummer has

orbiting a strange object.

This week, we opened back up for submissions for our first themed triannual issue: the Internet, to launch in August. We're open to fiction, CNF, poetry, and mixed media. You can find more information at our

. Also, be on the lookout for our first unthemed triannaul, which will go live next month!

Atticus Review is still looking for original cover art for the Spring 2022 issue. Contributors will receive a small honorarium. Please check our Submittable page for more details and look at our recently published work to see if your art would be a good fit. Lastly, Atticus Books is entering the final week of its open reading period for book manuscripts. If you haven't submitted your book, you have until March 31!

Until next week, thanks so much for reading. Keene ShortManaging Editor

THIS WEEK AT ATTICUS

NEW FROM THE ATTIC

MY NOTEBOOK IS OPENbyKari Treese"Much of our time as writers is spent in isolation. You and the keyboard. You and the notepad. You and the blank page. I find little relief knowing that I am not alone in this loneliness."

FICTION

ARTIFACTbyDarci Schummer"A couple evenings later, drunk on Lhasa beer, he put the skull on his head. It rode atop his hair, just a bit too small to fit perfectly. He closed his eyes and concentrated as hard as he could. Maybe he could somehow see what the skull’s owner had seen; maybe he could transcend his own life and all its banality."

POETRY

POETRYLOSTbyKaren Paul Holmes     "You hope she’s wearing itwith the jacket and no blouse—or a low-cut one, feeling like Joan Collinsin Dynasty: power-padded and blingy."

CREATIVE NONFICTION

CROSS COUNTRY CHASEbyMelissa Brooks"My return to the suburbs of Chicago was something of a culture shock. Suddenly, I had my parents, siblings, old high school friends—all of them willing and happy to spend time with me. I’d forgotten what it was like to have plans, things to look forward to, people I could count on. I’d forgotten what it was like to be wanted. To be unlonely."

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Our Reading List is updated each week. Go check it out!Are you a contributor to Atticus Review who'd like your book featured in the reading list? Send us an email at [email protected]. 

**For photo credits, follow links to stories.**