Many Voices Project (MVP) Submission Deadline Extended

The original deadline for this year’s Many Voices Project submission window was tomorrow, December 1st, 2017. The submission window is going to be extended to the 15th of December. This gives you a bit more time to polish up your manuscript and send it on in.

Please note, New Rivers Press does not accept paper manuscript submissions (i.e. through the postal service.) In our effort to be eco-friendly (have you seen how much paper in any given submissions pile?) we only accept submissions through our Submittable webpage.

The Many Voices Project has separate submission pages for Poetry manuscripts and for Fiction manuscripts. A $25 reading fee applies for both.

Submission guidelines can be found on each Submittable listing, otherwise the information can be accessed on our site at the MVP contest information page.

To everyone who submits their work, good luck!

Interviews with Book Designers

The newest book season is upon us. In the coming weeks, New Rivers Press will be releasing six fabulous new books, varied in genre and tone, but nonetheless bursting with artistry and insight. Whereas much time and many pixels have been spent on this blog detailing the involvement of students in the production of our books as content editors, relatively little has been used to demonstrate the ways MSUM design students contribute to our books.

The Design Process

Each year, MSUM design students are paired up with an upcoming New Rivers Press release. The design process is largely a group effort: the design students are coached by NRP’s managing editor and their own design professor, in addition to being advised by the student editor team assigned to their book as well as the author. However it is up to the design students themselves to identify the most important and pertinent aspects of the books in order to bring to life a cover that is not only enticing to readers but representative of the author’s vision.

 

This post is meant to offer these students a mouth piece to describe their invaluable contributions as designers of not only the covers but interior layouts of our books. If you wish to learn more about the designers personally, you can read their bios here.

 


Phuriwat “Fuse” Chiraphisit
American Fiction Volume 16

American Fiction Volume 16 is a continuation of New Rivers Press’ long-running short-story anthology. Writers hail from all around the globe and are of diverse ages and backgrounds. There is no theme for submissions, though sometimes unique themes have a way of appearing once all the final stories are chosen. This years stories could loosely be tied together with themes of identity, family life, and evolving relationships.

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1) What was your vision for the cover you designed?
What stood out to me was how ordinary the lives in the stories are, with a twisted sense of reality hidden in there somewhere. So I thought I’d show a reality that is slightly twisted for the cover.

2) How did that vision change or evolve throughout the process?
After I had the initial concept, the challenge was finding the right imagery to support that concept. I was experimenting with reflections and shadows.

3) What elements from the book itself did you try to incorporate in your design?
The houses were added into the photograph to add a sense of family, livelihood, and domestic conflicts.

4) What was the most challenging aspect of the design process for you?
The most challenging part was finding a common theme between all the stories and representing them with a single image.

5) What was something you found rewarding about the process?
The most rewarding moment was receiving the unedited version of the real book. It’s always fun seeing designs and concepts come to life after working on them on the computer.

6) Is there anything special or hidden in the cover that you hope people notice?
If you stand back far enough, the cover may look like an old-fashioned book cover with tape binding, but as you get closer, you realize it’s a photograph, twisted, rotated, and yet oddly welcoming.


Brittany Shultz
Boy Into Panther

Boy Into Panther is a collection of fourteen short stories varied in theme, setting, and character. Each is filled with emotion and keen observations on the nature of being human.


1) What was your vision for the cover you designed?
My vision for the cover design was to keep it dark and mysterious so people would be more drawn to look closer to the cover while also wanting to read what it’s about.2) How did that vision change or evolve throughout the process?
I originally started with two different designs. One was a rustic design with a black background and a portion of wood along with dust particles. The other design that we went forward with was a simplistic modern design with a black background and specific pieces placed in chevrons leading into the book.3) What elements from the book itself did you try to incorporate in your design?
I included broken glass, flames, wood, and mushrooms.4) What was the most challenging aspect of the design process for you?
The most challenging part was to come up with a design that would try incorporate all of the short stories and not focus on just one main story.5) What was something you found rewarding about the process?
The whole process felt like a reward. Having the ability to design a cover of a great short story book for the first time was an amazing experience.6) Is there anything special or hidden in the cover that you hope people notice?
As mentioned above, the chevrons on the front cover are subtle, but when you look closely you can notice some of the details of the flames, mushroom, broken glass, and wood.


Emily Zaharia
Deep Calls to Deep

Deep Calls to Deep is a collection of poetry which intertwines family life and biblical narrative. Set against the rich backdrop of Israel, the collection draws from thousands of years of history from its ancient deserts to its contemporary scenes of war.

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1) What was your vision for the cover you designed?
I first researched images of Jerusalem, as that is where the poems take place for the most part. I compiled many images and gathered three primary colors that I saw in all of the photos. A deep blue, orange, and yellow. I used those colors to represent an over-simplified landscape of the setting; sky, city, and desert. While playing with the words in the title I noticed that [the word] ‘deep’ is basically the same flipped upside down, which was really fun. That played off of the idea of alternatives and reality in the artist’s statement I was given.

2) How did that vision change or evolve throughout the process?
I had a strong idea from the start, but getting everything in the exact right place with the perfect colors took some time and development. I also had come up with other designs, and choosing one was part of the process

3) What elements from the book itself did you try to incorporate in your design?
I tried to include the setting of the book somehow, and I did so in a very simplistic way. I also used a texture to represent the desert.

4) What was the most challenging aspect of the design process for you?
The interior of the book was an interesting challenge for me. I learned a lot about setting type.

5) What was something you found rewarding about the process?
Being able to hold a book that I designed in my hands was the most rewarding. I also really enjoyed getting feedback from the author. It was great when she told me that the cover was representative of what she wanted.

6) Is there anything special or hidden in the cover that you hope people notice?
I hope people can understand that the cover is not just stripes, but a setting and a platform to start the poems with before you even open the book.


Kendal Christenson
Tom o’Vietnam

Tom o’Vietnam juxtaposes the life and times of a contemporary American veteran with the experiences of Shakespeare’s King Lear, communicated through a surreal, stream-of-consciousness narrative.

1) What was your vision for the cover you designed?
In the initial design stages I hoped to incorporate a signature style that I have been curating during my attendance at MSUM, a sketchy and grungy approach that has furthered my understanding of design. I wanted the cover to feel individualized to the main character, Tom.

2) How did that vision change or evolve throughout the process?
As I had been designing the book cover last school year, I had also been enrolled in an illustration class. Knowledge from the class furthered my confidence in illustration which shines through in my finalized book cover.

3) What elements from the book itself did you try to incorporate in your design?
I attempted to depict the sheer individualism of Tom himself through handwritten typography and sketches of symbolism throughout the book.

4) What was the most challenging aspect of the design process for you?
Time management! Seemingly always a weakness for myself . . .

5) What was something you found rewarding about the process?
I find it rewarding to say, as a student, I have published work in the world.

6) Is there anything special or hidden in the cover that you hope people notice?
On page 4 of the novel, Tom O’Vietnam, there appears to be an entire page of scribbles and somewhat illegible words, in actuality the typography says, “Freedom is Hell,” a haunting phrase embroidered into the back of Tom’s jacket.

scribble-page


Mandi Wahl
Man of the House

This is a memoir containing short vignettes told in the first person detailing the thoughts and actions of a young boy in the 1950’s as he struggles to assume the mantle of ‘man of the house.’


1) What was your vision for the cover you designed?
My vision was to create a cover that would be meaningful to the stories inside the book as well as creating something that people would want to pick up on a shelf as they were walking by.

2) How did that vision change or evolve throughout the process?
I am very pleased with how the cover evolved through out the whole design process. The cover has special character to make it feel as if it came from a 50’s book chest. I could not be happier with how the cover turned out in the end!

3) What elements from the book itself did you try to incorporate in your design?
I incorporated the time period by making the cover look worn and gave it a look of an old book/newspaper from the 50’s. I also incorporated stamps which was from one of the most important stories in the book that I personally felt represented the lifestyle of the author back when he was a child telling these stories. It had more meaning to it, which is what I wanted for a cover.

4) What was the most challenging aspect of the design process for you?
The most challenging aspect was to visualize what all of this would be looking like when it was printed. There were so many specifications to follow and seeing a flat designing of something is very different from when you get to see it printed and in its true 3D form.

5) What was something you found rewarding about the process?
I have now designed a book for others to pick up and read! I can say, “My name is in the front cover of a book!” I think that is so cool!

6) Is there anything special or hidden in the cover that you hope people notice?
There is nothing hidden in the cover of my book. I hope people enjoy the cover as much as I do.


Christen Nagel
The Way She Told Her Story

The Way She Told Her Story is a collection of poetry beautifully blending natural imagery with the stories, culture, and legacies of Finnish immigrant women.

the-way-she-told-her-story-full-cover
1) What was your vision for the cover you designed?
My vision was to do my best to accurately portray what the book is about. This was a bit of a challenge since I didn’t know much about Finnish culture. The cover design I spent the most time on was an illustration I did based on the poem “The Way She Told Her Story,” which is also the name of the book. I did my best to research more about Finnish culture for ideas on any relevant graphics I could incorporate. I came across one symbol that seemed like a good fit and used that in another cover design.

2) How did that vision change or evolve throughout the process?
I ended up using the cover with the Finnish symbol. When the author reviewed it, she suggested a different symbol. I recreated the graphic and made a few other suggested revisions.

3) What elements from the book itself did you try to incorporate in your design?
I tried to incorporate graphics related to Finnish culture. I also used illustrations that I did based on photos of Finnish tapestries, which the author had sent me, for my chapter artwork. I used part of one of my chapter illustrations next to the author photo on the back cover.

4) What was the most challenging aspect of the design process for you?
I would say that the most challenging aspect was researching Finnish symbols. Since I didn’t have direct communication with the author, I spent time on Finnish forums trying to make sure that I wasn’t misusing any of the symbols.

5) What was something you found rewarding about the process?
I really like the book, so I’m glad I got to design it. Since it is poetry, I was able to be more creative with my design for the interior. I think designing the interior was my favorite part since the patterns on the Finnish tapestries that I referenced were really fun to work with.

6) Is there anything special or hidden in the cover that you hope people notice?
I just hope people recognize the symbol and that it gives them a good sense of what the book is about.


If you want to read more about our book designers, you can read their bios here.

Books! FREE BOOKS!

Whether you’re a student, or full-time member of the work force you deserve a little treat for making it through the month of September. Our treat to you is the announcement of our very first Instagram book giveaway!  Also a fun way to celebrate National Book Month, this will (hopefully) become an annual event that our followers can look forward to. We hope this will give us the chance to engage with you, our social media masses, and reach out to a wider literary audience. So, please hop on over to our Instagram, and get in on the free book action!

Here’s how you enter for the oh-so-coveted chance to win a free book of your choosing:

  • Make sure you are following our Instagram account: @newriverspress
  • Like the post announcing the book giveaway
  • Tag a friend in the comments (make sure they like the post and follow our page as well!)
  • Wait (impatiently) for the contest window to close (Deadline specified in the Instagram post)

We will enter your name, as well as your friends, into a blind drawing to decide the FIVE winners of the contest. We ask that there be only one entry per person. The winners will be announced one at a time via our Instagram account. In the posts following the announcement of the first winner, we will include a list of the remaining options for prizes.

The five books featured in the giveaway are titles from the last publishing season. The winners will have their pick of the following titles published at New Rivers Press:

Flucht by Michelle Matthees

It Turns Out Like This by Stephen Coyne

We Got Him by Elizabeth Searle

American Fiction Volume 15, and

Frozen Voices by Lynne Heinzmann

 

In the time following the announcement of the giveaway we will be releasing short summaries of each of the possible book prizes to let our participants get an idea of which book they would like to receive should they be drawn as a winner.

Happy National Book Month!

—Cameron S

#BiWeek Books

biweek

Everyone knows about Pride in the summer—you can’t turn on the news or walk into a gay bar without being reminded there’s a giant party going on. But, as the pumpkin spice lattes return to shelves and we eat Halloween candy by the fistful, a quieter celebration is taking place. September 17 – 24 is #BiWeek 2017, and it is no less important to celebrate than Pride or National Coming Out Week or other queer holidays. In fact, since the bisexual community faces opposition from parts of queer community as well as from the straight majority, it can be even more difficult to find accurate, interesting portrayals of bisexual people in media.

So get ready for some bisexual pride! After scouring the blogosphere, reader reviews, and publishers’ pages, I’ve found some books to help everyone celebrate, and for allies like myself, maybe even learn something. The following are placed in categories, so hopefully there’s a little something for everyone. All the resources used for this article are linked at the bottom.

Essay:

Purple Prose: Bisexuality in Britain, edited by Kate Harrad, Thorntree Press

This is a collection of essays for bi people by bi people. Simple as that. And it isn’t just relevant for British folks either. The chapters address intersectionalities—bisexual and disabled, bisexual black and minority ethnic people, bisexuals and faith—as well as common myths, monogamy and dating, workplace encounters, allies, and activism, among others. It won The Bookbag’s Non-fiction Book of the Month award when it came out in September 2016.

Memoir:

A Cup of Water Under My Bed, Daisy Hernandez, Beacon Press

Hernandez separates her book into three sections—family, sexuality, and work/class. She writes of the weavings between her biracial Colombian/Cuban heritage and her bisexuality fluidly, and her poetic inspirations shape the feel of the book. It is a dynamic look at intersectionality and the challenges of moving away from one’s family.

Poetry:

The Body’s Alphabet, Ann Tweedy, Headmistress Press

Tweedy’s collection moves through the facets of motherhood, from the speaker’s grandmother-mother relationship to her own mother-daughter relationship and that of her relationship with her new baby. Later on sexuality and nature are addressed more directly. This is Tweedy’s first full book of poetry, but she has had other work published in queer magazines and journals.

Fiction:

The Color Purple, Alice Walker, Harcourt

This queer classic from 1982 tackles numerous issues of race, gender, class, and sexuality. A Pulitzer Prize winner and National Book Award winner, Walker’s novel is told in Celie’s letters as she fights her way through an abusive childhood and into an ever-changing adulthood. If you haven’t read it yet, this is a great time to start.

Historical:

Queer, There and Everywhere: 23 People Who Changed the World, Sarah Prager, HarperCollins

This middle-grade to YA-friendly history book discusses the famous and the revolutionary people who were queer in some fashion or rumored to be. While some readers found the people mentioned to be limited in its global view (almost all the figures are from North America or Europe), it still makes for a positive jumping-off point in documenting queer history. Also, the fact that the book is geared towards younger readers will hopefully mean a greater curiosity around queer history in future generations.

Young Adult:

How to Make a Wish, Ashley Harring Blake, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) Books for Young Readers

This YA drama centers on Grace Glasser, a 17-year old biracial and bisexual teen. The main conflict is between Grace and her mother, Maggie, who moves between locations and boyfriends without concern for her daughter’s welfare or how the bills will get paid. While the book may not be perfect—it seems no YA book is—the author is actually bi, which lends the book more credit, and Grace is able to have a romantic relationship with a girl and a platonic friendship with a boy without things becoming a clichéd love triangle.

Thriller:

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Stieg Larsson, Knopf (U.S. edition)

This internationally best-selling thriller needs almost no introduction. And of course, the ass-kicking hacker Lisbeth Salander hardly needs one either. Salander may have an incredibly traumatic past, but her sexuality is clear and just part of Salander’s dynamic character. If you’re in the mood for a bad-guys-getting-their-due kind of book, this is for you.

Graphic Novel:

The Legend of Korra: Turf Wars Part One, Michael, Dante DiMartino, Dark Horse Comics

While Turf Wars is pretty far along in the Legend of Korra storyline, this newest title finally explores the relationship confirmed by both the creators and hinted at in the animated television series. Korra’s character and identity are not defined solely by her sexuality; and, despite the hardships she and her friends face in the conflicts between different Benders, it’s a pretty uplifting series. This is definitely a welcome change from other depictions of LGBTQIA folks, and it is well worth checking out.

Comic:

Young Avengers, Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie, Marvel Comics

This breakthrough series was embraced by comic book fans for explicitly confirming the sexualities of several superhero/villain favorites, in addition to just being cool. It has one of the first characters to ever say “I’m bisexual,” and it also includes many other identities and orientations on the LGBTQIA spectrum.

 

SOURCES

Q&A and excerpt from A Cup of Water Under My Bed: https://www.bitchmedia.org/post/para-las-hijas-an-interview-with-author-daisy-hernandez

A lovely bi book club list with even more genres: https://bisexual.org/bi-book-club-2017/

A blog dedicated to bisexual books of all categories: http://www.bisexualbooks.com

A discussion of queer comic book characters: http://comicsalliance.com/where-are-superhero-comics-big-name-bisexual-characters/

Even more bi books: https://bookriot.com/2016/10/06/100-must-read-lesbian-and-bisexual-women-books/

Award-winning books with bisexual themes and characters: http://www.biwriters.org/finalists-winners/

Reviews of The Body’s Alphabet: http://www.literarymama.com/reviews/archives/2016/12/a-review-of-the-bodys-alphabet.html

More resources for #BiWeek: https://www.glaad.org/action/celebrate-bisexuality-biweek-2016

Online Just in Time: Red Weather Taking the World by Storm

New Rivers Press partners with Minnesota State University Moorhead to teach students the ins and outs of publishing, but we aren’t the only literary thing on campus. Many of the staff and interns are also involved with Red Weather, MSUM’s annual journal for prose, poems, and visual art.

This year, Red Weather is doing something a little different. In the past, we’ve only done one (very rarely two) print issues a year. Each one is filled with poems, prose, and visual art. These are all good, of course, but we felt this only captures a small fraction of the artistic talent on our campus and around the world.

Times they are a-changing, and so are we. This fall, we started online editions of Red Weather. These monthly editions allow us to have submission windows open virtually all year and are open to writers and artists worldwide. This first submission window alone, we had submissions from Turkey, Nepal, Russia, and South Korea. We are incredibly excited to give a platform to voices from around the world.

We are also excited to announce that the online editions will accept videos. That’s right—we can publish online things we could never do in a book. If you’re in theater, film, music, animation, or literally anything, you can now film your video or record your performance and submit it to us for consideration. Even if your artistic passion is not one of the categories listed, you can still send us a video of it.

Spoken word? Check.

Pottery making? Check.

Cake decorating? Sure, why not?

The first online edition will be published on our website on October 1. Even better, it’s entirely free! Our second edition, which is Halloween-themed, is currently open for submissions until October 15.

If you would like to submit, you can do so here: https://redweather.submittable.com/submit

Now go make some art!

-Laura

To view the previous print editions of Red Weather go here: https://www.newriverspress.com/product-category/red-weather/

Final.2014Issue1.Spine.5625    thirty-five    red-weather-thirty-six-cover

Written by Laura Grimm
Originally posted Sep 19, 2017