Publisher’s Note

After twelve years and sixteen issues, In the Grove is proudly moving online. A number of factors have made it appealing—the lower cost, the wider distribution, and the increased legitimacy of online magazines. There may come a day where we print hard copies again, but until then—please bookmark us, link us, and most of all, enjoy the writing. I would like to thank all of our contributors, donors, subscribers, and readers over the years—and invite you to join us for the new ride online.

Lee Herrick, Publisher

In the Grove, Issue 17, Summer 2009

Featuring:

The 2008 William Saroyan Centennial Prize winners (more info below)

Poetry from David Campos, Yu-Han Chao, Jennifer Kwon Dobbs, Charles Hood, Sam Pierstorff, Dixie Salazar, Soul Vang, C. Dale Young

Nonfiction from Lucille Sutton & Jeff Tannen

Fiction from Tim Z. Hernandez

2008 William Saroyan Centennial Prize

Competition Director: Megan Bohigian

Creative Nonfiction

Judged by John Hales, PhD, Author of the Memoir Shooting Polaris, numerous published essays, and professor of Creative Nonfiction and Literature at California State University Fresno’s Masters of Fine Arts Program.

Winners:

• First Prize: “Learning the Alphabet,” by Bethany E. Chaney
• Second Prize: “Heat, Pain and Life in the Valley,” by Hope Nisly
• Third Prize: “On Waiting,” by Kathleen Kondilas-Franks

Other Finalists:

• “Reading to Unit H,” by Hope Nisly
• “Tracks,” by Shahe Mankerian
• “The Dreamer’s Invention,” by Jack Chavoor
• “Mourning After,” by Armen D. Bacon
• “Dust to Dust,” by Janice Stevens
• “Catching Up,” by Jack Chavoor
• “Raising the Dead,” by Eric Parker
• “Where North Meets South,” by Jack Chavoor

Short Fiction

Final Judge, Steve Yarbrough, PhD, Author of novels including The End of California and Visible Spirits, and several collections of short stories, including The Oxygen Man and Veneer. and he teaches fiction in and directs the Masters of Fine Arts program in Creative Writing at California State University Fresno.

Winners:

• First Prize: “Floating Away,” Elizabeth Edelglass
• First Runner-Up: “Rebuilt,” Alissa Grosso
• Second Runner-Up: “Parable,” Shahé Mankerian

Other Finalists:

• “Poker Night,” Jane Stubbs
• “Absence,” by Evan Guilford-Blake

One Act Drama

Final Judge, Terry Miller, PhD, Professor in the Theatre Arts Department at California State University Fresno where he teaches playwriting.

• First Prize: “Testosterone,” by Hal Ackerman
• First Runner-Up: “Nighthawks,” Evan Guilford-Blake
• Second Runner-Up: “The Sword Dance,” Bethany Stillion