Thank you to everyone who made it to the Wild Violet 10th Anniversary Reading on Saturday, October 1 at MilkBoy Coffee in Ardmore, and special thanks to MilkBoy for hosting the event.

We had a good group of participants. Our readers were:

Charles Sanft

Charles Sanft is originally from Minnesota. He spends most of his time reading, writing, and talking with his wife.

He read some short essays, including a humorous essay inspired by ancient Persian decision-making processes.

Flash fiction – “Cicadas” (Vol. IX Issue 2 – Summer 2010 – Heat Wave)

Kathryn Nevin

Born in England, Kathryn Nevin has lived in the U.S. most of her life, completing undergraduate studies in English and Spanish Literature at Swarthmore College and obtaining a Master’s in Social Work degree also. She has several poetry publications including the Swarthmore Falconer; Drexel Online Journal; Ometeca (a Spanish/English literary magazine); Susquehanna Review; and Wild Violet.

She read poetry about a death in the family and about the prison where she works.

Poem – “On Parole” (Vol. VII Issue 3 – Linked Lives)

Amy Barone

Amy Barone is the author of poetry chapbook, Views from the Driveway, from Foothills Publishing. The book was inspired by growing up in suburban Philadelphia, nights hanging out with musician friends, living in Italy, and the haunting redemption of dreams. Her poetry has appeared in Avanti Popolo, Gradiva, Wild Violet, Philadelphia Poets and several PoetWorks Press anthologies. A native of Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, Amy has lived in New York City since 1999 where she works as Director of Communications for Dr. Mehmet Oz’s HealthCorps, a proactive health movement for at risk communities.

Amy Barone, a native of Bryn Mawr, read poetry based on her childhood and other life milestones.

Poem – “Felid Score” (Vol. VI Issue 3 – Mortal Coil)

Bernie Mojzes

Bernie Mojzes is the author of The Evil Gazebo, a short, illustrated book that is being rebirthed as a stage production later this year. He is also responsible for a passel of short stories that have or will appear in various anthologies and magazines, including Daily Science Fiction, Dead Souls, Crossed Genres and the Bad-Ass Faeries series, and is 50 percent of the editorial team at The Journal of Unlikely Entomology. Although he has on occasion been accused of committing Public Acts of Music and Philosophy, no charges were ever filed. He can be found at Kappamaki.com.

He read some creative non-fiction about moving into a house with a tragic past and an excerpt from his book, The Evil Gazebo.

Flash fiction – “Jumping Rope in Fitler Square” (Volume IX Issue 2 – Summer 2010 – Heat Wave)

Ben Heins

Ben Heins is the author of the forthcoming electronic poetry chapbook, Greatest Hits & B-Sides: 2007-2011 (Vagabondage Press). He will be graduating from Rosemont College in the spring of 2012 with an MFA in poetry.

He read some of his poetry, including a tribute to his poetry mentor and a piece for his dad.

Poem – “Haiku for Allentown” (Vol. VII Issue 2 – World Voyage)

Poem – “Where Len Lies” (Vol. VII Issue 3 – Linked Lives)

As the host of the event, editor Alyce Wilson read portions of her own poetry and a humorous essay, in between introductions. At the close of the official readers, the stage was opened up for an open mic, and Philadelphia area poet Mel Brake read one of his poems.

There was cake and door prizes, but Alyce’s 15-month-old son missed out. He had to be taken home after refusing to stop stage diving onto the couch in the front row.

You can find more information in the original post on the event.

If you are planning to read — either as a Wild Violet contributor or in the open mic — please drop me a message to let me know: wildvioletmagazine@yahoo.com. Thanks!

For those who need to take public transporation, you should plan your trip to arrive at the 30th Street Station in Philadelphia. Then you can catch the regional rail line, the Paoli-Thorndale Line (The schedule can be found at SEPTA.org). Head in the direction of Malvern. Get off at the Ardmore station (This is 5 stops from 30th Street). If the station is closed when you make your return trip, don’t worry: you can buy a ticket on the train. From there, it’s a very short walk to the coffeehouse: Head northwest on Lancaster Ave./U.S. Highway 30 toward Cricket Ave until you reach 2 E. Lancaster Ave., which is on the corner with Cricket Avenue.

If you are driving, there is a municipal parking lot on Cricket Avenue, about one block past Milkboy, on the right.

If you are a prior contributor to Wild Violet and are interested in contributing to the Wild Violet 10th Anniversary book, send your pieces to wildvioletmagazine@yahoo.com. Please put “Anniversary Book” in the subject line. Prose pieces are limited to 2,000 words, and poetry is limited to 30 lines. Artwork and photography will need to be at least 300 dpi for proper reproduction. The deadline is Monday, September 19.

I am working with the management about the possibility of having work from Wild Violet art and photography contributors exhibited throughout the entire month of October (This is the only way they will hang the art). They will, of course, be returned to you following the event. The works need to measure at least 3×5 feet, and we’ll need at least 10 of them total (not per artist). If you are interested, please e-mail me ASAP at wildvioletmagazine@yahoo.com with images of the works you’d like to have displayed. I will let you know when a decision has been made about whether to display the works. (Please e-mail right away, because I have to get those together very soon!)

If you are a Wild Violet contributor from any time over the past 10 years, you’re welcome to read some of your work at the celebration. Please e-mail me to let me know and send me a two-sentence bio to include in the program. After I know how many people will be reading, I’ll let you know how long you will be able to read. Those who are reading will also have the opportunity to sell their books, CDs, etc. Plan to bring change if you expect any sales, because you’ll be responsible for your own sales and change

Those who would like to contribute an item to be used as a door prize, please e-mail me to get the address where you should send them. We hope to have enough prizes so that everyone who attends will receive something. Include a note that states that you’re donating the item as a door prize, so that I don’t confuse it with the art that will be displayed and returned.

About This Issue

Passion Contents

In the decade since, Wild Violet has published poetry, fiction, humor, short pieces, essays, artwork and photography from more than 500 contributors, as well as dozens of reviews and interviews of those in the arts.

Despite the rumors, we are still going. As the current main force between Wild Violet, I’ve had difficulty keeping up over the past year. I am a first-time mom and had no idea how all-consuming my mothering duties would become. Fortunately, with my toddler now entering a stage of newfound independence, I’m finding it easier to catch up. I’m also finding ways to distribute the work amongst others. (If you would be interested in helping, please e-mail me.)

The contributors in this issue — Passion (Vol. X Issue 1, Fall 2011) — have waited far too long for their work to see the light. They are passionate about their work, and it deserves to be enjoyed.

I hope to continue providing a positive space for the arts for another 10 years (or more).

Issue Title Page

Passion Contents

Passion Contents

Passion Contents

Passion Contents

Passion Contents

Passion Contents