The swelter of August may be easing soon, but Lesley alums are maintaining a torrid pace of achievement! Check their out new publications, interviews, and more:
Jasmine Warga’s (WFYP, June 2013) novel, A Rover’s Story, was highlighted by Publishers Weekly as one of the children’s books powering the STEM/STEAM engine. Her novel, A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall, was also mentioned in Publishers Weekly‘s “Fall Regionals 2024: Booksellers Buzz About Fall Titles.“
Carnival Chaos, the first book in Tracey Baptiste’s (WFYP, MFA Writing Faculty) new Moko Magic series, was listed by Literary Hub as one of 10 Great Children’s Books Out This August. In addition, her upcoming novel, Boy 2.0, received a starred review from the School Library Journal.
Kate Fussner’s (WFYP, June 2021) forthcoming novel-in-verse 13 Ways to Say Goodbye, is now available for preorder from Papercuts.
Robbie Gamble (Poetry, January 2017) is featured in an interview in MassPoetry.
Saraciea J. Fennell (WFYP, January 2020) is cited in a People magazine article “Celebrate Summerween — this Summer’s Trendiest Holiday — With These Spooktacular Books For All Ages” for her anthology of horror stories The Black Girl Survives This One.
Benjamin Roesch (Fiction, January 2017) discusses his forthcoming YA novel The Rest of Your Life Soundtrack on the Cali & Craig Talk podcast. The book will be out on September 6th.
Natalie Padilla Young (Poetry, January 2009) has two poems, “Sacrament Meeting Started the Three Hours of Church on Sunday” and “Teddy Thompson Croons Leonard Cohen” in the premier issue of The Nomad.
Kevin Prufer (Poetry, MFA Writing Faculty) has two poems, “Fireflies” and “Automotive” in the premier issue of The Nomad. Also, Kevin’s recent novel Sleepaway was reviewed in Good River Review.
Hurley Winkler (Fiction, January 2017) has published a zine, 100 Swims: Last Summer’s Diaries, available here.
Emily Inouye Huey (WFYP, June 2011) has a new picture book Wat Kept Playing: the Inspiring Story of Wataru Misaka and His Rise to the NBA, which received a starred review in the School Library Journal.
Sara Levine (WFYP, January 2006) has a forthcoming interactive picture book A Visit with the Birds, which has been acquired by Sourcebooks eXplore, noted in Publishers Weekly. Publication is slated for Summer 2026.
Elizabeth Shick’s (Fiction, January 2019) novel The Golden Land is listed on the AWP Member Bookshelf.
Jody Hobbs Hesler’s (Fiction, June 2017) new novel Without You Here is listed on the AWP Member Bookshelf.
Laurie Foos (Fiction, MFA Writing Faculty) is featured in an article “More MFA Programs Closing” in Poets & Writers.
McKensi Scy Pascall (WSS, June 2024) has been awarded a Fellowship with the Public Theater in Manhattan to produce Theater with their Mobile Unit Department over the next 6 months.
Pam Petro (Nonfiction, MFA Writing Faculty) has an article “Why Wales Feels Like Home to Me” on Wales.com. She was also interviewed by travel guru Rick Steves about her relationship with Wales on the radio program Rick Steves’ Europe.
Luli and the Language of Tea by Andrea Wang (WFYP, June 2011) was shortlisted for the 2025 Siam Book Awards for Early Readers.
There Was a Party for Langston by Jason Reynolds (WFYP, MFA Writing Faculty) was named as a finalist for the 2024 Kirkus Prize in Young Readers’ Literature.
Opportunities & Resources
- David Elliott, emeritus faculty for the Writing for Young People genre, is conducting a writing retreat focused on retellings May 2025 in Greece. Participants will stay in a beachfront hotel in a village on the island of Evia, visit ancient sites as inspiration for workshops, and then participate in seminars and workshops meant to generate new work as the writers hone their craft. Those interested in attending should fill out this form.
- The 2025 Perugia Press Prize is open for submissions until November 15th. They are looking for poetry manuscripts by U.S.-based woman-identifying poets with no more than one previously published full-length book. You are still eligible if you have published a poetry chapbook/s or books in other genres.
Do you have any recent writing successes or news you’d like to share with the Cambridge Common Writers community? Let us know by reaching out to us at [email protected]!
Comments are closed