IAC Literary Awards         

[MAY 10, 2006]  CHICAGO -- The Illinois Arts Council has announced the writers and literary publications selected to receive 2006 Literary Awards. Companion awards of $1,000 each are given to the writer and publication in which that writer's work was published. The Illinois Arts Council Literary Awards recognize the creative excellence of Illinois writers and promote awareness of noncommercial publishing in the state.

The following individuals served as jurors charged with the responsibility of reviewing applications and making funding recommendations for the 2006 awards: Donald Morrill of Tampa, Fla.; Tony Tost of Chapel Hill, N.C.; and Crystal Wilkinson of Bloomington, Ind.

The 2006 Literary Award recipients are listed below in alphabetical order by literary magazine title.

• Robert Archambeau of Highland Park for the poem "Poem for a War Poet, Poem for a War," published in Chicago by Another Chicago Magazine, Vols. 44 and 45, edited by Barry Silesky.

• Barry Silesky of Chicago for the poem "The House of Her," published in Carbondale by Crab Orchard Review, Vol. 10, No. 1, edited by Allison Joseph.

• Elizabeth Wetmore of Chicago for the fiction story "Practice," published in Carbondale by Crab Orchard Review, Vol. 10, No. 1, edited by Alison Joseph.

• Natalie Pepa of Elgin for the fiction story "The Signs of Love," published in Charleston by Karamu, spring 2005, edited by Olga Abella.

• Ricardo Cortez Cruz of Bloomington for the poem "Sweet Honey on the Rocks," published in Normal by Mandorla, Issue 8, edited by Kristin Dykstra.

• Kent Johnson of Freeport for the poem "When I First Read Ange Mlinko," published in Normal by Mandorla, Issue 8, edited by Kristin Dykstra.

• Garnett Kilberg Cohen of Chicago for the fiction story "Relativity," published in Chicago by Other Voices, Vol. 42, edited by Gina Frangello.

• Valerie Martt Wallage of Chicago for the poem "Jezebel Remembering," published in Evanston by Rhino 2005, edited by Kathleen Kirk.

• Morgan McDermott of Evanston for the fiction story "Tow," published in Kenilworth by StoryQuarterly, Vol. 41, edited by M.M.M. Hayes.

• Mark Strand of Dorchester for the creative nonfiction story "An Inside Story," published in Kenilworth by StoryQuarterly, Vol. 41, edited by M.M.M. Hayes.

• Alexai Galaviz-Budziszewski of Chicago for the fiction story "God's Country," published in Evanston by TriQuarterly 121, edited by Susan Firestone Hahn.

The Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, is committed to the cultural, educational and economic growth of the diverse people and communities of the state through support and encouragement of artists and the arts.

[Illinois Arts Council news release]