Hola Everyone,

I hope the summer is rockin' for you all. It is a beautiful rainy day out here--a perfect day for an update. I'd love to start by thanking the incredible journals who have recently published my new poems: Mid-American Review, Potomac Review, Barrow Street, Puerto del Sol, Harpur Palate, Beloit Poetry Journal, Sycamore Review and Columbia Journal. I have had a very productive writing summer and I'm excited to test my new work on the market as journals begin to reopen. Far more importantly, my students have been en fuego! Please find detailed awesomeness below. I honestly couldn't be prouder.

First, I'm so glad these excellent students are starting their graduate careers at these fine institutions:

Taylor Fedorchak: New Mexico State University
Melinda Ruth: University of Central Arkansas
Renae Tucker: Florida Atlantic University
Terin Weinberg: Florida International University

Here is the crazy list of student publications and accomplishments:

Caroline Chavatel had poems accepted by Zone 3, Prairie Schooner, and The Journal. She also had two poems nominated for Best New Poets and is the new poetry editor for Puerto del Sol.
Charlotte Covey had poems accepted by Southampton Review, ELM, Pacifica Literary Review, Timber, Raleigh Review, Lunch Ticket's Amuse Bouche and Typehouse Literary Magazine. She also had a poem featured on the Calyx website, graduated with an MFA from UMSL and was named the managing editor of WomenArts Quarterly. She also read for the Hungry Young Poets series in St. Louis.
Samantha Curtin had poems accepted by Red Earth Review and Germ Magazine.
Emma DePanise had poems accepted by Nimrod International Journal, Potomac Review, Cigar City Poetry Journal, Polaris and 30N. She won the 2018 Pablo Neruda Prize for Poetry and came in second for the 2018 Polaris Poetry Prize. She also has an audio feature forthcoming on the Mochila Review website. She also presented her poetry at NCUR 2018.
Lilia Dobos was a Killam Award recipient.
Taylor Fedorchak had poems accepted by Bluestem Magazine and Gravel Magazine.
Ella Flores had poems accepted by Barely South Review, Hawai'i Pacific Review, Bitter Oleander, Slipstream and Rhino Poetry.
Bridgette Green had poems accepted by Prairie Margins and Red Coyote. She was also a finalist in the Hollins University Literary Festival Poetry Contest.
Alyssa Hazel had poems accepted by Bluestem Magazine and Red Coyote.
Caylie Herrmann is the new web content editor for Willow Springs.
Molly Likovich had poems accepted by Boomer Lit Mag.
Melissa Marsh had a poem accepted by Sink Hollow.
Kathryn Merwin had poems accepted by CutBank, The Normal School and South Dakota Review. She also finished her MFA at WWU and began working with Poetry Northwest.
Megan Newcomer had a poem accepted by Steam Ticket.
Melinda Ruth had poems accepted by Evansville Review and Third Wednesday. She was also awarded a scholarship to the Slice Literary Conference.
Erin Traylor (Ryn Jo) had poems accepted by Waccamaw, Rust and Moth and Natural Bridge.
Renae Tucker had two poems accepted by Red Earth Review.
Danielle Walker was awarded a Fulbright to teach English in Moldova.
Annie Warner had a story accepted by Steam Ticket.
Terin Weinberg had poems accepted by Hawai'i Review and Oakland Arts Review.
Lauren Yarnall had a poem accepted by Thrush Poetry Journal. She is also the new Co-Editor-in-Chief of Fugue.

Everyday I wake up grateful to work with such humbling talent these students have. They are also such high quality people. I wish I could give them all five right now. So virtual high five to all of them, and you readers. I hope the rest of your summer is better than you could have hoped for.

Til next time,
John