‘Arts & Letters’ Names Writing Winners | Arts & Culture

Georgia College’s literary journal “Arts & Letters” announces the winners of its nationwide writing contest.

Since 1999, the competition has awarded prize money and published the works of winning writers in creative nonfiction, fiction, poetry and drama catagories.

“We had 500 to 600 submissions to the Arts & Letters festival this past year,” said David Muschell, drama editor for the publication and English professor at Georgia College. “The winners chosen from each of the four categories are awarded $1,000, a trip to our campus and the opportunity to share their works with the Georgia College community.”

Winners will hold readings of their works, and Georgia College students will also perform the winning play of the drama division.

“’Arts & Letters’ is a wonderful, poetry-loving journal,” said poetry winner Kirun Kapur. “It's a huge honor and a wonderful surprise to win the Rumi prize.”

This year’s winners are:

 *   Sonja Livingston won the Susan Atefat creative nonfiction prize. She will read her work Thursday, March 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Arts & Sciences Auditorium.

 *   Dana Fitz Gale received the prize for fiction. Her reading will be held Saturday, March 16 at noon at Andalusia Farm.

 *   Kirun Kapur won the Rumi prize for poetry. She will read her work Friday, March 15 at 12:30 p.m. in Maxwell Student Union’s Dunahoo lounge.

 *   James Armstrong won the prize for drama. Productions will be held Friday, March 15 and Saturday, March 16 at 8 p.m. in Max Noah Recital Hall.

“The events are open to all students, faculty, staff and members of the community,” said Muschell. “We want everyone to come enjoy the great works of literature and meet these writers.”

All public readings are free to attend except the drama production, which is $2 for Georgia College students and $4 for general admission.

“My play called ‘Afterward’ is about a failed candidate for the U.S. Senate contemplating his loss the night after the election. I came up with the concept after watching a number of political campaigns, but the play is really about how all of us deal with disappointment, political or otherwise,” said Armstrong. “I was thrilled when they told me I'd won the award, especially since all of the submissions are read blind, which means none of the judges knew I had already had a play published in the journal.”

"Arts and Letters” is a nationally recognized literary journal. A hardcopy version is published every spring and an online version is published twice a year.