Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Brandon Haffner @thebrandonhaff.bsky.social · 2d

Awesome!!

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Rabih Alameddine @rabihalameddine.bsky.social · 3d

National Book Award finalist. Amazing!!
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/07/b...

Here Are the Finalists for the 2025 National Book Awards

www.nytimes.com

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Brandon Haffner @thebrandonhaff.bsky.social · 16d

Wrote an article on Richmond's James River Writers, an organization trying to foster community around the arts despite increasing obstacles: www.richmonder.org/james-river-...

James River Writers conference brings together Richmond's literary scene

“We do have a national reputation. I think Richmond is getting known for being an artistic community.”

www.richmonder.org

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Brandon Haffner @thebrandonhaff.bsky.social · 27d

This book is a blast. Love Joy Williams!

Brandon Haffner @thebrandonhaff.bsky.social · Aug 30

Returned home from Hambidge last weekend and I've been dreaming about it ever since. Added 30 pages to my novel project, drafted a new short story, wrote some poems, revised a bunch of stuff, read 8 books, and met amazing people (we started a book club!). One of the most peaceful places I've been.

Signatures of former Hambidge residents written on a cutting board in Mellinger Studio

The water of Betty's Creek swirls through rocks and trees

Eight Adirondack chairs sit in a circle on an expansive lawn near a triangular glass sculpture with trees in the background

A photo of the inside of Mellinger Studio at Hambidge depicts a desk, lamp, desk chair, reading chair, a table with books, and windows that look out into the forest

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Roxane Gay @roxanegay.bsky.social · Aug 26

We are creating a Spanish language section on The Rumpus, for original creative work written in Spanish and are looking for a volunteer editor for this section. If this could be you, please send a brief letter of interest to [email protected] by Tuesday, September 2nd!

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Rabih Alameddine @rabihalameddine.bsky.social · Aug 7

In 4 weeks!

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Ross White @rosswhite.com · Aug 7

This seems like a good to remind folks: if you have a literary project you want to start but need a little help and a little support, our incubator might be what you're looking for! bullcitypress.com/projects/inc...

Incubator

We started in a basement with a budget of $300. We love helping others who have shoestring budgets make the books, journals, podcasts, and literary ephemera that they’ve been dreaming of. Bul…

bullcitypress.com

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Brandon Haffner @thebrandonhaff.bsky.social · Jul 22

Today is pub day for @jennicjul.bsky.social's Red Rabbit Ghost, a horror novel I've been excited to read for many many months. I teach Julian's short fiction every year, and every year the students and I are surprised and awed. This is going to be good, y'all.

bookshop.org/p/books/red-...

Red Rabbit Ghost

Check out Red Rabbit Ghost - An impulsive young outcast confronts his small town's dark secrets in this atmospheric and haunting debut horror novel from brilliant new voice Jen Julian. "Dre...

bookshop.org

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Variant Literature @variantlit.bsky.social · Jun 30

Congratulations to the Variant writers on the Wigleaf Top 50 2025 Longlist!

@danbillyc.bsky.social "Kilter" (Spring 2024)

@courtludwick.bsky.social "Quarter" (Spring 2024)

@emilyrinkema.bsky.social "The Interview" (Fall 2024)

@sarahroth.bsky.social "Postnatural" (Winter 2024)

Wigleaf @wigleaf.bsky.social · Jun 28

new on our mainpage: THE WIGLEAF TOP 50 VERY SHORT FICTIONS 2025 (selecting editor @samanito.bsky.social )

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Rabih Alameddine @rabihalameddine.bsky.social · Apr 15

If you feel an inchoate itch to preorder a book, you can scratch here:
bookshop.org/p/books/the-...

The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother)

Check out The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother) - "Alameddine is a writer with a boundless imagination."--NPRFrom National Book Award finalist and winner of the...

bookshop.org

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Brandon Haffner @thebrandonhaff.bsky.social · Jun 8

Yep this right here

Reposted by Brandon Haffner

Kathryn Aldridge-Morris @kazbarwrites.bsky.social · Apr 28

🎉SHE'S HERE!!🎉 Hugely excited to reveal the beauticious cover of my debut collection COLD TOAST feat. the artwork of renowned 70s artist Tim Mara 🔥
Out on 15th May! Preorders now available at www.dahliapublishing.co.uk/product/cold...

#flashfiction #shortstories #popart #printmaking

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Brandon Haffner @thebrandonhaff.bsky.social · May 28

Here's a fun (I hope!) story I made about some teenagers who find a magical teapot! Thanks to J Journal for taking this on. www.jjournal.org/post/teapot-...

Teapot Summer by Brandon Ahmad Haffner

Birthdays I remember the teapot summer. Thanks to Brenda I couldn’t forget if I wanted. I remember the day we found it I was strutting the center line on Main like a lunatic. Big-shouldered, daring ca...

www.jjournal.org

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Gabino Iglesias @gabino.bsky.social · May 25

I don’t want to “streamline” my writing. I don’t want to “increase my output.” I don’t want to “write a novel with one click.” I want to write stuff only I can write. I want to read and write novels with soul and heart and a unique voice. Fuck AI. Long live real writers.

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Brandon Haffner @thebrandonhaff.bsky.social · May 23

This is a good one!

One Story @onestorymag.bsky.social · Apr 30

In Achy Obejas “Dachau”, two Cuban visual artists—one expat, one citizen—visit the concentration camp in Dachau, Germany, where they find themselves confronting not only the town’s Nazi past but also its unsettling present. bit.ly/4jVtgV1

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VCCA @the-vcca.bsky.social · May 9

Since 1971, VCCA has been a haven for artists across disciplines — a place of creative freedom, support, and community. This May, as we mark 54 years, we ask you to consider making a $54 contribution to support the next chapter of VCCA’s story. 💝 vcca.com/54

Celebrate 54 Years of VCCA and Beyond | VCCA

This May, we celebrate 54 years of artistic excellence at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, a place […]

www.vcca.com

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The Offing @theoffingmag.bsky.social · May 8

Call for submissions! 🗣️
The Offing’s Essay department is seeking new works! Follow the link to submit today!
theoffingmag.submittable.com/submit

Call for submissions. The Offing’s Essay department is seeking new works! In black text over a background of open books.

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Amy Stuber @amystuber.com · Apr 12

I promise to stop talking about this today (there are obviously far bigger things happening) but I did want to call out that these books are all from small/university presses. In a lit world where it’s really hard to break a collection out, I’m grateful for the attention to small-press books!

Screenshot of Pen Robert w Bingham prize finalist list announcement from here https://pen.org/announcing-the-2025-pen-america-literary-awards-finalists/

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VCCA @the-vcca.bsky.social · Apr 3

To our local friends and #VCCAFellows: If you're looking for a fun outdoor activity next Saturday, April 12, we'd love to welcome you for Spring Volunteer Day at VCCA in Amherst, Virginia!

Please sign up by Tuesday, April 8: vcca.typeform.com/volunteer-day

Volunteer Day at VCCA

Sign up to join VCCA for light yard work and free lunch at Mt. San Angelo.

vcca.typeform.com

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Amy Stuber @amystuber.com · Mar 27

I could not be at AWP this year because of work. I'm sad to miss all the good talk about reading & writing. Also, as someone with a new-ish book out, I guess I'm missing the opportunity to spread the word - so here goes: I hope you'll consider ordering SAD GROWNUPS: bookshop.org/p/books/sad-...

Sad Grownups

Check out Sad Grownups - For those who've been sad and tried not to be, seventeen stories about the absurdity of searching for joy in a dying world. A neighborhoo...

bookshop.org

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Brandon Haffner @thebrandonhaff.bsky.social · Mar 14

Yep! Feeling this lately also. Still learning how & when to set those boundaries, but slowly getting more comfortable saying no to things. Good luck out there!

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Brandon Haffner @thebrandonhaff.bsky.social · Mar 13

Yay, I've been awarded a residency at the Hambidge Center for Creative Arts and Sciences. How wonderful and lucky, I can't wait. A little light!

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UNCG Creative Writing @mfagreensboro.bsky.social · Mar 12

We're hiring! The Department of English at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro invites applications for a one-year visiting assistant professor position in creative writing (poetry), to begin August 1, 2025. Application deadline is April 11, 2025.

spartantalent.uncg.edu/postings/31471

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Brandon Haffner @thebrandonhaff.bsky.social · Mar 7

After a year+ of hardly submitting at all, I sent two stories and a few poems to some journals! Feels happy to put my work back into the world. And congrats on the flash!

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