Dunes Review

by Holly Spaulding
Sun staff writer

Ernest Hemingway and Jim Harrison discovered the blessed compatabilities of living up north, and the writing life. Those of us that do both of these things like to think that we have only to work very hard, breathe the good air and honor what the woods and water offer, and at some stage, we too will write something of virtue.
Sunday May 21, 2000 marked the launch of this year’s issue of the Dunes Review; a diverse literary magazine representing the labors of over 40 writers who are currently based in the northwestern lower peninsula of Michigan. This is a regional publication, and an opportunity for local poets and essayists to see their work in print close to home and in the company of their neighbors and friends.
During the day a two hour workshop was offered at the Leelanau School for contributors to the magazine. Detroit poet Terry Blackhawk, who was also this year’s judge for the three prizes offered by the magazine, lead the group through readings and discussions of poetry. At the presentation in the evening, Nancy Madison Fitzgerald (The Leelanau Prize for Poetry), JoAnna Pepe (The William J. Stafford Memorial Prize) and Corrina Collins (The Dunes Review Youth Prize) read from their winning poems, as did the recipients of Honorable Mention in each of the categories: Jaime Delp, Jennifer Evans, Brendan Straubel and Steve Lawless. The event concluded with Ms. Blackhawks reading from her own new collection of poems, Body and Field.
The Dunes Review Writing Project was started four years ago by local poet, playwright and writing teacher Anne-Marie Oomen. Her intention was to promote and showcase the writing that she knew from teaching experience, which was going on all over the region. She also began the tradition of using art by local artists on the cover. This year’s cover features Thompsonville resident Jamey Barnard’s painting “Nadia’s Red Skirt”.
The financial support for this volunteer project comes from various sources, including a Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs mini-grant, Traverse City Arts Council, Glen Arbor Art Association and many local businesses and individuals who wish to see the literary culture of our area thrive. The Beach Bards of Glen Arbor have continued to provide prize money for the poetry awards offered by the magazine.
This year’s Dunes Review was co-edited by Jenny Robertson and Holly Wren Spaulding, both of whom are poets, and have contributed to the magazine in the past. Their goal was to produce a document that continues to show the dynamic growth of the literary culture in this area, and to encourage writers of all abilities to practice their craft with seriousness and determination. They also added a section entitled “New Writing From Northern Michigan”, which highlights works by established area poets and others that have appeared in the magazine in previous years.
The evidence of good things happening in the writing community is in the magazine, where 80 pages of poetry and several essays on the predetermined theme of “Impermanence” should provide anyone with a good afternoon of reading enjoyment.
You can pick up a copy of the Dunes Review at Lake Street Studios, or The
Cottage Bookshop in Glen Arbor.