The Foster-Stahl Chapbook Series — Open for Submissions September 1, 2024 – March1, 2024

Announcing the Results of the 2023 Foster-Stahl Chapbook Series

Thanks to everyone who submitted their manuscripts to the Foster-Stahl Chapbook Series. We are grateful for everyone who gave us the opportunity to read and consider their work.

The excellence and range of the submissions made for a difficult task in selecting a manuscript and a thrilling reading experience. In the end, two manuscripts have been selected for publication. Below are the complete results:

Foster-Stahl Chapbook Series Selection:

Hesitation Waltz – Amie Whittemore

MWC Press Editor’s Choice Selection:

Atonality – Joshua Bohnsack

We are planning to release the selected chapbooks in the spring of 2025. Submissions for the Foster-Stahl Chapbook Series are open September 1 and run through March 1, 2025.  

Thanks so much to everyone who submitted their work to the Series—we will be sending everyone copies of the books when they are published next year. We’re grateful for the opportunity to have read your work, and we wish you all the best in placing your manuscripts elsewhere.

Thanks again, all the best, and take care…

MWC Press / Series Editors

Author Bios:

Photo credit: Emily April Allen

Amie Whittemore (she/her) is the author of three poetry collections, most recently Nest of Matches (Autumn House). She was the 2020-2021 Poet Laureate of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and an Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellow. Her poems have won multiple awards, including a Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Prize, and her poems and prose have appeared in The Gettysburg Review, Nashville Review, Smartish Pace, Pleiades, and elsewhere. She teaches creative writing at Eastern Illinois University.

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Joshua Bohnsack’s work has appeared in AGNI, Salt Hill, The Rumpus, and others. He is the publisher of Long Day Press and plays in the band Gold Dust. He grew up on a farm in Taylor Ridge, IL and lives in Chicago. 

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The Foster-Stahl Chapbook Series is supported by the MWC Legacy Society, the estates of Mary Foster and Richard “Dick” Stahl, and the Illinois Arts Council.

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Submissions for the Foster-Stahl Chapbook Series OPEN
September 1, 2024!

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MWC Press, the press imprint of The Midwest Writing Center, is thrilled to announce a new publication series: The Foster-Stahl Chapbook Series, which looks to publish outstanding short collections of poetry, prose (fiction or nonfiction), or hybrid work from poets and writers living in the upper Midwest region (this includes the following states served by Arts Midwest: IL, IN, IA, MI, MN, ND, OH, SD, WI). Submissions for the third year of the series are open now. Submissions accepted through December 31, 2023.

ABOUT THE SERIES

Mary Foster, with her late husband George

The contest is named in memory of two important figures in MWC’s history, whose lasting contributions to the Center have made this series possible: Mary Foster (1937-2019), a long-time educator and member of the MWC Board of Directors, as well as a founding member of MWC’s Legacy Society, and Richard “Dick” Stahl (1939-2020), a teacher and poet who published three collections (including Bluffing and Mr. Farnam’s Guests), and served at the inaugural Quad Cities Poet Laureate 2001-2003.

Richard “Dick” Stahl

All submitted manuscripts will be reviewed and selected by a group of writers/editors affiliated with MWC. Author of the selected manuscript will receive a publishing contract with MWC Press, a $300 publication fee, 20 copies of the finished chapbook, and an invitation to a reading in the Quad Cities (either in a virtual format, or an in-person reading, if possible, with MWC will covering travel expenses). MWC is committed to publishing at least one chapbook each year, but reserves the right to select more than one manuscript for publication. The series aims to publish at least one chapbook every year.

Submissions will be accepted via email and snail mail. Full submission details can be found below.

SUBMISSION DETAILS & INSTRUCTIONS

  • Please submit only one copy of your manuscript.
  • Manuscript page length: between 20-30 pages of poetry, prose, or hybrid works (front matter not included in count).
  • Poems must be typed.
  • Do not include photocopies of poems from magazines or journals. Manuscripts should include no more than one poem per page.
  • No illustrations may be included.
  • Multiple submissions are accepted.
  • Manuscripts with more than one author will not be accepted.
  • Translations will not be accepted.

A complete submission should include:

  • A title page with contest name (The Foster-Stahl Chapbook Series), your name, address, telephone, email, and any other relevant contact information. Your name should not appear elsewhere in the manuscript.
  • An acknowledgments page. Poems included in your manuscript may be previously published, but please include an acknowledgments page listing specific publications.
  • A complete Table of Contents.
  • Your manuscript.

ENTRY FEES

  • If submitting via USPS, please make checks payable to the Midwest Writing Center

CLMP Information

MWC is a member of Council of Literary Magazines and Presses (CLMP) and adheres to its Code of Ethics:

CLMP’s community of independent literary publishers believes that ethical contests serve our shared goal: to connect writers and readers by publishing exceptional writing. We believe that intent to act ethically, clarity of guidelines, and transparency of process form the foundation of an ethical contest. To that end, we agree to 1) conduct our contests as ethically as possible and to address any unethical behavior on the part of our readers, judges, or editors; 2) to provide clear and specific contest guidelines—defining conflict of interest for all parties involved; and 3) to make the mechanics of our selection process available to the public. This Code recognizes that different contest models produce different results, but that each model can be run ethically.

We take our integrity very seriously and will conduct this contest as ethically as possible. If any conflict of interest should arise, we will address it as ethically, fairly, and transparently as we can. We have adopted this Code to reinforce our integrity and dedication as a publishing community and to ensure that our contests contribute to a vibrant literary heritage

Restrictions

The current MWC Board of Directors, Staff, Committee Members, and Volunteers are excluded, as are members of their immediate families. If any of the selected authors fall under these categories, they will be disqualified, and a replacement will be chosen from among the other finalists.

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR SUBMISSIONS

The Foster-Stahl Chapbook Series
Midwest Writing Center
c/o RIPL
401 19th St.
Rock Island, IL 61201

Email submissions can be sent to: midwestwritingcenter (at) gmail (dot) com. Please include the phrase “Chapbook Series” in the subject line.

Please contact Ryan Collins with questions:
mwc@midwestwritingcenter.org
(309) 732-7330

NOTIFICATIONS

  • Manuscripts will not be returned.
  • If your manuscript is accepted for publication elsewhere, you must notify us ASAP.
  • A self-addressed stamped postcard for confirmation of receipt.
  • Authors of selected manuscripts will be contacted directly, and the announcement of the selection(s) will be announced on our website and on social media

The Foster-Stahl Chapbook Series is supported by the MWC Legacy Society, the estate of Mary Foster, memorial contributions made to MWC in the name of Richard “Dick” Stahl, and the Illinois Arts Council.

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