News release Public Information Office  SLU 10880   Hammond, LA 70402   phone: 985-549-2341   fax: 985-549-2061 publicinfo@selu.edu Spring 2004 news releases Public Information home News archive Contact: Christina Chapple Date: 3/10/05   SOUTHEASTERN’S “LOUISIANA LITERATURE” SPONSORS ANNUAL POETRY COMPETITION      HAMMOND – “Louisiana Literature,” Southeastern Louisiana University’s award-wining literary magazine, is seeking entries for its annual poetry competition.      Entries for the19th annual Louisiana Literature Prize for Poetry, which includes a $400  award, must be submitted by April 15, said Editor Jack Bedell of Southeastern’s English Department faculty. Bedell said all entries -- either a poem or group of poems -- will be considered for publication in “Louisiana Literature.”       For a $12 handling fee, which also earns a one?year subscription to the journal, United States residents may enter one to five poems, totaling 250 lines, Bedell said. “Poems may be on any topic. All work must be previously unpublished, and a name and address must appear on each poem,” he said.      Along with entries, participants should send a check or money order payable to “Louisiana Literature” and a self-addressed, stamped envelope for contest results. Manuscripts cannot be returned, but entrants should send a second envelope if they want notification of receipt.      Entries should be mailed to Louisiana Literature, Poetry Contest, SLU 10792, Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond LA 70402.       Southeastern began publishing “Louisiana Literature” in 1984. Last year, the publication received a $10,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, allowing the journal to upgrade its format and expand Louisiana Literature Press, which was established in 1988. The Council of Editors of Learned Journals, the nationwide organization of scholarly and literary journals, has honored the literary magazine for its design.       The press has printed several poetry chapbooks and a novel, “Pompeii Man,” by Paul Ruffin.  Bedell said the NEA grant will help fund three books of poetry this year, including the recently published “Gypsy with Baby” by Heather Ross Miller. Forthcoming is “In the Place of Singing” by New Orleans poet John Freeman and “Hardboot” by Vivian Shipley, editor of “The Connecticut Review,” Connecticut State University Distinguished Professor and a member of the Southern Connecticut State University faculty.      “Louisiana Literature” spotlights both local talent and nationally recognized authors. Works first published in “Louisiana Literature” have regularly been reprinted in collections and nominated for prizes such as the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize. “Gleanings,” Shipley’s collection of award-winning poems published by Louisiana Literature Press, was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 2003.       Bedell said poetry prizewinners will be announced at the end of April. For additional information about the contest or “Louisiana Literature,” contact him at jbedell@selu.edu or 985-549-5756 or visit www.louisianaliterature.org.