We're pleased to announce the results of our 2009 Creative Non-Fiction Contest:

Winner: "Fetters" by Madeline Sonik
1st runner-up: "Sunsets" by Mary Valencia
2nd runner-up: "Widow" by Christine Clearly

Congratulations!

Look for "Fetters" in our upcoming spring issue (48:3), which will include an interview with judge Susan Olding.

Many thanks to Susan and to all the writers who sent in work. Enjoy your year-long subscription to PRISM!

The following Vancouver businesss have generously donated door prizes and food for the PRISM international 50th Anniversary Retrospective Edition launch:

Pulp Fiction Books (2422 Main Street)

Liberty Wines (various locations in Vancouver)

The Naam Restaurant (2724 West 4th)

Aphrodite Organic Cafe and Pie Shop (3598 West 4th)

Hell's Kitchen (2401 West 4th)

Pane e Formaggio Artisan Bread and Cheese Shop (4532 West 10th)

Sun Sushi Japanese Restaurant (4512 West 10th)

Cupcakes (2887 West Broadway)

UBC Bookstore (6200 University Boulevard)

Thank you for supporting literary arts in Vancouver and around the world!

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Tickets for the launch are available at the door for $15 dollars, which includes a copy of the Winter 2010 Retrospective edition.

Where: Thea's Lounge, Thea Koerner Building, 6371 Crescent Road, UBC Campus

When: January 28, 8 p.m.

We've extended our poetry and fiction contest entry deadline to February 15 (postmarked). Yes, that's one day after Valentines Day. Send us your best poetry and fiction and not only will you win our love and a year-long subscription to PRISM international, you could win some major dough. Over $4000 in prizes!

See our Contests page for more information.

PRISM international is 50 years old. It's not every day that a literary journal reaches the big 5-0, so we're rolling out the red carpet and throwing a big bash to celebrate. It's going to be a night of libations, music, amuse-bouches and literary shenanigans.

We'll have readings from Bill Gaston, Deborah Willis, George McWhirter, Elizabeth Bachinsky, as well as toasts from past and present PRISM editors.

You'll also go home with our extended 50th Anniversary Retrospective issue, which includes writing by Margaret Atwood, Seamus Heaney, Raymond Carver, Michael Ondaatje, Carol Shields, Italo Calvino, Irving Layton, and many more!

Tickets available at the door for $15 dollars (which includes a copy of the Winter 2010 Retrospective edition).

Where: Thea's Lounge, Thea Koerner Building, 6371 Crescent Road, UBC Campus

When: January 28, 8 p.m.

We'll see you on the 28th!

Entries for PRISM international's Poetry and Fiction Contests are due (postmarked) January 30. Send us your best poetry and short fiction -- over $4000 in prizes and the winning pieces are published in PRISM.

This year's poetry judge is Rhea Tregebov, critically-acclaimed poet and novelist (fiction judge to be announced soon).

See our contests page for more information and to download an entry form.

We're pleased to announce that Sue Sinclair's poem "Cherry Trees" has been awarded the Earle Birney Poetry Prize.

Each year, the outgoing poetry editor chooses the winning poem. 2008/09 poetry editor Crystal Sikma says she chose the poem "for its quiet evocation of the metaphysical -- for the way it evokes the image of cherry trees in spring, in all their fleeting beauty."

"Cherry Trees" appeared in our summer issue (47:4) and is available for purchase here.

Excellent choice, Crystal, and congratulations, Sue!

Many thanks to Wailan Low, whose generous support keeps the PRISM poetry prize available.

We are thrilled to announce that Shawn Syms' story "On the Line," published in PRISM international issue 47:1, has been nominated for the prestigious Journey Prize. Congratulations Shawn and good luck!

Click here to read an interview with Shawn and former fiction editor Michelle Miller.

Jennica Harper’s poem “Liner Notes” (issue 47:1) has won Silver in The National Magazine Awards Poetry Category. Congratulations, Jennica. You are super!

PRISM international supports the arts in Canada, and so do our readers and writers. We urge you to show your support by joining facebook’s Coalition to Keep Federal Support of Literary, Scholarly and Arts, to download, sign and distribute the petition, as well as to write the Honorable Heritage Minister James Moore and tell him you support literary arts in Canada.
For more information, join PRISM on facebook!

Leah Bailly’s creative non-fiction article “Long Views Across Nothing," the runner-up in the 2008 PRISM non-fiction prize (Issue 47:2), has won the Alberta Writers’ Guild inaugural Amber Bowerman Memorial Travel Writing Award. Congratulations, Leah!!!!

We're proud to announce that Jennica Harper's poem "Liner Notes" has been nominated for a National Magazine Award.

"Liner Notes" first appeared in PRISM 47.1 (fall) and was also shortlisted for the 2008 CBC Literary Awards.

Lucky for you, we still have copies available. See our Issues page to order your copy.

Way to go, Jennica!