664 entries of 1-3 poems each were received from around the world. They were judged by Jendi Reiter, award-winning author of Swallow (Amsterdam Press, 2009) and A Talent for Sadness (Turning Point Books, 2003), and Ellen LaFleche, an accomplished writer and editor whose honors include the Poets on Parnassus Prize for poetry about the medical experience and the Editor's Choice Award for poetry from Writecorner Press.

The judges said, "Because of Long's lyrical imagery, specific details of time and place, and moments of dark humor, his characters are universal without being generic. 'Wolverine and White Crow' is a dignified masterpiece that indicts war through its gritty exploration of disenfranchised men. In this poem, the bleak prospects for men on a Native American reservation both influence the protagonist's decision to join the military and compound his struggles when he returns. By contrast, for the disabled vet in 'Motivations', it was his own youthful strength and manliness that made him feel invincible in battle--until the instant when he wasn't."

Timothy Tebeau of Petoskey, Michigan won second prize and $1,200 for "Dancing in Baghdad". Perfectly poised between beauty and horror, this poem depicts elite revelers at an embassy where death waits just outside the door. Their heartlessness and self-delusion are privileges of their position but may also be their undoing.

Susan McCabe of Santa Monica, California won third prize and $600 for "Or Wend, Skull, With Your Teeth Like Bright Armor". This unique and striking poem begins with the marriage of extravagance and death in British conceptual artist Damien Hirst's "For the Love of God" sculpture, a human skull encrusted with $18 million worth of diamonds. She imagines the skull as having belonged to a soldier whose brief life was so rich in some ways, so vulnerable in others. McCabe's poem prompts us to reflect on the wastefulness of a wealthy nation that fêtes dead things while discarding young lives.

Twelve honorable mention awards of $100 were also made, bringing the total to $5,000. The winners and 10 finalists are published at http://www.winningwriters.com/contests/war/2009/wa09_pastwinners.php

About the War Poetry Contest

The War Poetry Contest is sponsored by Winning Writers. It seeks original, unpublished poems on the theme of war. Contestants may submit 1-3 poems, up to 500 lines in all. Submissions for the 2010 contest are accepted from November 15, 2009 through May 31, 2010. The prize pool is $5,000, including a first prize of $2,000. Entries are accepted online and by mail. The entry fee is $15. For more information, please see http://www.winningwriters.com/contests/war/wa_guidelines.php

Please feel free to request additional information or permission to reprint poems, or to arrange interviews with the contest winners.

"Poets House is both a location and a welcoming hearth for poets and all who want to experience poetry," said Margo Viscusi, Poets House Board President Emerita and co-chair of the Campaign for Poets House. "But, in almost 25 years of existence, it has never had a permanent home. In a miracle of vision and will and cooperation, the public and private sectors, along with our staff and board and all our many friends, have constructed this new, permanent 'house of possibilities' in a rejuvenated downtown Manhattan. As the visual arts have their museums and music its concert halls, American poetry (http://www.poetshouse.org) finally has its home."

"Poets House now has an expansive home to match the breadth of its programs, thanks to the leadership of its board and staff, inspiring and sustainable design, and strong support from government and the local community," said Commissioner Kate D. Levin of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. "Today marks an important step forward in Lower Manhattan's revitalization, as we celebrate this important new resource for local residents and visitors from across the City and around the world."

"We are thrilled to welcome New Yorkers and visitors from around the globe to experience our new world-class home for poets and poetry," said Lee Briccetti, Executive Director of Poets House. "Many thousands of residents and tourists will have the chance to hear the premiere poetic voices of today and also curl-up with their favorite classics. Poets House is not just about creating an opportunity for people to fall in love with language but to enter a conversation with all the poets (http://www.poetshouse.org) who ever lived - to enter into a conversation between the living and the printed word."

The new home promises to be one of the globe's great poetry destinations. The "green" space was custom-designed by New York architect Louise Braverman to LEED gold standards.

Highlights include:

• state-of-the-art "green" construction including insulation made of recycled blue jeans, lights that adjust based on natural daylight, low-flow lavatories, and the use of building materials that are recycled or manufactured locally;

• the Poets House Reading Room, which houses the 50,000-volume Reed Foundation

Library (with room to grow), offers comfortable settings for reading, writing and conversation; the Elizabeth Kray Hall, which offers New Yorkers and visitors the opportunity to hear leading poetic voices from around the world. This distinctive new literary venue is outfitted with cutting edge technology to easily archive and broadcast events;

• the spacious and whimsical Constance Laibe Hays Children's Room, which will help inspire young imaginations;

• a poetry-enriched streetscape - Poets House plans to project sonnets onto the sidewalk to welcome the public;

• a new outdoor amphitheatre, designed by landscape architect Michael Van Valkenburgh, that enables audiences to experience the poetic equivalent of Tanglewood;

• an original light-reflecting mobile by world-renowned artist Alexander Calder;

• expansive windows facing Nelson Rockefeller Park with sweeping views of the Hudson River;

• a distinctive, crystalline entrance featuring majestic double height ceilings, and an egg-shaped Cheney Chappell Exhibition Space that when illuminated will appear to float;

• reinforced floors - typically floors can support 100 lbs. per square foot, but in the area for the compressed stacks of books, the floor is built to support 400 lbs. per square foot;

• the Stanley Kunitz Conference Room will hosts classes and workshops. This room and other spaces can be rented by other literary groups at affordable rates.

Founded in 1985 by two-time poet laureate Stanley Kunitz and Elizabeth Kray, Poets House (http://www.poetshouse.org) contains one of the most comprehensive open-access collections of poetry in the United States. Each year, Poets House presents over 200 public programs, including panels, lectures, readings, writing workshops and walking tours in New York City and nationwide. The decision was made to leave off the apostrophe in its name because, according to Kunitz, "some things must never be possessed but shared."

In 2006, Poets House signed a 60-year, rent-free lease agreement with the Battery Park City Authority to build a new library at the base of the 10 River Terrace condo tower. The space is rent free through 2069. With the move, Poets House estimates that over the course of its new lease it will save about $60 million, which will now go to programs and services.

On average, the loft space in Soho (which closed in December 2007) attracted 10,000 to15,000 visitors per year. Poets House expects its new home in Battery Park City to welcome more than 30,000 people per year.

To construct the new facility, Poets House launched an $11.2 million capital campaign with $2.5 million of the total for reserves and the endowment. Margo Viscusi, President Emerita of the Poets House Board of Directors and trustee of the Mary McCarthy Literary Trust, serves as co-chair for the campaign which has raised $9.8 million to date.

Project funders include: The City of New York through the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs with support from the New York City Council and the Manhattan Borough President; the Empire State Development Corporation; the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation; the National Endowment for the Humanities; the New York State Council on the Arts; New York State's Community Capital Assistance Program through Assemblyperson Deborah Glick; and private foundations and individual supporters.

Denham Wolf served as Poets House's real estate advisor and overall project manager, helping to secure interim office space, coordinating the project team, and overseeing design and construction. Cauldwell Wingate was the project construction manager, and New Civic Works were the LEED consultants who helped design a "green" strategy for Poets House.

Other nonprofits to be located in RiverHouse include The New York Public Library (slated to open next year) and the Mercy Corps Action Center to End World Hunger.

Poets House is open to the public Tuesday through Friday from 11am - 7pm, and Saturday from 11am - 6pm. For more information, visit http://www.poetshouse.org.

Follow Poets House on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/poetshouse or became a fan on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/poetshouse.

"The current lack of ad dollars has hurt newspapers, but that’s temporary," says Janisse. "People are moving toward getting their information from screens and not print media. Luckily, newspapers, magazines and other periodicals are beginning to turn the corner on profitability online, and anyone can now start a publication at very low cost."

Despite the fact that numerous newspapers across North America have recently succumbed to economic hardships, students are still lining up to pursue a profession that makes a difference in how people view the world around them. Thanks to the success of online publications like Slate, Salon and Politico, and news blogs like the The Huffington Post, jobs are continually opening up to those who have a good understanding of the media and communications world – and how to tell a good story.

"Beyond traditional journalism jobs, students at University Canada West are learning how to investigate, ask questions and do interviews; how to fact check, be curious, be ethical, and above all, how to write a good story," Janisse explains. "Students can also start their own blog - it may be personal, business-related, political, humourous, or even fictitious."

In an industry that has seen dramatic changes in the past decade, the sky is still the limit on the careers available to those who have what it takes to engage people through the written word.

University Canada West is currently accepting applications for its Bachelor of Arts in Media and Communications degree program. More information is available at http://www.ucan.ca/Online_and_Campus_Programs/Bachelors_Degrees.

About University Canada West

University Canada West (UCAN) is a progressive post-secondary institution offering a number of undergraduate and post-graduate degrees, including BCom, BA and MBA programs. Degree programs are available at campuses in Vancouver, Victoria and Singapore, as well as online. Small class sizes, combined with practical curricula and world-class instruction, means students get the education they want, when they want it. UCAN degree programs are offered under the written consent of the British Columbia Minister of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development. More information available at http://www.ucan.ca/.

The exhibit is a testament to the rich and enduring friendship between Ms. Angelou and Redmond, professor emeritus of English language and literature at SIUE, said Howard Rambsy II, an assistant professor of English language and literature and curator of the exhibit.

The photographs showcase Dr. Angelou socializing with fellow artists, performing poetry, celebrating achievements with friends and family, and entertaining guests at her home in North Carolina. The vibrant versatility of facial expressions, body language and hand motions that Dr. Angelou assumes in the photographs confirms Dr. Redmond's notion about the 80-plus ''moods of Maya.''

Redmond, who was in the vanguard of the Black Arts Movement of the 1960s, said he has had an enduring friendship with the author-poet. "My friendship with Maya will be 40 years old in 2010," he said. "Maya always called me one of her special brothers. So, I'm excited because we have known each other four decades, and now we will share this ritualed ground together again."

Maya Angelou was born April 4th, 1928, in St. Louis, spending part of her childhood there before moving to Stamps, Ark., where she endured the effects of racial discrimination but began developing a deep awareness of the value and values of black folk culture as well as African American artistic thought.

Over the years, Ms. Angelou increased her interest in the arts, taking up dance, acting, singing, and creative writing. In 1970, her bestselling autobiography, ''I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,'' was published; since then she has authored dozens of other celebrated books.

"Lovejoy Library's Eugene B. Redmond Collection is one of the greatest post-civil rights collections of African American culture ever assembled," Rambsy said. ''It contains hundreds of books, magazines, rare program booklets and flyers, audio recordings and historic posters.'' The collection also contains more than 150,000 photographs of literary artists, musicians, entertainers, supporters of the arts and political activists, which Dr. Redmond himself has taken over the past four decades.

Speaking about the collection, Redmond points out that SIUE is a fitting place for his work to reside because the University has always been his home, first as a student and then many years later as a faculty member. "While I had offers from other places across the country, I felt SIUE should be the place where my papers and, as the Chancellor says, the place where my legacy should rest. I'm excited my collection is here at SIUE because I'm homegrown, a homegrown kind of guy."

Author, literary historian, and arts organizer, Eugene B. Redmond was named poet laureate of East St. Louis in 1976, the same year that Doubleday published his critical history, ''Drumvoices: The Mission of Afro-American Poetry.'' He also is founder of the Eugene B. Redmond Writers Club in East St. Louis.

The mobile text campaign is one of many interactive features to bring booklovers up-to-the-minute information about the festival. Festival-goers also have the option to receive updates for this year's event such as author activities, day-of event details and more, by following the Library on Twitter (@librarycongress, hashtag #nbf) or becoming a fan of the Library on Facebook (www.facebook.com/libraryofcongress).

Other online additions include new downloadable author podcasts, which can be accessed free of charge through the Library's website or on iTunes. These recordings feature candid interviews with award-winning authors George Pelecanos, James Patterson, Rickey Minor, Nicholas Sparks, and more. Additionally, The Washington Post is hosting live online discussions in the week leading up to the festival with several participating authors, including Annette Gordon-Reed, Ken Burns, and Douglas Brinkley.

Whether participating in-person or online, festival-goers will discover endless activities to indulge their love of books and reading. More than 70 celebrated authors, poets and illustrators are participating in this year's event, including James Patterson, Jon Scieszka, Nikki Grimes, John Grisham, Judy Blume, Jodi Picoult and Walter Mosley.

Parents and kids will explore the world of literacy in the PBS KIDS Raising Readers (http://pbskids.org/read/) pavilion, featuring live stage performances by Elmo and Chris from Sesame Street, sing-alongs with PBS KIDS' SteveSongs, story readings and skill-building activities. Young readers can pose for pictures with their favorite PBS KIDS characters, including the cast of Super Why, Martha from Martha Speaks, Leona and Cleo from Between the Lions and Duck from Word World, as well as other book-based characters such as Curious George and Maya & Miguel.

In the Let's Read America pavilions, children and families will enjoy a range of activities including taking photos with Bullseye, the Target (http://sites.target.com/site/en/company/page.jsp?contentId=WCMP04-031773) dog, and coloring in the Bullseye Book of Activities. At the Scholastic Family Corner, families and children can create their own books and also learn about volunteer opportunities through Clifford the Big Red Dog's BE BIG!™, (http://www.scholastic.com/cliffordbebig/) a national campaign that invites everyone, big and small, to take action. Additional activities, story times and photo opportunities will be available courtesy of the Washington Post, AT&T, US Airways, ReadAloud.org, the Penguin Group and the Library of Congress Federal Credit Union.

New to the festival is the Digital Bookmobile (http://www.digitalbookmobile.com/default.aspx), a high-tech exhibit powered by OverDrive, which supports reading and literacy with eBooks from libraries. Equipped with Internet-connected PCs, sound systems and a "Gadget Gallery," the Digital Bookmobile enables visitors to browse a public library's website, sample popular eBook, audiobook, music and video titles, learn how to download, and try out supported mobile devices.

The 2009 National Book Festival is made possible through the support of Target, the Distinguished Benefactor; Charter Sponsors PBS & PBS KIDS Raising Readers and The Washington Post; Patrons AT&T, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, The James Madison Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts; Contributors Borders, Digital Bookmobile powered by OverDrive, the Library of Congress Federal Credit Union, Penguin Group (USA), ReadAloud.org (http://www.readaloud.org/), Scholastic Inc., and US Airways; and Friends the Marshall B. Coyne Foundation, The Hay-Adams, and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Thanks also to C-SPAN2's Book TV for providing onsite coverage of the festival and to the Junior League of Washington for providing 400 volunteers for the event.

Authorsreading.com provides its visitors an experience akin to a cyber visit in their own home by their favorite author. Both well know authors and exciting new talent are featured side by side on AuthorsReading.com. You get to hear and see new talent like Stephenie Meyer and seasoned author Stephen King talk about their books along with up and coming authors of books like Hulagu’s Web (http://www.amazon.com/Hulagus-Web-Presidential-Pursuit-Katherine/dp/0975597698) take their turn on the cyber stage. The site features hand picked exciting talent that include notables like writer Gwynne Forster, James Patterson, Khaled Hosseini and many others.

When asked what prompted the creation of this new web property, Stacie Hearne, President of AuthorsReading.com stated: "I felt America needed to hear and see these exciting authors talk about their stories. Our venue gives them a platform to interface with the reading public and add their voice to their creation. These authors need to be seen and heard and I'm most excited that I have a hand in helping them get a bit more of the credit that their tremendous talent deserves."

Hearne when on to say, "Who else would be more qualified to portray the real voice of their work, than the actual author? Their passion and energy poured into their masterpieces is even more evident when you see and hear them talk about their books."

AuthorsReading.com (http://www.authorsreading.com) will be looking for new authors to feature on the site and will be working with publishers, PR people, book agents and independents to find more literary gems. Hearne said, "For this new venue we don’t care what the literary critics say, we care what the public wants and what is exciting and timely." We will be supporting the Independent and Self Publishers who have lately become the most prolific producers of the best literature available. The archaic bureaucratic and political process of traditional publishers appears to have curtailed their ability to find and recognize new literary talent. This is really not a new problem because authors like Vince Flynn, Zane Grey, John Grisham, James Joyce, Deepak Chopra to name a few had to rely on independents and self publishing to launch their writing career because traditional publishers failed to recognize their literary excellence. If it was not for the independent publishers and self publishers, society would not have enjoyed those authors and many other great authors of today. That is why we will be seeking and welcoming authors from all publishing venues. Books on AuthorsReading.com (http://www.authorsreading.com) will be judged on their merits and not on the publishers name."

When asked what her predictions were for the new venue for authors, she said, "If this web property succeeds it will be the result of the excitement that these authors bring to the public and the reader’s thirst to know more about the person behind the book."

"What we've got here is a major disconnect. Never before in the history of words has the demand for freelance writers been so high. Yet I constantly hear from copywriters, journalists, technical writers and copyeditors that 'marketing' is a four-letter word," says Michael A. Stelzner, one of America's top-paid freelance writers.

There's plenty of work for the taking. According to a recent Junta42 study, 6 in 10 businesses are spending more for content production. The need for case studies, ebooks, newsletters, articles, websites, white papers and press releases is growing at an unprecedented rate.

For the writer who applies a few simple techniques, work is plentiful and money is good.

To land more work from higher-paying clients, Stelzner and nine other top-billing freelancers suggest the following easy-to-employ tactics:

How Ten of America's Top Writers Keep the Money Flowing In

#1: Stop Billing by the Hour: "Pricing projects by a fixed fee, not by the hour, increases your chances of landing the job. Don't say, 'My fee to write your e-newsletter is $75 per hour.' Say, 'My fee to write your e-newsletter is $800.'"--Steve Slaunwhite, author of "Start & Run a Copywriting Business."

#2: Write About Your Target Industry: "Identify some of the biggest names in your target industry. Interview a few of them, create a great article and shop it to a few major online or offline publications. The free press will help you gain exposure and be read by an audience of prospective clients. Plus, the experts will be happy to help you again in the future."--Michael A. Stelzner, author of "Writing White Papers."

#3: Stay Top of Mind by Keeping in Touch With Clients: "It doesn't matter how good a job you did for a client before. When even a little time has passed, if you're out of sight, you're out of mind. Pick a way to stay in touch--by phone, personal email, newsletters or social media. Doing so may even remind clients they need to get started on a project--and they'll call you."--Casey Hibbard, author of "Stories That Sell."

#4: Leverage Social Media Marketing: "In this age of Google and social media, your prospects are even more distracted, cynical about sales messages and rightly motivated by their own self-interest. Make your promotional content brief, attractive and to the point. Always offer significant value before asking for anything. When making a request, frame the action as a way for the prospect to get even more benefits."--Chris Garrett, co-author of "ProBlogger."

#5: Ask for Referrals From People You Know: "Whether or not you're new to freelance copywriting, approaching people you already know about your freelance business, such as previous employers, is always the best place to start prospecting. These folks know and trust you. Even if they can't hire you, they're usually more than willing to introduce you to those who can."--Ed Gandia, author of "Stop Wishing and Start Earning."

Click here now to read writer marketing tips #6 - 10 from Peter Bowerman, Marcia Yudkin, Pete Savage, Chris Marlow and Nick Usborne (http://www.copywritingsummit.com/tips/).

"The goal of Digital Content Center (DCC) is to provide an affordable, easy-to-use online solution that encompasses all the features an author wanting to publish an ebook needs," explained Art DeVaughn, CEO. "We even provide a PDF Protection Suite that helps to protect an author's PDF eBook (http://www.digitalcontentcenter.com/how-it-works.php) against theft and file sharing."

Digital Content Center also helps authors find new revenue streams; critical for survival in an uncertain economy, by promoting their ebooks for free within the DCC Marketplace. The user-friendly Marketplace search tool gives buyers easy access to content for sale and encourages repeat business by enabling buyers to search by favorite authors or author IDs.

Pricing for the service is very affordable with a monthly service plan cost of $14.95, $19.95 or $24.95 which includes unlimited transactions and bandwidth. There is also a one-time activation fee of $19.95 which funds unlimited pre-sale and post-sale telephone support. For a limited time, new authors activating service will get the first month of service at a reduced rate of $4.95.

With the service in its 8th year of operation, the infrastructure is rock solid which allows the addition of new features and functions as technology advances. Add on services such Mobile eBook Delivery, Physical Merchandise Fulfillment and a Used eBook Marketplace, which will be the first of it's kind on the web, will be available in the coming months.

About Web Services Corporation

Web Services Corporation (WSC) is a privately-held company based in Knoxville, Tennessee. The company's devotion to making website application software began in 1996. Since then, WSC has been committed to providing solid applications designed to improve the way companies do business. As a testament to its success, thousands of organizations across the United States use WSC's services. Now with www.DigitalContentCenter.com, authors will be able to sell ebooks online and turn their work into a profitable business. With a corporate culture firmly focused on clients and a passion for creating user-friendly web solutions, Web Services Corporation is an innovator in its field.

CEO Art DeVaughn is available for telephone, webcast, TV and radio interviews on the topic of digital content. As one of the industry pioneers, Mr. DeVaughn is extremely knowledgeable on this exciting industry. Please call 865-686-5713 to schedule a complimentary interview.

In the debut anthology, Electric Literature No. 1, Cunningham tells the story of the separation of two brothers, one vital and elegant, the other troubled and restrained. Jim Shepard brings us to the Swiss Alps where a team of scientists investigate the poetry of avalanches to their peril. T Cooper shares a taste of one man's jealousy of his wife's ex-husband. Diana Wagman explores a young woman's first sexual relationship after a mastectomy, and Lydia Millet's celebrity dog-walker leads us into a world where people are beasts and dogs are the epitome of refinement.

About Electric Literature

Founded by writers intent on creating a viable publishing model for literary fiction in the digital age, Electric Literature is a bi-monthly anthology of some of the most stunning, innovative, and moving short fiction being written today.

"The premise is simple but brilliant: pick great writers and broadcast them to the wider world using technology that speaks to the contemporary consumer." -- Flavorwire