I'm proud to be a co-editor and contributor to the new anthology Alchemy of the Word.  If you are a writer, this book is for you!

Here's the basic info:

 Alchemy of the Word: Writers Talk About Writing is a book like no other, from a writing program like no other.  In this remarkable collection of essays, twenty-five acclaimed novelists, poets, playwrights, memoirists, cross-genre and nonfiction writers engage the reader in a virtual literary conversation, filled with passion, insight, wit, and warmth.

The Goddard MFA was the first low-residency program in creative writing; now there are around fifty operating in the United States.  Program Director, Paul Selig says, “What greeted me at my first Goddard residency was the kind of community I had never dreamed possible… the faculty – well, they were teachers of the first order, and I found their dedication to shepherding a new generation of writers came from a place of deep generosity, wisdom and integrity.”

Alchemy of the Word introduces you to this faculty—not through their writing tips, tricks, and exercises, but through their experiences of themselves as professional writers living in the world, tackling issues they care about deeply and reporting back.  To read this anthology is to travel to the wellsprings of literary inspiration, and to eavesdrop on a room full of mentors. 

Words become us. Our lives become words. So begins the introduction to this powerful collection.  The essays that follow are eclectic and range from the practical to the mystical, the humorous to the scientific, and the political to the personal. The book is broken down by topic into chapters (“Composing the Wilderness”, “Originality and Influence”, “Points of View”, “Literary Activism.”) which feature work by writers like Ryan Boudinot, Deborah Brevoort, Rebecca Brown, Bhanu Kapil, Michael Klein, Rachel Pollack, and Rahna Reiko Rizzuto. Throughout, each essay explores, exhorts, inspires, and exhilarates…illustrating in its own distinctive way the transformative power of language: the alchemy of the word.

National Book Award Winner Maxine Hong Kingston wrote, “Whether you’re a young beginner or a veteran writer like me, you’ll get support from reading Alchemy of the Word.  I’ve found companions on this lonely journey.” Playwright and author Gary Garrison wrote, “Any time a group of writers take what little time they have away from their creative process to share the insight and wisdom gleaned from year of practicing their craft, we should all take notice.” And alumna and author Cara Hoffman wrote, “Like everything affiliated with Goddard College, it tackles the bigger questions and shines a light on what our obligations are as writers and as members of a broader society.” 

Whether you are a writer, a reader, or either a student or teacher of writing, Alchemy of the Word is bound to become an endlessly inspiring and entertaining addition to your library.

http://www.amazon.com/Alchemy-Word-Writers-About-Writing/dp/0982655649/r...