By Jordan Beach
Reinhardt recently published the 2019 edition of the James Dickey Review, Vol. 35. The issue is the largest to date and includes top writers from the United States and Ireland, as well as an unpublished interview with James Dickey from 1995.
Bill Walsh, director of the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program at Reinhardt and literary editor of the James Dickey Review, felt last year’s edition was one that could not be topped.
“Somehow, this year the material and writers flowed in beyond what I thought was possible,” said Walsh.
One special publication for Walsh was of the late Jack Myers, who he considered a mentor. Others published posthumously include George Scarbrough and William Gay. The newest edition also published creative work from David Bottoms, Eavan Boland and Kate Daniels.
For four years, Walsh has served as literary editor, an ambassador for the journal who searches across the country and abroad for writers to publish in upcoming editions.
“I am honored to have this position,” said Walsh. “I think when Dr. Mark Roberts and Dr. Wayne Glowka gave me this position, they somehow knew what I was good at. I have huge network of people in my writing life, and I like promoting the JDR and finding the best material.”
Walsh attends fiction and poetry readings to find interesting material, and all the editors of the JDR read the material to decide if the work meets their quality standards.
The James Dickey Review publishes works that study James Dickey’s poetry, fiction, screenplays and non-fiction, and short reflections and meditations on Dickey as a person. The JDR also publishes all forms of creative writing that affiliate with Dickey’s themes, style and literary experimentation, along with critical reflection essays by contemporary writers, analyzing the influence of Dickey on their work and others. The magazine also publishes book reviews.
Walsh feels the JDR offers “something for everyone.”
“Why should someone read the James Dickey Review? Well, it’s like asking, why visit a museum or why listen to the symphony or The Beatles or why study the light and dark cycle of photosynthesis—because it will change your life. You cannot read it and not be moved into some kind of action in your life or be moved into a feeling or memory that will make your life more significant,” Walsh added.
The James Dickey Review is available for purchase on Amazon. Click here to purchase.
