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Life & Arts

Gulf Coast begins spring reading series

by STEPHANIE KING 
The Daily Cougar 

The UH literary magazine Gulf Coast will host its first spring semester reading Friday featuring creative writing graduate students. 

The students are familiar with literary success. Amanda Nowlin-O'Banion's work has appeared in the anthology Literary Cash: Writings Inspired by the Legendary Johnny Cash, while James Davis May has written for the Texas Review. Jamie Thomas received an Academy of American Poets Prize. 

Nicole Zaza, Gulf Coast associate editor, said Brazos Bookstore, the event's location, offers an intimate setting for such a reading. 

"They always make our reading the center of the evening," said Zaza. "Brazos Bookstore is one of the few remaining independently owned bookstores in Houston. One aspect of holding the reading series is to support our literary community." 

U.S. News & World Report ranks the UH Creative Writing Program at No. 2 in the nation. The program is selective when it comes to admissions, with 20 new students added per year. 

Gulf Coast has been publishing since 1986, and many authors seek a spot in its biannual editions.

"We receive thousands of submissions vying for publication from a worldwide pool of authors," Gulf Coast managing editor Darin Chiccotelli said. "I think what is most impressive about the publication is that it is completely student-run." 

Published genres of writing include fiction, nonfiction, poetry, reviews, interviews, essays and book excerpts in addition to art and photography. 

"We like to have a mix of a few well known writers, newcomers to the literary scene and those that have never been published," Zaza said. 

Undergrads who are interested in volunteering for Gulf Coast can sign up for volunteer positions Wednesday and Thursday during a Gulf Coast book fair in the hallway of the Roy G. Cullen building from 1 to 3 p.m. Independent-press books will be offered for $4 and literary magazines will be sold for $2. 

The reading series continues monthly through April. A complete listing of featured authors and more information about the magazine, including subscription information and submission guidelines, is available at www.gulfcoastmag.org. 

"These are really talented writers," Zaza said. "This is an opportunity for the University of Houston community to meet and hear them before they become famous."

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