Rio Review release showcases student talent

Coming at the end of the fall semester, the Austin Community College Arts and Humanities Division will publish its next edition of the student-run "Rio Review", a per-semester literary journal, which features memoirs, poetry, short fiction and photographs by students. First published during the spring semester of 1990 to enhance the creative writing program, the journal show¬cases writing talents of ACC students. This edition is the fifth that is wholly managed and edited by student editors. Previously the Review was edited by faculty members. The Creative Writing Department is set to release this semester's Review at a release party Nov. 29 in the Rio Grande Campus Gallery Theater. The stories have a variety of themes, according to Maxine Beach, the publication's faculty adviser, but staffers are reluctant to reveal this information as the students and editors want to keep the specifics under wraps until the release. The journal will feature approximately three fiction stories, three nonfiction stories, poetry and a screenplay. "The quality is always astonishingly high," said Ly¬man Grant, dean of arts and humanities. "A literary journal for creative writing students is a great way for the college to support the development of professional level talent." "It is what writers do," he said. "They publish work." This semester's journal will feature stories by Renee Troxler, author of "My Baby's Daddy" and "Limerent"; Zack Tuck, author of "The Kiss"; Victoria Philips, author of "Grace" and "Packing the Little Blue House"; David Carney, author of "The Hungover Haircut" and "Beep You"; Dan Lyles, author of "Cup", "Kicks", and "Rarity"; Chris D'Annunzio, author of "Plain Jane" and "The Preacher's Been Processed"; Becky Liendo, author of "A Fallen Tree(On A Bleak Afternoon") and "The Morgenstern Affair"; as well as many others. Any ACC student is able to contribute, although the bulk of the content is produced in creative writing classes. The student editors select the best works from submissions. The Rio Review is one of two student publications at ACC, each centered at Rio Grande, which hosts most of the college's English, creative writing, performing arts and studio art faculty and classes. "ACC has one of the best creative writing departments in the nation," said Grant. "We are gigantic steps ahead of [other] community colleges." The deadline for submitting a story for spring 2008 is Dec. 16, and May 5 for next fall.