Creative Writing major Sidney Sheehan was awarded the 2012 John L. Rainey Prize in Fiction, the first place award for fiction in the Undergraduate Creative Writing Awards. This year's judge was Susan Power. For more information about the Undergraduate Awards, visit the Undergraduate Awards page. In this month's podcast, Sidney reads from her award-winning story "Rock."

English major Kelsey Wiora was awarded the 2012 Folger Adam, Jr. Prize in Poetry, the first place award for poetry in the Undergraduate Creative Writing Awards. This year's judge was Maxine Scates. More information about the Undergraduate Writing Awards can be found on the Undergraduate Awards page. Here, Kelsey reads her award-winning poem "Diving a Gainer."

Eric Tanyavutti, MFA Candidate in Fiction, has won first place for fiction in the 2012 Graduate Writing Awards. This year's judge was Joseph Skibell. More information about the Graduate Writing Awards can be found on the Graduate Awards page. Here, Eric reads an excerpt from the opening passages of his award-winning story "Brothers."

Sara Gelston, MFA Candidate in Poetry, has won first place for poetry in the 2012 Graduate Writing Awards. This year's judge was Tyehimba Jess. More information about the Graduate Writing Awards can be found on the Graduate Awards page. Here, Sara reads the poem "The Root Cellar," a selection from her award-winning work.

Professor LeAnne Howe reads an excerpt from her novel in progress, "Memoir of a Choctaw in the Arab Revolts." Creative Writing graduate student Natalie Mesnard gives the introduction.

Professor Alex Shakar reads from his recently released novel Luminarium (Soho Press, 2011) and Professor Philip Graham reads from his forthcoming memoir, co-authored with Alma Gottlieb, Braided Worlds (Univ. of Chicago Press, Fall 2012). Professors Shakar and Graham will be reading together, along with U of I alum John Warner, at the 2012 AWP Conference in Chicago. Creative Writing graduate students Laura Adamczyk and Michael Don give introductions.

Professor Janice Harrington reads from her latest poetry collection The Hands of Strangers, and assistant editors Sara Gelston and Max Somers read poems by Laura Lee Washburn and Roger Reeves from the latest issue of Ninth Letter