The students and faculty of Old Dominion University’s MFA program in Creative Writing form a lively and supportive community of writers in beautiful southeastern Virginia.  The Tidewater region’s story is shaped by its history and its diversity—by its dynamic fusion of old and new.  There is great complexity in any form or creative assertion of “here”, and it is in this spirit that Barely South Review embraces the opportunity to feature works from emerging as well as established writers.  We are interested in great writing in its myriad forms.  We seek to present many voices, especially those that defy easy regional, thematic, and stylistic categorization.

The MFA program is part of the English Department at ODU; it began in 1994 with twelve students and three creative writers, and continues to grow with vigor. Today, a range of 25-35 students each semester work with the program’s talented 7-member creative writing faculty in fiction, poetry, and nonfiction.

Our writers accomplish a great deal, even while they are in the program: they have published fiction and nonfiction books with major publishers, stories and poems in national literary magazines and journals, articles and reviews in major newspapers; they receive prestigious citations, awards, and grants.

Part of the valuable experience and exposure they gain in the program includes the opportunity to assist in the internationally recognized, annual ODU Literary Festival; to lead writing workshops in a variety of venues in the year-long Writers in Community program; and to work one-on-one with nationally renowned poets and writers in ODU’s Writer-in-Residence Program (offered in both the fall and spring semesters). With the addition of Barely South Review to the range of our program experiences, we are excited to give our writers another venue for offering their skills in literary service to a broader reading and writing community.

We look forward to bringing you an original and arresting collection of stories, poems, essays, features and reviews with each issue of Barely South Review.

2011-2012 Staff

Reading and Editorial Collective:

Fiction: Ian Couch, Lucas Flatt, Andrew Leask-Ortiz
Nonfiction: Valarie Clark, Tarah Gibbs, Marion Thomas
Poetry: Tara Shea Burke, Travis A. Everett, Eric Heald-Webb, Jeffrey Turner

Administrative Staff:

Joshua Norma, Sarah Pringle

Editorial Advisory Board:

Luisa A. Igloria, John McManus, Michael Pearson, Janet Peery, Sheri Reynolds, Tim Seibles

Managing Editor:

Valarie Clark

Design & Typesetting:

Travis A. Everett

Barely South Review logo:

Josephine A. Carino

2010-2011 Staff

Reading and Editorial Collective:

Fiction: John Henry Doucette, Claudia Mazur, Eric Ramseier
Nonfiction: Valarie Clark, Meghan Hoyer, Heather Weddington
Poetry: Tara Shea Burke, Travis A. Everett, Noah Renn

Administrative Staff:

Ann Burrows

Editorial Advisory Board:

Luisa A. Igloria, John McManus, Michael Pearson, Janet Peery, Sheri Reynolds, Tim Seibles

Managing Editor:

Valarie Clark

Design & Typesetting:

Travis A. Everett

Barely South Review logo:

Josephine A. Carino

2009-2010 Staff:

Reading and Editorial Collective:

Fiction: Leslie Clements, Dana Staves, Paula McMahon
Nonfiction: David Williamson, Claudia Mazur, Heather Weddington
Poetry: Noah Renn, Erin Kiley, Heather Weddington

Editorial Advisory Board:

Luisa A. Igloria, John McManus, Michael Pearson, Janet Peery, Sheri Reynolds, Tim Seibles

Administrative Staff:

Tara Burke, Mary Westbrook, Travis A. Everett

Design & Typesetting:

Travis A. Everett

Barely South Review logo:

Josephine A. Carino