Scripting Their Legacy

he Writer’s Foundry at St. Joseph’s University, New York’s Brooklyn Campus released the inaugural edition of its new literary journal, a showcase of original work crafted by students in the program.

The “Writer’s Foundry Review” features an array of literature that spans fiction, non-fiction and poetry, as well as profiles of Writer’s Foundry instructors and published authors Cleyvis Natera, Randall Horton and David Gates.

The literary journal also boasts pieces that earned the Writer’s Foundry Prize in Short Fiction (Jane Snyder’s “A Durable Fire”) and the Writer’s Foundry Prize in Poetry (Despy Boutris’ “Meditation on Need”). The prizes were judged by Foundry Director Lee Clay Johnson and Professor Alicia Mountain, respectively.

The writers dedicated the journal to Steven Earl Hobbs, a Writer’s Foundry instructor and adviser of the journal, who passed away in June.

During a summer release party that celebrated the publication of the journal, Mr. Johnson congratulated his students on their hard work and excellent demonstrations of their craft.

“Students have the chance to practice as editors,” he said. “It helps them put the work they’ve been doing into real-world experience.”

“This journal — it’s a wonderful, exciting thing for us to do together and to send out to the beyond,” he added.

At the release party, members of the University community gathered inside The Parlors in Burns Hall, where they enjoyed light refreshments and mingled with classmates, friends and colleagues. Later, journal contributors read excerpts of their work in front of an engaged audience.