BEST OF THE WEB 2010: Claudia Emerson in VALPARAISO POETRY REVIEW

I am pleased to announce series-editor Matt Bell of Dzanc Books recently notified me that a poem from Valparaiso Poetry Review has been chosen for inclusion in their upcoming anthology publication, Best of the Web 2010 (guest-edited by Kathy Fish), scheduled for release in June. Claudia Emerson’s “Ground Truth,” which appeared in the Fall/Winter 2009-2010 issue (Volume XI, Number 1) of Valparaiso Poetry Review, was selected from among hundreds of nominated literary works across the entire spectrum of online magazines eligible for consideration.

The Best of the Web annual anthology series was started in 2008 by Dzanc Books as an effort to spotlight excellent literature published in online journals. I am happy to report three poems that first appeared in Valparaiso Poetry Review—“Prophet Township” by Jared Carter, “Walking an Old Woman into the Sea” by Frannie Lindsay, and “Hive” by Elise Paschen—have been honored by being chosen for publication in prior editions of the series. I also was grateful that one of my poems, “Island Fever,” which first appeared in Apple Valley Review, was selected for inclusion in the Best of the Web 2008 anthology.

As I have mentioned previously, I value all the poems and depend on all the poets in Valparaiso Poetry Review. Yet, I welcome the admirable efforts of the anthology’s editors to bring attention to the growing number of fine works being published in online journals by selecting individual pieces for praise. Also, I am happy to note when an opportunity arises for VPR’s splendid poets to receive further recognition. Consequently, I congratulate Claudia Emerson on the selection of her terrific poem for this distinction, and I thank Claudia for her contributions to Valparaiso Poetry Review.

Additionally, I wish to take this opportunity to express once more my appreciation to all whose works have appeared in Valparaiso Poetry Review during the past eleven years of the journal’s existence. I hope the latest bit of good news for this electronic magazine serves to encourage future submissions of high quality to VPR by many poets, and I trust recognition in the form of the anthology will aid in establishing greater esteem for the growing reputation of online literary publications in general.