December 21, 2001: North Carolina’s Poet Laureate Fred Chappell Featured in The Pedestal Magazine's First Anniversary Issue

Charlotte, NC - The Pedestal Magazine.com, based in Charlotte, celebrates its first year anniversary on December 21, 2001.  Fred Chappell, North Carolina’s Poet Laureate and writing professor at UNC -Greensboro, is the featured writer in this milestone issue that will be online through February 21, 2002. "In our first year we have featured several prominent writers including Sharon Olds, Michael McClure and in this issue Fred Chappell," stated Founder and Editor John Amen.  "We’ve set the tone for the magazine and are looking forward to embracing new challenges."  

The Pedestal Magazine is the vision of published writer and entrepreneur John Amen. Mr. Amen’s mission for the magazine is to publish a premier literary magazine, exclusively on-line, featuring new and established writers and visual artists. Each bimonthly issue includes an in-depth interview with a featured writer and visual artist along with examples of their work, as well as poetry, fiction and non-fiction from writers around the world. The magazine serves as a publishing outlet for writers as well as providing quality literature and art for its readers at no charge. You can access the website at http://www.thepedestalmagazine.com.

Fred Chappell is the author of twelve books of poetry, including The World Between the Eyes (LSU Press, 1971), Castle Tzingals (LSU Press, 1984), and Family Gatherings (LSU Press, 2000); eight novels, including Brighten the Corner Where You Ares (St. Martin's Press, 1989), and Look Back All the Green Valleys (Picador, 1999); and four books of short fiction and criticism.  He has been the recipient of numerous grants and awards, including a Rockefeller Grant (1967-68), The Roanoke-Chowan Poetry Prize (1972, 1975, 1979, 1980, 1985, 1989), The Bollingen Prize in Poetry (1985), The T.S. Eliot Prize (1993), The Aiken Taylor Award in Poetry (1996), and The Lenore Heasley Prize (1999).  In 1998 Governor James Hunt named him The North Carolina Poet Laureate.  He has taught at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro since 1964 and is currently a faculty member in UNC-G's MFA Writing Program.

The Pedestal Magazine.com’s accomplishments include establishing itself as a premier online literary magazine as evidenced in the critically acclaimed writers it has featured and published in the first year - Stan Rice, Susan Ludvigson, Sharon Olds, Michael McClure, Willis Barnstone and Fred Chappell. "Having this level of writers join us in our first year is really a coup for the magazine," states Mr. Amen. These writers have each published numerous books of their own work as well as being published in such esteemed literary magazines as The New Yorker, The Paris Review, The Atlantic Monthly, Ploughshares and Poetry.

Since inception, the magazine has received over 4,000 submissions of poetry, fiction and non- fiction, and has published over 100 works by both established and burgeoning writers. A special issue, published in October, included a worldwide collection of 100 writings and 74 images all related to the 9/11 tragedy. All past writings can be found in the site’s Archive section.

In addition to writings, each issue also features a visual artist. Francis Eck, who has exhibited his work in galleries throughout the world, will be the featured artist in the December 21 anniversary issue. Past artists include David Harouni, Ginger Wagoner and James Michalopoulos. Original artwork from these artists and others is available for purchase in The Pedestal Magazine.com’s Art Gallery.