Ten new short stories by Illinois and Midwestern writers, illustrated with original art, are featured in the 2010 edition of Downstate Story, Peoria’s only literary magazine.

The downstate Illinois writers in this issue are Pepper Bauer of Mapleton; Connie Stepe of East Peoria, Dennis Shannon of Morton, and Don Axt, Jessica Frasca and Norman Kelly, all of Peoria. Illustrations are by Ed Levene of Peoria and Amy Frasca of Champaign. Other writers are Marie Anderson of LaGrange; Robert Herzog of New York, NY; Richard Holinger of Geneva, IL; and Kelly Robinson of Evansville, IN.

This magazine aims to present original fiction by Illinois writers and writers with ties to Illinois and the Midwest as a quality alternative to today’s mass-market publishing. The cost is  $10 and is available at bookstores and gift shops, or can be ordered from the publisher or website.