Ten new short stories by Illinois and Midwestern writers, illustrated with original art, are featured in the 2011 edition of Downstate Story, Peoria’s only literary magazine.
The downstate Illinois writers in this issue are: Pepper Bauer of Mapleton; Ray Pierce and Cindy Baker of Peoria; Derek Kohlhagen of Morton; Janice Croom of Bloomington; Jim Courter of Macomb; T.R. McKay of Hampton along with James Linn and Tacuma Roeback of Chicago and Danny Hankner of Davenport, Iowa.
Illustrations are by Ed Levene of Peoria and Amy Frasca of Champaign.
Published by Downstate Story, Inc., an Illinois not-for-profit corporation, the 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.
The publication makes an interesting gift from the region, and is easily mailed.
THE FACTS
1. Limited edition. Probable collector’s item. Original art.
2. Politically correct. Contributors paid for their work. No government funds used. Union printer.
3. Something for everyone. Stories reflect diversity of authors, and include romance, horror, fantasy, mainstream fiction.
4. Promotes quality reading. Content realistic but not X-rated.
5. Promotes Illinois and Midwestern writers and artists.
6. Unusual concept for the arts. Provides outlet for local writers and artists to reach local audiences.
7. Original work. None ever published before.
8. Quality work. Stories and art comparable to work in Harpers, Atlantic, The New Yorker.
9. No poetry.
DOWNSTATE STORY, Voume. 20
Authors:
Pepper L. Bauer, Mapleton, IL
Ray Pierce, Peoria, IL
Cindy Baker, Peoria, IL
Derek Kohlhagen, Morton, IL
Jim Courter, Macomb, IL
Janice Croom, Bloomington, IL
Dan Hankner, Davenport, Iowa
Tacuma Roeback, Chicago, IL
James Linn, Chicago, IlL
T. R. McKay, Hampton, IL
Artists:
Ed Levene, Peoria, IL
Amy Frasca, Champaign, IL