Philadelphia Stories is a 501c3 that has been serving the writing, reading, and art community of the Greater Delaware Valley since 2004. Co-founders Carla Spataro and Christine Weiser began Philadelphia Stories to build a Philadelphia-based community of writers, artists, and readers through the free magazine and affordable educational programs and events. Program highlights include:
Free magazine (2004): The primary vehicle for this mission is the free print magazine, which publishes work by local writers and artists. Five thousand copies of the free print magazine are distributed each quarter to more than 200 locations throughout the Delaware Valley, including all 52 branches of the Free Library of Philadelphia.
[img_assist|nid=9813|title=|desc=|link=node|align=left|width=100|height=67]Philadelphia Stories, Jr.: This bi-annual print and online literary magazine by writers age 18 and under from the Philadelphia area is distributed for free throughout the region. Philadelphia Stories, Jr. has two release parties each year where young readers and musicians share their talents through performance. Since 2012, Philadelphia Stories, Jr. has also partnered with Mighty Writers, the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, the Arden Theatre Company, Montgomery County Poet Laureate Program, the Musehouse Literary Arts Center, area public schools, the PoetryWITS (Writers in the Schools) Program, That’s So Philly, Philly Girls Read, and more.
[img_assist|nid=5874|title=Marguerite McGlinn|desc=|link=node|align=left|width=68|height=70]National Writing Contests: Inspired by the work of two local writers who served on the editorial board of Philadelphia Stories, the goal of these named national prizes is to introduce the great culture of Philadelphia to writers throughout the country. The Marguerite McGlinn Prize for Fiction is an annual national short fiction contest with a 2,000 prize. The Sandy Crimmins National Prize for Poetry offers a $1,000 cash award. Both prizes are sponsored by the families of these two women to celebrate their passion for the Philadelphia writing community.
Push to Publish: This annual one-day publishing conference, now in its 7th year, has become a popular networking opportunity for writers of all experience levels. Keynote speakers have included Steve Almond, Beth Kephart, Kevin McIlvoy, Paul Lisicky, and Karen Quinones Miller.
PS Books: This books division of Philadelphia Stories showcases local writers through book-length works.. Titles include collections by Randall Brown, Alison Hicks, P.C. Scheponik, and more.
[img_assist|nid=11466|title=|desc=|link=node|align=left|width=45|height=61]Art Exhibits: Philadelphia Stories further promotes the culture of Philadelphia through art exhibits, launching its first exhibit in partnership with the Fairmount Park Welcome Center called “Forgotten Philadelphia.” This exhibit combined art inspired by specific Philadelphia heritage sites with poems and short fiction that speculate on the stories behind these hidden treasures. Philadelphia Stories will launch its next exhibit “Daring Greatly: Extraordinary Women from the Delaware Valley” in September 2014.
Contact: 93 Old York Rd. * Jenkintown, PA 19046 * www.philadelphiastories.org