2019 erik kirkland memorial prize The Erik Kirkland Memorial Prize originates from tragedy—the death of a promising young man in a military accident. If anything positive can come from such misfortune, this award, in some small way, accomplishes this. The Writers Institute wishes to thank John and Sara Kirkland for giving their blessing to the …
miles mcmahon The police officer won’t stop tapping his foot at the intersection of 184th and Marion. I watch him as I talk on the phone under the peeling roof of a bodega. He keeps tapping his foot, mumbles about how slow of a day it’s been. I wonder if safety gets overrated, if Chekhov …
letter from the editors cara roets Dear Reader, Welcome to the first online issue of Essay. Since it was founded in 2000, Essay has been a home for extraordinary pieces of creative nonfiction by students at Susquehanna University. These pieces have lived in Essay’s gorgeous print editions, but never before has the magazine had an online presence. Until now. …
miles mcmahon i’ve known since third grade that i was queer. i noticed freckles & giggles no matter who made them, noticed hands — touch — knowing that i wanted the closeness but couldn’t stand the pressure. even then, being identified as feminine made my skin feel tight. i hated the giveaway of my girlish …
photographer bios miles mcmahon is a senior graphic design and art history double major. He enjoys loitering in art museums, listening to sad indie music, and watching cooking competitions instead of actually cooking for himself. gabi libenson is a first-year communications major at Susquehanna. She grew up in New Hampshire and has spent most of her life traveling …
miles mcmahon The Mega Millions drawing is tonight and my head is already bathed in the ethereal glow of paid-off student loans, sports cars, and luxury condos by the ocean when Lori asks if I’d like to participate in a lottery pool with some other store employees. Don’t bother, a passing customer interrupts before breaking …
gabi libenson 2019 print issue In addition to our online issue, Essay also publishes a print issue featuring a different set of works by talented nonfiction writers. Enjoy these audio excerpts from some of the pieces in the 2019 print issue. If you would like a copy of the print issue, please email the editors …
☆ erik kirkland memorial prize finalist ☆ life is a drag richard berwind
2019 masthead cara roets CO-EDITORS: rachel pietrewicz & hannah phillips DESIGNER & MANAGING EDITOR: deon robinson WEB MANAGER: ashley toomey READING BOARD: julie bauer, mackenzie bowers, alison cerri, patrick durney, jason ferris, lydia gilliam, hope martin, hayli mcclain, sarena pollock, kayla quinn, jordyn taylor, alaina walls, kaitlynn yeager COPYEDITORS: nikki anderson, alison cerri, amanda gillette, quinn burkhart FACULTY ADVISORS: hasanthika sirisena & …