February 2007

On Campus

Nervous Systems to be Published

Bill Stobb, associate professor of English, can remember buying National Poetry Series books to read many years ago. Now, some other young lover of poetry will be buying his book.

Stobb was named a winner in the National Poetry Series and will now have his book of poetry, Nervous Systems, published by Penguin Books, a national publishing company. The National Poetry Series is a literary awards program that sponsors the publication of five books nationally.

The road to national contest winner wasn’t exactly smooth. Stobb began writing serious poetry when he took an introduction to literature at age 20. He estimates he has sent out 25 manuscripts a year for the past five years to various places. He had been a finalist in the National Poetry Series a number of times.

An estimated 1,400 manuscripts were submitted to this year’s contest. Fifty finalists were named, and then the five winners. Stobb received a $1,000 prize and will earn royalties on each book sold after the first 1,000.

“I have no idea if I’ll ever see a royalty check,” he said, “but it’s cool.”

The book will be published in June, and will be available at usual book outlets.