New Lines From the Old Line State

by Ally Peltier (Editor)

For over twenty years, the Maryland Writers' Association has nurtured and supported the Maryland literary arts community with monthly meetings, workshops, lectures, author showcases, newsletters, and an annual writers' conference. Now, for the first time, these select MWA members deliver a riveting introduction to the region's writing community in New Lines from the Old Line State.

232 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2008

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting collection with a wide range of poems, stories, and essays from Maryland writers. An enjoyable read.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book out of curiosity about the Maryland Writers Association, and also because my high school biology teacher, Lalita Noronha, submitted a short story and some poems. I feel biased in saying that I really enjoyed her story, "Shanti's Choice," about a woman and her daughters in India (and also reminded me nostalgically of her short story collection, "Where Monsoons Cry.". It's also one of the few pieces in here that transcends the American landscape. I also really liked "family Recipe" by Lynn Stearns "Chicken Necking" by Jeanie l. Deitz and "imprints" by Sherry Audette Morrow, all of which deal with that personal weak spot of mother/daughter relationships. I also give major props to Sherri Cook Woosley for "The Man with the Patchwork Soul" and her extremely unlike able narrator, in my humble opinion. Always tough to make those characters still feel like people.

The collection also included poetry and memoirs, two medium to which I feel less knowledgable, though I've tried my hand at both, largely feeling like a hack. Although this anthology features Maryland writers most often using contemporary methods and settings, I felt like it displayed a wide range of talent and subject matter, and could speak to a large range of people.