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University of Nebraska Press author winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature (again!)

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Longtime readers of our blog may remember that last year, J.M.G. Le Clézio, who has published two translation titles with the University of Nebraska Press, was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. A year later, it's happened again. Herta Müller, a German writer, is this year's winner, and the University of Nebraska Press published the translation of her first book in 1999. Following is the full press release: LINCOLN, Neb. (Oct. 8, 2009) – German writer Herta Müller, whose short story collection Nadirs was published by the University of Nebraska Press in 1999, is the winner of this year’s Nobel Prize … Continue reading University of Nebraska Press author winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature (again!)

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On Montana and Montana writers

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Montana is a wonderful backdrop for a story – it’s beautiful, sparse, romantic, and wild – or at least is perceived as such. The University of Nebraska Press has published many books set in Montana or by Montana authors and in one of the more recent ones, All Our Stories Are Here, a number of Montana authors examine both the way Montana is portrayed in fiction, as well as contributions Montanans have made to the literary community. Among topics covered: representations of the state in popular romances, and the importance of the University of Montana’s creative writing program in fostering … Continue reading On Montana and Montana writers

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Off the Shelf: Football by Edward J. Rielly

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Football cover image
Read the "Wheaties" entry from Football: An Encyclopedia of Popular Culture by Edward J. Rielly:

"Wheaties, the Breakfast of Champions, was created by accident in 1921 when a health clinician in Minneapolis happened to drop some wheat-bran gruel on a stove. The heat converted the gruel into wheat flakes that, the clinician noted, tasted quite good. The head miller at Washburn Crosby Company (later General Mills) agreed, and a new cereal was born. Initially called Washburn’s Gold Medal Whole Wheat Flakes, when the cereal was ready to be marketed in 1924 it was renamed Wheaties so that the food itself rather than its name would be the mouthful.

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The National Parks and the University of Nebraska Press

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The latest Ken Burns Documentary, The National Parks: America’s Best Idea is on PBS stations everywhere this fall. Critics have praised the beautiful camera work and the thorough history this series tells (of the National Parks' founding fathers, of course, but also of the Native groups displaced, of mysterious deaths, of interesting visitors and more). Some of the stories told in this series are also stories told in books published by the University of Nebraska Press. And many of these stories are on sale, through the month of November. The National Parks co-producer Dayton Duncan is the author of several … Continue reading The National Parks and the University of Nebraska Press

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Work from Terese Svoboda to be features on CellStories

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Short stories, while not as popular in form as novels, are, in a lot of ways, more convenient. They’re short. It’s easy to read an entire story in a single sitting. Even if that sitting is at a computer, or an iPod. Writer/editor/teacher Dan Sinker has begun a project called CellStories, in which he’s posting a short story a day at http://cellstories.net/. The reason, according to the Web site: “Because we still think the best place for something wonderful to read is in the palm of your hand and, when you combine the amazing technology of modern web-enabled phones and … Continue reading Work from Terese Svoboda to be features on CellStories

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Off the Shelf: Forever Red by Steve Smith

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Forever Red cover image Read from "At Last: Nebraska 24-Miami 17-January 1, 1995" in Forever Red: Confessions of a Cornhusker Football Fan by Steve Smith:

"But in a stirring string of events, Nebraska found itself at the Miami 15, and seconds later, Frazier put the ball in fullback Cory Schlesinger’s hands. No. 40 slipped past the line, leaped over a Hurricane at the 5, and remarkably, bounded into the end zone. Then Frazier fired a bullet to Eric Alford for 2 points, and the game was tied. At some point during all of this, I turned to Michael. He was looking at me, holding up four fingers. Then he asked: “Do you believe?”

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Huskers (and UNP authors) in the news

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The Nebraska Cornhuskers will play the Louisiana-Lafayette in a sold-out stadium this Saturday. It will be the 300th consecutive sellout at Memorial Stadium. Anyone who knows Nebraska football knows that the consistent sellout crowds are an important part of the game day atmosphere. There’s a certain feeling of privilege that comes with scoring tickets, and there’s a certain feeling of camaraderie that comes with being part of an enormous, enthusiastic crowd. University of Nebraska Press author Steve Smith talked to 10/11 News about the significance of 300 consecutive sellouts, as well as the significance of Husker Football to fans across … Continue reading Huskers (and UNP authors) in the news

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Off the Shelf: Ambassadors from Earth by Jay Gallentine

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Gallentine Read from Chapter 1, "Aboard the Glacier" in Ambassadors from Earth: Pioneering Explorations with Unmanned Spacecraft by Jay Gallentine:

"Larry Cahill sardined himself into the communication shack with James Van Allen, who had headphones popped over his ears. It was quite hot and late at night. Both were thankful that they could be near the top of the ship, because that was farthest from the blistering engine room.

“Well, I wonder if that could really be it,” Van Allen said to nobody in particular. There was this inexplicably goofy beep-beeping sound in the headset. Something didn’t add up here. He glanced around. On the assembled faces were looks of confusion, like something didn’t fit. Like a game of Clue—everybody knew it couldn’t be Colonel Mustard with the rope, but all the evidence said otherwise.

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Tonight’s the night! Ted Kooser to sign copies of his new book in Omaha

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It's finally here! The University of Nebraska Press and Ted Kooser will celebrate the launch of his new book, Lights on a Ground of Darkness, tonight at the W. Dale Clark Library, 215 S. 15th St. in Downtown Omaha tonight at 7 p.m. Lights on a Ground of Darkness is a remembrance (written as prose, instead of poetry) of the time Kooser spent with his mother’s family in Guttenberg, Iowa, when he was a little boy. The event is free and open to the public, books will be for sale, and Ted will sign copies. And, if you missed it, Ted appeared … Continue reading Tonight’s the night! Ted Kooser to sign copies of his new book in Omaha

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Little Pancho at the U.S. Open

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Pancho Segura – the subject of UNP biography Little Pancho: The Life of Tennis Legend Pancho Segura – signed copies of his book at the U.S. Open this weekend, and the UNP has photographs of the player famous for his backhand, speed, work ethic and charm mingling with fans. Caroline Seebohm, author of Little Pancho, is pictured next to him. You can view the album here. In other news, UNP baseball titles are on sale through September. Some, like Chief Bender's Burden and Alexander Cartwright tell the stories of facinating characters who impacted the game. Others, like Center Field Shot, explain … Continue reading Little Pancho at the U.S. Open