Literary Type: September 2008

Tom Hazuka (Chile 1978–80) has a new book, for young audiences, Last Chance for First, (Brown Barn Books, $8.95). Hazuka teaches creative writing at Central Connecticut State University, and this, his third novel, is his first young adult novel.
Tom’s previous novel, The Road to the Island (1998) was set in Connecticut and tells about a marathon runner who is killed. In the City of the Disappeared (2000) takes place in Chile and is his “Peace Corps novel.” Two years ago he co-authored the non-fiction book, A Method to March Madness: An Insider’s Look at the Final Four with the Central Connecticut College’s Athletic Director C.J. Jones.
Hazuka started writing in 1978 when he was in the Peace Corps and sold a poem for $15. In graduate school at UC-Davis he switched from writing poems to novels after reading Philip Roth and Tim O’Brien. Then at the Bread Loaf Writing Conference in Middlebury, Vermont in 1995 he got a breakthrough. He met novelist Tom Perrotta who recommended he send a manuscript to his publisher. Hazuka did and The Road to the Island was published.



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					Tom Hazuka (Chile 1978–80) has a new book, for young audiences, *Last Chance for First, (Brown Barn Books, $8.95). Hazuka teaches creative writing at Central Connecticut State University, and this, his third novel, is his first young adult novel. Tom’s previous novel, The Road to the Island* (1998) was set in Connecticut and tells about a marathon runner who is killed. In the City of the Disappeared (2000) takes place in Chile and is his “Peace Corps novel.” Two years ago he co-authored the non-fiction book, *A Method to March Madness: An Insider’s Look at the Final Four* with the Central Connecticut College’s Athletic Director C.J. Jones. Hazuka started writing in 1978 when he was in the Peace Corps and sold a poem for $15. In graduate school at UC-Davis he switched from writing poems to novels after reading Philip Roth and Tim O’Brien. Then at the Bread Loaf Writing Conference in Middlebury, Vermont in 1995 he got a breakthrough. He met novelist Tom Perrotta who recommended he send a manuscript to his publisher. Hazuka did and The Road to the Island** was published.

					The Fall 2008 issue of Ploughshares, (guest-edited by James Alan McPherson,) has a short story by Mark Brazaitis (Guatemala 1991–93), entitled “The Incurables” and as Mark writes, “it’s about a depressed ex-porn star’s relationship with a bipolar mother of two, set in the mental-health ward of a university hospital. It’s a little far afield from my stories about Guatemala — but the world it portrays is, I hope, just as strange and wonderful.”

					Mark Fabiano (Sri Lanka 1984–86) has a short story in the summer fiction issue of the Atlantic Monthly. This story, “We Are All Businessmen” is set in Matara, Sri Lanka. You can read it at TheAtlantic.com. Mark, who teaches at Keiser University, has had fiction in Green Hills Literary Lantern, The Long Story, and German Village After Dark. He was awarded an Ohio Arts Council award in fiction for 2008.

					Jack Cole (PC staff: Afghanistan 1968–70, Swaziland 1970–1971, India 1971–73) published his 3rd book just days before his death at the age of 93 in January, 2008. It is titled *4004 BC* and is available from Infinity Publishing in Conshohocken Pa. His first two books are *Wandering Voices* and Richard and Sabina. After 50 years as a physician, 5 of them with Peace Corps, Jack began writing and published several articles and many poems in addition to the books. His last book is an epic poem based on the Book of Genesis.

					An interview with Paul Theroux (Malawi 1963–65) about his new book *Ghost Train to the Eastern Star* by Bob Minzesheimer was published in the September 5 issue of USAToday. You can read the interview here. While tracking down the URL for this interview we discovered “Audio Interviews with Paul Theroux” by Don Swaim at WiredforBooks.org. There are six audio interviews with Paul conducted from 1983 through 1991 for your listening pleasure.

					Kristen Hoggatt (Uzbekistan 2003–05) is teaming up with a colleague at Emerson College to write a multi-cultural cookbook, with a twist. Is there a certain dish that you remember from your country of service? Kristen is calling for traditional recipes, along with any pictures or narratives that can help her understand the dish’s significance. The co-authors may significantly alter the recipes, but will give credit where credit is due, unless you ask specifically not to be mentioned. Please send recipes to kristenhoggatt@gmail.com or 60 Queensberry St. #1, Boston, MA 02215.