The third issue of Slippery Elm, The University of Findlay’s annual literary journal, is available for purchase.

According to journal editor and Associate English Professor Dave Essinger, a total of 661 submissions were received, up from 416 in 2014. Consequently, the acceptance rate was approximately six percent, down from about eight percent last year.

Two won $1,000 for poetry and prose submissions.

Francine Witte of New York, New York won the Poetry Prize for her poem, “My Dead Florida Mother Meets Gandhi.” Renée Nicholson served as judge. Tammy Delatorre of Hermosa Beach, California won the Prose Prize for her essay, “Diving Lessons.” Brendan Kiely was the judge.

Travis Wolph, a UF senior digital media major, provided the cover photo. His work also appeared on the 2014 Slippery Elm cover.

Works that were submitted came from around the globe, but some Ohio writers made the publishing cut. They include Jennifer Moore of Bowling Green, Kerry Trautman of Findlay, Katherine Niemi-Adams of Troy and Jeff Gunfy of Bluffton.

The eclectic poetry and story collections range in subject matter from parenthood to calligraphy.

Single copies of Slippery Elm can be purchased by visiting slipperyelm.findlay.edu and using the PayPal button, or emailing the journal’s staff via the website. Copies may also be purchased by sending a check, made out to “Slippery Elm,” in care of The University of Findlay, 1000 N. Main St., Findlay, OH 45840. Journal back issues and T-shirts can also be purchased.

Submissions for the fourth Slippery Elm issue will open in the summer of 2016.

The journal's editor, Essinger, is a resident of Bluffton.