On Monday, April 23rd at 4:00PM, UNCP and the surrounding community has a chance to celebrate an even a half century in the making: the 50th Issue of Pembroke Magazine.

"I'm honored to begin my editorship with the 50th issue," said ETFL Professor Peter Grimes, "and so pleased that Pembroke Magazine's former editor of over three decades, [NC Poet Laureate] Shelby Stephenson, played such a large role. He agreed to an interview about life, writing, and Poet Laureateship, as well allowed us to publish two poems that will appear in his next collection." Stephenson will also be reading at the launch party, which will be held in the Mary Livermore Library Reading Room.

In addition to Stephenson's contributions, the issue features 21 poets ,10 fiction writers, 5 essayists, a book review by new UNCP English lecturer Aaron Cole and cover art by Indian painter Mahirwan Mamtani. "The issue features both established and up-and-coming contributors from thirteen states and abroad," write Grimes:  "from Brooklyn, Spokane, San Francisco, Albuquerque, Pittsburgh, and Kannapolis (NC) to Singapore and Germany."  

Grimes promises that there will be something for everyone: "in this issue, Andrew Wyeth is haunted by his muse, Christina Olson; a matchmaking Virginia Woolf scholar hosts Thanksgiving dinner; a stuffed rabbit makes its appearance in the '90s Chapel Hill amateur comedy scene; a dying golfer takes his last swing; refugees cross the Mediterranean Sea; the board game Clue gains some new suspects and weapons; a university groundskeeper stumbles upon a grisly surprise; and much more."