Well, it’s been an interesting year and I’m sure I can speak on behalf of all of us when I say Matter 9 has been a joy to work on. The team and I are now preparing to bow out and pass the baton to a new, fresh-faced bunch (I won’t give anything away – I’ll let the new editor make his or her own introductions). So I just wanted to say a final thank you to everyone who has bought copies of Matter 9, bought back issues, looked at our website, followed us on Twitter, joined our Facebook group, contributed work or got on the Matter bandwagon in any way whatsoever – it’s been lovely. I also want to say a final thank you to the editorial team who did a sterling job in choosing the submissions for the magazine, promoting us to anyone who would listen and everything else they did to get Matter 9 off the ground! Also, thanks to my deputy editor James Wall for all his help and support during the year too. Anyway, that’s all for now – please continue to support the new editor and team as they get ready to bring you another fresh batch of work by established and emerging writers alike in Matter 10. All the best, A. J. Ashworth.

Sheffield Hallam’s Professor of Writing, Jane Rogers, has been shortlisted for the prestigious BBC National Short Story Award. Jane’s story ‘Hitting Trees With Sticks’ was plucked from 700 submissions as one of five to be considered for the £15,000 prize. Other shortlisted writers include Naomi Alderman, Kate Clanchy, Sara Maitland and Lionel Shriver. Speaking to the Story website (www.theshortstory.org.uk), Jane said: “It’s immensely encouraging to have been picked out by such an eminent panel of writers and broadcasters because it allows me to hope that maybe I am at last getting properly to grips with the form.” Jane, who previously published a short story in Matter 4, will find out on December 7 whether she has won the award. Matter 9 editor A. J. Ashworth said: “The whole Matter team wants to say congratulations to Jane for making it onto the shortlist. It’s fantastic news and we have our fingers crossed that she wins. It’s great that Jane is writing short stories and helping to give the form the attention it deserves.” To read an interview with Jane about her writing click on the Interviews tab on this website. Her story can be found in the recently published BBC National Short Story Award paperback or downloaded as part of the award’s podcast.

As well as buying copies of Matter 9 via this website, you can also buy from selected bookshops. Our current list of stores include Blackwell’s, Sheffield Hallam University, City Campus, 1 Howard Street, Sheffield, S1 2LW; Waterstones, 24-26 Orchard Square, Sheffield, S1 2FB; Blackwell’s, 100 Charing Cross Road, London, WC2H 0JG. Watch this space for any new stockists. Copies can also be purchased from the university by sending a cheque (for the correct amount) made payable to Sheffield Hallam University to: Professor Steven Earnshaw, Department of English, 1147 Owen Building, Sheffield Hallam University, City Campus, Sheffield, S1 1WB.

Matter 9 had a fantastic launch night in London on October 29th with great readings from a number of students. The launch was held as part of Sheffield Hallam’s ‘London Showcase’ – an event which enables students to showcase their work to agents, staff, fellow students and members of the public. There was a great turnout at the Poetry Cafe, Betterton Street, Covent Garden with a number of copies of Matter 9 being sold. Acclaimed poet and Hallam Professor of Poetry Maurice Riordan, who published two new poems in the magazine, was master of ceremonies. Contributors Alison MacLeod and Adam Marek also showed their support by turning up to listen to students. The showcase featured launches for Matter 9, its sister publication Best of MA Writing and a new pamphlet of poems by Hallam graduate Cathy Bolton. The presentation of the inaugural A. M. Heath Fiction Prize, awarded to fellow graduate Panos Papanagiotou for his novel Transbalkan, was also held. Thanks to everyone who turned up and braved the heat!

Matter 9 will hold its London launch on Thursday, October 29 as part of Sheffield Hallam’s London Showcase. The showcase is an opportunity for students to present their work to invited agents as well as fellow students, teaching staff and members of the public. Matter 9 will be launched as part of this and a number of contributors will be reading on the night. The event is open to all and takes place at the Poetry Cafe, 22 Betterton Street, Covent Garden, WC2H 9BX at 6.30pm – wine will be provided. The evening will also feature the launch of Matter’s sister publication ‘Best of MA Writing’, the inaugural presentation of the A. M. Heath Fiction Prize (for a novel) and the launch of Hallam graduate Cathy Bolton’s new pamphlet of poems, ‘A Fool’s Height Short of Heaven’. Please come along for a great night of literature. Copies of Matter will be on sale during the interval and afterwards. For more information about the Poetry Cafe, including directions, go to http://www.poetrysociety.org.uk/content/cafe/

A fantastic launch night was held for Matter 9 at Blackwell’s, Sheffield, on Wednesday, October 21. A number of people turned out to hear readings by some of the MA Writing students published in the magazine. The editor A. J. Ashworth introduced the event and thanked a number of people including Blackwell’s for hosting the launch, the rest of the Matter team for their support and the designers Eleven Design for a fantastic looking publication. Deputy editor James Wall then introduced each of the participants, who either read short story extracts, poems or novel extracts. Readings were then given by Kate Hainsworth, Angelina Ayers, Susan Clegg, Noel Williams, Marian Iseard, Fay Musselwhite, Helen Cadbury and Kate Mitchell.

Come and join us in Sheffield as we launch Matter 9 on Wednesday, October 21st at 6.30pm. We have some great new Sheffield Hallam voices reading for us at the event including Noel Williams, Angelina Ayers, Kate Mitchell, Helen Cadbury, Fay Musselwhite, Kate Hainsworth, Susan Clegg and Marian Iseard. The event is free and takes place at Blackwell’s, Sheffield Hallam City Campus, Howard Street, Sheffield, and is being held as part of Sheffield’s Off the Shelf Literary Festival and Blackwell’s Back to University campaign. We hope you’ll come along and enjoy a glass of wine while listening to some of the best new writing from Hallam’s acclaimed MA Writing course. Copies of Matter 9, costing £4.99, will be for sale after the event – each copy comes with its own little Matter bookmark to help you keep your place as you read through this great collection of work. We hope to see you there!

A feast of literary treats will be on offer at the Sheffield launch of Matter 9 on Wednesday, October 21, 2009, at 6.30pm. Poems as well as novel and short story extracts will be read by contributors, all of whom are rising stars of Sheffield Hallam’s highly successful MA Writing programme. The event is being held at Blackwell’s, City Campus, Howard Street, as part of Sheffield’s Off the Shelf literary festival and Blackwell’s Back to University campaign. All are welcome – just turn up on the night. We guarantee a great evening of literature by some of the best new voices around. Wine and nibbles will be provided.

Please join us for an evening of readings to launch Matter 9 in London! The event is being held as part of Hallam’s London Showcase at the Poetry Cafe, 22 Betterton Street, Covent Garden, WC2H 9BX on Thursday, October 29, 2009 at 6.30pm. A number of contributors will be reading poems or extracts from novels and short stories. The evening will also feature the launch of Hallam’s sister publication ‘Best of MA Writing’, the inaugural presentation of the A. M. Heath Fiction Prize (for a novel) and the launch of Hallam graduate Cathy Bolton’s new pamphlet of poems, ‘A Fool’s Height Short of Heaven’. Please come along for a great night of literature. For more information about the Poetry Cafe, including directions, go to http://www.poetrysociety.org.uk/content/cafe/