Queens Reaches Out To Diverse Writers
By Juliet Werner

This year, the Queens Council on the Arts will turn its attention to the borough's largely neglected literary artists. Applications for the brand new Roger Madoff Literary Fellowship become available Sept. 12.

Roger Madoff died in 2006.

"There exists in Queens many unknown circles of literary artists writing out of the mainstream either because of translation challenges or because of the tendency of writers in general to be somewhat solitary artists by nature," QCA Executive Director Hoong Yee Lee Krakauer said. "By establishing a dedication literary program that includes a fellowship, literary events, professional development and opportunities to network with other artists, QCA will create a vibrant community of writers who create stories from diverse perspectives but are united in universal themes."

Madoff, a reporter for Bloomberg News, was diagnosed with Leukemia in 2002 and passed away in 2006. Writing from his hospital bed, Madoff recorded his experiences, which were later published in a memoir, entitled "Leukemia for Chickens: One Wimp's Tale About Living Through Cancer."

"He had a lot to say and was a really opinionated brilliant young man," Jen Madoff said of her late husband. "When he got sick, writing became a whole different ballgame…The art of writing, the activity of writing was a total escape from his disease management lifestyle."

A friend of the Madoff family originally approached the Council with the idea for the fellowship and Krakauer, a writer herself, was immediately responsive.

"The Madoff Fellowship is an integral part of QCA's grant programs and a compelling component of the literary initiative QCA is currently developing," Krakaeur said. "It will bring new and familiar Queens writers to our literary events, workshops, readings and gatherings. The prestige of the fellowship will allow QCA to develop a respected community of Madoff fellows who will not only receive a $10,000 cash award, they will also be involved in mentoring aspiring writers and participate in elevating the awareness of QCA's literary programs."

According to QCA Arts Services Director Chris Henderson, the QCA only recently started holding workshops geared toward writers.

Madoff wrote this book while he was treated for Leukemia.

"This is a new thing for us," Henderson said. "We've really been concentrating on visual and performing arts. We did a workshop in May on how to get published and 70 to 80 percent of people have been unfamiliar to us. We're getting into a whole new group of artists that haven't been familiar to us."

In early December, QCA will hold its next literary workshop called "Now That You're Published."

"For so many people [writing] has to be something you do on side," Madoff said. "We want to put it in the forefront, let them focus on it even for a year just to get things started … How many people working full time have time to write memoir? The illness gave [Madoff] the room to live this out. I don't want people to rely on things like that to give that time and space."

Recipients must be at least 18 and a full-time resident of Queens at the time of application. Applications are due Dec. 4 and the winner will be announced next May. QCA staff and Jen Madoff are currently forming the panel that will select the fellow.

For more information visit www.queenscouncilarts.org or call (347) 505-3010.