The fall issue, edited by Andrew Tonkovich, presents its usual mix of cutting-edge short stories and essays.

Aside from LaSalle ("Strange Sunlight," "The Graves of Famous Writers"), this issue features work by filmmaker Steve De Jarnatt ("Miracle Mile") and San Francisco diarist Matthew Crain. Also featured are stories by SMC writing students Dawna Kemper and Nina Dutkevitch, both veterans of Jim Krusoe's popular long-running fiction-writing workshop at the college.

Other contributors to the fall issue include first-time-in print short storywriter Tracy Chait, novelist Gilad Elbom ("Scream Queens of the Dead Sea")and UC Irvine creative writing alum Leila Mansouri.

Tonkovich points to the Review as a place where high-quality longer work often finds a home, as exemplified in this issue with long short stories by contributors Blake Cass and Jack Garrett, both of whom have experience in writing for theater.

"The Santa Monica Review has a reputation for printing longer fiction and nonfiction that might not show up in journals organized to make room for drawings, photos and poetry," Tonkovich said. "We've tried to be a venue for careful, smart, longer stories and essays. The Review has been celebrated for its commitment to filling this particular niche, occasionally even printing entire novellas."

Recent work from Santa Monica Review appears in this year's annual "Best of" anthologies, including a story by contributor De Jarnatt in "Best American Short Stories 2009."

The Santa Monica Review, published twice yearly, showcases the literary voices of established authors and emerging writers. Founded by Krusoe, an SMC English professor and author ("Iceland," "Girl Factory," "Erased"),the Review has presented readers experimental, thoughtful, and funny works of fiction and nonfiction including writing by well-known authors such as Gary Amdahl, Alan Cheuse, Molly Giles, James Houston, Michelle Latiolais, GarySoto, and Jervey Tervalon during 20 years of publication. It has achieved a reputation as one of the West Coast's leading journals and was recently honored with inclusion in the prestigious " Best American Short Stories 2009" anthology.

Cover art for the Fall 2009 edition is by Bay Area photographer Alison McCreery.

Santa Monica Review is available for sale online and at the SMC Bookstore, Beyond Baroque in Venice, and other area booksellers. Copies are also available by mail and by subscription through Santa Monica Review, Santa Monica College,1900 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica 90405.

The publication is available for $7 per issue or $12 for the two issues each year.

For more information, call (310) 434-3597 or visit the Santa Monica Review web site, http://www.smc.edu/sm_review