February 8, 2011 — Meridian, the semi-annual literary journal published by the Creative Writing Program in the University of Virginia's College of Arts & Sciences, will host a release party for its latest issue on Feb. 12 at 8 p.m. at the Bridge/Progressive Arts Initiative in Charlottesville.

The celebration, free and open to the public, will feature short readings, food and drink, plus a chance to meet the editors, Hannah Holtzman, Lee Johnson and Wanling Su. Copies of the issue will be for sale. Johnson and his band will provide live music.

The new issue includes an interview with author John Casey, an English professor in the Creative Writing Program, along with an excerpt of an alternate beginning to his latest novel, "Compass Rose." Meridian's "Lost Classic" features illustrations by 20th-century Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges, with an article by curator C. Jared Lowenstein. The Borges collection is housed in U.Va.'s Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library.

The Bridge is located at 209 Monticello Road. Call 434-984-5669, or Facebook users can check out the event page.