Marquette English Professor Nationally Recognized for Short Story Released: March 8, 2006 MILWAUKEE – Refresh, Refresh, a short story written by Benjamin Percy, visiting assistant professor of English at Marquette, was selected as one of the top 20 stories published in American magazines and journals last year. It will be featured in Best American Short Stories 2006 this September. Originally published in the Paris Review, Refresh, Refresh is a fictional story about the war in Iraq that portrays the devastating loss suffered by a small town in Oregon when several of its men are sent to war and killed in a single ambush.  Sponsored by Houghton Mifflin since 1915, the annual Best American series chooses a well-known author to serve as guest editor in selecting the best American short stories of the year. Percy’s critic for this issue was Ann Patchett, NewYork Times bestselling author of Bel Canto. At the Paris Review’s invitation, Percy will read his work at the New York Public Library on Tuesday, Jun. 13 for “Periodically Speaking: Literary Magazine Editors Introducing Emerging Writers,” a reading series organized by the Council of Literary Magazines and Presses.   Percy is the author of the book of short stories, The Language of Elk (Carnegie Mellon University Press, 2006). His fiction has also appeared in the Chicago Tribune, Amazing Stories, Swink, Greensboro Review, Sycamore Review, and other publications. He was raised in the high desert of Central Oregon and now lives with his wife, Lisa, in Milwaukee. For more information, interested media may contact Anne Broeker in the Office of Marketing and Communication at (414) 288-0286. Office of Marketing and Communication Contacts Christopher Stolarski Media Relations Specialist Phone: (414) 288-1988 Send e-mail