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Editor Interview: Texas Poetry Calendar

This interview is provided for archival purposes. The listing is not currently active.

Q: Describe what you publish in 25 characters or less.

A: Texas-themed poetry

Q: What other current publications (or publishers) do you admire most?

A: The Sun, Borderlands, Gulf Coast, Panoply, Voices de Luna, Bloomsday Literary, Copper Canyon, Dos Gatos, F(r)iction, Tishman Review, Write Bloody and so many others waiting in the wings. I respect anyone who is publishing poetry and literary fiction via a nonprofit platform.

Q: If you publish writing, who are your favorite writers? If you publish art, who are your favorite artists?

A: Sandra Cisneros, Naomi Shihab Nye, Major Jackson, Colson Whitehead, Natalia Trevino, Carrie Fountain, Michael Noll, Antonio Ruiz-Camacho, Luis Alberto Urrea, are the contemporary (breathing) writers. Others who are a major influence but have past away include Tony Hoagland, Mary Oliver, Donald Hall, Ursula K. LeGuin, Lucie Brock-Broido and I could fill pages.

Q: What sets your publication apart from others that publish similar material?

A: The Texas Poetry Calendar is a spiral-bound journal/calendar/planner printed on durable cardstock for those who prefer to keep appointments without using electronic media. It's functional, beautiful, and durable.

Q: What is the best advice you can give people who are considering submitting work to your publication?

A: We publish regional poetry. Although we interpret "Texas-themed" very broadly, we look for some connection to Texas be it geographic, iconic, or cultural. Try to avoid stereotypes. Texas is a very diverse state with many deeply rooted traditions. We strive to highlight the eccentricities without resorting to tropes.

Q: Describe the ideal submission.

A: Several short poems of no more than 35 lines. We love haiku and tanka! We don't shy away from experimental and conceptual work but it is limited by space. We adore writing where every word and breath is necessary.

Q: What do submitters most often get wrong about your submissions process?

A: 1. Poem Length - 35 lines including title and spaces. 2. It MUST have a Texas connection. 3. We read blind. No identifying info on document.

Q: How much do you want to know about the person submitting to you?

A: We only read cover letters after the work is chosen. We do, however, print a less than 50 word bio of everyone we publish.

Q: If you publish writing, how much of a piece do you read before making the decision to reject it?

A: We read and discuss, often in depth, every poem that fits the submission guidelines.

Q: What additional evaluations, if any, does a piece go through before it is accepted?

A: Since we are publishing a calendar, we often receive many poems relating to holidays. We can only accept one or two per holiday. We have bilingual co-editors for each calendar. They must reach some agreement. Ultimately our selections are often chosen democratically.

Q: What is a day in the life of an editor like for you?

A: Hectic but fulfilling. I'd love to sit and read submissions all day but bills must be paid.

Q: How important do you feel it is for publishers to embrace modern technologies?

A: We owe it to our artists to promote their work to the best of our ability. We use technology and traditional means. Since we pay our poets, a revenue stream is essential therefore we are a print publisher. We promote and share work throughout all major social media platforms.

Q: How much do you edit an accepted piece prior to publication?

A: We do what is needed to make a submission work in our format. We have different guest editors every year so it varies.

Q: Do you nominate work you've published for any national or international awards?

A: We nominate for the Pushcart through all of our serial publications. We are looking at other award platforms appropriate to our niche.