Q: Describe what you publish in 25 characters or less.
A: authentic and artful
Q: What other current publications (or publishers) do you admire most?
A: Persimmon Tree, Rust and Moth, VoiceCatcher, Whale Road Review, Willow Springs, Alaska Quarterly Review...
Q: If you publish writing, who are your favorite writers? If you publish art, who are your favorite artists?
A: Favorite poets: Annie Lightheart, Peter Sears, Donna Stonecipher, Samuel Green, Maxine Kumin, and many more!
Favorite artists: Paul Klee, Wassily Kandinsky, Joan Mitchell, Juan Miro, Paul Gauguin, Van Gogh, Mary Cassatt, Hokusai--many!
Q: What sets your publication apart from others that publish similar material?
A: The poet laureate poem prompts and editor's response model craft and authenticity for the poets and artists as well as the readers. I want a great poem to lead contributors to their best work. So with each issue, I set the bar high but can still be inclusive in embracing new with established writers and artists.
Q: What is the best advice you can give people who are considering submitting work to your publication?
A: Keep it real. No flowery language required. Nothing lofty. Ground your ideas in the senses and don't tell the reader what to feel--let your imagery lead.
Q: What do submitters most often get wrong about your submissions process?
A: It is preferred that the submitter put poems in one doc for updoad, rather than as individual docs.
Q: How much do you want to know about the person submitting to you?
A: I don't care about cover letters though they can be fun to read. I do care about the short bio (25-75 words) and that it include some credits if applicable. I am also interested in what part of the country or world the submitter lives.
Q: If you publish writing, how much of a piece do you read before making the decision to reject it?
A: As we are talking stanzas rather than pages, I usually read to the end in hopes of a turn in the poem that will redeem the rest. I can tell pretty quickly whether the poem is going to be successful.
Q: What additional evaluations, if any, does a piece go through before it is accepted?
A: With the poetry, I generally get enough responses to the prompt/theme that a cohesion is established. Then I can afford to take a few poems that are not necessarily related. With the artwork, I tend to look for a good pairing. I receive much less artwork at this time and sometimes have to go hunting for it.
Q: What is a day in the life of an editor like for you?
A: It's a lot like Christmas!
Q: How important do you feel it is for publishers to embrace modern technologies?
A: Current technologies are what allow me to publish Willawaw onlline as I do not have the resources to publish in print at this time. Poets and artists from around the world can easily participate, and they do! Social networking is a vital part of my promotion of Willawaw. It greatly enhances the outreach.
Q: How much do you edit an accepted piece prior to publication?
A: It depends upon the poem. I have asked a poet to drop a last line or a word, or to change a word that feels incongruent if the rest of the poem seizes my interest. For one issue, I edited several pieces and the poets responded very generously and with agreement. With another issue, no substantive edits at all. However, with every issue, I put a a call for a collaborative proofread when the issue is ready to launch. I ask every contributor to scan their own page for typos or omissions. This has proven extremely productive!
Q: Do you nominate work you've published for any national or international awards?
A: I am looking into the Pushcart nomination process, but I have not made any nominations to date. Coming soon--