Chicago Quarterly Review, #15, 2012

Novelist and short story writer Syed Afzal Haider — whose work appears in the Silver Birch Press Silver Anthology and upcoming Green Anthology — is senior editor of the esteemed literary journal Chicago Quarterly Review. According to the publication’s website, “Chicago Quarterly Review was founded in 1995 to publish both emerging and established writers and, by doing so, encourage them in the development of their craft. By publishing the finest short stories, poems, photographs, and essays we hope to provide readers with work that stimulates, entertains, and inspires.”

The most recent edition (Volume 15, 2012) — available at Amazon.com — features work by Abe Aamidor, Judith Aller, Howard Altmann, Andy Austin, Wallace Baine, Robin Curtiss, Shelley Davidow, Donald G. Evans, Jennifer Firestone, Charles Haddox, Mark Hage, Erik Hanson, Craig Hartglass, Alta Ifland, Nicola Manuppelli, Michela Martini, Lynn Melnick, Idra Novey, James O’Brien, Alice Phung, Signe Ratcliff, Scott Solomon, Samson Stilwell, and John Wilmes. 

Chicago Quarterly Review has an open submission policy. If you’d like to submit, I’d suggest reviewing the publication (you can buy a copy here) and following the submission guidelines (selected details below).

WHAT CQR IS LOOKING FOR: The writer’s voice ought to be clear and unique and should explain something of what it means to be human. We want well-written stories that reflect an appreciation for the rhythm and music of language, work that shows passion and commitment to the art of writing.

CQR SUBMISSION GUIDELINES: Chicago Quarterly Review accepts short stories, personal essays, poetry, photographs, and prints of artwork. Please do not submit more than one story at a time.  We accept simultaneous submissions.  We do NOT accept previously published work.

LENGTH:

• Short Stories and Fiction – up to 5000 words
• Non-Fiction and Personal essays- up to 5000 words
• Poetry – 3-5 poems
• Photos, Prints and other Visual Artwork –  Black and white, Jpeg or pdf format preferred

For specific details regarding how to submit your work to the Chicago Quarterly Review, go to this page. (CQR only accepts electronic submissions.) Good luck!

Joan Jobe Smith Talks about Pearl Magazine

A BRIEF HISTORY OF PEARL MAGAZINE

by Joan Jobe Smith

Lucky Me: PEARL! One of the wonderful gems in my life: my PEARL literary magazine I nacre-manced in 1973 with the generosity of California State University Long Beach Honors Program grants and artisan extraordinaire David Scott who designed layout and logo and helped me name PEARL Pearl after Janis (AKA Pearl) Joplin, someone we both admired.

My first two all-women issues (Spring 1974 and Fall 1974), with the advice of my new poetry pal and mentor Charles Bukowski, included some of America’s prominent female poets: Lyn Lishfin, Rochelle Holt, Ann Menebroker and Linda King (Bukowski’s then-sweetheart) – and included as well newbie poet par excellence, first-rate artist and future friend and co-editor Marilyn Johnson.

Issue #3, Spring 1975, featured Charles Bukowski’s poetry (plus a Polaroid of him in a waterbed w/Linda King) and #4, slated as a raucous-iconoclastic Male Chauvinist Pig parody of the mid-1970s’ War Between the Sexes – had I not run out of funds – would’ve included Anais Nin, with whom I’d developed an enthusiastic literary friendship, and Henry Miller. Lucky for me, my personal pearl shined nacre-gem-bright once again in 1986 when Marilyn Johnson bought a PC and eagerly volunteered her genius techno know-how and artistic wizardry to help me reprise PEARL.

Now, in 2012, Marilyn and I can proclaim that PEARL, produced, sans grants, with personal penny-pinching and prodigious patrons for nearly 40 years (27 continuously) has become the longest-running litmag in Long Beach, California, and one of the longest-running independent literary journals in the United States – and maybe the world, publishing an eclectic word-jewelry collection of writers that has included first-time poets to Poet Laureates Billy Collins and Delaware’s JoAnn Balingit.

This year, we celebrated our 45^th issue featuring the outstanding poet Clint Margrave and #46, an all-fiction issue featuring the winner of our annual short story contest, Irene Keliher. In 1989, we established our annual Pearl Prize, which includes publication and a monetary prize (now $1,000) – and we can gratefully praise our distinguished list of judges Ed Ochester, Dorianne Laux, Suzanne Lummis, Gerald Locklin, Frank Gaspar, Ann Menebroker, Robert Peters, Denise Duhamel, Lisa Glatt, David Hernandez, Donna Hilbert, Jim Daniels, Fred Voss et al for their expert selection of some of the finest contemporary emerging and established writers in the English language to win the coveted Pearl Prize.

Marilyn Johnson and I look forward to continuing to many more wonderful years as co-pearl divers. Visit us online at pearlmag.com.