Post by moira on Nov 2, 2008 15:56:10 GMT 2
Babel Fruit: Writing Under the Influence
www.babelfruit.org
Intro / background / mission /history of your 'zine:
First called Babel, the online journal was meant to present the work of persecuted writers in the International Cities of Refuge Network to Western readers, alongside their Western contemporaries. However, the journal has evolved and now focuses on work in which the writer allows himself/herself to be influenced by the "other". The other is defined by culture, physical realities, philosophic attitudes. . . It is about exploration and confrontation; immigration and expatriation of all sorts.
Genres:
Poetry. Very short fiction and appropriate essays, reviews, creative non-fiction. We seek writers and publishers who would like us to "preview" books or chapbooks, but we do not (as yet) do in-house reviews. Reviews and previews of books published by established presses only, please. (This is not to be elitist, but because we believe it is good for a writer to have someone tacitly backing them when they are under critique.)
Editors/owner:
Ren Powell is the author of two full-length collections of poetry (Fairy Tales and Soil and Mixed States, both bilingual editions published by Wigestrand AS), and two chapbooks. She received an Emerging Writers Grant from the Norwegian Writers Union in 2005, and her books have been purchased by the Norwegian Arts Council. Her poetry has been translated and published in French, Norwegian, Croatian, Basque, Persian and Spanish. Ren also has ten books of translations among her publishing credits. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Creative Writing at Lancaster University.
Cati Porter is an associate member of PEN American Center, she is a poet, freelance writer and reviewer. Her poetry collection Where We Dwell is forthcoming with Mayapple Press, and her chapbook small fruit songs was published in 2008 by Pudding House Press. Cati is also the founder and editor of Poemeleon: A Journal of Poetry.
Example piece:
This is a difficult choice! I feel lucky to have been able to present Catherine MacDonald's poem "Pinnochio in Africa" to readers.
tinyurl.com/4fezsm
Note:
I would love to find someone interested in review poetry books that are appropriate for Babel Fruit, for example translations and human rights-themed collections.