Editorial Staff


​Editor-in-Chief
Katie Budris holds an M.F.A. in poetry from Roosevelt University and is a Senior Lecturer in Writing Arts at Rowan University, where she also serves as Program Coordinator for the M.A. in Writing. Her poems have appeared in over a dozen literary magazines, and her two chapbooks, Mid-Bloom and Prague in Synthetics, are both available from Finishing Line Press. Previously, she served as editor and marketing intern for Oyez Review. Find Katie online at katiebudris.com

Aesthetically, Katie believes Peter Cooley said it best: "poetry is instant access to emotion." She is drawn to poems that use concrete imagery and may appear simple, but utilize metaphor and layers of meaning to create a larger emotional impact.

​Managing Editor
Cate Romano earned both her B.A. in English and her M.A. in Writing from Rowan University, where she now teaches full-time in the First Year Writing Program and the Writing Arts major. She has also worked at the Rowan Writing Center as both a peer tutor and a faculty administrator and currently serves as Assistant Director.
 
Cate enjoys poetry and prose that use language playfully, tell the truth, and offer readers more to discover with each pass. She especially looks for work that promotes connection rather than alienation.
Associate Editors

​Allie Padron (she/her) loves stories told from marginalized perspectives that deal intimately with personal relationships. While she prefers fiction, she appreciates all genres, particularly when the writing gives her a brief glimpse into a moment, emotion, or world she's never experienced before.

Cat Reed is an escapist obsessed with writing which transports them into a world not so different from their own, but just different enough to be utopic. They’re magnetically drawn to stories compacted with mixtures of emotions ranging from crestfallen sobbing to euphoria. They particularly enjoy a bildungsroman following the hardships of the main character until ultimate development and acceptance of self. They seek out and search for tales from varying perspectives of minority voices, ranging cultures, and queer viewpoints in order to broaden horizons and facilitate empathy.

Nyds L. Rivera (they/he) looks for work that captures raw emotions with simple language and vibrant imagery. They particularly enjoy works by writers from marginalized communities, especially those that experiment with language or focus on themes of complicated identity. He has a soft spot for the absurd, and values pieces that push the boundaries of their genre. 

​Shea Roberts (she/they) is most intrigued by writing that fully envelops a reader in the experiences of the protagonist through sensory details, imagery, and raw emotion. Their favorite story at any given time is the one which makes them feel the most intensely. She is especially fond of reading queer or feminist fiction and poetry.
Media Editors

Chloe Joy (she/they) appreciates stories that have the capability of being transformative and give readers deep, emotional connections within short spaces. She believes an author's writing should be a place for readers to escape, allowing them to engage in different experiences. They greatly value pieces that highlight marginalized voices.

Emily Langford is always looking to get lost in the realms of a writer’s imagination and to be challenged by a new perspective. She enjoys stories of the gothic persuasion, immersing herself in the delicate balance of horror and beauty. A true escapist, she connects to her own emotions through the storytelling of others and loves to read anything that evokes the passion, pain, and triumph of the human or spirit. Emily is looking for works that make her heart race and then break. ​

Eric Noon loves stories that are character driven. He’s seeking studies of human qualities and how they move the plot forward. He also really loves when a scene can really stand out on its own, as if it could be analyzed without surrounding context.
Fiction Editors

Qwayonna Josephs enjoys a story with a rich plot, one that transports her into the world. She enjoys a good twist. She loves an imperfect protagonist, a character who isn’t afraid to be disliked. Some of her favorite types of stories are those where a protagonist’s back is against the wall, and they’re forced to make tough decisions.

Bethaney Randazzo (she/they) is drawn to stories that authentically amplify the voices of marginalized people, especially LGBTQ+, told through dynamic characters who embody the many facets of the human experience. Give her weird and gritty and dark, or give her a bildungsroman full of sweet innocence and romance and disillusionment; she prefers honest over happy, as long as there's a thread of hope woven throughout. In whatever genre, she seeks something that makes her think all the thoughts and feel all the feels.

​BriAnna Sankey is inspired by pieces that make her forget she is reading. She looks for the feeling of being able to escape into a world that is so much more than just words on a page. She loves to be captivated by stories that draw you in immediately and leave you craving more, but most importantly she looks for writing that makes you feel something. 
Nonfiction Editors

Gianna Forgen is drawn to nonfiction pieces that bring the reader in as though they are a close friend and confidant. She looks for a strong, honest voice, and especially appreciates language that is accessible and can be enjoyed by anyone. To her, a great piece of writing is one that leaves her wanting more at the end.

Courtney Hall has an unwavering appreciation for nonfiction narratives that showcase unadulterated vulnerability from the author. She is most captivated by works where writers unapologetically open themselves up, displaying such confidence in their own voices that they can leave nothing unsaid on the page. Her affinity is especially strong for narratives that delve into themes such as trauma, grief, and the journey to self-discovery, recognizing them as powerful vehicles for unveiling authentic human experiences.

Kelli Hughes (she/they) looks for stories that speak to the diverse experiences of being human. She loves when protagonists are messy and complicated, and speak to the nuances of existence. She is particularly drawn to narrative nonfiction that explores themes of generational trauma, identity in all forms, and the impact of historical and political change.
Poetry Editors

Ellie Cameron looks for poetry that explores the complexity of life and language, twisting expectations and evoking magic from the mundane. They love works that delve into unique experiences and find a commonality, that find darkness in light or light in the dark, and that speak not just with poetic language, but through it.

Allison D’Arienzo enjoys reading poetry that shares the personalized and unique perspective of the writer. When reading, she appreciates authors that take risks and explore topics in a way that exemplifies their passion. She looks for writing that consists of layers that can be unearthed with each read-through.

Sean Wolff has an affinity for poetry that opens people’s eyes to new ways of viewing the world. He seeks poems that challenge the status quo and celebrate diverse voices and perspectives.