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

Alexia Breeden (they/she) seeks work that leaves a lasting impression, where a moment, a sentence, or a character lingers in her mind and keeps them coming back for more. They admire the kind of writing where the world is so expansive that even the reader can imagine themself within it. She enjoys pieces driven by the characters as they explore the complexities and rawness of human emotion and relationships in unique ways. In short, they love any sort of writing that is strange, unusual, and fantastical. 

Bella Bisicchia seeks stories that stay with her long after the last page. She's fascinated by worlds that feel unlike our own and by the magic of creating them. She reads widely across genres, enjoying anything that is both well-crafted and captivating. Bella appreciates writing that captures the quiet, often unnoticed details that make characters distinctive and believable. She is particularly drawn to prose that is clever, quirky, and refreshingly original.

Adam Buckley (he/him) enjoys poetry of all kinds. Whether it's narrative, autobiographical, in an obscure form, or rhyming, it's the endless opportunity for creativity that a poem presents that makes each one a unique experience. At the end of the day, Adam is looking for pieces that describe the indescribable and put words to feelings that only poems truly can.

Erica Lee (she/her) enjoys works that evoke a strong emotional response, drawing on a writer's experiences and bearing their souls to the reader. She finds pieces that break the box of expectation to be the most inspiring, especially when they are brave enough to discuss topics that others find too serious or uncomfortable. The world we live in is so colorful and full of so many unique perspectives. Writers who can hone in on those details to enhance a scene and draw her into the bits of history captured on page are just what she is looking for. 

Sophia Nigro (she/her) enjoys stories that completely immerse her and let the rest of the world fall away. She's fond of character-driven stories and loves to see how characters interact with one another. Sophia is always on the lookout for some good dialogue and is a sucker for plot twists. Overall, she seeks pieces that were written with passion and leave the reader feeling something once finished. 

Samantha Szumloz (she/her) adores poetry that combines simple language with powerful images and themes. She is moved by lines that attempt to explain the unexplainable, and phrases that embody the female experience. She especially loves reading works from BIPOC and female-identifying writers.
Fiction Editors

​Emily Mendelsohn is looking for the kind of stories that pull at the heartstrings. She wants to feel for the characters and loves to be transported into their world. Reading should be an experience, no matter what the piece is about.

Meg Nielsen (she/they) is captivated by prose that takes risks that pay off. Whether it be through non-linear storytelling, experiments in perspective, or nontraditional language, she applauds authors who can not only make "weird" work, but make it memorable. She also enjoys character-driven content, with voices so strong that by the end of the tale, they feel almost like a friend.

Janaye Roberts loves immersing herself in the work of others who possess a creative mind and enjoy stepping into the world of fiction and make-believe. Fiction is the genre that speaks her language, especially romance, and offers her an escape from reality. Even the most familiar clichés captivate her, so long as there’s a compelling plot to follow.

Gianna Vanore (she/her) is a lover of many kinds of stories, but ones that completely engulf her within the pages have a special place in her heart. She likes to forget that she’s reading—becoming so immersed in the world, the characters, that when she finally looks up, she’s surprised she’s not in the story herself. She’s a fan of magical realism, but most of all anything involving love, especially with lots of tension. She will be waiting to feel that angst, heartbreak, and adoration alongside the characters.
Nonfiction Editors
Samuel Costello (he/him) is an avid proponent of different perspectives, styles, and meanings found in each and every personal story. He is especially drawn towards those that portray the unique, gritty, and honest details that illuminate the nuanced characters of everyday life. He wants to connect with the experiences being shared and looks forward to discovering different tales from all walks of life.

Laura Del Viscio (she/her) is endlessly drawn to stories that illuminate everyday life and the moments where the heart of human connection are at the core. She loves narratives that linger in the tensions of relationships, the messy beauty of being human, and the subtle moments that often go unseen. Laura is intrigued by work that highlights the familiar through thoughtful storytelling and takes risks in exploring themes of the wildly, unpolished layers of existence that often linger in the reader’s mind well beyond the last page.

Samantha Grasso craves narratives that speak to the human experience. All work is derived from real life emotions and she actively searches for work that shows new perspectives and cultures. She wants to see the author through the words and connect through the text.

Erica Lee (she/her) enjoys works that evoke a strong emotional response, drawing on a writer's experiences and bearing their souls to the reader. She finds pieces that break the box of expectation to be the most inspiring, especially when they are brave enough to discuss topics that others find too serious or uncomfortable. The world we live in is so colorful and full of so many unique perspectives. Writers who can hone in on those details to enhance a scene and draw her into the bits of history captured on page are just what she is looking for. 
Poetry Editors

Adam Buckley (he/him) enjoys poetry of all kinds. Whether it's narrative, autobiographical, in an obscure form, or rhyming, it's the endless opportunity for creativity that a poem presents that makes each one a unique experience. At the end of the day, Adam is looking for pieces that describe the indescribable and put words to feelings that only poems truly can.

Dimitrius DeMarco (he/him) seeks poetry that seamlessly manages to bridge the gap between the painfully esoteric nature of lived human experience and the broader, more universal themes present in global culture. Additionally, the beautiful idiosyncrasies produced by the collisions and subversions within the internal and external forms of poetry is something he hopes to see in submissions.

​Desirae Mack (she/her) loves captivating writing that hooks you, where each word leaves you wanting more. As a poetry editor, she appreciates pieces that transport you to new places and into different shoes. As a female identifying LGBTQ+ writer, she particularly enjoys the works of others within her shared community. Her soft spots also include vivid imagery and metaphors extended far beyond their due dates. She looks forward to submissions that satisfy yet challenge the mind and the human experience.

Samantha Szumloz (she/her) adores poetry that combines simple language with powerful images and themes. She is moved by lines that attempt to explain the unexplainable, and phrases that embody the female experience. She especially loves reading works from BIPOC and female-identifying writers.