What’s Five Times Seven?

For Issue 42, we’ve assembled nine stories that – whether they know it or not – address the meaning of life or possible lack thereof.

In an attempt to answer the mysteries of the universe, we welcome Tom Hutt, A.A. Garrison, Zac Goldstein, Jason Shults, and Kevin Tosca to our pages for the first time. They’re reinforced by old friends, Eirik Gumeny, M.R. Lang, Ryan Werner, and the incomparable y.t. sumner.

So don’t panic. Just remember your towel and dive into the May Issue of Jersey Devil Press.

Poetry WOW!

We don’t know much at JDP, but we do know this: if George Carlin were alive today and dressed like a Roman Catholic cardinal, he’d want you to submit to our special poetry issue. Because George loved words and…uh…poems are made up of words. So there. We’ve already accepted some great pieces, but might be able to squeeze a few more in. Don’t let your cool speculative poem be left behind all the other cool speculative poems. Just remember to check our guidelines first.

REMINDER: One Month to Go on Submissions for Our Poetry Issue

This is just a reminder…oh, hell, you’ve already read the post title. Here are the guidelines again. Read ’em. Follow ’em. Send us something cool.

Guidelines

1. All poems must have a discernible speculative element. We would love to see some poems inspired by myths and legends, so if you have written a ballad about Davy Crockett fighting werewolves in outer space and weren’t sure where to send it, your prayers to Poseidon have just been answered (and ours, too). But we’re open to anything with an otherworldly component.

2. We are particularly interested in metrical poems of all kinds: blank verse, sonnets, villanelles, sestinas, limericks, made-up forms, etc. Rhyming is okay, even encouraged, as long as it is clever. We are impressed by powerful, unique imagery and playful use of sound. Oh, and at least one of us has a soft spot for scifaiku. We will consider free verse poetry, but it should not feel like prose that’s been diced by a sushi chef, or like someone’s drunken ramblings.

3. Humor, whether dark or light, is always a plus. Scary poems can be cool, too. (Poe, anyone?) Just don’t send anything that will make us want to hang ourselves.

4. You may submit up to 100 lines of poetry (excluding titles) in a single document. It can be one long poem or several shorter poems, as long as the total line count does not exceed one hundred.

5. No reprints; only freshly baked poems will be considered. This also means you should avoid sending the poetic equivalent of cheetos you found under your sofa cushions.

6. The deadline for submissions is June 1st.

7. Submit your poems here.