Women :: Non-binary :: Art :: Poetry
[Tap tap] Is this thing on?
Oh it is oh wait I’m not ready— [cut]
Hello. Hi. Welcome to the first issue of a new era of West Trestle Review.
What do I mean by “new era”?
Well, our fearless Founding Editor, Patricia Caspers, is on hiatus from being Editor-in-Chief of West Trestle while she pursues her MLIS (while working full time!) – yay! Please join me in wishing Tricia all the best in her studies. She’ll still be around the journal here and there while she’s in school, but let’s hope she finishes her degree quickly so she can conduct this train again soon!
For now, you’re stuck with me as the temporary EIC – a short, dorky, scientist-in-training who kind of knows how to poet (yes, it’s a verb) but mostly tries too hard to be funny when she’s not eating or sleeping (or maybe even while she’s eating and sleeping, who knows?). Luckily, I get to work with the wise and talented Annie Stenzel as West Trestle’s Managing Editor, and we’re as committed as ever to showcasing exceptional writing and art in our issues.
During the MLIS era, we’ll be publishing two issues per year – a spring issue in March and a fall issue in September. General submissions for poetry are currently closed as we catch up on our backlog for next March’s issue, but beginning in March 2025, they’ll be open as follows:
March-May for the September issue of the same year
September-November for the March issue of the following year
These reading periods may change as we work out what our reconfigured team can handle. If we do change our schedule, we’ll be sure to keep you updated through the “Submit” page on our website, as well as through our social media accounts (follow us if you haven’t already!). BIPOC submissions for poetry and art submissions are currently open and will remain so year-round.
We kick off the MLIS era with stellar poems in this issue by Yael Valencia Aldana, Patricia Davis-Muffett, Catherine Garbinsky, Sonia Gutierrez, Amy Haddad, Robyn Katona, Sally Rosen Kindred, Rita Martinez, Guadalupe Garcia McCall, Arlene Naganawa, Martha Silano, Hannah Silverstein, Ariana Tikao, Leah Umansky, Ellen June Wright, and Meg Yardley.
The issue's cover art is Childhood Faultlines (2023), a lovely mixed media piece (acrylic, ink, paper, mica flakes on basswood panel) by Kelly Cressio-Moeller. Cressio-Moeller is a poet and visual artist. Her poems have been nominated for Pushcart Prizes, Best New Poets, and Best of the Net, appearing widely in journals including North American Review, Salamander, THRUSH Poetry Journal, Water~Stone Review, and ZYZZYVA. She lives in Northern California. Shade of Blue Trees (Two Sylvias Press) is her first poetry collection. For more poetry and art, read here.
If you like the works you see here (best enjoyed on a non-mobile device, we think, but like, you know, you do you), be sure to let their creators know, or let us know and we’ll pass the message along. Thank you for reading.
Yours,
Katherine Huang
EIC pro tempore, West Trestle Review
P.S. If you’re eligible to vote in the US, please check your voter registration and then be sure to cast your ballot in November. Every vote counts!
Oh it is oh wait I’m not ready— [cut]
Hello. Hi. Welcome to the first issue of a new era of West Trestle Review.
What do I mean by “new era”?
Well, our fearless Founding Editor, Patricia Caspers, is on hiatus from being Editor-in-Chief of West Trestle while she pursues her MLIS (while working full time!) – yay! Please join me in wishing Tricia all the best in her studies. She’ll still be around the journal here and there while she’s in school, but let’s hope she finishes her degree quickly so she can conduct this train again soon!
For now, you’re stuck with me as the temporary EIC – a short, dorky, scientist-in-training who kind of knows how to poet (yes, it’s a verb) but mostly tries too hard to be funny when she’s not eating or sleeping (or maybe even while she’s eating and sleeping, who knows?). Luckily, I get to work with the wise and talented Annie Stenzel as West Trestle’s Managing Editor, and we’re as committed as ever to showcasing exceptional writing and art in our issues.
During the MLIS era, we’ll be publishing two issues per year – a spring issue in March and a fall issue in September. General submissions for poetry are currently closed as we catch up on our backlog for next March’s issue, but beginning in March 2025, they’ll be open as follows:
March-May for the September issue of the same year
September-November for the March issue of the following year
These reading periods may change as we work out what our reconfigured team can handle. If we do change our schedule, we’ll be sure to keep you updated through the “Submit” page on our website, as well as through our social media accounts (follow us if you haven’t already!). BIPOC submissions for poetry and art submissions are currently open and will remain so year-round.
We kick off the MLIS era with stellar poems in this issue by Yael Valencia Aldana, Patricia Davis-Muffett, Catherine Garbinsky, Sonia Gutierrez, Amy Haddad, Robyn Katona, Sally Rosen Kindred, Rita Martinez, Guadalupe Garcia McCall, Arlene Naganawa, Martha Silano, Hannah Silverstein, Ariana Tikao, Leah Umansky, Ellen June Wright, and Meg Yardley.
The issue's cover art is Childhood Faultlines (2023), a lovely mixed media piece (acrylic, ink, paper, mica flakes on basswood panel) by Kelly Cressio-Moeller. Cressio-Moeller is a poet and visual artist. Her poems have been nominated for Pushcart Prizes, Best New Poets, and Best of the Net, appearing widely in journals including North American Review, Salamander, THRUSH Poetry Journal, Water~Stone Review, and ZYZZYVA. She lives in Northern California. Shade of Blue Trees (Two Sylvias Press) is her first poetry collection. For more poetry and art, read here.
If you like the works you see here (best enjoyed on a non-mobile device, we think, but like, you know, you do you), be sure to let their creators know, or let us know and we’ll pass the message along. Thank you for reading.
Yours,
Katherine Huang
EIC pro tempore, West Trestle Review
P.S. If you’re eligible to vote in the US, please check your voter registration and then be sure to cast your ballot in November. Every vote counts!
September 2024
Art: Kelly Cressio-Moeller, Childhood Faultlines. Mixed media: acrylic, ink, paper, mica flakes on basswood panel, 2023
Support the work of women and non-binary poets by making a donation today to West Trestle Review. For more information about West Trestle Review's finances, see our "About" page.