Is(sue) 18 Deadline Reminder

Dear Kinfolk,

This email is to remind you that the deadline for Is(sue) 18 is upon us. That is October 31, 2025. Please send us your most experimental, weird, avant-garde, fun poetry, art, and short stories.

  

 

  

Some of you may have heard by now: the Appalachian poetry community lost one of its great mentors and friends this month. Gurney Norman, former Kentucky Poet Laureate, passed away on October 12, 2025. As a tribute to this most generous soul, AvantAppal(achia) intends to dedicate Is(sue) 18 to him.

  

 

  

Please read the guidelines carefully and follow them when submitting. Emails which do not follow the guidelines will be automatically rejected. Thank you all for everything you do to make this ezine the bright jewel of 21^st century writing and art that it is. It exists for you.

  

 

  

www.avantappalachia.com

  

 

  

Sincerely,

Sabne Raznik

Poetry/Art Ed(itor)

 

"Come Hell and High Water: Helene" Special Is(sue) Release

Dear Kinfolk,

It’s here! The “Come Hell and High Water: Helene” Special Is(sue) is live! You can view it here:https://www.avantappalachia.com/special-issues.html. This is(sue) will remain readable on the website as long as the website exists under the Special Is(sues) tab on the menu. Thank you all for your heartfelt responses and tributes to this momentous event. Ironically, I am writing you this on the day that Central Appalachia is experiencing its annual Spring floods, except this year they are exceptionally fierce. Somehow, it feels appropriate.

Submissions are still open for our regular Is(sue) 17. The deadline for that is April 30, 2025. Send us your weirdest, most fun creations! Art, poetry, and short fiction. Please, follow the guidelines as we do reject submissions that do not meet the guidelines.

We wish everyone all good things and see you in April! Thank you for being wonderful, witty, experimental, and fabulous!

Sincerely,

Sabne Raznik

Poetry/Art Ed(itor)

 

Announcing "Come Hell and High Water: Helene" Special Is(sue)

 

Dear Kinfolk,

The deadline for Is(sue) 16 is closed so, if you sent in submissions for that, you should hear back from us in the next couple months on those. And Is(sue) 16 should go live on December 15, 2024.

Therefore, it is time for us to announce the “Come Hell and High Water: Helene” Special Is(sue)! This is our tribute to the before-and-after geological and emotional event that Helene proved to be for our beloved Appalachia. It is your opportunity as our Kinfolk to express your emotions around this traumatic time, and for our mountains and people, as they recover. Unlike the regular is(sues), special is(sues) live on the website for as long as the website exists, under the “Special Is(sues)” page tab on the menu. Special is(sues) have the same sub(mission) guidelines as the regular is(sues), with the exception that you must put “HELENE” in the subject line to differentiate submissions for this special is(sue) from those meant for a regular is(sue). That is vital. For this special is(sue), sub(missions) will open on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, and the deadline will be January 15, 2025. The Is(sue) will go live on February 15, 2025. We hope that this will provide a cathartic and healing space for us all.

So, by all means, send us your poetry, art, and short stories expressing yourselves experimentally and therapeutically about Helene. We’re here for you.

www.avantappalachia.com

Sincerely,

Sabne Raznik

Poetry/Art Ed(itor)

Is(sue) 14 is live!

Dear Kinfolk,

Dave Sykes and I are proud to announce that Is(sue) 14 of AvantAppal(achia) went live on December 15, 2023! It is one of our best is(sues). There is a lot of work from South Korea this time. But we also have poetry, art, and fiction from several U.S. states, Ukraine, and Siberia. 

We have made several changes to the submission guidelines so be sure to read those on the Sub(missions) page. These include a how-to guide to ensure photos and videos taken with an Apple device save and send as JPG files. 

The deadline for Is(sue) 15 is May 31, 2024. www.avantappalachia.com

Thank you for making this ezine the premiere home for the experimental and weird of literature in Appalachia and supporting its outreach to the world!

Sincerely,

Sabne Raznik

Poetry/Art Ed(itor)

Is(sue) 13 is live!

 Dear Kinfolk,

 

It’s a beautiful day! Why? Because Is(sue) 13 is live with all of your amazing work.

 

The guidelines for Short Stories have changed, so be sure to check those out. And pop on over to the Arch(ive) to see which pieces from Is(sue) 12 were chosen for posterity.

 

I would like to remind everybody that there have always been restrictions on impolite language, gratuitious sex, political pieces, and anything holiday-themed. This absolutely applies to underage characters. I have let some impolite language slide in the past (though I have edited it), but you are encouraged to think seriously about whether certain words or actions are necessary for the story (like in “To Kill A Mockingbird”) or whether you’re merely scratching a personal itch to get more readers. Because if you’re scratching an itch, scratch it somewhere else. Thank you.

 

Also, remember that our focus is on avant-garde, experimental pieces. We are not meant for your run-of-the-mill, workshop-approved pages. Push the boundaries of what language can do, of what constitutes literature. Have fun. Surprise us.

 

The submission period for Is(sue) 14 is open! Deadline is November 30, 2023. Happy writing!

 

https://www.avantappalachia.com

 

Sincerely,

 

Sabne Raznik

Poetry/Art Ed(itor)

 

 

 

Is(sue) 12 of AvantAppal(achia) is Live

 Kinfolk,

Edi(tors) Sabne Raznik and David Sykes are pleased to unveil the latest is(sue) of AvantAppal(achia).
We are spotlighting submissions from The U.S., Greece, India, Ireland, Australia, France, Siberia, and Belarus; seven countries in all.
We sincerely hope you enjoy this collection of the weird and wonderful in the fields of art and writing and we hope to publish another collection, Is(sue) 13 on June 15, 2023.

www.avantappalachia.com

Enjoy,

Ed(itors) Sabne Raznik and David Sykes

The Modern Plague Years Special Is(sue) is live!

 

Dear Kinfolk,

 

The Modern Plague Years Special Is(sue) is live under the Special Is(sues) menu tab on www.avantappalachia.com! Thank you so much for sharing your work with us.

 

If you did not receive a yay or nay email from us about your submission during this reading cycle, know that David Sykes and I have read it and decided it would better suit a regular is(sue) and kept it for Is(sue) 11 in June. You will receive notification concerning it during that reading cycle.

 

Please remember to check out the Guidelines on the website when you submit and follow these. As a writer myself I know submission anxiety is real and I do not wish to be strict, but the volume of submissions we now receive and time constraints force me to it. If you fail to include the state or country of your current residence or fail to follow any of the other guidelines, we will be forced to reject your work regardless of its quality. So please – please – read those guidelines thoroughly and follow them closely. Thank you!

 

The deadline for Is(sue) 11 is May 31, 2022, for a publication date on June 15, 2022. We need your avantgarde, experimental, and weird poetry, art, and short stories.

 

Thank you for making this ezine the stellar publication it is!

 

Sincerely,

 

Sabne Raznik

Poetry/Art Ed(itor)

Deadline for Is(sue) 10 of AvantAppal(achia)

 

Dear Kinfolk,

 

Is(sue) 10 of AvantAppal(achia) will go live on December 15, 2021 and we need your experimental poetry, art, and short stories! Go to avantappalachia.com to check out guidelines and submit to avantappalachia@gmail by November 30, 2021. That’s the deadline. Dave Sykes and I accept submissions from around the world with only a slight emphasis on Appalachian poets, artists, and writers. We do ask for you to avoid holiday themes, erotica, and gratuitous language. Other than that, have fun. This ezine is all about the avant-garde and experimentalism. If you tend to write more conventional poetry, we also have an Appal(Trad) section. Thank you all for your loyalty – this ezine is what it is because of you!

 

Sincerely,

 

Sabne Raznik

Poetry/Art Ed(itor)

Yes(ABLED) Is(sue) is Live!

Dear Kinfolk,

The Yes(ABLED) Special Is(sue) is live! It can be found here: https://www.avantappalachia.com/special-issues.html 

There are 4 countries featured, including 4 states in the U.S. You will find a poem by Volodymyr Bilyk of Ukraine written in a precursor of Braille called Moon Type, some thought-provoking poetry from Ricky Ray in Connecticut, and a fascinating essay regarding mental illness by Brandy Renee McCann from Virginia. We hope that this is(sue) highlights the unique perspective and creativity of the disabled population worldwide. 

The submission period for the 9th regular is(sue) is still wide open. The deadline for it is now set at May 31, 2021. Please read the guidelines under “Sub(missions)” in the menu on the website as there have been some changes. 

Thank you so much – all of you – for making this ezine every incredible thing that is! We couldn’t do it without each and every one of you. 

We would like to take a moment to express condolences for the deaths of regular contributors Philip Kent Church and Linda Regula earlier this year. 

Please stay safe during this unusual year. We are sending you calmness and best wishes! 

Sincerely, 

 Sabne Raznik 

 Poetry/Art Ed(itor)

Final Notice of Yes(Abled) Is(sue) Deadline and Event Info

Dear Kinfolk, 

This is your last notice of the deadline for the special Yes(ABLED) Is(sue). That is September 30, 2020 with a go live date of October 15, 2020. We still need poetry, art, and short prose. If you are disabled (interpreted broadly), you may submit on any topic. If you are ablebodied, please keep your subjects limited to disability or caregiver issues and approach these sensitively. 

 Also, we would like to inform you of AvantAppal(achia)’s first event: a virtual poetry reading on Zoom featuring Pauletta Hansel, Lorie Zientara, Ellyn Maybe, and myself with a limited open mic depending on how many join us. I will be attempting to record this event to place it on Youtube later if tech allows. Here is the Zoom info to attend: 

Topic: AvantAppal(achia) Virtual Poetry Reading Time: Sep 25, 2020 07:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us04web.zoom.us/j/74220823627... Meeting ID: 742 2082 3627 Passcode: 862055 One tap mobile +17207072699,,74220823627#,,,,,,0#,,862055# US (Denver) +12532158782,,74220823627#,,,,,,0#,,862055# US (Tacoma) Dial by your location +1 720 707 2699 US (Denver) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 646 558 8656 US (New York) Meeting ID: 742 2082 3627 Passcode: 862055 Find your local number: https://us04web.zoom.us/u/fd7MorRSMr 

 We are very excited about what’s going on at AvantAppal(achia) currently. Thank you so much for making this astounding and important ezine everything that it is!  

https://www.avantappalachia.com/ 

Sincerely, 

Sabne Raznik 

Poetry/Art Ed(itor)

(YES)Abled Is(sue) Deadline

Dear Kinfolk,

This is a reminder that the deadline for our YES(Abled) Special Is(sue) is March 31, 2020. This is(sue) will feature the work of disabled poets, artists, and short fiction writers or work on disability themes. However, the subject need not be limited to disability. The subject is open. We ask that since we are taking submissions for the regular is(sue) at the same time that you please put “YES(Abled)” in the subject line of your email. www.avantappalachia.com. All our usual guidelines apply.

Also, as mentioned, we are taking submissions for our regular is(sue) at the same time. The deadline for it is May 30, 2020.

Thank you all for making our ezine a leader within its genre!

Sincerely,

Sabne Raznik

Poetry/Art Ed(itor)

(Yes)Abled Is(sue) and North/South Appalachia

Dear Kinfolk,

You heard about it in the email about the Is(sue) 8 release. Here are more details.

We are absolutely thrilled to announce AvantAppal(achia)'s 2nd Special Is(sue), titled (Yes)ABLED! This is(sue) will be dedicated to the work of disabled poets, artists, and short story writers. Subject need not be related to the experience of being disabled, but is open. The usual guidelines apply, with the exception that "(Yes)ABLED" must be included in the email subject line since the submission period for the regular Is(sue) 9 will be open at the same time. This Special Is(sue) will appear and remained archived under Special Is(sues) in the menu for as long as this website continues. The deadline for (Yes)ABLED is March 31, 2020. It will go live on April 15, 2020.

Please spread the word and help us make this Special Is(sue) a success!

Also, the North/South Collective, of which AvantAppal(achia) is a part, just had a reorganization. The new website is here at North/South Appalachia. Poems and art submitted to AvantAppal(achia) that we feel will be a good fit for North/South Appalachia may be included on the North/South blog. We will approach the poet and artist for permission to share work there first, of course.

Thank you so much for making these projects as spectacular as they are!

Sincerely,

Sabne Raznik
Poetry/Art Ed(itor)

Is(sue) 7 of AvantAppal(achia) is live!

Dear Kinfolk,

First and foremost, thank you all for being as patient as Job while we tackled those annoying technical difficulties that delayed this is(sue). Y’all are fantastic!

I’m sure you’ll find the wait to be worth it! Is(sue) 7 features work from 7 different countries – Greece, Spain, India, Ireland, Norway, Luxembourg, the United States – and 7 different states – Minnesota, West Virginia, Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and New Jersey. It also contains 3 languages. Yeah, we’re pretty proud of it – and you! – for accomplishing that!

You will notice two things different about this is(sue). One, the Appal(Trad) section is empty. That is because we are getting high-quality experimental work (just what we want!) and we felt none of the submissions reflected the Traditional Appalachian Poetry genre, which is a really nice problem to have as far as we are concerned. Second, this is the debut of the Avant(Serial) section! Just how the serial section works is explained both in this is(sue) and in the updated guidelines. Yes, you read that correctly. The guidelines have been tweaked, so be sure to check those out.

A reminder: the site was recently redesigned to ensure it was readable across all devices (and little tweaks will continue). For now, that mostly means that to see bylines for the Avant(Art) section you must click on the individual images.

Another reminder: the editorial team at AvantAppal(achia) are volunteers, but there are still expenses to keep the whole wonderfully weird show running, so please go to Donat(ions) and choose between the options of $1, $5, and $10 via the Paypal link. Thank every one of you for keeping the ezine online! This is your creative space, as ed(itors) we merely polish it. It is our privilege to share your work with the world!

Don’t forget to check the Arch(ive) to see which pieces were chosen to represent Is(sue) 6. Also, the submission period for Is(sue) 8 is now officially open and the deadline is November 30, 2019. We can’t wait to see you then! But of course, we will be touching base occasionally in the meantime.

https://www.avantappalachia.com/




Sincerely,


Sabne Raznik

Poetry/Art Ed(itor)

New Is(sue) of AvantAppal(achia) Live Now!

Dear Kinfolk,

Is(sue) 6 is live at www.avantappalachia.com and it is a fine is(sue)! We have a return appearance of Gabriel Rosenstock’s ekphrastic haiku as well as a few video fusion pieces. Svein H. Skavern gives us a particularly stunning commentary with his video-art piece, especially given the “speaking in tongues” tradition in Appalachia. He also gives us a window into asemic art. T. Byron Kelly delights us again. Lorie Zientara’s deceptively simple verse graces us again. Jeff Bagato makes poetry from AI generated text and Jim Meirose fascinates us with a chapter from his ongoing novel that reads as if Joyce, Beckett, and John Nash had a wild slumber party. This is one of those is(sues) that will be nearly impossible when the time comes to archive.

Also, notice that the submission period is now open for AvantAppal(achia)’s first Special Is(sue). With gracious permission from the poet’s wife, AvantAppal(achia) will be compiling a special is(sue) in tribute to Jim Webb, the Godfather of Appalachian Poetry. It will feature poetry, visual art, and real anecdotes about Wiley Quixote. The deadline for submissions for it is JANUARY 31, 2019 and it will go live February 15, 2019. But don’t worry, Is(sue) 6’s time will not be shortened. The Special Is(sue) will be released on a separate page on the AvantAppal(achia) website where it will remain as long as the website. An official call for submissions will be released in a week.

Thank you, Kinfolk, for another outstanding is(sue). Dave Sykes and I really loved putting this one together for you. It is you who make it possible!

Sincerely,

Sabne Raznik

Poetry/Art Ed(itor)

AvantAppal(achia) Is(sue) 6 and Jim Webb

Dear Kinfolk,

Please be aware this is your FINAL notice that the deadline for the December 2018 is(sue) is November 30, 2018. We need your best experimental poetry, short stories, and artwork. With your help, we look forward to publishing our best is(sue) yet!


Also, some of you may have heard that the Godfather of Appalachian poetry, Jim Webb, also known as Wiley Quixote on WMMT.FM, passed away at his residence Wiley's Last Resort on October 22, 2018. It is fair to say that nearly every contemporary Appalachian artist, poet, and musician owe our careers to him in some way. So Dave Sykes and I thought it would be appropriate to put together a special is(sue) of AvantAppal(achia) to allow the community to pay tribute to this generous and joyful soul. We plan on making a home for the special is(sue) by adding a new page to the website for it and going live with it between our regular is(sues) of December 2018 and June 2019. We will share more details when we have them. In the meantime, send your submissions for the December 2018 is(sue) and start dusting off those tribute poems, artworks, and anecdotes for the special is(sue).

www.avantappalachia.com

AvantAppal(achia) on Weird Appalachia Podcast

Thanks to the shout out to AvantAppal(achia) ezine on Weird Appalachia podcast! Erin Alise Conley, Jessica Salyer, and Brooklynn Dyer, you girls rock!

AvantAppal(achia) and Gabriel Rosenstock

Dear Kinfolk,

AvantAppal(achia) is gearing up for Is(sue) 6 for which the submission period is open! Now that the ezine is fairly established, we are looking for even more EXPERIMENTAL work. We accept audio, video, and even HTML code. Mix medias, mix genres, stretch language, stretch grammar, have fun! As a reminder, while our focus is on Appalachian work, we strongly encourage international submissions. https://www.avantappalachia.com/submissions.html

Also, in news, Kinfolk member Gabriel Rosenstock has a new book coming out called "Stillness of Crows" which you can order here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=stillness+of+crows

Deadline for Is(sue) 6 is November 30, 2018! Send that poetry, short prose, and visual art!

Sincerely,

Sabne Raznik
Poetry/Art Ed(itor)

Is(sue) 4 is Live and Volunteer Position Available

Dear Kinfolk,


I am thrilled to announce to y'all that Is(sue) 4 of AvantAppal(achia) is now live! www.avantappalachia.com It features work largely from Central Appalachia and a sizable helping from around the world. Among the contributors are Gabriel Rosenstock - the well-known Irish language poet - and Volodymyr Bilyk from Ukraine. Dylan Harris, originally from the UK now residing in Luxembourg, has shared a thought-provoking series of photographs and the perennially amazing Bill Wolak fascinates us with more of his digital paintings as well. Elizabeth Burton provides the chilling prose piece for this is(sue) and Bonnie Gay Patterson-De Hart rounds it out in the Appal(Trad) section.

Be sure to check out the Arch(ive) page to see whose work was chosen to represent Is(sue) 3 for posterity!

Also, our Short Story Ed(itor) Kodi Mullins has moved on to other adventures, so I am currently looking for a passionate self-starting volunteer to fill her place. Look at the Ed(itor) Bio(graphie)s page for details on how to apply if you or anyone you know is interested.
As of now, the submission period for Is(sue) 5 is open!
Congratulations to all of you on a fabulous is(sue)!

Sincerely,


Sabne Raznik
Poetry/Art Edi(tor)

AvantAppal(achia) (Issue) 1 is Live!

We are an excited bunch here at AvantAppal(achia)! (Issue) 1 just went live! Thank you so much to everyone who submitted! Please submit again. Remember, while we do publish some Appal(Trad) - traditional Appalachian work - our focus is on the experimental, on stretching the boundaries of what can be done in art. I don't mean shocking, although that can be good sometimes, but definitely surprise us. Our motto: If it doesn't surprise us, it'll bore our readers. It's a chance to challenge yourselves as artists and writers and to expand the readers' horizons. The deadline for (Issue) 2 is November 30, 2016! We are overjoyed at the prospect of reading the next batch. Thank you for helping to bring our little dream to life! www.avantappalachia.com

Much love to all of you kin,

Sabne Raznik

Poetry and Art Ed(itor)

AvantAppal(achia) Launch Date

AvantAppal(achia) launches on January 1, 2016! See the "Sub(missions)" tab on the site that day to see how you can become a part of the AvantAppal(achia) kinfolk. www.avantappalachia.com We'll be glad to have you!