Under the Gum Tree is a new online (via MagCloud) publication of photography and creative nonfiction published out of ThinkHouse Collective in Sacramento, California.

The editors write: “Under the Gum Tree is a storytelling project, publishing creative nonfiction in the form of a micro-magazine. We believe in the power of sharing a story without shame. Too much of the human experience gets hidden behind constructed facades based on what we perceive the world expects from us…the authors and contributors featured in our pages own their story, even the ugly parts, and share it with pure, unadulterated, raw, candid vulnerability.”

The first issue of Under the Gum Tree features stories from Peter Grandbois, Kate Washington and Alexa Mergen, and photography from Mazzarello Media & Arts and Jeannine Mengel.

Under the Gum Tree accepts online submissions via Submishmash.

Revolution House is a new online publication of poetry, flash fiction, short storis, creative nonfiction, graphic stories, and art. A magazine run by writers Revolution House aims to publish both emerging and experienced authors.

Revolution House staff includes Executive Editor Alisha Karabinus, Managing Editors Fati Z. Ahmed, Elaina Smith, Creative Nonfiction Editors Jaime Herndon and Jami Nakamura Linwas, Fiction & Graphic Stories Editors Karen Britten, Carol H. Hood, Sarah Kamlet, Koty Neelis, and Katie Oldaker, and Poetry Editors Jonathan Dubow, Henry W. Leung, Karissa Morton, Susannah Nevison and Staci R. Schoenfeld.

The first two issue feature new work by Brooke Bailey, Myfanwy Collins, Patrick Thomas Henry, Amorak Huey, Deanna Larsen, Jen Marquardt, Thomas Michael McDade, Andrew Payton, Jessica Plante, Jessica Poli, Valerie Rubinaccio, Karin Rosman, Michael Simon, Courtney Thomas Vance, Ashley Wakefield, Tory Adkisson, Matthew Burnside, Alicia Catt, Caroline Crew, Sarah Crossland, Chanel Earl, William Henderson, Kea Marie, Michael Mlekoday, Francis Raven, Chad Redden, Sarah V. Schweig, Claire Shefchik, Caroline Swicegood, and James Valvis.

Submissions are open unless otherwise announced and accepted via Submishmash.

Vlak Magazine, edited by Louis Armand, Edmund Berrigan, Ali Alizadeh, Stephan Delbos, Jane Lewty & David Vichnar is an international curatorial project with a broad focus on contemporary poetics, art, film, philosophy, music, design, science, politics, performance, ecology, and new media. Vlak is published by Litteraria Pragensia in Prague, London, New York, Paris, Melbourne & Amsterdam.

Issue 2 contributors include David Hayman, Vincent Katz, Philippe Sollers, Niall Lucy, Alice Notley, Emmanuelle Pireyre, Jeroen Nieuwland, Holly Tavel, John Kinsella, Rs Jaeggi, Louis Armand, Adam Trachtman, Leila Sebbar, Dorra Chammam, Moncef Gachem, Jane Lewty, Stephan Delbos, Ali Daghman, Mehdi Mahfoudh, Dawn Fowler, Ken Edwards, Vadim Erent, Carla Harryman, Andre Jahn, Travis Jeppesen, Karel Jerie, Steve McCaffery, Hank Lazer, Phil Coates, Ann Hamilton, Petra Ganglbauer, Marjorie Perloff, David Vichnar, Michal Ajvaz, Lucie Skrivankova, Pavel Novotny, Ondrej Buddeus, Jonas Hajek, Adam Borzic, Mark Melnicove, Adrian Clarke, j/j hastain, Ali Alizadeh, Ania Walwicz, Claire Potter, Felicity Plunkett, Gig Ryan, jeltje, Justin Clemens, Matt Hetherington, Michael Farrell, Nicole Tomlinson, PiO, Pam Brown, Sebastian Gurciullo, Chris Edwards, Matt Hall, Tereza Stejskalova, Charles Bernstein, Steve Benson, Katarzyna Bazarnik, Zenon Fajfer, Michal Sanda, Andrew Nightingale, Amaranth Borsuk, Kate Durbin, Zach Kleyn, Redell Olson, Clody Clevidence, Eleza Jaeger, Megan M. Garr, Sara Nicholson, Amy De’Ath, Larry Sawyer, Amy King, Brendan Lorber, Chris Martin, Corrine Fitzpatrick, Jason Morris, Macgregor Card, Nina Zivancevic, Noah Eli Gordon, Johan De Wit, Damien Ober, Joshua Mensch, Kamil Bouska, Cralan Kelder, Robert Sheppard, Francesco Levato, and Vincent Dachy.

The magazine is published in a square format (8.5 in) with full bleed and page insert photography and graphics in black and white throughout.

Vlak invites contributions that extend our understanding about what is possible; which pose questions about the prevailing attitude of norms; which explore the ramifications of contemporary culture and attempt new critical and creative methods. Annual deadline: January 15

[Cover image by Adam Trachtman.]

Founded in summer of 2011 as a sister publication the Valparaiso Poetry Review (VPR), Valparaiso Fiction Review (VFR) is one of the newest publications of Valparaiso University and its Department of English. VFR publishes two editions a year, usually around the first of December and the first of May, and features fiction from established and emerging authors. Co-Editors are Jonathan Bull and Edward Byrne, both of Valparaiso University, and Assistant Editors Emily Bahr, Ethan Grant, R. James Onofrey, Ellen Orner, and Jeremy Reed.

The first issue includes works by Andrea Dupree, Meg Tuite, Norman Waksler, W.F. Lantry, Dallas Woodburn, and Clifford Garstang. The magazine is available to read online or download in individual PDF format for each story.

VFR accepts submissions of original, unpublished fiction, 1,000 to 9,000 words with possible exceptions. No novels – though stand-alone excepts are acceptble, poetry (see VPR), or children’s fiction unless otherwise noted.

Staffed by Managing Editor Andrew Keating, Poetry Editor Jill Williams, Fiction Editor Rafe Posey, Non-Fiction Editor Samantha Stanco, Art Director Danielle Peterson, Social Media Manager Michelle Junot, Blog Contributors Gillian Ramos and Kate Stone, Cobalt is an online quarterly of fiction, non-fiction and poetry “of the highest caliber,” as well as interviews “with some of the most influential writers in the literary community.” Cobalt‘s mission is “to publish quality creative work and promote the literary arts, as well as those who celebrate them.”

The first issue features Poetry by Brian Russell, Georgia Kreiger, John Abbott, Steven Leyva, Andrea Dickens; Fiction by Jen Michalski, Mandy Taggart, Emily Kiernan; Nonfiction by James Claffey, John FitzGerald; and Interviews with Nicola Griffith (author of The Blue Place) and Jessica Anya Blau (author of Drinking Closer to Home).

Issue two will be available December 10. Submissions are open and accepted through Submishmash.

[Cover image “Metro” by Sophie Johnson (Oil on Canvas).]

Editor Kyle Schruder writes: “Lost in Thought came from a simple idea: I like magazines, why not make one of my own?” Always easier said than done, yet Lost in Thought introduces itself as a beautifully designed publication that looks more like something Shruder’s been doing for decades.

“For this premiere issue,” Schruder says, “I decided to combine short stories and artwork. I approached writers, photographers and illustrators with this simple premise: you can write something new, or you can submit something already finished. I paired the people who wanted to make something new with the people who gave me finished works. Some writers wrote entirely new stories based on illustrations that the artist had submitted. Other photographers arranged photo shoots based on stories I received.”

The premier issue, available via MagCloud in print and digital formats features Writers Jules Archer, Kim Bannerman, Katrina Gray, Graeme Lottering, Sem Megson, Kari Nguyen, Sara Patterson, Katerina Prudchenko, Gareth Spark, and Chris Tarry; Photographers James Azzopardi, Julien Hayard, Karrah Kobus, Lindsey Kowalski, Aleksandra Skiljevic, Synchrodogs (Tania Shcheglova and Roman Noven); and Illustrators Yeremeeva Katya, Jennifer Maidment, mathiole, Jared Meuser, Estelle Morris, and Rose Wong.

Submissions are open for issue two, which Schruder says will “more free-flowing, more experimental, and hopefully even more interesting!”

Newly lauched out of Austin, Texas, Unstuck is an independent print literary annual emphasizing “literary fiction with elements of the fantastic, the futuristic, the surreal, or the strange — a broad category that would include the work of writers as diverse as Borges, Ballard, Calvino, Huxley, Tutuola, Abe and (of course) Vonnegut.”

The editors add, “In our pages, you’ll find straight-up science fiction and fantasy; domestic realism with a twist of the magical; and work that experiments with form or blurs the boundaries between poetry and prose. We also publish a small selection of poems and essays.”

The first issue features new fiction by Aimee Bender, J. Robert Lennon, Amelia Gray, Joe Meno, Marisa Matarazzo, Arthur Bradford, Helen Phillips, Matthew Derby, Rachel Swirsky, Matthew Vollmer, Lindsay Hunter, John Maradik & Rachel B. Glaser, Leslie What, Charles Antin, Meghan McCarron, Sharona Muir, Andrew Friedman, Julia Whicker, Judson Merrill, Karin Tidbeck, and Randy Schaub; new poetry by Kiki Petrosino, Zach Savich, Dan Rosenberg, Kaethe Schwehn, and Patrick Haas; and new non-fiction by Rennie Sparks.

Unstuck will be available in Kindle format for e-readers, and a portion of each print run of Unstuck is donated to schools, libraries, and literacy programs. If you’re a librarian, teacher, tutor, or administrator, and think your students or clients would enjoy Unstuck, visit the Libraries and Schools link on their website.

Unstuck accepts online submissions via Submishmash.

[Cover photography “Highland Reservoir II” by Timothy J. Fuss.]

Botticelli Magazine is an online literary and art journal produced and edited by students at Columbus College of Art and Design. Already in its third issue, Botticelli is planning a lot of expansion, inclusive of literary and logo contests.

Contributors to the first issues include Austin Charles Barrow, Chelsea Besse, Ross Caliendo, Austin Charles, Silver Corbin, Danielle Doughty, Brittany Leigh Ference, Chester Fillmore, Daniel Foley, Amy Gallagher Gallagher, Emily Gallik, Bina Gupta, Liandra Holmes, Matthew Houston, Kylie King, Amanda Knittle, Brittany Kotur, John Malta, Brian May, Mary S.Nemeth, Dave Nichols, Siddartha Beth Pierce, Todd Pleasants, Hannah Ross, Michelle Ross, Apryl Skies, Scott Stewart, Miles Tsang, and Elizabeth Vest.

Botticelli Magazine accepts only online submissions of fiction, poetry, creative non fiction, reviews, art, photography, as well as flash pieces and links to online work as long as the rights are available to the contributor. Collaborative work is also welcome. The magazine’s review process involves an editorial staff of writers and artists.

[Cover art for Issue 3: “French Friends” by Matthew Houston]

The Safety Pin Review is a new literary magazine featuring fiction of less than 30 words, posted once a week, with a major D.I.Y. twist: in addition to being published online, each story is hand-painted onto a cloth back patch, which is attached (via safety pins) to one of SPR‘s operatives – “a collective network of punks, thieves and anarchists” — who wear it everywhere they go for a week. The SPR website features the poems as well as pictures of the operative-of-the-week wearing it around.

Featured poets thus far include Barry Basden, J. Bradley, Doug Paul Case, Brian Hurley, Simon Jacobs, David James Keaton, Len Kuntz, Helen Vitoria, and xTx.

Safety Pin Review accepts submissions of unpublished fiction of no more than 30 words – no poetry, and pays $1.00 per acceptance.

[Operative pictured in Times Square, NYC, with “Scope” by Barry Basden.]

First Inkling is an international student literary magazine, publishing short stories, poetry, graphic fiction, one-act plays, short film (screenplays), novel chapters, and more. Works are accepted from students currently enrolled in accredited colleges or universities at the community college, undergrad, graduate, or post doctorate level, from anywhere in the world. Works in languages other than English will also be considered, as long as it is submitted with an English translation.

The inaugural issue features writing by Lauren Fath, Duncan Lennon, Ryan McLean, Danielle M. Gorden, R. Sam Chaney, Phill Korth, Andrew Watt, Sam Sudar, Sally Wen Mao, Jean Kim, Cody Greene, Urban Eisley, Tait Howard, Daniela Maristany, Ryan Cannon, Minh Phuong Nguyen, Idris Goodwin, Amy Porter, Nicomedes Austin Suárez, N. S. Wiley, and Danielle Jones-Pruett.

All works published in First Inkling will be entered in the Associated Collegiate Press Pacemaker competition, with $750 cash awards going to the best in: Fiction, Narrative Nonfiction, and Poetry.

The issue also includes interviews with Rick Moody, Jim Shepard, John “Jack” Allman, and Brad Gooch.

First Inkling invites student writers to become members to the site and then to post to the publication’s blog. Interested students are also invited to become Associate Editors.

Cuckoo is an online quarterly literary magazine written and edited by writers aged between 11-19. Cuckoo Quarterly aims to “publish the best young writing from all forms and genres and to be accessible and attractive to a wide readership.”

The publication is facilitated and administered by New Writing North, a development agency for creative writing and creative reading based in the north east of England.

Submissions for Edition 1 came from attendees of New Writing North’s three fortnightly writers’ groups in Newcastle, Hexham and Durham, or from those who participated in New Writing North’s Writing Summer Schools.

The issue features poetry, short fiction, ‘rants,’ reviews, and interviews by Beth Allison, Jacob Armstrong, Anusha Ashok, Laurie Atkinson, Hannah Bash, Shannon Baxter, Adam Bryden, Alice Buckley, Leah Chan, Jessica Graham, Andrew Henley, Scott Houghton, Hannah Morpeth, Daniella Watson, and Jessica Weisser.

Cuckoo Quarterly hopes that future editions will attract submissions from all over the world.

Cuckoo welcomes submissions of original writing by writers under the age of 19. They encourage everything from poetry to prose, short stories to movie reviews, opinion to imagination. It can be work that fits the categories laid out in previous editions or entirely different; don’t feel constrained by form or genre. The deadline for the next issue is December 21.

Founded by Kelly Forsythe and Kat Sanchez, Phantom Limb is a new online magazine of poetry, “dedicated to publishing good poems.”

The inagural issue features poems by Holly Amos, Michael Haight, Jeffrey Allen, Stephen Danos, Kayla Sargeson, y madrone, Jordan Conrad, Dolly Lemke, Late Litterer, Nathan Breitling, Camiele White, Izzy Oneiric, Steve Henry, Jessica Dyer, Chelsea Kurnick, Kristin Ravel, and Sarah Kelley.

Submissions are open until June 1, 2012 for the Fall 2012 issue.

[Phantom Limb image design: Jeffrey Allen]