v (Verdant) is a literary magazine established out of Toronto, Canada, since May 2023.
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Who we are — v is a vibrant and dynamic literary magazine dedicated to providing a platform for emerging and established writers and artists. Our mission is to foster creativity, showcase diverse voices, and inspire the next generation of literary talents. Through our seasonal editions, literary prizes, and artistic exhibits, we aim to showcase the rich tapestry of literary and artistic talents. We believe in the power of collaboration, mentorship, and networking, and we actively encourage connections among our contributors.
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v has reached authors and an audience in over 56 countries, including The Northwest Territories, the Yukon, and Nunavut.
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What we do — Through our curated editions, v aims to ignite the imagination of readers, transporting them to new worlds through captivating storytelling, evocative poetry, insightful essays, and visually stunning artwork. We strive to create an immersive and engaging reading experience that invites exploration, reflection, and dialogue.
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v is more than just a magazine; it is a supportive community that nurtures the growth and development of young artists. We believe in the power of collaboration, mentorship, and networking, and we actively encourage connections among our contributors. Through our online presence and diverse platform, we foster a space for dialogue, inspiration, and support, cultivating a network of like-minded individuals passionate about the literary arts.
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v is funded through your readership and support.
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We can't wait to hear from you soon.
v—MASTHEAD, 2024
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Grace Qiu
Editor-in-Chief
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Morouje Sherif
Editor-in-Chief
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Sara Massoudi
Editor, Prose
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J. L. Kies
Editor, Prose
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Esmé Kaplan-Kinsey
Reader, Prose
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Valerie Hughes
Reader, Prose
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Anna Nguyen
Reader, Prose
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Eartha Davis
Editor, Poetry
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Muhammed Olowonjoyin
Editor, Poetry
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Debmalya Bandyopadhyay
Reader, Poetry
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Owen Edwards
Reader, Poetry
Morouje Sherif
EDITOR-in-CHIEF — Morouje adores the colour sage, the literary arts, and liminal spaces. When she's not immersed in Pinker or Rilke, she loves terrible architecture, oceans, freeways with nice scenery, and the accruals of life that make up her endless inspirations.
Grace Qiu
EDITOR-in-CHIEF — Grace is an avid joke-teller, passionate debater, and lover of all things baked. With a keen interest in exploring the depths of thought and engaging in meaningful discourse, she brings a unique perspective to the realm of literature. Beyond her intellectual pursuits, Grace finds joy in the world of film, relishing the experience of analyzing and re-watching her favorite movies. In her spare time, you can find Grace immersed in philosophical texts, experimenting with new baking recipes, or exploring old films.
Sara Massoudi
PROSE EDITOR — Beyond v, Sara is an author, an editorial volunteer at Tiger Lily Publishing, an English Language and Literature teacher, and an intrepid hiker. When she's not getting lost in the mountains in Madrid, she's writing her own brand of dark, speculative weirdness, reading a truly eclectic range of books, or is in the classroom teaching them.
J. L. Kies
READER & PROSE EDITOR — J. L. Kies appreciates the darker side of storytelling, both in genre and theme. Kies worked as part of the editorial team for the 22nd issue of juice, and has works published in Litmora, Rewrite the Stars, Periwinkle Pelican, Rooted in Rhetoric, and Moonbow Magazine. You can follow writing and editing shenanigans on Twitter [X] @jl_kies.
Eartha Davis
READER & POETRY EDITOR — Eartha wishes to live simply, kindly, and most certainly by a river. She placed second in the 2022 International Woorilla Poetry Prize Youth Section, with work published or forthcoming in Wildness, South Florida Poetry Review, Hummingbird Blink, and Eunoia Review, among others. She is a poetry editor at Dipity Literary Magazine and Expressionist Lit Magazine, and a writer for Panoramic Press.
Muhammed Olowonjoyin
POETRY EDITOR — Muhammed Olowonjoyin [TPC III] is a Nigerian poet. Winner of the 2023 The Dawn Prize for Poetry, he has been nominated for the Best of The Net, Best Small Fictions and Best Microfiction. His poems have featured or are forthcoming in Lucky Jefferson, The Muse, Olney Magazine, Gutter Magazine, Pepper Coast Lit, Stanchion, Nigeria Newsdirect, Brittle Paper, Best Small Fictions, and elsewhere. He tweets @APerSe_.
Owen Edwards
POETRY READER — Owen Paul Edwards lives and teaches in Baltimore, Maryland. His writing has appeared/is forthcoming in BRUISER, Bullshit Lit, and other places. He can be found on Twitter/IG @oweneds.
Esmé Kaplan-Kinsey
PROSE READER — Esmé Kaplan-Kinsey is a writer and college student living in Portland, Oregon. They are enthusiastic about cedar trees, making art with friends, pomegranates, and music of indeterminate genre. Their work appears or is forthcoming in publications such as Beaver Magazine, Anthropocene Poetry, Gone Lawn, and Fifth Wheel Press, and has been recognized by the National YoungArts Foundation and the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. They are particularly interested in writing (and reading!) work which explores human-nature relation in new and intriguing ways.
Valerie Hughes
PROSE READER — Valerie Hughes (she/her) lives in New York, NY. Her work appears in 101 Words, Queerlings, Thread Lit Mag by Chill Subs, and other publications. She is a Prose Editor for Hominum Journal and a reader for Twin Bird Review and The Masters Review. She is a part of PocketMFA’s Spring 2024 Cohort for Fiction. Find her on Twitter [X] @_valeriehughes.
Debmalya Bandyopadhyay
POETRY READER — Debmalya (he/him) is a writer and mathematician based in Birmingham, UK. His poems, translations, and essays have appeared or are forthcoming in Sontag, The Bangalore Review, Propel, Anthropocene Poetry, The Hooghly Review, CounterClock, and Spacebar, among other literary journals. He is a finalist for SweetLit’s 2024 Poetry Prize. He can often be found in parks confabulating with local birds.
Anna Nguyen
PROSE READER — Anna Nguyen (she/her/hers) had been a displaced PhD student for many years, in many different programs and departments at many different universities in many different countries. She decided to rewrite her dissertation in the form of creative non-fiction as an MFA student at Stonecoast at the University of Southern Maine, which blends her theoretical training in literary analysis, science and technology studies, and social theory to reflect on institutions, language, expertise, the role of citations, and food. She also hosts a podcast, Critical Literary Consumption, which features authors, poets, and scholars discussing their written work and their thoughts on reading and writing practices. She is also a writing and philosophy instructor.
Editor Emeritus — Nida Mubaraki, Poetry Reader (September 2023-January 2024) Elizabeth Ruth Deyro, Prose Editor, Outreach Lead (September 2023-January 2024)