In a world seemingly filled with harshness and hard edges, Cypress Review offers writers and readers a space that cares about helping people share their stories with professionalism, responsiveness, and kindness. The publication is “affectionately named after Cypress Street in Philadelphia,” according to Founder & Editor-in-Chief Shaina Clingempeel. “I wanted our name to have a friendly feel that speaks to what we do here at Cypress, and the publication is open to writers of Philly and beyond, with two online issues per year of fiction, poetry, nonfiction, photography, and visual art, cycling through genres in each issue.”
Bringing Stories to Light
Extending this friendly support was a motivating factor in Clingempeel [pictured] starting a literary magazine. “As a book editor, I love helping people develop and refine their work,” she explains. “Starting this literary magazine has enabled me to take a more active role in bringing their stories to light. My mission is to celebrate a diverse array of stories from writers and artists, to serve as a bright spot and source of joy and connection.”
Clingempeel’s experience and expertise provide the framework for her new role. Having earned a writing MFA from Sarah Lawrence College, she then went on to found a small book editing business called Cypress Editorial in 2020. Her chapbook, in the homes that house my history, is available through Moonstone Press, and her poems can be found in various literary magazines.
Rounding out the masthead is Editor Jack Wooldridge, a web developer, writer, and musician from New Jersey with a master’s degree in visual communication from Hodges University, and Editorial Assistant and British Poet Laura Davies, who is also Staff Writer for Poetry Wales and a Communications Officer for a small charity. The editorial team is joined by several readers, whose work with the publication process is invaluable: Ehsan, Leisel, Pleasant, Alexis, and Becca. “I couldn’t do this work without them,” comments Clingempeel. Full bios are available on the site’s masthead.
Works with Heart
For writers, the Cypress Review submission period is open for four months, with responses by the end of the submission period or sooner — “as promptly as we can given the volume of submissions,” says Clingempeel. “Our team of readers does the first read, and then Jack and I review every submission carefully in order to make the publication determinations. Cypress doesn’t provide feedback at this time, though I plan to add an option for expedited submission and feedback.”
“For readers,” Clingempeel explains, “Cypress Review offers contemplative, contemporary, and lyrical works, and it values anything with heart. We also publish experimental works with some element of strangeness.”
Recent contributors include Florence Weinberger, Anthony Robinson, Yermiyahu Ahron Taub, Rachael Ikins, Gerald Yelle, John Hilla, Jess L Parker, Jeanne Julian, Kathryn Lasseter, Jayant Kashyap, Shanley McMillan, Chris Dungey, Whitnee Coy, Jeri Griffith, Sara Hovda, Nuala McEvoy, Mark Jodon, Zoë Spanbroek, Cassandra Jordan, Lynn Domina, Wendell Hawken, Sean Ewing, Deborah Blenkhorn, and Morgan Jenson.
Busy But Rewarding
Reflecting on the start-up process, Clingempeel admits, “It’s certainly kept me busier than expected, as we received over 600 submissions last issue. But it’s been more rewarding than I expected, too, and I’ve been surprised by how many compelling works we’ve been able to give a home. My favorite part of putting an issue together is thinking about how pieces talk to each other and telling a story in each issue. It’s been especially enjoyable with this current issue [Issue III], as it’s an even mix of poetry and art.”
As Cypress becomes more established, Clingempeel says they plan to explore print options, contests, and paying contributors as well as offering feedback options. “One day,” she adds, “I’d even like to publish chapbooks, though that’s a ways away at this time.”
