Sky Island Journal Co-Founder and Co-Editor Jason Splichal opens Issue 35 with these chilling words, “You need to know that there are several writers in this issue who are risking their lives publishing with us. They’ve deemed that risk acceptable in order for them to express themselves and for you to have the opportunity to experience and share their art.” This is in keeping with the mission of Sky Island Journal, Splichal explains: writers are risking their lives to publish uncensored truth, and the journal is committed to protecting and amplifying those voices. Sky Island Journal posits itself as a champion of global freedom of expression and has done so while building an independent, supportive literary community connecting readers and writers worldwide.

In this newest issue, readers will find works by Alex Dawson, Alicia Potee, Andrew Fisher, Bella Melardi, Brandon McNeice, Dibyangana Maji, Elli Mari, Erika MacNeil, Grace Lynn, J. Alan Nelson, JH Tomen, Kristen Reece, Lorrie Ness, Madison McClintock, Mariam Anahita Amin, Melanie Maggard, Nabhan Khraishi, Paul Julian, Pratiksha Ahuja, Robert Nordstrom, Sarah Platenius, Sian Maciejowski, Sydney Lea, Zoleikha Baloch and many more.

“Writing is power because it can provide hope. This is why, throughout history, tyrants have always come for the poets first; a populace is much easier to terrorize and subjugate without the flame of hope sustaining them.” ~ Sky Island Journal Editors

Readers and writers searching for a source of hope and resistance against oppression need only click to join Sky Island Journal’s global, fearless community. In their introduction to Issue 34, the editors affirm their pledge to keep literature freely accessible, independent from political or commercial pressures, and dedicated to empathy, freedom, and hope. “Art creates empathy. Empathy creates kindness. Kindness creates strength. This is our purpose, and we will not stop. This is our mission, and we will not fail.”

Upholding the Sky Island Journal mission in the newest issue are contributors Alina Kalontarov, Allison Mei-Li, Annalise Parady, Anne Ramallo, Athena Serbourne, Bex Hainsworth, Bray McDonald, Carol Lynn Stevenson Grellas, Christian Knoeller, Dara Goodale, Dick Altman, Elda Oreto, Elizabeth Rosen, Filiz Fish, Gabrielle Munslow, Grace Crouthamel, Grace Lynn, Inez Chong, J.M.C. Kane, Jay Udall, Jessica Aure Pratt, Jillian Stacia, Jocelyn Ajami, John Muro, Katy Luxem, Ken Malatesta, Kiana McCrackin, Kristen Keckler, Kristen Reece, Lin Fay, Marisha Kashyap, Michael Brookbank, Michael J. Galko, Morrow Dowdle, Nicole Dalcourt, Olga Khmara, Parineeta Habib, R.H. Booker, Rachel Lauren Myers, Rachel M. Hollis, Rachel Mallalieu, Robin Zastrow, Sheree Stewart Combs, Susmita Mukherjee, Wasima Khan, Yuening Weng, Zoe Culbertson, and Zoleikha Baloch.

Sky Island Journal’s stunning 32nd issue (Fall 2025) features poetry, flash fiction, and creative nonfiction from contributors around the globe. Accomplished, well-established authors are published — side by side — with fresh, emerging voices. Readers are provided with a powerful, focused literary experience that transports them: one that challenges them intellectually and moves them emotionally. Always free to access, and always free from advertising, discover what over 160,000 readers in 150 countries, and over 1,200 contributors from 58 countries, already know; the finest new writing can be found where the desert meets the mountains.

Sky Island Journal’s stunning 32nd issue (Summer 2025) features poetry, flash fiction, and creative nonfiction from contributors around the globe. Accomplished, well-established authors are published — side by side — with fresh, emerging voices. Readers are provided with a powerful, focused literary experience that transports them: one that challenges them intellectually and moves them emotionally. Always free to access, and always free from advertising, discover what over 160,000 readers in 150 countries, and over 1,100 contributors from 57 countries, already know; the finest new writing can be found where the desert meets the mountains.

Sky Island Journal’s stunning 31st issue features poetry, flash fiction, and creative nonfiction from contributors around the globe. Accomplished, well-established authors are published — side by side — with fresh, emerging voices. Readers are provided with a powerful, focused literary experience that transports them: one that challenges them intellectually and moves them emotionally. Always free to access, and always free from advertising, discover what over 150,000 readers in 150 countries, and over 1,000 contributors from 54 countries, already know; the finest new writing can be found where the desert meets the mountains.

Sky Island Journal’s stunning 30th issue features poetry, flash fiction, and creative nonfiction from contributors around the globe. Accomplished, well-established authors are published—side by side—with fresh, emerging voices. Readers are provided with a powerful, focused literary experience that transports them: one that challenges them intellectually and moves them emotionally. Always free to access, and always free from advertising, discover what over 150,000 readers in 150 countries, and over 1,000 contributors from 54 countries, already know; the finest new writing can be found where the desert meets the mountains.

Sky Island Journal’s stunning 29th issue features poetry, flash fiction, and creative nonfiction from contributors around the globe. Accomplished, well-established authors are published—side by side—with fresh, emerging voices. Readers are provided with a powerful, focused literary experience that transports them: one that challenges them intellectually and moves them emotionally. Always free to access, and always free from advertising, discover what over 150,000 readers in 150 countries, and over 1,000 contributors from 52 countries, already know; the finest new writing can be found where the desert meets the mountains.

Sky Island Journal’s stunning 28th issue (Spring 2024) features poetry, flash fiction, and creative nonfiction from contributors around the globe. Accomplished, well-established authors are published—side by side—with fresh, emerging voices. Readers are provided with a powerful, focused literary experience that transports them: one that challenges them intellectually and moves them emotionally. Always free to access, and always free from advertising, discover what over 150,000 readers in 150 countries, and over 900 contributors in 50 countries, already know; the finest new writing can be found where the desert meets the mountains.

Discover loads more great lit mags with our Guide to Literary Magazines, Big List of Literary Magazines, and Big List of Alternative Magazines. If you are a publication looking to be listed in our monthly roundup or featured on our blog and social media, please contact us.

Sky Island Journal’s stunning 27th issue (Winter 2024) features poetry, flash fiction, and creative nonfiction from contributors around the globe. Accomplished, well-established authors are published—side by side—with fresh, emerging voices. Readers are provided with a powerful, focused literary experience that transports them: one that challenges them intellectually and moves them emotionally. Always free to access, and always free from advertising, discover what over 150,000 readers in 150 countries, and over 800 contributors in 50 countries, already know: the finest new writing can be found where the desert meets the mountains.

Discover loads more great lit mags with our Guide to Literary Magazines, Big List of Literary Magazines, and Big List of Alternative Magazines. If you are a publication looking to be listed in our monthly roundup or featured on our blog and social media, please contact us.

Sky Island Journal’s stunning 26th issue features poetry, flash fiction, and creative nonfiction from contributors around the globe. Accomplished, well-established authors are published—side by side—with fresh, emerging voices. Readers are provided with a powerful, focused literary experience that transports them: one that challenges them intellectually and moves them emotionally. Always free to access, and always free from advertising, discover what over 125,000 readers in 145 countries and over 800 contributors already know; the finest new writing can be found where the desert meets the mountains.

Discover loads more great lit mags with our Guide to Literary Magazines, Big List of Literary Magazines, and Big List of Alternative Magazines. If you are a publication looking to be listed in our monthly roundup or featured on our blog and social media, please contact us.

Sky Island Journal’s stunning 25th issue features poetry, flash fiction, and creative nonfiction from contributors around the globe. Accomplished, well-established authors are published—side by side—with fresh, emerging voices. Readers are provided with a powerful, focused literary experience that transports them: one that challenges them intellectually and moves them emotionally. Always free to access, and always free from advertising, discover what over 125,000 readers in 145 countries and over 750 contributors already know; the finest new writing can be found where the desert meets the mountains.

To find more great reading, visit the NewPages Guide to Literary Magazines, the NewPages Big List of Literary Magazines, the NewPages Big List of Alternative Magazines, and the NewPages Guide to Publications for Young Writers. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to stay up to date!

Sky Island Journal’s stunning 24th issue (Spring 2023) features poetry, flash fiction, and creative nonfiction from contributors around the globe. Accomplished, well-established authors are published—side by side—with fresh, emerging voices. Readers are provided with a powerful, focused literary experience that transports them: one that challenges them intellectually and moves them emotionally. Always free to access, and always free from advertising, discover what over 125,000 readers in 145 countries and over 700 contributors already know; the finest new writing can be found where the desert meets the mountains.

Sky Island Journal’s stunning 23rd issue features poetry, flash fiction, and creative nonfiction from contributors around the globe. Accomplished, well-established authors are published—side by side—with fresh, emerging voices. Readers are provided with a powerful, focused literary experience that transports them: one that challenges them intellectually and moves them emotionally. Always free to access, and always free from advertising, discover what over 125,000 readers in 145 countries and over 700 contributors already know; the finest new writing can be found where the desert meets the mountains.

To find more great reading, visit the NewPages Guide to Literary Magazines, the NewPages Big List of Literary Magazines, the NewPages Big List of Alternative Magazines, and the NewPages Guide to Publications for Young Writers. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to stay up to date!

Sky Island Journal’s stunning 22nd issue features poetry, flash fiction, and creative nonfiction from contributors around the globe. Accomplished, well-established authors are published—side by side—with fresh, emerging voices. Readers are provided with a powerful, focused literary experience that transports them: one that challenges them intellectually and moves them emotionally. Always free to access, and always free from advertising, discover what over 115,000 readers in 145 countries and over 700 contributors already know; the finest new writing can be found where the desert meets the mountains.

Contributors in the Fall 2022 issue include Adrianna Sanchez-Lopez, Amanda Leal, Amy Marques, Angela Williamson Emmert, Barun Saha, Carly Taylor, Christian Knoeller, Cristina Legarda, Daniela Paraguya Sow, Doug Jacquier, Erin Olson, Evangeline Sanders, Greg Rapier, James K. Zimmerman, Jason Brightwell, Jen Schneide, Jeniya Mard, Jeremy Dixon, Jolene Won, Jonathan Odell, Katy Luxem, Lee Potts, Lindsay Rockwell, Lorrie Ness, Matt Hohner, Nicholas Trandahl, Nicole Rollender, Pepper Trail, Phillip Sterling, Rose Mary Boehm, Sam Fouts, Shanna Yetman, Shannon Huffman Polso, Susan Su, Tara Williams, Tawnya Gibson, Tina Lentz-Mcmillan, and Wren Jones.

Sky Island Journal’s stunning 21st issue features poetry, flash fiction, and creative nonfiction from contributors around the globe. Accomplished, well-established authors are published—side by side—with fresh, emerging voices. Readers are provided with a powerful, focused literary experience that transports them: one that challenges them intellectually and moves them emotionally. Read works from Amy Marques, Ann Chinnis, Annette Sisson, Arden Stockdell-Giesler, Beth Oast Williams, Carole Greenfield, Cheryl Slover-Linett, Courtney Justus, Cristian Ramirez, Cynthia Singerman, Dan Shields, Deron Eckert, Edilson Afonso Ferreira, Emily Patterson, Erin Henry, Fannie H. Gray, Heather Diamond, Isabel Markowski, John Muro, Julie Benesh, Kathryn De Lancellotti, Katrina Hays, Kiana Mccrackin, Kit Willett, Lisken Van Pelt Dus, Lorrie Ness, Maira Rodriguez, Melody Wilson, Michael Keenan Gutierrez, Michele Lovell, Mizuki Kai, Nancy Beauregard, Olivia Badoi, Philip Cioffari, Robbin Farr, Valerie Nies, Vivian Montgomery, and Wylde J. Parsley,. Always free to access, and always free from advertising, discover what over 100,000 readers in 145 countries already know: the finest new writing is just a click away!