Editor's Turn

Lesia Schnur

Ten years ago, I was sitting in a graduate class watching the guest speaker diagram the various names she had published under. Her reasons ranged from maiden name, married name, divorced name celebrating her mother’s heritage, to her current married name hyphenated. I remember thinking, “Gee, I should wait until after I’m married to publish.” Not that there was anything wrong with my maiden name, I was overwhelmed by the tracking the speaker did to keep her vitae accurate. And interestingly enough, today I do use two different names in my life.

Curiously I think about Dan Veach, editor of Atlanta Review, and how when he speaks as “editor” he places a hat on so that attendees separate his editor persona with his librarian title. Visually, it works. Identity and persona are important for writers and publications. When J.K. Rowling published the first Harry Potter book, she was quoted as stating that she chose to use her initials since her intended audience was pubescent boys and she felt that they would not read anything written by “Joanne.” We now know that her reasoning was flawed only in that her books are embraced by everyone. But she did have a point. Do readers consciously (or not) select books based on the author’s name? Of course they do. So for a literary journal this proves an interesting obstacle. How can the journal remain literary and true to the mission if the web address decrees academic ties that may convey preconceived notions?

At the Kennesaw Review, we never thought about the linking scheme to our website. We were just thrilled to have a virtual presence. But the web address and the online journal itself were lost within the academic site map that didn’t necessarily reflect who we are. We are not a student publication thriving or subsisting on student activity money. Nor are we endorsed or censored by internal bodies. We just happen to be housed in the English Department of Kennesaw State University. We’re proud to be here; we’re just ready to stand out on our own. Starting with the Spring 2004 issue, we removed ourselves from the campus server and struck out on our own. We boast a new web address (www.kennesawreview.org) and hope to drop the notion that we are a regional publication only accepting southern stories and poetry. Like the Atlanta community in which we live, we are diverse and seek the best material from the writers working today. And if you happen to change your name along the way, like one of our contributor’s, we'll support you enthusiastically.

Lesia Schnur