Indie Editors Series: Megan Mary Moore
“I hope our contributors know how excited we are by their work. They are the reason we work so hard on our end. Our magazines are handmade with the care we believe each piece deserves. The writers took the time to create something worth holding onto, and our team hopes to do the same with the physical magazine.”
US-based Pink Apple Press launched in 2023 as a digital magazine, celebrating emerging writers across a range of mediums. Earlier this year, editor-in-chief Megan Mary Moore and managing editor Hayley Huett revamped the press with a fresh new look, a clear direction, and their very first print issue (which, full disclosure, I had the pleasure of having a piece of writing published in!).
I caught up with Megan to learn more about their rebrand, what keeps a small press like Pink Apple going, the do’s and don’ts of submissions, and what’s currently inspiring her own literary pursuits.
I love to start these with an introduction! Can you share a bit about your background in writing/editing, and what led you to create Pink Apple Press?
I’m a poet and writer, and like most writers, I am passionate about making sure that good writing is read. I have published two full-length poetry collections, Dwellers and To Daughter a Devil, and my debut novel, The Girl in the Pipes, will be published by one of my favourite indie presses, Unsolicited Press, next year.
While receiving my Master of Fine Arts in poetry, my mentor Hoa Nguyen taught me the importance of community in the literary arts. After hearing about the reading series and journal Skanky Possum that she and poet Dale Smith created, I was deeply inspired to create something that would bring together new voices with voices that deserved to be heard and celebrated.
I believe that writers are lucky, for us networking is doing and talking about what we love.
How has your original vision for the press evolved since you first launched? What have been some of your biggest lessons and successes along the way?
This year, Pink Apple Press underwent a rebrand, which included a new logo, tagline, and introduction of our signature magenta colour. When we first launched, Pink Apple was an online literary magazine. While we still publish work online, we are proud to now call ourselves a print journal.
One thing that we’ve learned, though it may seem cliché, is the importance of teamwork. Our team consists of me and three of my best friends: managing editor Haley Hulett, creative director Emma Brios, and art director Abbey Hulett. Each of us brings a particular set of skills to each project, and without just one of us, the magic would be lost.
What do you hope writers who publish with Pink Apple feel, both during the process and after their work is out in the world? What kind of home are you trying to create for their work?
I hope our contributors know how excited we are by their work. They are the reason we work so hard on our end. Our magazines are handmade with the care we believe each piece deserves. The writers took the time to create something worth holding onto, and our team hopes to do the same with the physical magazine.
Can you share more on the type of work you like to publish? What are some of the things that lead you to that ‘this is right for us!’ feeling when reviewing submissions?
We love to be surprised by brevity and the economy of language. How much can you do with the fewest amount of words?
Small presses play such a vital role in the careers of new and emerging writers, but I know there’s a balance here between supporting and managing resources. What are some of your tips or advice for new writers submitting to and working with Pink Apple Press?
Because time is so precious, especially with an all-volunteer team, reading all of the guidelines before submitting is essential. All submissions that don’t follow our guidelines will go unread. So will subs sent to us outside of open submission windows.
We’ve all made mistakes when sending work out, don’t get me wrong, but our team receives thousands of emails and has one or two people cataloguing and reading through everything. Show us that you respect our time enough to spend a few minutes reading our website before hitting send.
At the end of the day, we want to read you! Make it easy for us so we can make the publication process easy for you, too.
And on the flip side of the coin, what advice or tips would you share with anyone considering starting up their own small press?
Take your time. We see so many small presses and lit mags disappear after a few months, and it’s sad. It is hard work, but that shouldn’t deter anyone from starting a small press; it should only deter you from jumping headfirst into a project you’re not ready for. Start small and pace yourself, and you will do amazing things.
Who or what are you reading right now that’s feeding your editorial sensibilities or challenging them in interesting ways?
Shark Heart by Emily Habeck really defined my summer reading. If I receive a book recommendation from someone, I try not to seek out reviews or even plot summaries so I can be surprised, and I am so glad that I went into this one blind. I was blown away by the weirdness, the tenderness, the tightness of the story. It is genuinely everything that I want from a novel. I don’t read romance as a general rule, and Shark Heart changed that for me. From now on, I want to go into all genres with an open mind, ready to be blown away.
And lastly, what’s on the horizon for Pink Apple Press?
We recently began our Book Blog, where I read and chat about books from indie authors I love! I can’t stress the importance of indie presses in the literary community enough, and I want to do everything I can to bring attention to the breathtaking work they’re publishing.
In September, we will open up submissions for issue five, our second print issue! Keep a lookout on our Instagram for an announcement when submissions are open again, @pinkapplepress.
Megan Mary Moore is a writer working in Toronto and living in a fairy princess fever dream. She is the author of the poetry collections To Daughter a Devil (Unsolicited Press, 2023) and And Aphrodite Laughs (Milk & Cake Press, 2023). Her novel, ‘The Girl in the Pipes’, is forthcoming with Unsolicited Press. She holds an MFA in poetry from Miami University and writes about the gorgeous and sometimes horrifying terrain of the body. You can find her on Instagram @meganmarymoore
Elaine Chennatt is a writer, educator and psychology student currently residing in nipaluna. She has a special interest in bibliotherapy (how we use literature to make sense of our lives) and is endlessly curious about the creative philosophies of others. She lives with her husband and two bossy dachshunds on the not-so-sunny side of the river (IYKYK). Find her online at wordswithelaine.com.
