Patricia Colleen Murphy headshot

Meet Our Founding Editor!

Ever wondered who Patricia Colleen Murphy, founding editor of SR, is? This week, the blog sat down with Trish to learn more about her. Below, find out what Trish is streaming, how she got into literary publishing, and more!

What are you reading right now?

I’m reading a really interesting book called How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy by Jenny Odell. I love reading nonfiction when I’m working out. I read a lot of poetry and fiction for my job, so it is a fun change of pace.

What are you watching right now?

I just watched Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain. It was so interesting I want to watch it again to get all the details. I also really enjoyed the show On the Verge with Julie Delpy and Elizabeth Shue.

Why do you love what you do for SR?

There are so many reasons!!! First, I truly feel grateful for the relationships I form with all of the interns. It feels like an extended family, and we really look after each other. I also like providing a high quality publication opportunity to so many authors and artists. It’s always a thrill to send acceptances and to support creative careers.

What are your long-term goals for SR?

I would really love it if I could get interns more involved in the local community. This seems to be tough due to Covid restrictions right now. I’m hoping that as students get used to being back on campus they will be more outgoing with events.

What are you most excited about in Issue 28?

We have some super innovative poetry! Curating this section was a fun experience because we got so much good work that was really out of the box. We grabbed a lot of varied content!

How did you get into the lit mag world?

Oh, it started in high school! When I was a senior I was the editor of the literary magazine at the Cincinnati Public Library. It was called Seven Hills Review, and I was in charge of curating content for several issues. So it has been a lifelong passion.

What advice do you have for people trying to get published?

Absolutely read the lit mag you are sending work to. You would be surprised how many submissions we get that are nothing like what we publish. It makes me sad because it sets the sender up for failure.

What are you most proud of right now?

I have a really great group of interns right now who are self-motivated and driven. It’s so wonderful when students take charge of their roles within the magazine and create innovations.

What are you looking forward to right now?

I am really looking forward to creating the team for next semester’s internship. This is the time of year when I assign roles to interns and choose new trainees. It’s always a joy to match students to roles.

Where is your favorite place you’ve traveled?

Oh my, this one is so hard! There is no possible way to pick just one. My heart grows 10 sizes when I travel. I feel alive and happy when I get to explore other places. I have been to 50 countries so I can’t even narrow it down. It’s like a slideshow of memories in my head. My most recent trip abroad was to Morocco, and it was simply stunning. I really enjoyed the history and geography. It’s such a diverse country.

What’s your all-time favorite book and why?

I have so many. It’s usually the book I am reading now. A book I recommend a lot is Fantasyland: How America Went Haywire: A 500-Year History.

What’s your coffee order?

Decaf Americano.

To learn more about Trish, visit her website, Instagram, Twitter, or LinkedIn.

Superstition Mountain

The Story Behind Our Name

Superstition Mountain

Have you ever wondered why we’re called Superstition Review? Well, let me tell you the story!

For those of you who don’t know, SR is housed at Arizona State University (students play a big role in the curation of each issue). ASU has four campuses in the metro Phoenix area and SR is housed on the Polytechnic campus in Mesa. From the Polytechnic (or Poly, as we call it) campus, there is a wonderful view of the Superstition Mountains. Not only are these mountains stunning in and of themselves – and therefore worthy as a namesake – our founding editor, Patricia Colleen Murphy, also has a personal connection to these mountains. Since the mountains are beautifully showcased on the Poly campus and they hold a special place in Trish’s heart, the name Superstition Review was a natural choice.

Do you have other questions about SR? Let us know in the comments!

Contributor Update, Robert Krut: The Now Dark Sky, Setting Us All On Fire

Today we are happy to announce the news of past contributor Robert Krut! Robert’s newest book titled The Now Dark Sky, Setting Us All on Fire will be available for preorder soon, to be published this summer. The book was just awarded the Codhill Poetry Award by the Codhill Press. S[r]’s own founding editor, Patricia Colleen Murphy, said Robert’s poems are “filled not only with what is real but with what is possible.”

More information about Robert and his new book can be found here. One poem included in the book can be found in S[r]’s Issue 18, and four more in Issue 3.

Congratulations Robert!

Contributor Update, Patricia Colleen Murphy: Bully Love

Today we are thrilled to announce the news of Superstition Review’s founding editor Patricia Colleen Murphy. Patricia’s poetry collection titled Bully Love will be published April 1st, 2019 and is currently available for preorder. Bully Love is a journey of displacement and an education in human and natural relationships. The collection has previously won the 2019 Press 53 Award for poetry and is a Tom Lombardo Poetry Selection.

The collection is available for preorder here.

Congratulations Patricia!

Contributor Update, Patricia Colleen Murphy: 2019 Press 53 Award for Poetry

Patricia Colleen MurphyToday we couldn’t be more excited to announce that Superstition Review’s founding editor, Patricia Colleen Murphy, has won the 2019 Press 53 Award for Poetry for her collection Bully Love. Bully Love was selected by Press 53 Poetry Series Editor Tom Lombardo from a field of more than 400 entries from forty-five states and the district of Columbia and will be published on April 1, 2019, as a Tom Lombardo Poetry Selection. Congratulations to our wonderful founding editor!

An interview with Patricia can be read in Issue 18 of Superstition Review.

Introducing MA in Narrative Studies at ASU

MA Narrative StudiesToday we are excited to share fantastic news!

Arizona State University recently unveiled their new Master of Arts program in Narrative Studies. During the 30 credit hour program, focus will be on story telling and narratives across multiple platforms including text, film, and other media. Material will span a range of cultures and time periods while looking at structure, rhetoric, aesthetic and more throughout this exciting interdisciplinary program.

The program is currently accepting students for Fall 2018 classes. ENG 446/520: Visual Narratives, which will be taught by Dr. Wendy Williams, is one example of the upcoming courses. In addition to Dr. Williams, the MA Narrative Studies programs features several other ASU faculty including Superstition Review’s Patricia Colleen Murphy.

The degree, offered through the College of Integrative Sciences and Arts (CISA) will be located on ASU’s Polytechnic Campus. Narrative Studies, MA is the official site to visit for requesting information, learning how and when to apply, or scheduling a visit. We recommend following the official Facebook page, MA Narrative Studies at Arizona State University, for further news and announcements.

Congratulations and thanks to ASU and the staff and faculty for this new program in Narrative studies.

#ArtLitPhx: The Bridge Series feat. Patricia Colleen Murphy

Patricia Colleen MurphyParadise Valley Community College is hosting a reading series this fall and featuring speakers in September, October, and November. The series is called “The Bridges Series” and focuses on making connections and forging paths.

We’re so proud to announce that Superstition Review’s founding editor, Patricia Colleen Murphy, is the first speaker in the series. She will be presenting in the Puma Press Room on Thursday, September 14 from 10:30am until 12:00pm. Murphy’s book, Hemming Flames (Utah State University Press, 2016) won the May Swenson Poetry Award, judged by Stephen Dunn. Hemming Flames also won the Milt Kessler Hemming FlamesPoetry Award in 2017. New Orleans Review also published a chapter from her memoir in progress as a chapbook. Murphy has been published in many literary journals, including The Iowa Review, Quarterly West, American Poetry Review, North American Review, and more. Visit her website here.

The series also features Hedy Habra on Thursday, October 19 from 10:30am to 12:00pm and Beth Cato on Thursday, November 16 from 10:30am to 12:00pm. Both of these events will take place in the Puma Press Room.

Habra has authored two poetry collections, Under Brush Strokes and Tea in Heliopolis. Under Brushstrokes was a finalist for the USA Best Book Award and the International Poetry Book Award. Tea in Heliopolis was the winner of the USA Best Book Award and finalist for the International Poetry Book Award. Habra also authored a story collection, Flying Carpets, which won the Arab American National Book Award’s Honorable Mention and was finalist for the Eric Hoffer Award. Habra is a six-time nominee for the Pushcart Prize. Visit her website here.

Cato is the author of The Clockwork Dagger, which was a 2015 Locus Award finalist for First Novel, and The Clockwork Crown, which was an RT Reviewers’ Choice Finalist. She also authored a novella, “Wings of Sorrow and Bone,” which was a 2016 Nebula nominee. Visit her website here.

#ArtLitPhx: Cactus Well

Cactus Well is an event promoting the local literary community in the greater Phoenix area. The panel, consisting of local poets, teachers, and series founders, will discuss the workings of the literary community in Phoenix.

The event will take place on Saturday April 22nd, 2017 at 3 p.m. on ASU Tempe’s campus in COOR L1-88.

Panel members include Spillers host Robert Hoekman Jr., Jake Friedman of Four Chambers Press, Spoken-Word Poet Megan Atencia, and Superstition Review’s own Patricia Colleen Murphy. The event will start with a short Q&A concerning literary citizenship, technology and literature, and how to create a successful journal, reading series, or event. There will be refreshments and networking opportunities after.

See the Facebook Event page for more information.

Contributor Update: Get in the Flow with the 10th Anniversary Issue of “diode”

Greetings, true believers! We here at Superstition Review have an extra-special announcement: Our dear friends over at diode have released their 10th Anniversary Issue, replete with the profoundly excellent poetic stylings of more than a few past contributors to Superstition Review, including (but not limited to);

  • John Gallaher
  • Rae Gouirand
  • Carolyn Guinzio
  • Kathleen Hellen
  • Bob Hicok
  • Susan Rich
  • Lee Ann Roripaugh
  • Patricia Colleen Murphy

Do yourself the immense kindness of taking a lil’ poetry break with the 10th Anniversary issue of diode, and to the goodly gaggle over at diode, Superstition Review says congratulations! Here’s to a hundred more years of poetry.

Cheers to diode!
The logo for diode, currently celebrating 10 excellent years of existence.

Authors Talk: Patricia Colleen Murphy

Patricia Colleen Murphy

Today we are pleased to feature author and founding editor of Superstition Review, Patricia Colleen Murphy as our Authors Talk series contributor. In an interview with Cass Murphy (previous interview editor and podcast blogger for Superstition Review), Patricia discusses her recent publication of her collection of poems in Hemming Flames.

She discusses the value of informing the audience of “both process and person” during poetry readings to help put the “poems in perspective.”

Although one review described her poems as “mean,” she expresses that her goal while writing this collection was “to be honest, to be true, and to be kind” even in the face of evidence that would prompt otherwise. We learn about the personal choices she made to create this brutally honest collection of poems in Hemming Flames.