Posted on
October 08, 2009 by
Jersey Devil Press
The Long Version:
The Jersey Devil is a creature of legend, lurking in the shadows of the Pine Barrens of southern New Jersey, revealing itself only to wreak havoc on some small town, snack on the sporadic chicken or goat, and, occasionally, if it’s feeling a little randy, to hit on mermaids down the Jersey shore.
Jersey Devil Press is none of that. For one thing, we’re an online magazine, not a cryptozoological oddity. And, for another, we’re located amidst the industrial wastelands and suburbs of northern New Jersey—a seemingly slight, yet crucial, distinction. Although, to be fair, we will be a thing of legend one day. And our stories are certainly capable of wreaking havoc on the current literary landscape. And we had chicken for lunch. So, OK, maybe we are kind of similar. But, really, who doesn’t hope to score with a mermaid someday?
Aside from all that, though, what exactly is it that we do? Well…
Jersey Devil Press releases a monthly online magazine of short fiction and a yearly anthology of the best of that short fiction. We also publish the occasional novel or story collection, should we feel so inclined.
Our tastes tend more toward the offbeat and the absurd, the unclassifiable and the insane, stories most other publishers can’t be bothered with. We like dark, we like ridiculous. We like funny and we like “What the fuck was that?” Don’t get us wrong, we like other stuff, too. We’ve certainly been known to dig the occasional heart-breaking or thought-provoking piece. But, seriously, if you’ve got a story about a twenty-story-tall talking fjord, we’re your magazine.
The Suits:
Eirik Gumeny, Editor
Eirik Gumeny is 6’3”, does not smoke, and is the author of the life-altering novel Exponential Apocalypse. His short fiction has been published in Thieves Jargon, Red Fez, Defenestration, Monkeybicycle, Bananafish, and Mud Luscious, among others. After spending a good deal of time living and working in the fabled swamps of Jersey, Eirik has recently traded up to a life of unemployed luxury in the bright, garden-choked suburbs of Jersey. While this no longer affords him the opportunity to pretend he’s living a Bruce Springsteen song, it also no longer smells bad. You can find out more about Eirik at egumeny.blogspot.com or follow him on Twitter.
Monica Rodriguez, Assistant Editor & Events Director
Monica Rodriguez is not 6’3”, drinks tea, and is just generally awesome. She has been producing, directing, dramaturging, acting, and doing everything else theater has thrown at her for most of her life. Monica grew up in New Mexico, moved to New York, and now lives in the suburban oasis that is New Jersey. She hopes to one day move to New Hampshire, thus securing the famed “New” State Resident achievement, granted by the U.S. government to only the most distinguished of nomads. The accomplishment comes with $400 in prize money and a unicorn. Monica really wants that unicorn.
