Toad Suck Review

The University of Central Arkansas’ acclaimed literary journal Exquisite Corpse Annual is now the Toad Suck Review. 

“Our former editor in chief, Andrei Codrescu, became consumed by other projects, so we decided to re-envision ourselves into a similar but different forum,” says editor Mark Spitzer. “The Toad Suck Review will continue our mission of publishing cutting-edge works of poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, translations and reviews, but with a less experimental edge, more of an Arkansas focus, and at a cheaper price with wider distribution.”

The inaugural issue of the Toad Suck Review, published by UCA’s Department of Writing, contains work by Lawrence Ferlinghetti and three other poet laureates. Arkansas writers C.D. Wright and Kevin Brockmeier are featured, as are a number of emerging and established writers. Issue No. 1 includes translations of poetry from French as well as Spanish and showcases artists from South America and the Netherlands.

“As of late, Arkansas has been hemorrhaging contemporary literary magazines,” says associate editor Terry Wright. “CrazyHorse galloped away from UALR, and, more recently, the Arkansas Literary Forum lamentably closed its open discussion. Fortunately, the Toad Suck Review provides a comforting compress to kibosh the bleeding by using the metaphysical to mend the physical.”

The editors intend to “keep romancing” their old audience while developing a new following. Subscribers to the Exquisite Corpse Annual will receive issues of the new publication, which will continue to provide internships for three undergraduates per year.

Copies can be purchased through Amazon.com or ordered from Toad Suck Review/Department of Writing/UCA/Conway, AR 72035 for $15 a copy (make checks out to UCA) or PayPal payments may be sent to toadsuckreview@gmail.com.

The Review will be in bookstores soon, both locally and nationally. For more information contact Spitzer at (501) 450-3339 or mspitzer@uca.edu.