literary journal

Disconnections, with excerpts from stories by John Picard and James O’Sullivan.

Mangoes, messages and unsolicited advice, with work from Texan writers Parul Shah, Viviane Vives and Janet McCann.

Young love at any age, with work by Diana La Com, Sherman Pearl and Nancy Davidoff Kelton. 

Unlikely links to Lincoln, with work by Joel Savishinsky, Betty Orr and Christine Lincoln.

Ravens and other metaphors, with poems by Jean Chapman Snow, Kathy Mangan and Jean Connor. 

Spirited stories for your spirits, with pieces by Margarita Meyendorff, Leslie Gabel-Brett and Russell Rowland.

Phone purgatory, with poems by Judith Arcana and Dennis H. Lee.

Atmospheric insights, with poems by pilot Ann Darr and Carol Peck.

Into the archive, featuring an epistolary poem by Andrew Brown, and excerpts from cover letters and thank-you notes sent by Passager's readers and submitters over the years. 

Threads of kindness, with poems by Elizabeth Kerlikowske, James K. Zimmerman and Larnell Custis Butler. 

This planet and our time on it, with poems by Robert Lowes, Constance Norgren and Margaret Lloyd.

A 16-minute episode reflecting on the Israel-Gaza conflict with offerings from Christine S. O'Connor, Shelley List, James McGrath, Ed Vojik, Rose M. Smith, Dori Hale, Jerome Gagnon, Katharyn Howd Machan, Maryhelen Snyder and Adrienne Unger. 

From Maine to Georgia, and other realms, with poems by Penny Altman, James Wyshynski and Memye Curtis Tucker.

Pride and preservation, with poems by Catherine Allen and Andrew Brown. 

Celebrating this milestone with an excerpt from Dorothy Pula Strohecker (Issue 1) and poems by Sharron Singleton and Nan Fry (Issue 50). 

Featuring honorable mentions from the new issue of Passager, with poems by Joanne Holdridge, Liz Ahl, Laird Harrison and Nancy Lael Braun.

Shana tova, with wayfinding poems by Liz Abrams-Morley, Amy White and Jean Connor.

Core memories, with pieces by Ellen Hirning Schmidt, Maureen Murphy Woodcock, Maryhelen Snyder.

SUMMARY

“Though staff turnaround is a challenge for student-run publications, community support remains when people love it. Let’s revive the love for Headlight.”

This was the sign-off of an application for managing editor for Headlight, Concordia University’s graduate student-run literary journal. Carlos A. Pittella’s application was accepted shortly after—along with Sherine Elbanhawy’s application for co-managing editor—and the 24th edition of Headlight was put into motion.

This episode is a behind-the-scenes look at Headlight 24, and an exploration of what happens when print publication meets audio production. Diving into a host of recordings made along the way, the episode revisits readings from authors featured in Headlight 24, as well as recordings from the journal’s launch at the De Stiil bookstore in Montreal. Also featured is a roundtable conversation with the editorial team—Carlos A. Pittella, Sherine Elbanhawy, Alex Affonso, Ariella Ruby, Olive Andrews, and Miranda Eastwood—as they revisit the challenges faced in reviving the journal following pandemic restrictions, as well as the exciting new directions embraced by this year’s team.

Headlight 24 will host the second part of their launch at the 4th SPACE at Concordia University, August 31st, at 2pm. We hope to see you there!

EPISODE NOTES

Host: Katherine McLeod

Supervising Producer: Kate Moffatt

Audio Engineer / Sound Designer: Miranda Eastwood

Transcription: Zoe Mix

FEATURED READINGS
 

Bandukwala, Manahil. "Turning Twenty-Four on the Rise of the Sturgeon Moon". Headlight 24, 2023.

Solomon, Misha. "Tubes". Headlight 24, 2023.

Mazur, Ari. "A&W". Headlight 24, 2023.

O'Farrell, Paz. "I don't even know what to do about all this". Headlight 24, 2023.

Palmer, Jade. "Onyx and Rose Gold". Headlight 24, 2023.

Trudel, Nadia. "Goblin". Headlight 24, 2023.

Cirignano, Sophia. "Giverny". Headlight 24, 2023.

Wayland, Tina. "The Tending of Small Gardens". Headlight 24, 2023.