The staff of the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s online literary journal Upcountry has finished its last round of editing and the latest issue is now available for viewing in its interactive, online format.
Dedicated to showcasing poems, short stories, personal essays and visual art from the campus community, Upcountry is a publication of the University’s English Program. It is published twice yearly.
The journal’s advisor, Dr. Melissa Crowe, said that, in this issue, she and student editor Mika Ouellette were excited to include more fine work from some returning contributors, as well as original pieces by writers new to the journal’s pages.
This is just the second time that the online journal is being made available in its interactive format. For its Fall/Winter 2011 issue, the staff made the leap to a more interactive format to give viewers a more hands-on reading experience. The journal now appears in a browsable magazine format through a digital publishing platform called Issuu. The platform allows pages of uploaded print material to be viewed much like a traditional printed publication, with animated, flipping pages and left-to-right page viewing.
Crowe said, “The new issue looks gorgeous. Once again we’re thrilled with the way in which this online format showcases the quality work our students produce, making it available to readers close at home and all over the globe.”
The Spring/Summer 2012 issue of Upcountry features the work of 10 writers, poets and artists. Works range from Justin Pelkey’s photo collage, entitled “Bridge,” featured on the cover, to Tara White’s essay “Always Home,” to Nicole Moore’s poem “Boeing 747,” with which the issue concludes. Contributors for this issue also include Kayla Ames, Shawn Cote, Chelsie Hawkins, Wendy Koenig, Ulyianna Michaud, Meridith Paterson, and Anthony Scott.
“Once again we had no trouble putting together an issue of top-notch writing by current and former UMPI students, evidence of the hard work and talent at the heart of this institution; I’m proud to share this evidence with the community,” said Crowe.
The Upcountry staff will host a reading/launch party for the issue during the Fall 2012 semester.
To view the latest issue in its interactive format, visit http://upcountryjournal.wordpress.com/ and click on the “Expand” button.
