The Writing University has launched a new series of interviews to highlight the various journals and publications across campus at the University of Iowa writing programs. We ask about the publication's history, submission process, etc. Today's interview is with Josephine Geiger-Lee, Noelle Franzone, and Hannah Cargo, editors of the publication snapshots, the University of Iowa's literary magazine for children.
Noelle Franzone is an English and creative writing major at the University of Iowa. She likes writing, and is currently on a sci-fi kick!
Hannah Cargo is a second-year student at the University of Iowa studying environmental planning and policy and creative writing. She's from Flower Mound, Texas, and enjoys writing, music, swimming, and learning new things.
Josephine Geiger-Lee is a second-year student at the University of Iowa studying English and creative writing and has a secondary education interest. From Omaha, NE, she was excited to trade one type of corn for another and start anew.
**
1. Hello! Great to have you! First off, tell us a little bit about yourselves. What brought you to the University of Iowa?
NF: The English and creative writing program.
HC: I’m a second-year student studying environmental planning and creative writing. I was drawn in by the writing program, but I quickly fell in love with the city as well. The University of Iowa has an unmatched creative atmosphere, and I liked it so much, I figured it was well worth the drive out of Texas.
JG: The University of Iowa has always been on my peripherals (I’m from Nebraska), but once I heard about the writing program, I was sold.
2. Can you tell us about the history of snapshots?
It really started in downtown Iowa City that first week of freshman year. Noelle and Josephine were roommates, so they had known each other for about a week at that point, and they knew Hannah Cargo from one of those get-to-know-you scavenger hunts. We wanted to talk about what we wanted to see in literature, and we all agreed we wanted more positivity! Obviously, HORIZON (shout-out to HORIZON!) covers a lot of those dreams, but we wanted to draw in a lot of the community as well. The Wave during the football games and Kick-off at Kinnick impacted us, and we decided we wanted to make a magazine for children’s literature! From there, we formed a staff and produced our first magazine, which was officially released in August!
3. When do you accept submissions?
Our submissions are open right now! The link to submit can be found in our instagram bio, our website, and also posted below. We will be accepting them until October 1st! >> forms.gle/duhnCUiBMyKZcHNi9
4. Where can people find snapshots?
Our online presence is mostly concentrated on our instagram (@snapshotsuiowa), but we also have a website (https://snapshotsuiowa.wixsite.com/litmag). For copies of our first magazine, you can find a virtual copy online on the website, and there are often copies floating around the Perch in the University of Iowa’s Main Library and the Magid Center.
5. Tell us about your own creative work – are you working on anything specific right now?
NF: I have a couple of science fiction stories that I am chipping away at! I’m also working on collecting all my submissions for other literary magazines
HC: Right now, most of my energy is focused on my environmental studies, but I've got a few pieces I'm refining for other lit mags. My current project is trying to adapt a Hawaiian epic into a short story.
JG: I’ve been splitting my focus between a fantasy-esque story and a nonfiction piece about what literacy means to me.