Middlesex County College: Gearing up for Another Literary Journal

In the fall 2008 semester, five Middlesex County College professors got together and put out MCC’s first ever Literary Journal, “Middlesex—a Literary Journal: An Anthology of Poems.” Professor Emanuel DiPasquale, creator and editor-in-chief of the literary journal worked along side fellow editors Dr. Steven Barnhart, chair of the history, psychology and social sciences department; Dr. Mathew Spano, professor at MCC and Dr. Daniel Zimmerman, chair of the English department, to produce a product where MCC faculty members could express themselves creatively.
Once completed, the literary journal was not only free of charge, but it was mailed to every college in New Jersey and every library as well, said DiPasquale. The 104 page journal had a glossy cover photo of Raritan Hall and slightly over four dozen works written by 14 different local writers. The project was funded by MCC and President Joann La Perla-Morales was a driving force behind getting the money needed to complete the journal, said Zimmerman. On Jan. 15, it will be three months since the journal made its debut and already the literary journal editorial board is close to halfway through accumulating work from writers for the second journal. There will also be a new addition to the editorial board for volume two of the journal, Melissa Edwards, an English professor at MCC.
“The first journal went over great. From what I hear, people love it. Barnhart’s poetry and Mathew’s ‘Heron’ poem are big hits,” said DiPasquale.
The fact that the first journal was such a big success is part of the reason to continue putting it out. It would be madness to publish one volume and end there, said DiPasquale. MCC will again be funding the second journal. Some participants have been asked to read from the journal at different places in New Jersey, said Zimmerman.
“A few of us including Hank Kalet, the managing editor of the South Brunswick Post and The Cranbury Press, have already read together at the South Brunswick library,” said DiPasquale.
The first literary journal was a great accomplishment; it’s like having a new child in the family, said DiPasquale. The second volume will have the same editorial board along with our new addition and hopefully a few new writers, making the journal larger than the last, said Zimmerman.
“As for the life span of the journal, well we are going to try and put one out once a year. It should be published at least for the next 49 years; a good life span for a magazine,” said DiPasquale.