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Paper Lanterns, an exciting new literary journal

(artwork "la gente es colorida" by Allie Rafferty, designed by Fiachra Johnston))

I have been excitedly watching from the sidelines as the wonderful team of Paper Lanterns turned this very exciting idea into a reality and put together a literary journal dedicated to teen & YA lit and the people celebrating it. From original creative writing pieces to interviews and reviews, Paper Lanterns promised many things. 
I'm delighted to tell you that I was lucky enough to get an early look at their first issue and it achieved all the things it aimed to; reading through it, I couldn't help but be reminded why I love the community built around this type of literature so much, the kind of talent and passion of those part of it. It also reminded me just how smart, talented and interesting the teens that these stories are for are themselves and the kind of fantastic work they can put into the world when given the chance (with the addition of equally fantastic words coming from enthusiastic grown ups). 

You can now purchase the first issue here: https://paperlanternslit.com/shop/

(design by Eleanor Brayden)


The lovely people behind the journal also shared a little bit about themselves and their mission with me, so here is what they're all about:

Paper Lanterns is a literary journal founded in 2020 by Grace Kelley, Ruth Ennis and Amy O’Sullivan. Publishing four times a year, it is a platform to promote the voices of young people in Ireland and across the world, this journal provides new and exciting content for a teen and young adult audience. It is also perfect for enthusiasts of teen and YA literature; from teachers and librarians, to parents and youth workers.
The journal is divided into three sections. Our Creative Writing section showcases work from talented teens, as well as work from adult writers of teen and YA literature, accompanying beautiful artwork and photography. The Features and Articles section includes unique essays on trends in YA literature and inspiring observations from our younger contributors on the world around them. You can also expect some exciting interviews from authors and literature enthusiasts. Our Reviews sections offers an insight to the latest books for teens and young adults, from readers younger and older, with a helpful guide to aid in navigating suitable content. You will also find details of our seasonal book club, where we discuss a book for older teens and a book for younger teens on our social media and on Goodreads.
Grace, Ruth and Amy were classmates in the M.Phil. in Children’s Literature in Trinity College Dublin. After their dissertations were handed in at the end of August 2019, Grace approached Ruth and Amy with an idea: a literary journal that focuses on all things teen and YA literature.
There is a rich and diverse range of literary journals in Ireland, all of whom were very supportive of our endeavour. Paper Lanterns took inspiration from Banshee, Stinging Fly, Sonder, Channel and, in particular, The Moth and Children’s Books Ireland’s Inis Magazine. While some journals include and address teen and YA literature, there were none that were solely dedicated to it. We wanted to address that.
During the Children’s Books Ireland Annual Conference in September 2019, we were introduced to the youth committee of The Lit Festival, based in Waterford. This impressive group of teenagers demonstrated a remarkable talent and passion for literature, particularly spoken word poetry! We knew that we wanted to create a platform that showcased the talented young writers of Ireland. We also wanted to create a space that encouraged the enthusiasm we see for we see for teen and YA literature: for writers to create content for a teen audience, for parents, teachers, librarians and booksellers to have access to honest and insightful book reviews, and for enthusiasts to learn more about teen and YA literature through essays and interviews.
While there is certainly something for everyone to be found in Paper Lanterns, young people are at the heart of it. We wanted to present the stories they have written, as well as provide stories they would like to read. We are incredibly proud of all our contributors for their hard work, and we look forward to continuing the journal with these goals in mind.


You can find Paper Lanterns online here:
Website: paperlanternslit.com
Twitter: @paper__lanterns
Instagram: @paperlanterns_lit
Facebook: @PaperLanternsLit

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2V4cr1L
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