THE NEWTOWNER  is a one-of-a-kind arts and literary magazine that showcases the work of emerging and established literary, visual, and performing artists from our local area and across the nation.

THE NEWTOWNER derives its name from Newtown, CT where we are based and from its residents who make this town so special.

Our mission is to celebrate creative community and the life-affirming power of literature and the arts.

In light of the events of 12/14/12, this mission has never been more relevant and important.

Our upcoming issue, due for release in July 2013, will be a special tribute issue offered as a healing gift to the town of Newtown. By its very nature it will be a publication of historic significance.

Our aims for this issue are to:

• Celebrate the people, beauty, culture, and community spirit of Newtown, CT
• Remember those we love and lost
• Recognize and give artistic expression to the grief we have experienced
• Highlight the role of the arts in healing and the arts’ ability to nurture our humanity
• Focus on our love, faith, and hope for the future

Featuring contributions from:

• Nationally acclaimed authors and illustrators such as  Wally Lamb, Lois Lowry, Katherine Paterson, and Steven Kellogg

• Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Yusef Komunyakaa
• Sesame Street’s Alan Muraoka 
• National leaders such as Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy
• Newtown’s First Selectwoman Pat Llodra
• Newtown faith leaders such as Rabbi Shaul Praver
• Newtown educators such as Newtown High School Principal Chip Dumais and Reed Intermediate teacher Gael Lynch
• Newtown High School students
• Sandy Hook Elementary School parents David Wheeler and Sophfronia Scott
• Sandy Hook Elementary School staff member Cindy Carlson
• Sandy Hook Elementary School student artists Chase Kowalski, Jessica Rekos, and Avielle Richman

Call for sponsorship: Our hearts' desire is to provide complimentary copies to, if not every Newtown household, at least every Sandy Hook Elementary School family. We are looking for individual and corporate sponsor funding to be able to achieve this goal. Please contact editor@thenewtownermagazine.com to express your interest.

Call for volunteers: The Newtowner  is seeking volunteers and interns that would be interested in helping to produce this special tribute issue. Volunteer opportunities are available in the areas of writing, editing, public relations, publicity, fundraising, photography, illustration, design, and distribution. Please contact editor@thenewtownermagazine.com to express your interest.

Did you know that: 

• Over the last two years we have published six acclaimed issues.
• We are one of very few arts and literary magazines that operates as a grass roots, all-volunteer movement in a local community, and that is not funded by a university or college.
• We are the only arts and literary journal we know of aimed at a general readership that regularly publishes the creative work of young writers and artists. We publish the work of elementary, middle-school, and high-school students in a dedicated section called "Youth Expressions."
• Not only do we publish the work of young writers and artists, we mentor youth editors who select and edit the works published in the Youth Expressions section.
• We work with and publish the creative work of Garner Correctional Institution inmates. We are the only arts and literary journal we know of that is doing this on a regular basis. This work is showcased in its own dedicated section called "From the Inside Out."
• In the digital age, The Newtowner is an ode to print as an art form. It is a perfect bound, full-color art magazine printed on 100# weight silk-textured paper with exceptional graphic design. 

More than a magazine, THE NEWTOWNER is a community

More than a magazine, The Newtowner  is a community of readers, writers, editors, artists, and art lovers, who together support the arts and each other. 

The Newtowner' s community outreach has included:

• Community poetry and prose readings 
• Launch issue celebrations that have been open to the public
• Creation of the Inaugural Newtowner Open Poetry Award
• Creation of The Newtowner/Newtown High School Poetry Award
• Mentoring of high school and middle school youth editors 
• Musical and dramatic performances
• Dance workshops 
• Panel discussions
• Newtown Arts Festival support and involvement
• Local library events
• Attendance at readings and performances by inmates at Garner Correctional Institution by the staff of The Newtowner
• Venetian-inspired Masked Ball to celebrate our first anniversary

Inaugural Issue Launch, December 2010

Praise for THE NEWTOWNER

"I am a lucky guy to have been profiled in such a gorgeous and arts-friendly magazine. The Newtowner has it all: compelling writing, great photography, and an attractive layout that can proudly stand beside the New York 'slicks.' Each issue is a pleasure to read."     -- Wally Lamb, best-selling novelist                                                                                                                    

For those engaged in the world of arts and literature, having a publication like this available to your community is something of a dream come true."    --Mark Danowsky, NewPages.com

The team behind THE NEWTOWNER

The Newtowner is run by a highly talented, all-volunteer staff with exceptional background and experience in literature and the arts. 

Our team includes Editor in Chief Georgia Monaghan, Associate Editor Aimee Pokwatka, Fiction Editor Wendy Wipprecht, Poetry Editor Lisa Schwartz, Creative Nonfiction Editor Brenda McKinley, Assistant Poetry Editor Nancy Bocian, Acquisitions Editor Sue Kassirer, Proofreader Jennifer Jackson, Columnist Julie Stern, Art Designers Tracy Hubbard and Tarol Samuelson, Photographer Darren Wagner, Illustrator Luke Kennedy, Special Projects and Promotions Coordinator Sheryl Fatse, Public Relations Coordinator Maka  Bakhbava, Youth Staff Nikki Barnhart, Grace McKinley, Caroline McArdle, Lucien Formichella, and Sarah Clements.

Please visit the About Us page on The Newtowner magazine website:www.thenewtownermagazine.com to read the bios of our exceptionally talented and experienced staff.

The Founding Editorial Team