Permafrost: Literary Journal
Permafrost is the farthest north literary journal in the United States. Based out of the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Permafrost publishes poetry, fiction, non-fiction, and photography from around the country, Canada, and Europe. While not officially dedicated to writing from Alaska, since 2005 the content has represented an increasingly northern flavor, publishing interviews with such notable Alaskan writers as Gerri Brightwell, Derick Burleson, and Richard Nelson. Recent cover art has been predominantly influenced by Alaskan culture, highlighting the likes of painter David Mollett and photographer Larry McNeil.
 Cover of Volume 30 (2008) | |
| Editor | Jaclyn Bergamino |
|---|---|
| Categories | Literary magazine |
| Frequency | Annual |
| First issue | Summer 1979 |
| Based in | Fairbanks, Alaska |
| Language | English |
| Website | |
| ISSN | 0740-7890 |
Having celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2008, Permafrost continues to publish notable writers/artists such as Allen Ginsberg, Ilya Kaminsky, and Andy Warhol alongside up and coming writers such as Dan Pinkerton, Billy Thorpe, and Siân Griffiths. More recently, Permafrost has published work by BJ Hollars and Brian Oliu. The journal's staff is 20 to 30 volunteers from the UAF English Department and specifically students of the MFA in Creative Writing program.
Permafrost Book Prizes
Each year the journal sponsors an annual book prize. The winner of the 2010 competition was poet Richard Sonnenmoser for Science-Magic School. Past winners include Briton Shurley (2007), Holly Iglesias (1999), and Laurie O'Brien (1994).
Circulation and Specs
As one of the growing journals in the field, Permafrost's circulation reached 500 copies in 2008. Situated as the farthest north journal, Permafrost publishers are 350 miles from the nearest city, and separated by country borders beyond that. The journal continues to increase its circulation yearly due to swelling online sales, growing interest from libraries, and the continued support of the Alaska State Council on the Arts and the Alaska Humanities Forum.
In 2008, the journal's dimensions were 8.5 by 5 inches, and was 196 pages in length.
Past Editors
| 1977: Neil Williams | 1990: Ellen E. Moore | 2001-2: Tom Helleberg, Jenny Lagergren |
| 1978: Elyse Guttenberg | 1991: Steve Baily | 2003: Rachael Alonzo |
| 1979: Greg Divers | 1992: Sandra Keith, Karen Sylte | 2004: Jeff Gaskin |
| 1980: Linda Schandelmeier | 1993: Kip Knott | 2005-6: Steve Goerger |
| 1981: Harley Stein, Tina Matthews | 1994-5: Dafna Rica Ezran | 2007: Brian Keenan |
| 1982: Karl Flaccus, Robert R. Weeden | 1996: Julie Filapek, Jennifer Roberts-Luevano | 2008: Jamison Klagmann |
| 1983-4: Roberta Roth Laulicht, David Sims | 1997: T.J. O'Donnell | 2009: Kyle Mellen |
| 1985-6: R.H. Ober, Alys Culhane | 1998: Tricia Yost, Thomas A. Porter | 2010: Jessica Bryant |
| 1987: Natalie Kusz, Marcia Mason | 1999: Sydney Glasoe, David Houston Wood | 2011: Sharon Frantz |
| 1988-9: Robin Lewis | 2000: Christian Lybrook | 2012: Christie Hinrichs |
| 2013: Caitlin Scarano | 2014: Caitlin Woolley | 2015: Jaclyn Bergamino |