"Irreverent, Fun, Different, Surprising." A Chat with Daniel Nester, Editor of Pine Hills Review

Online journal editor gives us a glimpse into his magazine

Well guys, the evidence is clear: Yours truly absolutely needs to buy a new computer.

Today I had the immense pleasure of chatting with Daniel Nester, Editor of Pine Hills Review. This online magazine is based in Albany, NY and is run out of The College of Saint Rose. They publish fiction, nonfiction, poetry, hybrid work, interviews and visual art.

Why a new computer, you ask? Well, the interview was pretty glitchy, with a fair number of screen-freezes and delays. At one point I asked Daniel a question about how the magazine, with its young editorial staff, ensures that there is no age bias in terms of contributors (something I’ve often heard older writers worry about).

Daniel said, “Can I curse?”

And then my entire zoom connection shut down.

I got it back and running, and now it must be said that even with all the slow-downs and wonkiness, Daniel was an absolute charm. Funny, easy-going and high-spirited. I can’t help but think this is a reflection of the ethos of Pine Hills Review, which Daniel described as “irreverent, fun, different, surprising.”

Perhaps their publishing schedule might also shed light on this ethos. The journal publishes new work every Wednesday at 4:20. (Don’t get the joke? Click here.)

Daniel described himself as “a lit journal nerd.” Before Pine Hills Review, he worked at many other lit mags, including Painted Bride Quarterly, La Petite Zine, McSweeney’s, and launched his own lit mag, Unplanned Events. I asked whether he thought there were too many magazines on the market today, and he enthusiastically insisted we need even more lit mags, the more the better, and we ought to “smash the gatekeepers.”

Pine Hills Review is open from September through April. All submissions are free.

As always, it was an absolute treat to see everyone who showed up today. I adore your faces!

And, thanks to Daniel, for the information, the patience, the laughs, and the insights into the workings of another lovely little lit mag.

Happy viewing!