Barrelhousing with New Poetry Assistant Editors Micah Ling, Coco Keehl, and Christina Beasley

Good news, everyone! The Barrelhouse Family is growing! This time in the poetry space. You might remember about a year or so ago when we added Tony Mancus to our poetry crew to help lead up our chapbook series. That has worked out great! Thanks, Tony! Now we’re bringing on a few new faces to help edit the print journal, too.

We were looking for folks who “get our whole vibe” and “know what’s up” but also had slightly different tastes, are plugged into poetry that might not be on our radar, and who are interested in doing things in a new way. Let’s meet them, shall we?

MICAH LING

1) Okay, first: tell us about all the things you do that aren’t Barrelhouse-adjacent.

I’m a secret agent. I can’t say much more. My cover is that I teach at a community college and obsess over cycling all the mountains in Colorado, where I “live.”

2) What made you want to work with us?

I’ve worked on a few literary magazines; I actually love the process of reading submissions: picking, choosing, matching things together to create an issue. Barrelhouse seems to be good at this process, so I’m honored to join.

3) What are you looking for in poetry submissions? What makes a poem stand out from the slush pile for you?

I try not to think about what I’m looking for, because I usually don’t know. I do tend to like clear curiosity: marveling at something specific. My creative writing students would probably tell you that I like knowing what’s in the pockets.

4) Who are some of your favorite contemporary poets?

Sherman Alexie. Sharon Olds, Todd Colby, Ada Limón, Elizabeth Scanlon, Cornelius Eady, Nick Flynn, Ross Gay, Claudia Rankine, Paul Martínez Pompa.

5) If you could change one thing about the current lit world, what would it be?

It feels like we’ve gotten a little lost in the line between art and commerce. I’ve had fantasies recently of all art being anonymous.

6) We’re legally obligated to ask you this: what’s your favorite Patrick Swayze movie?

To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar. This was a way more important film than it gets credit for. Wesley Snipes, John Leguizamo, and Patrick Swayze, dressed to the nines. It doesn’t get much better.

COCO KEEHL

1)     Okay, first: tell us about all the things you do that aren’t Barrelhouse-adjacent.

I am a bartender and work at a library, which is to say I get paid to deal with a lot of public and addictive substance: beer and books. I love everything that goes into making, selling, drinking a good craft beer almost as much as I love the satisfaction of giving a tiny human their first library card. It comes with great responsibility, I tell them and then let them know they can check out up to 100 books then proceed to check 78 books myself.

When I am not working my erratic hours of multiple doubles in a row, I enjoy hiking / goofing around with my best doggo, Carver Zissou. You can also find me caffeinated AF at the local park picnic table reading poetry aloud to myself or driving into the perfect sun movements of Michigan (motorcycle TBA). I am in the church of I need to be outside as much as possible.

Recently, I got really into smoothies. I check NUFORC almost daily. A good podcast is worth my weight bitcoins.

2) What made you want to work with us?

Barrelhouse is the perfect combination of culture and clever. 

This summer I had the amazing opportunity to attend Barrelhouse Writing Camp and hang out with the Barrelhouse team. The vibes this organization has is so electrically energetic, alive and serious about delivering to the public the best it can offer in way accessible to everyone.

Barrelhouse has nearly everything you could wish for; from sharp writing, to online workshops, to seminars and writing camp and support for other lit magazines, the only thing lacking is a spaceship. Spaceship aside, why wouldn’t I want to spend my time working with the minds that curate, produce, support such cool energy, what a dream!!! 

3) What are you looking for in poetry submissions? What makes a poem stand out from the slush pile for you?

From the voice, to the language, to being able to present something in a way that feels fresh. I like new voices, new formulas. When a poem feels exposed and raw. I am also drawn to what makes me think outside the box then outside that box then outside the circle drawn around those boxes and suddenly I am doing cartwheels into a blackhole. I look for poetry that makes me change my perspective that pushes boundaries and evokes me to feel what I have not before.  

4) Who are some of your favorite contemporary poets?

This hard one but in no particular order: Chen Chen, Claudine Rankine, Caroline Crew, Tommy Pico, Layli Long Soldier, Morgan Parker, Zoe Dzunko, Ocean Vuong, Dalton Day, Dorothea Lasky & & & &  (I could go on).

5) If you could change one thing about the current lit world, what would it be?

The idea that academia is what makes a writer worth reading. Previous publications as an indicator of what makes someone worth publishing. If I could change one thing, I would say the past should not be an indicator for future promise. Give every voice a chance regardless of who previously. Poetry is for the people by the people. Let’s keep our ears open for the voices that have not been given the opportunity to be heard yet. 

6) We’re legally obligated to ask you this: what’s your favorite Patrick Swayze movie?

Who hasn’t tried the dance jump in Dirty Dancing? But favorite would be Donnie Darko even though I wouldn't count that as a “Swayze” movie. Patrick Swayze really doesn’t do it for me. 

CHRISTINA BEASLEY

1) Okay, first: tell us about all the things you do that aren’t Barrelhouse-adjacent.

When I'm not reviewing and editing poems, I am: writing poems, taking photographs, performing in a local choir and playing my ukulele, practicing yoga, volunteering and being an activist, reading, studying many languages, and working in national security in Washington, DC. But hey--I'll get all the sleep I need when I'm dead.

2) What made you want to work with us?

I've loved reading Barrelhouse for a number of years, and when I participated in Barrelhouse's Writer Camp last summer, I realized how fantastic the community truly was and that I wanted to become a bigger part of it! I adore the fact that Barrelhouse is willing to take risks and explore styles and subject matter that many other contemporary publications are not, and I wanted to be involved in nurturing and growing that type of environment. In fact, all you have to do to work with Barrelhouse is follow three simple rules: expect the unexpected, take it outside, and be nice.

3) What are you looking for in poetry submissions? What makes a poem stand out from the slush pile for you?

I strive to elevate work that addresses difficult or unusual topics in a carefully-articulated and intentional way. I would like the work to be wild in essence, but controlled in structure. I value precision in phrasing. All of these qualities in a poem allow me to become emotionally connected to it as well as intellectually curious. I want to be challenged by the work, and I want you to be nice until it's time to not be nice.

4) Who are some of your favorite contemporary poets?

I feel like I change my answer to this question whenever I read a new publication or anthology. There are so many voices to inhabit and they resonate so diversely depending on what I'm experiencing in my own life. As of late, some of my favorites include: Charles Simic, Terrance Hayes, Aracelis Girmay, Ocean Vuong, and Louise Glück. But truly, how can I pick? Nobody ever wins a fight.

5) If you could change one thing about the current lit world, what would it be?

I wish more publications would explore the depths of the slush pile, like Barrelhouse does. I don't just say that because I am a denizen of the slush pile, but because that's where I believe a lot of the less trendy, more subversive themes percolate to the surface. Also, I have found that new poets or poets who often find themselves at the margins of what is popularly available can be extremely invigorated through the opportunity to start a dialogue with the community and through sharing recent work. Here in the slush pile, let's be honest: we've got too many 40-year-old adolescents, felons, power drinkers and trustees of modern chemistry. Let's spread the wealth to the masses a little.

6) We’re legally obligated to ask you this: what’s your favorite Patrick Swayze movie?

ROAD HOUSE. Each answer to this interview has a quote within it from Road House. Watch Road House, identify the quotes, and then watch Road House again. And count your blessings... it's a good night. Nobody died.