Where can I find literary magazines in Cleveland?

May 18, 2008 6:00 PM

Clevelandfilter: Where can I find literary magazines in Cleveland?

Or, more specifically, where can my mom? I've had some short stories come out in journals lately, and I think it would be more fun for her to go to a bookstore and buy them herself instead of me just handing her a copy. Problem is, I haven't lived there in 10 years and don't know where to send her. I've called a few places (Joseph Beth in Shaker Square, B&N at Eton, etc.) and they didn't seem to have any idea what I meant by "literary magazine" even when I gave examples. Anyone know Cleveland bookstores, preferably downtown or on the east side, that carry lit mags like Triquarterly, etc.?

posted by Ms. Informed to writing & language (12 comments total)

I'm not sure I know exactly what you're looking for, but Mac's backs in Coventry has a lot of interesting magazines.
posted by kiltedtaco at 6:07 PM on May 18, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

It might be worth giving Loganberry Books a call. They are on Larchmere in Shaker Heights. Not sure if they carry it but it's a great independent bookstore that seems likely to have this sort of thing, or at least understand what you're looking for.
posted by Kangaroo at 6:11 PM on May 18, 2008

To clarify--I'm talking about literary magazines/journals that publish literary short fiction and poetry. Some examples: AGNI, Virgina Quarterly Review, Triquarterly, Crab Orchard Review, Tin House, Glimmer Train, etc. They look more like books than magazines, come out usually 2-4 times per year, and are usually somewhere by the periodicals. But they're hard to find, since no one seems to read them but writers. If you don't know right away what I mean when I say "literary magazines," you've probably never read one. :)
posted by Ms. Informed at 6:12 PM on May 18, 2008

I know what you mean, and I've nearly always seen them at college bookstores. Can she try the Case bookstore, or maybe one near there? I dunno if Case is the kind of college that would have a lot of those, though... I've been to their bookstore but it's been four years. Incidentally, my older brother graduated there today. So Case is on my mind :).
posted by MadamM at 6:34 PM on May 18, 2008

Um, weird. The Joseph-Beth in Shaker Square closed years ago. Maybe you were talking to the other one in the Cleveland area.

At any rate, I think Mac's Backs on Coventry is your best bet, and Loganberry is a good place to try, too.
posted by amro at 6:34 PM on May 18, 2008

Oh yeah, duh, try the Case bookstore (I went to law school there, MadamM!).
posted by amro at 6:35 PM on May 18, 2008

I know I've seen some at Borders, Joseph-Beth (which is at Legacy Village now) and Mac's. It's very likely that Loganberry has them too although I haven't bought any there. (And yes, I do know what they are.) FWIW, Mac's and Loganberry are great stores to visit, even if she doesn't end up finding those specific publications there.

You can also probably check the websites of the publications themselves to find out where they're sold. For example, the Virginia Quarterly Review lists Borders and Mac's right on their site.
posted by boomchicka at 6:47 PM on May 18, 2008

Visible Voice Books in Tremont. If they don't have it, they can get it. They're amazing. Mac's Backs would be the best bet on the East Side that I can think of.
posted by sciurus at 6:57 PM on May 18, 2008

Yeah, definitely have her try Mac's Books. When I was there two years ago, I was impressed with their selection of literary journals. As a bonus, they also have a consignment section for self-published books and other oddities.
posted by roll truck roll at 10:40 PM on May 18, 2008

Here in NYC at least VQR and GT are available at Barnes and Noble.
posted by Jahaza at 4:40 AM on May 19, 2008

I think Border's distributes us (VQR) nationwide, too. If you don't have any luck, MeFi-mail me and I can check with our distributor to find out exactly where you can find it in Cleveland. OTOH, if you've been published in our pages, I'll stick a copy under our editor's nose, get him to inscribe it with something nice about you, and we'll just mail it off to your mom, which may or may not be specialer than buying a copy off the shelf, experientially speaking.
posted by waldo at 12:11 PM on May 20, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Could always contact the literary magazines you've published in to find out where near Cleveland they're sold
posted by Salvatorparadise at 3:46 PM on May 28, 2008