From the Editor – 8/29/19

My dear people and pachyderms, this is Editor Andre N. Lepine. I write to say hello and thank you. Just over a year ago, we published Linda M. Crate’s sometimes ravens conquer wolves, the first work by someone other than me to appear on this site. To honor our first year as a broader publication, I would like to talk about who we are and what we’re about.

A Little History

I began Elephants Never in October 2017 as a way to share my writing and generate an audience. I’d had this idea about doing short little elephant bits that didn’t neatly fit with what (little) I knew of the publishing world. And that was fun. But in July 2018, with our daughter’s birth imminent, I opened this site up to submissions of flash fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and art. (We still don’t get any art if, you know, anybody knows somebody!) After publishing 71 poems, 29 stories, and 7 nonfiction pieces, our motivation and purpose have changed. No longer about my writing, this publication is now for all of you.

Before I tell you what we are about, let me first explain that “we.”

The Team

ElephantsNever.com began as a one-pachyderm show, and the back-end work still mostly comes down to me. (The bearded gent to the right is me.) I studied medieval literature and creative writing back in college, worked as an editorial assistant at a marketing magazine, and have been the unofficial editor/proofreader of every office I’ve worked in.

As this publication’s Editor, I seek to amplify others’ voices and stories, and I have a light touch on accepted work. Final decision on submissions comes to me, as should all complaints and criticism. If you reach out, I will respond.

Throughout this journey, however, I’ve been blessed with people who have provided input and guidance on look, content, and strategy. And they’ve graciously served as readers and offered feedback on submitted work. Many thanks therefore to these volunteers and loved ones:

• Anita Pahuja (learning and development specialist, matriarch of the herd)
• Byron Lepine (marketing and hospitality professional)
• Monique Pahuja (family court lawyer)
• Laura Pérez (administrative professional, avid reader)
• Theresa Nalini Mohabir-Pennella (blogger, communications specialist)
• Allison Zdunczyk (videographer, poet)

None of this would be possible without you.

Publishing Goals

In the past year, we’ve found that we have a fairly broad range of things we like to publish. We generally seek a mix of playful and serious work, a blend of whimsy and reality. New writers and unfamiliar tales excite us. We want your outcast stories and forgotten voices. We want herd mothers and rogues, children of diaspora and indigenous artists. Bring us the memories you cannot forget and the emotions that feel elephantine in your chest. We would like to offer a safe space to discuss your trauma, your ongoing struggles, your difference, and your similarity. And we want to offer hope that whatever you’re going through, whatever plagues the world, tomorrow may dawn better.

Thank you to all of our contributors for entrusting us with your work. And thank you all for spending some time reading and growing with us!

Warmest Regards,
André