BRISTOL, Tenn. – King University's English Department recently debuted a new journal, The Holston. Named by King students for the regional significance, The Holston is an interdisciplinary, undergraduate, multi-genre journal set primarily in digital format.
Everything from poetry to prose, photography, drama, and even a research paper can all be found in The Holston. "We are interested in anything you can put on a page," said Erin Kingsley, Ph.D., assistant professor of English at King. "Each year, we also plan to highlight notable faculty like Dr. Craig McDonald, and exemplary alumni like Olivia Underwood, currently serving in China at a special needs orphanage."
Kingsley serves at the faculty advisor for The Holston. The staff is comprised of King undergraduates who tackle every aspect of the journal from editing to design to illustration. "The editor-in-chief is always an English major. This is also an internship position, so he or she will intern with the English Department and be the editor-in-chief at the same time."
The editor-in-chief for the first issue was Bristol, Tenn., native Blakeleigh Mathes. "My goal for The Holston was to offer a platform for the unheard artistic voices on campus," Mathes said. "Becoming published as an undergraduate presents a unique opportunity to bolster your resume or CV, gain experience submitting publications, and improve professional relationships through collaboration with faculty, staff, and external organizations. Personally, I have grown as a leader and a professional during my experience as the editor for The Holston. As I move on to the next stage in my life, I will be able to use the knowledge I acquired in the work-force and graduate school."
King junior Desmond Darko illustrated the covers and additional artwork throughout the journal, which is reflective of the Holston Mountains and Holston River.
Kingsley said, "With this first incarnation under our belt, I want to reach out to the wider King community. We invite not only students to contribute submissions but also King alumni, faculty, and staff. There are some amazing artists out there. This is a wonderful platform for them to have their artistic voices heard. We want this to be a venue to inspire the King community to create."
Contact Erin Kingsley at ekingsley@king.edu or 423-652-4828 for additional information on The Holston.
