Palooka is an international literary magazine of unique fiction, poetry, nonfiction, artwork, photography, and graphic narratives. For over a decade we've featured new, up-and-coming, and established writers, artists, and photographers from United States, Canada, Australia, India, United Kingdom, China, Pakistan, Spain, France, Japan, Ireland, Brazil, South Korea, Israel, Croatia, Finland, Italy, and Austria.
See what we're all about: Mission Statement and interview with the editor.

Future Palookas

Picture
   Sage Ravenwood        Shome Dasgupta            Pam Manasco          Tomislav Silipetar       Rachel R. Baum

OUT NOW: ISSUE 12

FICTION
B. B. Garin, "Retrograde"
Nicole Sellew, "Savage"
Arthur Klepchukov, "Evergreen Promises"

​POETRY
Kaitlinn Rose: "Claiming Sides of the Mattress," "Enough to Build Your Castle"
Troy Schoultz: "1980," "ICU," "Watches," "I Don't Miss Your Saturday Nights"
Deven Philbrick: "The Real Thing," "Character," "Self-Portrait," "Tell the Story"

NONFICTION
Andrea Bianchi, "Imaginary Sun"

ARTWORK & COVER ART
Bianca Rivetti Burattini

LOOKING FOR AN EDITOR FOR YOUR WRITING?

​Experience: 15 years
MFA: Colorado State
​BA: University of Iowa
​
​If you're seeking an experienced, caring, and hardworking editor for your novel, memoir, stories, or essays check our editorial services.

Jonathan is an award-winning author with fifteen years of editing and publishing experience. He's evaluated hundreds of manuscripts of all genres from writers at different stages of their careers and helped authors develop successful submission packages for agents and publishers.

“Hiring Jonathan was the best writing-related decision I ever made. He reads all my work before I send it out, helped me sell my first novel, place dozens of stories in top-tier journals, and guided my writing to new depths.”
​
​             —Dr. Devin Murphy, Bestselling Author of The Boat Runner​

​OVER THE MOON...GONE: THE VANISHING ACT OF BESS HOUDINI


​Jan Zlotnik Schmidt is a SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor Emerita at SUNY New Paltz in the Department of English where she taught autobiography, creative writing, American and contemporary literature, women’s Literature, and Holocaust literature courses. Her work has been published in many journals including Alaska Quarterly Review, Broadkill Review, Cream City Review, Home Planet News, Kansas Quarterly, Memoir (and), Vassar Review, and Westchester Review. Her work has also been nominated for the Pushcart Prize Series. She has had two volumes of poetry published and two collections of autobiographical essays.

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​Our Standards
​
  • ​100% publication from unsolicited submissions
  • We uphold, encourage, and fight for underdogs
  • We read "blind" and without discrimination
  • We only pursue the writing and art we love

​​If you like what we're about, consider making a donation.

​We're grateful for your support!

Featured Palooka:
Bianca Rivetti Burattini (Issue 12)​

Bianca Rivetti Burattini, a São Paulo-based artist, has been developing her art for several years through an array of techniques and stylization experiments. Originally an architect, Rivetti has incorporated different facets of color and composition within her craft. Architecture has given her a new perception regarding space and composition, as well as a deeper understanding of color and aesthetics. Rivetti focuses on creating bold, colorful works that are expressive of various emotions and inspired by Brazilian culture, biodiversity, the female form, and an overall feeling of wonder toward the world through a blend of pop art and fantasy. You can find her work and social media handles at vettiart.com.

Featured Work:
​​DEVIN PHILBRICK (Issue 12)

Check out Devin's wonderful poems!