Samantha Campbell, a first-year M.F.A. student in fiction writing in the U of A Program in Creative Writing and Translation in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences has co-founded Black Moon Magazine, an online literary arts journal featuring fiction and poetry.

According to its mission statement, Black Moon Magazine "dedicates itself to the discovered intersections of mixed-medium, art, and diversity."

The magazine's name refers to a phenomena that occurs every 19 years in which a calendar month passes without a full moon.

Of the project Campbell noted, "Founding and starting a literary journal during my first semester of the program was a challenge, but I was (and still am) full of excitement … I feel like that excitement gave me the extra boost of energy I needed to keep working on the magazine after I was finished with teaching, class, and my own writing every day."

Campbell and co-founder Matthew Gilbert launched the inaugural issue via Zoom recently. Contributors read excerpts of their works and then participated in a Q&A session, discussing the writing process, influences in media and genre, and the power of creative to bring together people from across the world in a time of social distancing.

"While I wouldn't say it was easy, I will say that anytime you are working on something that you love and have a deep passion for, it's always enjoyable and worth it," Campbell said.

Submissions for the magazine's second issue are open, and can be sent to blackmoonmageditors@gmail.com.