Riposte launches new collection of literary journals

Riposte has announced the launch of a new collection of literary journals, called Riposte Editions. The creative team behind Riposte Magazine has launched the inaugural edition featuring poetry, short stories and essays from some of contemporary writers, including Amy Key, K Patrick, Sheena Patel, Kaliane Bradley, Charlie Porter and Halima Jibril.

Editor Danielle Pender said: "I wanted to bring together a mix of voices who have a range of styles and explore what it means to be alive today. The work in this first edition feels exciting and fresh with Amy and K’s beautiful poems, Sheena and Kaliane’s short stories that transport and unnerve you, and Charlie and Halima’s thoughtful essays on community, climate change, and death. It’s a relatively small journal compared to Riposte Magazine, but it packs a punch."

The design aesthetic for Riposte Editions was created by Shaz Madani, who said: "Rather than creating a fixed identity or set of rules for this project, we’ve given ourselves the freedom to play around. The editions will have no set form; each issue will take a unique approach and will be designed around its content. This first edition is in literary tradition and creates a quieter space for ideas and thoughtful reflections. As with Riposte Magazine, we want these to be something people can collect and treasure."

The team explained it also wants to create an outlet for writers at a time when the number of platforms and publications is dwindling in the digital age.

Pender added: "There are fewer places for writers to express themselves and for people to explore ideas. Riposte Editions is our small contribution. We want to make it a space where both established talent and new voices can be published and connect with an audience."

The new journals have been created after a hiatus from Riposte Magazine and each edition will be complemented by live events. Editions will be distributed through the dedicated website and Public Knowledge Books, and all proceeds will be donated to Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP).