Our name is derived from the tenacious damselfly, often mistaken for the dragonfly. The damselfly is a unique and highly independent insect capable of aerial acrobatics and has been known to travel as far as 900 miles off the coast to deposit eggs. Her remarkable multi-lens eyes allow her the advantage of examining many aspects of her environment. At damselfly press, we are intrigued by the extraordinary in the ordinary, by the everyday seen through sundry lenses. We value writing that soars beyond common perceptions.

Mission Statement

damselfly press seeks to promote exceptional writing by women whose voices have not been heard enough. We welcome work from female writers of all backgrounds and experiences. We accept fiction, poetry, and nonfiction that is honest and daring, and explores the relationship between dualities. Joy, pain. Boldness, vulnerability. Sacred, profane. Be passionate about your writing, and explore the truth that lies within. There is truth even in fiction; make us believe what you have to say.

Editor Bios

Jennifer Taylor is a writer, editor, and book critic living in Georgia. Most of her life has been spent moving from place to place, as evidenced by the fact that she has moved 36 times. She is a co-founder, fiction, and nonfiction editor of damselfly press. Her writing has appeared in Atlanta Business Magazine, Chicago Sun-Times, H2O Magazine, Inkling Magazine, Pittsburgh Magazine, Publishers Weekly, Savannah Magazine, Southern Distinction, The Piedmont Review, and The Sunday Paper, among others. She was a fiction editor for The Fourth River, Chatham University’s literary journal, where she received her MFA in 2006 with a double concentration in fiction and nonfiction. Jennifer was a writer-in-residence at the Writing Retreat in New Brunswick, Canada. She is currently working on a short story collection.

Lesley Dame is a writer and editor living in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Co-founder, nonfiction and poetry editor for damselfly press, she has also served as poetry editor for The Fourth River, Chatham University’s literary journal, where she received her MFA in 2005. She is the author of the chapbook, Letting Out the Ghosts (Earl & Crouch Press, 2006). Her poetry has appeared or is forthcoming in Foliate Oak, Stirring, Poesia, Triggerfish Critical Review, and Apparatus Magazine.

Rebecca Clever is a co-founder of damselfly press.

Reader Bios

Jessica Ina is a professional writer living and working in Ohio. She received her MFA in Creative Writing with a concentration in children’s writing and adolescent literature at Chatham University. She loves to travel and has had the opportunity to visit England, Italy and Japan. She believes in searching for the silver lining whenever possible.

Verity Earl graduated with her MFA in Creative Writing with a focus in poetry from Chatham University. She is the co-founder of Earl & Crouch Press. Her published works include a chapbook called Shipwreck (Urban Folk Press, 2007). She currently lives in Pittsburgh, PA.

Wendy Beeker started writing when she was ten. Mostly, she copied Judy Blume and E.L. Konigsburg story lines because she was pretty sure she would never have anything to write about until two magic words appeared on the horizon - dysfunctional family - and knew she was set for life. Wendy lives in Brunswick, GA.