At Black Fox Literary Magazine, our team is the heartbeat behind every issue—from the first story in the slush pile to the final selections on the page. In our new series, Inside the Den, we’re inviting readers behind the scenes to meet the people who help shape the work we publish.
Each month, we’ll spotlight a different team member, offering a glimpse into what they love, what they look for, and what drives their passion for literature.
We’re starting with H. Rae Monk, a dedicated reader who’s been with our team for three years, and a true lover of the written word.
Black Fox Literary Magazine: Hi, Rae, how did you become a reader for Black Fox?
H. Rae Monk: I became a Black Fox reader after my friend, Elizabeth Sheets, spoke to me about how much she loved working on the magazine and that they had an opening. I worked with a literary magazine during my bachelor’s program at ASU and really enjoyed my time there, so I thought it would be a good fit!
BFLM: What kinds of stories or themes are you most drawn to?
HRM: I love all sorts of fiction and nonfiction, but I’m most drawn to well-crafted stories that have a clear message or theme or conflict that is trying to be overcome with clear writing (so there is no confusion) and beautiful language (to keep me engaged). I love stories that make me feel the big feelings, like hopelessness, or on the other side of the spectrum, joy.
BFLM: What’s your biggest pet peeve when it comes to reading a submission?
HRM: I really struggle with opaque writing. As a reader, it’s good to be challenged, but there is a line that some authors cross when they overdo the language. I want to clearly understand what is happening even if the feelings behind the actions are a little muddy.
BFLM: What makes a submission stand out (in a good way)?
HRM: What stands out to me is when there is a really good flow to the story. I love getting to the end of the story and being so fully engrossed that I fly right through and the outside world fades away. Errors in logic or grammar pull me out of the story immediately, so I love it when I see that a story has gone through a rigorous editing process.
BFLM: What’s something you’ve learned from reading submissions that surprised you
HRM: I think reading submissions has given me insights into my own preferences as a reader, which informs the way I write myself. It helps me not fall into pits that I see authors tumble into often in their submissions. I also love the feeling of novelty and delight I get when I read something really great, it inspires me and motivates me to hold my own stories to a higher standard. It also makes me excited to see what someone will write next.
BFLM: What’s a story you love and think about often?
HRM: The Chickpea by Rosemarie Dillon in Black Fox Issue 24.
BFLM: If your personality were a literary genre, what would it be—and why?
HRM: If my personality was a literary genre, I think it would be a cozy mystery. Cozy mysteries are all about problem-solving in a light-hearted and often comedic way. I live for comfort and the people in cozy mysteries live idyllic, interesting, often small lives which I strive for every day! Oh, to be a bookstore owner in a small village where I can solve small mysteries with my faithful cat and/or best friend and have a love interest that plays into the mysteries somehow.
BFLM: Thank you, Rae, for stepping Inside the Den with us.
Stay tuned for more glimpses into the minds and hearts behind Black Fox Literary Magazine. We’re proud to have such a thoughtful, passionate team—and we’re excited to introduce you to each of them, one voice at a time.
H. Rae Monk is a writer based in Tempe, Arizona. She was the first graduate from the Narrative Studies MA program at Arizona State University and holds a BA from ASU in English: Creative Writing with a focus on Fiction. Some of her favorite writers are Anthony Horowitz, Joy Harjo, Matt Goldman, Dina Nayeri, Philip Pullman, and J.R.R. Tolkein.
Leave a Reply