Sherry Chandler

Kate Bernadette Benedict

Here’s what Kate Bernadette Benedict said about her ambitions as a poetry editor:

My ambition is to keep Umbrella’s standards high by publishing excellent poetry of an eclectic nature. I also feel that certain boilerplate styles hamper poetry’s power, so it’s also a key mission of mine to showcase poems that employ a fresh and ringing diction.

Kate is editor of Umbrella and, because I have had poems in that journal, her statement set me to shining up my gold star.

Kate is featured as interview # 9 in Nic Sebastian’s series, Ten Questions for Poetry Editors. When asked “How frequently do you get “exciting” submissions?” Kate made this encouraging response:

More frequently than I ever would have imagined! Each poem chosen excites in its own way. A poem scintillates when its umbrella idea marries perfectly to its execution … and when it moves me on a deep level.

I was surprised to learn that Kate serves as her own webmaster. I find Umbrella one of the best-designed, most readable poetry journals on line. That is why I sent my poems there in the first place.

Kate also gives kudos to her co-editors Rachel Dacus and C. E. Chaffin:

These people are all pro’s; there are no cons.

I have found Kate Bernadette Benedict a poet-friendly editor — open, professional, friendly but with very high standards. These characteristics are reflected in the interview, which I suggest you read in full.

Then go read Umbrella. You’ll find a link on my sidebar.

Read the whole excellent series.

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P.S. Kate is always looking for new voices:

An appearance of clubbiness is death to a journal, in my opinion. Though Umbrella gets submissions from lots of new people each quarter, the proportion of publishable work from that batch is lower than I would hope. It remains an important goal for me to keep the roster fresh.