First they opened an independent bookstore in Old Town Tustin in the throes of the pandemic, at a time when many brick-and-mortar establishments were going under. Now Sam and Mike Robertson, owners of Arvida Book Company, are doubling down on their belief in the strength of Orange County’s literary scene by launching a journal for local writing.
The Arvida Review, which the Robertsons plan to publish twice a year, seeks to highlight “nuanced short fiction from diverse perspectives” and provide “a platform for both local and underrepresented literary talent” from across the country. And the Robertsons have another goal: Cement Orange County as “a center of cultural significance” in the contemporary literary landscape of Southern California.
“When I opened Arvida Book Company in 2020 my dream was to make a space where everyone felt welcome and heard. We quickly became a neighborhood hangout spot and have now grown to be a space where local authors have a home to write in as well as launch their books,” said Sam Robertson, who will serve as the journal’s editor-in-chief. “Publishing a literary journal to highlight local voices is one way that we hope to give back to the community that supports us and help amplify local talent.”
Submissions of original work are being accepted for the inaugural issue, themed “Community,” through Jan. 31, 2024. Writers whose work is selected will receive an honorarium. What’s more, The Tustin Area Council for Fine Arts (TACFA) will provide a $250 grant to Tustin-based writers whose work is chosen for publication. Details on the submission process can be found at the Arvida Book Company website.
The Arvida Review is a welcome addition in a space where there are few outlets for local creative writers to publish. While in 2022 former UCI writing professor and longtime editor of the Santa Monica Review Andrew Tonkovich launched a nonprofit endeavor, Citric Acid: An Orange County, California, Literary Arts…
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