A note from Malaika: This will be our final issue of the magazine.

After a devastating website hack, we’ve struggled to rebuild and preserve fifteen years’ worth of poems we were honored to publish. Like all literary magazines, Redheaded Stepchild has been a labor of love—one that requires time, care, and financial investment. The joy was never in the administrative work; it was in the moment of saying yes: sending acceptances and helping writers’ work reach readers.

We’re closing this chapter with gratitude. Thank you to every poet who trusted us with your work, every reader who showed up, and every volunteer editor at Redheaded Stepchild. I love our poetry community. You’ve not only supported the magazine but shown up for years at our book celebrations online.

Going forward, we’re shifting our energy to our book launch series and featuring poets on our YouTube channel. We’d be honored to continue celebrating your work there. If you have a new book and would like to be featured, please reach out. 

With deep respect,
Malaika