Interview with Oh Reader Editor-in-Chief Gemma Peckham
I’ve been looking for a magazine about books for a long time, and was thrilled to discover Oh Reader at the end of last year. As a book lover I enjoy having a physical object to read in my hands, so this publication feels like a real treat.
Earlier this month I was delighted to have the chance to speak to Oh Reader Editor-in-Chief, Gemma Peckham, all about her fab publication. It’s a bit of a long read, so grab a cup of tea and settle down to hear all about your new favourite magazine.
Hi Gemma! So, first things first. What inspired you to start a magazine for book lovers?
Because I’m a magazine editor, you’ll often find me at a news stand, poring over all the beautiful titles. I generally gravitate toward the art and literature magazines, and one day, after a while of shelf-gazing, it occurred to me that every magazine about reading largely consists of book reviews and author interviews. I love those mags, but one of the focuses in my work is finding personal stories, which I found lacking in these lit mags. I wanted to hear about people’s experiences with reading: When did they learn to read? How did reading open up their world? What does reading mean to them? Does it help them understand themselves better, or relax, or feel more confident to speak about certain issues? Reading is fascinating to me in that it’s a solitary pursuit wherein we sit with a little paper (or electronic) object that has the power to affect us so deeply. I wanted to learn more about that intimate, personal aspect of reading—and I had an inkling that maybe other people would like that, too.
I think your inkling was right ;) Could you tell me a bit about what goes into each issue?
I’m very much into our writers telling me what they want to write about. I don’t assign writing tasks because I’m not the writer; I don’t know the author’s own personal story of reading. I’m very lucky in that we receive tons of submissions for each issue, and they’re overwhelmingly good, so I get to choose from a great pool. It’s also really interesting to me that there is such a diversity of stories. I don’t feel like I’m being pitched the same stories over and over; every reader really has their own unique story to tell.
We also feature six books that we’re looking forward to reading in the upcoming months—we call it Oh Reader’s TBR (to be read). They’re not reviews, because we haven’t necessarily read the books yet, but they’re a little insight into what we’re anticipating will be good reads.
One of my favourite aspects of the magazine is our “For Your Reading Pleasure” spread, which looks at objects or accessories that might enhance your reading experience—things like cozy chairs, stylish lamps, a tote bag with a book pocket, handmade ceramic mugs, bookends—that kind of thing.
So, what is your role at Oh Reader?
I don’t want to sound self-important, but it’s everything, really—haha! I’m the publisher, which means I’m in charge of things like circulation, marketing, social media and sales management. I’m also the editor-in-chief, so I curate all of the stories in the magazine, read each of them numerous times, and provide feedback to our writers. I work with our graphic designer (thankfully we have a brilliant designer, as that’s not my forte!) on the layouts, and I check all of the pre-press proofs before we hit print. I also take care of a lot of customer service and social media, so it’s a pretty all-encompassing role.
Do you have any creative influences that have found their way into the magazine?
I’m from Australia originally, and there are tons of really artistic, creative, thoughtful magazines that come out of my home country. One that springs to mind is Frankie, which is a lifestyle magazine for women but it’s super quirky and cute and interesting—I’ve been reading it since they started in 2004, which was before I worked in publishing.
I also have a ton of friends who are in creative fields, like illustration, photography and art, and being surrounded by art makes me want to make the magazine as lovely to look at as possible. I love the illustrations that we have on every cover! And of course, the written word is a constant inspiration to me. I like clever, funny, heartfelt writing, and I try to get as much of that as possible into the magazine.
What is your favourite issue to date?
Well, that’s like asking about a favourite child! Haha. I know it sounds like I’m dodging the question, but I truly love all of them. I get to make a magazine about reading! And in every issue, I get to publish stories that have never been published anywhere else—I get to bring them into the world. Our writers are all magnificent, and the feedback on each issue has been great. There is no favourite here ☺
You’ve mentioned your writers, do you take contributions from readers? What sort of pitches are you looking for from writers and illustrators?
Yes! All of the stories in the magazine come from readers or people submitting story ideas to us. We don’t commission writers or assign stories—we choose the stories from our submission file that speak to us, that work with other stories in the issue, and that are unique and interesting. So, we’re looking for something that’s not your average story—things that are very personal to you that are also linked to your reading life. We’ve had stories about things like the Moomins helping a child with anxiety; books by people of colour helping readers to connect with their heritage; the pleasure of reading alone in bars; why sometimes finishing a book that you hate is rewarding. We want honest, insightful stories about the act of reading, and its influence on a life, and we want it to be something that might surprise, intrigue or teach our readers.
I know that it’s impossible to choose a favourite book, so to finish off, can you tell me about your favourite reading spot?
It sure is! Thank you for not making me choose.
I read in a lot of places, and, like most people, I love the couch with a cup of tea when it’s cold outside, but I think my favourite place to read is on the train. You’re moving but you can’t do anything or go anywhere—you’re in a seat for a while, with no other commitments, so you can just read without distraction. A must for me on public transport, though, is headphones with white noise. Not music—white noise to drown out every sound. That way, I get really absorbed in what I’m reading, rather than annoyed by the inevitable food-crunching, music-blaring, loud-talking passengers.
Thanks for speaking to me today, it’s a huge honour to have you on my blog and to hear all about your wonderful magazine!
If this interview has piqued your interest then head over to Oh Reader’s website here. You can currently purchase the mag both in print and online, and there are separate subscription options available for those who live in the US, Canada, and internationally (yes, they deliver to the UK too).
If you’re based in the US then you can pick up a copy from a number of local retailers. Happy reading!
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