Words and Photos by Marley DeRosia

The launch of a new magazine is a monumental feat, but the sign of a great product lies in the desire for its second iteration. This sentiment could not be more true for the launch of LILAC’s second literary publication, “L2: First Love,” where countless people gathered to celebrate the new issue.

The magazine’s April 7 launch party at Ox and Stone featured current and previous editions of LILAC, a delectable purple-themed cocktail, and prints from one of the featured artists in the latest issue. Once everyone had a drink in hand, the creative team behind LILAC (all wearing a shade of dusty purple) welcomed their guests and invited writers from the publication to read.

For many, it was nerve-wracking; some people had never been published before, let alone performed in front of a crowd. But each one stepped up with grace and offered a memorable performance as they walked the room through what “first love” meant to them.

While many people who hear “first love” typically think of young high school romances, it was obvious that the writers had pushed the boundaries of what first love meant to them. Some highlighted their relationship with a higher power and how it affected their interactions with romantic partners; others talked about their relationship with hobbies and jobs. Listening to these stories inspired me so much that I scoured my phone for an old poem to read myself once the mic was opened to the rest of the floor. It was the kind of event that makes you want to read, write, and explore your own relationship with first love.

I was proud to sit down with Leah Stacy, one of the co-founders of LILAC, and talk about the ins and outs of the magazine. We talked about the creative process behind the magazine, its impact on Rochester, and what they hope to do in their forthcoming issues, including their L3 issue themed “Moonlight.”

What drives your magazine at its core? Do you have a goal you hope to accomplish with this Rochester-based literary magazine? Or does the mission change with each issue?

Each issue of LILAC contains writing, photography and artwork centered around a specific theme. While we’re based in Rochester, we do accept global submissions of fiction and non-fiction, including memoir, essay, short story, poetry, criticism, digitized photography, and other artwork. Most importantly, we seek to publish under-amplified talent and pledge to provide compensation for all creators. Accepted submissions are paid a flat rate and receive an additional percentage of any print profits.

We’d love to hear your opinion of the art/lit scene in Rochester. Was there a gap you saw that caused you to launch the magazine?

Rochester’s scene is ever-changing. Print magazines are not an especially profitable venture, so many of our local (and national, and international) publications have gone away. But this isn’t really about Rochester alone. LILAC is based here because we are, and this is a side project for our team. We all have other full-time jobs. We are committed to providing a platform for creators that both pays and gives them a print byline, because both of those opportunities are so rare these days.

What inspired you to choose the theme “First Love?”

The issue was chosen from four themes at our L1 launch party in December—attendees voted, as they will for each theme going forward!

In the first issue, you had more than 70 submissions but only ~20 made it in. Can you tell us about LILAC’s submission process?

Part of the process is space; we can only print so large an issue. We curate the accepted submissions based on what our team feels best represents the theme. We also try to have varied genres of lit—poetry, non-fiction, fiction, etc.—and visuals in every issue. For L2, we received more than 60 submissions.

Is there anything an aspiring writer should keep in mind if they submit to LILAC?

Aspiring writers and visual artists should always try to submit something that makes sense with the theme but also thinks outside the box! We don’t want submissions that are too on the nose (i.e., a poem called “moonlight” for the next issue). We want to see how each submission interprets the theme in a new way and works with the other submissions to make a beautiful whole.

What drives your magazine at its core? Do you have a goal you hope to accomplish with this Rochester-based literary magazine? Or does the mission change with each issue?

Each issue of LILAC contains writing, photography and artwork centered around a specific theme. While we’re based in Rochester, we do accept global submissions of fiction and non-fiction, including memoir, essay, short story, poetry, criticism, digitized photography and other artwork. Most importantly, we seek to publish under-amplified talent.

What do you hope to accomplish with your next issue?

Another set of print bylines and payment for deserving creators, and inspiration for those who read it.

Is there anything else you’re itching to talk about in regards to your magazine? Congratulations again on V2!

Just want to give a shout out to the LILAC team who works on this in their free time because they love it and believe in it: James Schank (cofounder/distribution), Megan Price (social design/events), and Keith Fravel (layout designer).

It’s thanks to publications like these that many up-and-coming artists and writers get their first shot at something great. I was honored to attend the second launch party of LILAC and can’t wait to attend more events in the future. If you’re interested in learning more about LILAC, follow them on Instagram at lilac.mag where you can get submission information, deadlines, and more!