ABOUT

Platform Review developed from ARTS By The People’s popular open-mic nights. First-time readers who attend our literary open mic, The Platform, receive a second round of applause for having the courage to present their work to an audience. We strive to create an environment that welcomes and encourages writers at all stages of their craft with a particular focus on local voices. Our online journal, Platform Review, is focused on bringing this same tone of inclusivity and community. We want submissions from local (New Jersey, Philadelphia and New York City) authors, both established and emerging.

ARTS By The People is a community based arts nonprofit located in New Jersey, one of the most diverse states in the nation. Good literary and artistic work builds bridges and fosters mutual understanding. In order to advance these aims and share in artistic creation, we encourage writers from all walks of life to submit their best work to Platform Review!

PLATFORM REVIEW PEOPLE

Anu Mahadev
Poetry Co-editor
Anu Mahadev is a self-proclaimed amalgam of a left-brained ex-engineer and a right-brained creative writer. Originally from India by way of Bahrain, she is now a New Jersey-based poet, and a 2016 MFA graduate from Drew University. She comes aboard as Poetry Editor for The Platform Review, and is also a Poetry reader for The Adroit Journal. Her past editorial roles have been Poetry Editor for The Wild Word, Editor-in-Chief for Jaggery Lit, and Senior Editor for The Woman Inc. Her collection of poetry, A Mouthful of Sky was released in April 2022 by Get Fresh Books LLC. Her work has appeared in many literary journals and anthologies, and she is an alumna of the 2023 and 2024 Kenyon Writers’ Workshop and the 2024 Juniper Summer Writing Institute. In addition, she is a voracious reader, an avid hiker and traveler, a classically trained singer, a dog lover and a spiritual seeker. She lives with her family in Maplewood, NJ.

Simon Tertychniy
Poetry Co-editor
Simon Tertychniy was born in Moscow and moved to NYC in 1990. In 2000, he obtained a BA in Creative Writing from New York University, studying poetry with Paul Violi. After close to two decades abroad, Simon returned to the East Coast and has been participating in The Platform open mic readings ever since. In recent years, he has had a few poems published in The Rutherford Red Wheelbarrow, the Journal of New Jersey Poets and Platform Review. In 2013, ‘Sucesos,’ Simon’s translation into Spanish of a book of short stories by Russian absurdist Daniil Kharms, was published in Santiago, Chile.

Blake Harrsch
Co-editor
Blake is an English Literature Master’s Candidate and Writing Instructor at Seton Hall University. Her poetry has been published in New Jersey Bards Poetry Review, Sad Girl Diaries, Echo Review, Platform Review, The Word’s Faire, and Pinky Magazine. When Blake isn’t writing at the duck pond, she can be found gallivanting through thrift store aisles. She is honored to join the Platform Review and experience more incredible writing from her local community.

Liz Hunt
Web Development
Liz graduated with a Master in Business Administration focusing on Marketing. She has since self-released a book of poetry and prose, “When Life Begins and Ends: Reflections on Healing and Rising Above Loss” (2022). Liz has published articles and poetry in Collective World by Thought Catalog. She is currently pursuing a traditional publishing deal as well as working on her next book. 

Meghan King
Operations

Past Editors:
Mary Brancaccio
Margaret R. Sáraco
Shane Wagner
Kristine Salcedo