In 1993, David Messenio, founder and editor of Secaucus-based Sensations Magazine, set goals for the 1990s including an ambitious schedule of new issues. Last year, he finished those plans after printing 20 issues of the award-winning magazine and starting his own small book publishing venture.
This year, with the release of its 21st issue, Messenio kicks off the magazine’s 14th year with big plans for the future that will include publishing 12 issues over the next three years.
The spring 2001 issue has a medieval theme and includes a significant number of New Jersey writers and artists. Started in 1987, Sensations was Messineo’s dream come true.
“We wanted to start a literary magazine that could survive and thrive without grants or government assistance,” said Messenio, one of the chief motivators of this movement. “This is as true today as it was back then.”
The new issues will deal with themes not addressed in the past including subjects such as sex identity, science fiction, mystery, people, history, allergies, vacations, art and music as well as an entire issue dedicated to fiction.
These issues will have fewer pages than past issues, but will also often sell for half the price. The current issue costs $10, whereas issues in the past have cost as much as $20. Only the fall 2002 fiction issue and the winter 2002 Spoken Word issue exceeded $20.
As in the past, however, Messenio said he will be seeking the best talent possible, including photo images.
In 1993, Sensations won the first place American Literary Magazine award for best design, for the magazine’s Sixth Anniversary issue. In 1994, the magazine won honorable mention for its “Hope against Hate” issue. In 1996, Poet Magazine announced that Sensations had won first prize in the literary magazine awards for the tabloid category with its issue celebrating the 100th anniversary of Coney Island.
In an attempt to continue this tradition, Messenio will be using several award-winning photographers for the covers of upcoming issues. Theresa Motley, who did the back cover for the medieval issue, has won national and international awards, with permanent collections in numerous prominent museums. Indeed, the latest issue also features work by Glenna Holloway, a 2001 winner of the prestigious Pushcart literary prize.
Although criticized early on and mistakenly called a vanity publication, Sensations has proved itself as a true literary magazine, one that is funded its contributors. Writers are permitted to submit their work only after purchasing the magazine. Messenio said this form of financing has kept the magazine solvent since 1987, and now allows it to pay writers, something Messenio wanted to do since the magazine’s inception.
Despite being a small-run magazine, Sensations is among the highest paying magazines for poetry in the country, offering poets prices that rival magazines such as The New Yorker. The magazine also offers critical feedback to writers who submit, which would cost the writer significantly more elsewhere.
Messenio, however, said the magazine will be seeking to change itself slightly over the next few years as it expands its mission. One change includes obtaining a not-for-profit status. The magazine will also support a move that would establish a performing arts center in Hudson County, something he envisions being called “Gold Coast Performing Arts Center.” While uncertain about the details, Messenio said his group would help lobby to get funding for the project.
“We want to bring in plays, dance and performance as well as some poetry events,” he said, noting that these plans could coincide with plans the Town of Secaucus may have for building such an institution.
“We need a performance space in town,” he said. “Someplace permanent, someplace that will have a stage, a lighting system and a good sound system, and something that can hold from 50 to 100 people.”
For more information about how to purchase a copy or submit to the magazine, you can go to http://www.sensationsmag.com or write: David Messenio, Sensations Magazine, 2 Radio Avenue, Suite 5, Secaucus, N.J. 07094.