Issue One is available for pre-order now!

Introducing the first issue of Carmalarky—the only car-themed literary magazine on this planet.

We’ve been asked if we consulted marketing studies or analyzed the audience. We did not. Maybe that’s a little crazy in this day and age. Nonetheless, we spent the last two years putting Carmalarky together because we are car aficionados, drivers, storytellers, thinkers, writers, photographers, and artists who admit to a love of the metal beasts on four wheels that enable us to move about on this planet.

In this issue you will find 224 four-color pages of carlore: original nonfiction, fiction, art, and poetry by published, award-winning, and exhibited authors, artists, creatives, and humans who found out about Carmalarky and thought, “yep, I’ve got something magical for that” and shared it with us. We are honored to now share it with you.

Fiction / non-fiction

Ellen Wade Beales, Cheri Biggs, Juliet Burton, Tracy Ciccone Edelist, Lois Anne De Long, Doug Emory, Kevin Galvin, Terry Graff, Gabriel Ionica, Susan L. Lin, Lee Mack, Julie Noble, O. Edwin Ozoma, Diana Ruzova, Chidera Udochukwu-Nduka, LaDonna Witmer, Tom Williams, and Alyson Zeta Williams.

Poetry

Steven Gray, Angela Heiser, Richard Holinger, Susan L. Lin, Laura O’Hare, Jason Russo, Nancy Santos, and Carla Schwartz.

Art

Rachel Bartz, Helena Butler, Clarissa Cervantes, Doug DaSilva, M. Falushy, Chad Glass, Kim McLaughlin, Mark Silverstein, Jenifer K Wofford, and Amanda Yskamp.

A couple of years ago Carmalarky was just a spark plug of an idea. We put it out there, into the universe, and the people who are like us—who want to tell the stories of their lives with cars—followed. We think you will find, after putting your hands around this first issue which is heavy enough to be a weapon, colorful enough to delight your eyeballs, and rich enough in story and verse to ignite your auto-centric passions, that Carmalarky fills a void you didn’t know you had.

Issue One is $25 during pre-order.
Regular price: $30

Pre-order window ends June 30, 2026

“Honk if the child you never had is you.”

Jason Russo, Honk
“I think about hitting animals with my car so often that I do not deserve to have it actually happen.”

Alyson Zeta Williams, Practices in Loss Prevention
“While Harvey’s rolled fist steadily thumps the arc of the steering wheel, matching the rhythm of the music, Chris Rea’s “The Road to Hell,” Charlene reads the display of warning signs: Danger of Death. Get out, Stay out. Electricity can kill.”

Julie Noble, Kite on a Pylon.
“Tanner was done with the magazine, done with the Coke, and it was getting hot inside the truck. He started thinking about opening the door, but he knew his papá would be angry.”

Kevin Galvin, Road Signs
“We were a team that was actually going to participate…We lived in the desert and we drank Coors beer and we worked very hard.”

Terry Graff, The Hermen Goode Aesthetic Racing Team
“And he was lucky it was his mother and not the cops who found him flat on his face on the front lawn, the family car still running in the driveway.”

Ellen Wade Beales, Drive
“We urged Daddy to get a new car, upgrade with the times but he stuck to his car like a man scared to lose a lover.”

Chidera Udochukwu-Nduka, Daddy’s Engine
“’Always remember to check your mirrors,’” he instructed, and I had the notion he was revealing a life-altering secret.”

Susan L. Lin, Writer’s Ed
“Central Iowa fell behind him, too much like home to catch his interest, with low grey clouds pressing overhead like a lid and endless fields flanking I-80 to either side.”

Doug Emory, A Westward Expansion
“Lean into a curve and learn about it”

Steven Gray, The Road to Point Reyes
“I toss the keys into the air, thinking of us back in school when there was nothing better to do than drive.”

Lee Mack, It Was All Yellow
“She stuffed church bulletins in the side pockets, emptied mints and floppy, pink packets of Sweet n’Low by the handful into the cupholders.”

Cheri Biggs, Save Yourself
“I have never met anyone who isn’t mildly amused by the concept of a ‘mini minivan.’”

Juliet Burton, My Mazda Love Story
“As Three Dog Night and a bullfrog named Jeremiah welcomed us to 14KQV Pittsburgh, we were officially on our way west.”

Lois Ann De Long, Amplitude Moderation on the Road to Bettendorf

Pre-order Carmalarky Issue One

Fill out the form below to reserve your copy at the pre-order price of $25.
We’ll contact you directly with ordering and payment details.
We’ll follow up with shipping information once Issue One is ready to head your way.

Issue One at a glance

224 pages
Original fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and art
Print edition
A5 (6 × 8.25 in / 15 × 20 cm), softbound
Pre-order price: $25
Regular price: $30
Pre-orders close: June 30, 2026
Ships internationally

Issue One is available for pre-order now!

Introducing the first issue of Carmalarky—the only car-themed literary magazine on this planet.

“Honk if the child you never had is you.”

“I think about hitting animals with my car so often that I do not deserve to have it actually happen.”

“While Harvey’s rolled fist steadily thumps the arc of the steering wheel, matching the rhythm of the music, Chris Rea’s “The Road to Hell,” Charlene reads the display of warning signs: Danger of Death. Get out, Stay out. Electricity can kill.”

“Tanner was done with the magazine, done with the Coke, and it was getting hot inside the truck. He started thinking about opening the door, but he knew his papá would be angry.”

“We were a team that was actually going to participate…We lived in the desert and we drank Coors beer and we worked very hard.”

“And he was lucky it was his mother and not the cops who found him flat on his face on the front lawn, the family car still running in the driveway.”

“We urged Daddy to get a new car, upgrade with the times but he stuck to his car like a man scared to lose a lover.”

“’Always remember to check your mirrors,’” he instructed, and I had the notion he was revealing a life-altering secret.”

“Central Iowa fell behind him, too much like home to catch his interest, with low grey clouds pressing overhead like a lid and endless fields flanking I-80 to either side.”

“Lean into a curve and learn about it”

“I toss the keys into the air, thinking of us back in school when there was nothing better to do than drive.”

“She stuffed church bulletins in the side pockets, emptied mints and floppy, pink packets of Sweet n’Low by the handful into the cupholders.”

“I have never met anyone who isn’t mildly amused by the concept of a ‘mini minivan.’”

“As Three Dog Night and a bullfrog named Jeremiah welcomed us to 14KQV Pittsburgh, we were officially on our way west.”

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