Statement from the founding editor

Many who follow HVTN will know that, in 2019, I (Andrew) moved to the United States. At the time, I was 22 and did not expect the move to be permanent, nor did I anticipate being able to spend as little time in the UK as I have. As a result of this move, many of the practical responsibilities involved in running a small press (mailing orders, housing stock), have fallen on friends and family. Their support has been invaluable, but with every new title the burden asked of this support increases.

As a result of these factors, Iris and I have come to the decision that the time is right to close this chapter. So after over 12 years, HVTN will be ceasing operations to make way for something that makes more sense with my being based in the States.

Before going any further, I would like to take this moment to thank all of our contributors and authors over the years. You helped grow a little magazine into a fully fledged press and community, and for that, I am immeasurably grateful.

I would like to thank Iris, in particular, for her work on HVTN titles, and for her guidance and support since she came on board as co-editor in 2017. Without her, HVTN would not have been the same.

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With one door closing, another opens. Although this is bittersweet to be sure, I am excited to announce a US-based publishing company — Filigree Press — which will continue in HVTN’s stead to seek literary works that resist simple classification, and are greater than the sum of their parts. Filigree will also take on the management of HVTN’s list, archiving old issues of the magazine and continuing to mail out orders. I am thrilled to announce that Iris will be joining me in this venture as a Consulting Editor along with long-time HVTN author, David Spittle.

We’ll have more announcements very soon, including Filigree’s first two titles (already in production!), a new online magazine, Filigree Quarterly, and submission windows for book and magazine submissions alike. But all of these announcements deserve a space of their own! So for now I will just say that I hope you’ll join us in this new adventure, and its renewed commitment to literary community. Thank you again to everyone who has supported and contributed to HVTN over the years.

Warmly,

Andrew Wells