Jerry Langdon: Shaping Poetic Universality Through The Wings Of Raven Cage
The Mt Kenya Times 
Jerry Langdon
By: Tajalla Qureshi
Jerry Langdon
From South-Western, Michigan, Jerry Langdon has lived in Germany since the early 90’s. He is an Artist and Poet. His works bathe in a darker side of emotion and fantasy. He has released five books of Poetry titled “Temperate Darkness and Behind the Twilight Veil”, “Death and Other Cold Things” “Rollercoaster Heart” and “Frosted Dreams”. Jerry is also the editor and publisher of Raven Cage, a literary magazine for poetry and prose that was created in 2016. His poetic inspirations are derived from poets such as Edgar Allen Poe, Robert Frost, and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, as well as from various Rock Bands. His apparently twisted mind twists and intertwines fantasy with reality.
Jerry! Would you like to introduce yourself to our audience and tell us about Raven Cage?
Hello, my name is Jerry Langdon. I am a U.S. Citizen but I live in Germany. I am a poet and editor/publisher of Raven Cage Poetry and Prose Magazine. Raven Cage sets itself aside from most other literary magazines as it is divided into sections according to the genre of poetry, with an extra section for short stories and articles. The major poetry sections are Emotional, Gothic, General (political and poetry that don’t fit elsewhere), Nature, Spiritual, Dark / Horror, and Micro. Sometimes Erotic and often Experimental.
What inspired you to start Raven Cage Magazine, and what was your vision for the publication?
I was inspired to start Raven Cage through a friend who runs a Metal zine to which I have submitted often. I wanted a place for poets to feel at home, be inspired, and learn to find confidence. I found many Literary Magazines to be too one-sided or only for a certain group of poets. Women only, Christian only, or from a certain country. I feel poetry is universal and should be shared with and from all not just in a small group.
Can you tell us about the early days of Raven Cage Magazine? How did you get started, and what were some of the first challenges you faced?
I started Raven Cage in 2016. In the beginning, I was not adept in the act of formatting so I had a document for every genre and put them together afterwards. I slowly learned my way around MS Office the use of page breaks and setting up a table of contents. When I first started, I would message poets on Facebook and get permission to include their writings. The more popular and known that became tedious. Now I only accept over email with very few exceptions.
What were some of the key goals or objectives you had for Raven Cage Magazine at the beginning, and have you achieved them?
My key goals with Raven Cage were to offer a platform where anyone was welcome and to assure that they felt welcome. I decided on the Sections to assure that the poems were separated because in many magazines it is set per poet and that can often make some poets uncomfortable, when say one poet writes erotic and the next poet more spiritual; back to back that can take away confidence. Per genre that can’t happen so easily; if a reader doesn’t wish to read a certain genre they can skip it, and the poets can and often do submit in different genre. I think I have surpassed my goals in that aspect. I never expected to have such a high submission rate and following.
How do you think Raven Cage Magazine has grown or changed since its inception, and what factors have contributed to that growth?
Raven Cage has changed a lot from start to now. I learned, I changed things a little and added sections as needed. The first Issue was crude in comparison to what Raven Cage has become. I receive more than twice as many submissions as I did since last year and growing. What contributed to all this? The poets. Raven Cage was never about me it was always and will always be about the poets. If a poet gives a suggestion and I find it to be plausible I try to integrate the idea.
How do you manage the day-to-day operations of Raven Cage Magazine, and what tools or software do you use to stay organized?
I try not to work on Raven Cage on a daily basis; try is the keyword. I do my best to work off as many emails as possible in one sitting. With 100 to 200+ emails, I set a limit of 50 a day. Sometimes I don’t have the required time so I work off as many as possible, but try and keep a good balance so there are fewer errors. My tools are email, MS Office, and Adobe Acrobat for the text. I use Photoshop and poser to make most of the covers. I make most of the covers myself. A few are art from other artists under permission of use.
Are there any symbols or motifs on the cover that hold particular significance or meaning?
The Raven is of course the symbol of Raven Cage but is so much more. It is a messenger, a guide to the soul, and depending on the superstition of good or bad omen. The Nuclear Radiation symbol is meant in this case as the driving energy. Purple aura symbolizes intuition and spirituality so with finding peace with one’s self.
Who designed the cover, and what was the inspiration behind their work?
The Cover was created by me. I was inspired by a similar cover I created for an earlier issue were the same raven was flying from a keyhole. Symbolizing crossing a threshold.
What are some of the most important lessons you’ve learned about publishing, editing, or running a literary magazine since starting Raven Cage?
Every day is a lesson learned. Different countries different cultures, which can also mean that parents are honored such that not only the Family name but also daughter of, or son of plus the Name of the Mother or Father are included in the name and not necessarily in any specific order. I have learned my way around the software I use and which shortcuts are ideal and which are better left out. Creating and saving a template to be used simplifies a lot. I learned that it is a load of work.
Are there any specific types of content or themes that you’re particularly interested in featuring in future editions of Raven Cage Magazine?
I am not a particular theme fiend. The covers often have a particular theme but the theme is always optional. As far as content goes, I am a mostly dark poet, more dark poetry, more gothic, more spiritual; which doesn’t have to be religious it can be esoteric. I would like to see more content themed to certain holiday seasons or monthly themes like Mother’s day, Valentine’s Day, Mental Awareness Month and so. I would love to promote more books from the poets. I would love to do interviews but I only have so much time and I am not so good at asking.
Raven Cage for Jerry Langdon”, can you please share your thoughts on it?
To me Raven Cage has always been about the poets for the poets. The name is Homage to Edgar Allan Poe hence Raven and Cage is the symbol for the feelings and thoughts bottled up inside me and I tend to think it is the same with other poets. Raven Cage is my heartbeat. It’s a dream come true. It is hard work from which I will be taking time off but will not allow to die.
Tajalla Qureshi
Poet, Flash Writer, Reviewer, Interviewer,
Editor, Illustrator, Artist
and Columnist
Punjab, Pakistan
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