Emily Molinari is a poet and writer based in British Columbia, Canada. An avid reader, Emily first joined the literary arts community through her “bookstagram” account (an Instagram account dedicated to book reviews and reading recommendations) in the spring of 2020. Seeking more in-person connections after the pandemic decimated many existing groups, Emily began planning community events for other literature-lovers as a way to bring her online book-community into real-life.
What started as a small gathering of 6 people in Summer 2023 soon turned into monthly meetups of book lovers across the lower mainland. Through this community, Emily has had the privilege of meeting incredible local business owners, writers, and artists, reviewing books for a variety of Canadian publishers, and attending events such as writer’s festivals, award ceremonies, book launches, and poetry readings.
As she became more familiar with the existing arts community and began submitting her own poetry to magazines and publishers in Canada, she realized that there was space in BC for zine culture to grow. And so, the idea for SAPP was born.
Through SAPP, Emily hopes to bring together the arts and literary community that already exists in New Westminster and the surrounding areas, as well as showcase historically marginalized voices. As a queer person living with mental illness, Emily understands the discrimination that many artists can face as they begin their careers, and is committed to creating a space where all artists feel safe to share their creative work.
New West is home to an inspiring number of booksellers, tattoo artists, writers, painters, sculptors, potters, and poets that have contributed to Emily’s creative journey along the way. She is excited to explore what new opportunities may arise through SAPP as she continues to combine her passion for the arts with her passion for fostering human connection in a post-pandemic world.
SAPP vol. 01 will be launching on May 25, 2024! Stay tuned for details on how you can access our e-zine, and where you can go to buy a copy of our first physical print run!