Local author Victor Thorn is no stranger to rejection from the rough publishing world. Throughout his writing career, he has received tons of rejection letters from large publishing houses, which, he says, have been reluctant to publish some of his characteristically edgy material.

Today, Thorn is trying to make sure that other non-mainstream artists do not encounter the same fate. For the last two years, Thorn (whose real name is Scott Makufka) and his girlfriend, Lisa Guliani, have published the work of these artists on their online magazine, Babel Magazine (www.babelmagazine.com).

"It's a real rough world out there," Thorn said, describing the publishing world.

"We try to be exactly opposite. We want stuff that falls on the outside of the bell curve. We're very inclusive," he said.

Inclusive they are. In its two years of existence, the online magazine has published the works of 410 different authors. Twenty-four of these authors hail from Pennsylvania, and 14 are from the Centre County region.

"We tell our writers we want them to be intimate about their lives," Thorn said.

"This isn't a cookie-cutter magazine," added Guliani. "We put the real world on the page. It's stuff that most places will shun."

Even when they receive work that is not up to the standards they set for Babel, Thorn and Guliani try to work with the writer.

"Instead of sending people rejection letters, we'll make suggestions instead of disrespecting them like that," Guliani said, puffing on a cigarette in her and Thorn's home office, from where they operate the Web site.

Just recently, Thorn edited and compiled what he feels was the strongest material from Babel's first year. The result is Rebellious Confessions (published by Black Sheep Books), a book which deals with such taboo subjects as masturbation, misogyny, fetishes and fellatio.

Thorn's short story, "The Blow-up Doll", for instance, tells the story of a young boy's first wet dream. In another story that appears in the book, "Latex Dreams," by Stellar, a young woman graphically recounts her first abortion. "Skeletons," a short story by Jeremy Fleming, relates the tale of a young man turned on by the sound of coughing.

Thorn and Guliani are happy to get these works into print.

"It gives it more of a legitimacy," Thorn said.

Thorn said he plans to edit and publish another compilation from Babel's second year. He and Guliani also plan to print the 100th issue of Babel Magazine in April.

"We'd like to see it become a print magazine," Thorn said, discussing their long-term goals.

For now, the two plan to continue publishing their weekly magazine online without the financial assistance of advertisers. Thorn said he and Guliani have turned away those who have wished to advertise on their site.

"We want to maintain control of the content," Guliani said.

Added Thorn: "We're keeping Babel the way it is."