Welcome to Issue I, Volume IV: September 2012 of Connotation Press: An Online Artifact.
IT'S OUR BIRTHDAY! WOOHOO!!! Welcome to our fourth year celebration!
Our month off was a busy one. We completely revamped the website and got it ready for the future. And after hundreds of hours and gobs of money, we're now sitting pretty and ready to run indefinitely. However, what little time off we had was wonderful, far too short, and desperately needed. Believe me, this editor-ing thang will burn you out.
And so, I'm writing this tonight entirely exhausted not so much because of the workload or short vacation or the start of the new semester. I'm tired because I just got back from California where I spent time with my father whose health has certainly been better.
I don't want to bring down the party, after all how often does one's company turn four, but I just wanted to take a moment to say hi to my dad, Larry Robidoux-- one of the first great So Cal surfers and a top-shelf race car mechanic. Love you, Dad. Get better soon! We need to hit the road in your '46 Ford and get our asses into some trouble!
And now, without further delay, as is our tradition, let's kick this pig and see what it'll do!
Our Featured Artist of the Month for September is one of my favorite writers, professors, and editors, the prolific and undeniably brilliant Christopher Buckley. I had the chance to sit down and talk with Chris and we've got the audio (with slides) of that conversation as well as THREE NEW unpublished poems from the master himself. I am deeply touched that Chris graciously agreed to do the interview and to allow us another opportunity to publish his textually genius work. Thanks, Chris!
A Poetry Congeries with John Hoppenthaler launches the new year with eight talented authors. Welcome to Haki R. Madhubuti, Jericho Brown, Lisa Russ Spaar, Simon Perchik, Mary Ann Samyn (another former professor of mine!), Jennifer Key, Edward Morin, and a poet who is also one of the more impressive photographers out there, John Martino. And DO NOT MISS John's blog this month. Divine!
From Plate to Palate with Amanda McGuire starts off year four with a final video episode and Top Chef Val Bolan!!! Amanda & Val take us behind the scenes to experience one of Ms. Bolan's "Culinary Speakeasy" events. This post is not to be missed, gorgeous, and a great start to a new year. Thanks Amanda & Val!
Travel editor Nicholas Baker continues on his Bali excursion this time taking holiday in Gili. GORGEOUS: waves, water, sand, people, food, accommodations. It's good to be Nick & Freddy! Nicholas' column has steadily grown from its humble beginnings and is now one of the most-read sections of the magazine. Rock on, Nicky my boy!
Robin Russin clocks in with another review by the wonderful Brenda Varda. Fisshu sutôrî (Fish Story), written by Tamio Hayahi and based on a novel by Kōtarō Isaka is currently on Netflix, too, so you can check out the review then check out the movie. Thanks Robin & Brenda!
Drama editor Kathleen Dennehy brings in award winning playwright & screenwriter, Brooke Berman with her powerful piece, The Jesus Year. W-O-W! Enjoy this one!
This month, The Third Form, with Erica Goss visits Moving Poems & Motion Poems in her quest for the best and brightest videopoetry on the planet. Erica spoke with David Bonta and Todd Boss who explain what they're up to at each of their companies, and we've got plenty of links to some terrific work. Great job, Erica!
Our own resident wine steward and all around tech geek, John Turi, drops the corkscrew on a gorgeous bottle of Belle Gloss for his review of the fine work of the Wagner Family of Wines and the world-famous Joe Wagner. John is still tweaking his brand new column, as is Erica, but what a great start! Thanks, John. Next time I'm in So Cal it's you and me and a bottle of whatever you think I'll like. Man, it's GREAT having educated friends!
We don't even try to deny what over-the-top fans we are of James Harms poetry here at Connotation Press so when contritbutor Andi Stout sent us her take on Jim's newest collection, Comet Scar (Carnegie Mellon Press, 2012) we jumped at it. Stephanie Brown, our intrepid Book Review editor is feeling under the weather and we send her our warmest hopes for a speedy recovery. Thanks to Jim for another unbelievably good book, Andi for the terrific review, and Stephanie-- Get Well Soon!
Finally, our Fiction and Creative Nonfiction features this month are Scott Wrobel with his Fiction piece, Engravings. And editor Robert Clark Young introduces us to newcomer Rachel Sarrett with her Creative Nonfiction piece, My Aria. Both are terrific pieces and Scott's comes with a review of his new book by editor Meg Tuite, and an interview. Want to know two of the cornerstones of Connotation Press' success? You need look no further than Meg & Robert. Thanks guys. And welcome to Rachel & Scott!
Well, that's about it. I am officially going to bed now. Someone wake me up no later than Tuesday morning.
It's wonderful to think a crazy little dream I had to start a different kind of online magazine is now entering its fourth year. Amazing. I am so entirely blessed.
Thank you to all our contributors and readers, my rocking editorial staff, my assistant Brittany Connolly, and to Melanie Moro-Huber who is my partner in all things print. Love you guys!
Connotation Press: Pressing Connotations Since 2009