Welcome to Issue XII, Volume IV: August 2013 of Connotation Press: An Online Artifact. August marks the end of our fourth year in publication and as is our tradition we take a look back, this time to Volume IV, to revisit moments our editorial staff were especially proud of or excited about. It gives us a chance to revisit some of those authors and individuals that we feel especially deserved a second look. Now, please don’t get me wrong. ALL the authors and others we publish deserve a second look, but the staff has been instructed by me to choose those that stood out in ways personal to them.
Before we get into our editor’s choices, I usually take this opportunity to give you some stats and such to let you know how this year panned out. And to be perfectly honest, we had another stellar year.
First, we tallied up the hit totals and at last check we were cresting 19 million hits over the past four years combined. We are read in nearly all countries able to receive our website world-wide. In this screen capture from Google Analytics, the US is shown in darker blue as it is the country we receive the most visits from. Year four also brought our first print publication.Oh, hell yes!
Smoking Mirrors is a collection of ekphrasis from seventeen authors focusing on the artwork of artist, musician, and dinosaur-assembler Matt Tuite. Smoking Mirrors is hand-stitched, 10X10, each cover panel with a hand-made original finish, all artwork high def, and all copies are signed and numbered (1/200) by the artist, Matt Tuite. Best of all, we have a few copies left so get up on it before they run out and you’re all bummed and stuff. All monies collected from the sales of Smoking Mirrors will be used to publish single-author collections and to purchase marijuana. What?! I’m just kidding. I kid. HA!
This year we had one guest editor and we were thrilled with the artists he brought to the table. Our pal, the brilliant Adam Tavel, helmed our guest edited column in April and brought with him nine outstanding artists— among the list, the astonishing Mary Ruefle! We can’t thank Adam enough for the work he did for us, and we encourage you to pick up a copy of his new chapbook, Red Flag Up, from Kattywompus Press.
Tune in next month when our featured guest editor will be the brilliant David Tomaloff. We can’t wait to see what kind of favors David brings to the party. And thanks again to Adam, who was a pleasure to work with. You rock, pal!
This year we added some new columns interesting, like Brittany Connolly’s Artisan Review and our wine column, A Drinker with a Writing Problem with our resident wine “snob” John Turi. I'm also more than pleased to announce that this coming year Julia Bouwsma joins us as our new Book Review editor. YES! I am personally thrilled to have each of these new folks with us and value their contributions more than I can say. And if that isn't enough, we have some special surprises coming up! Stay tuned this year for even more fun and interesting columns to help expand your reading and writing horizons.
Because all of our editorial staff wrote year in review columns this month I won’t get too much into what each of them were up to this year, so instead I will say this: I have the hardest working, most talented editorial staff on the planet bar none. Each brings something vital to the conversation and I stand by their editorial choices at all times and with all confidence. They are dedicated to furthering the arts, and they give seemingly endless hours for NO PAY to make sure our bi-weekly magazine continues to present the most intriguing and satisfying written art to be found. I am constantly humbled by their efforts. Here then is my staff complete with links to their retrospective blogs:
(with her team, JP Reese, Mia Avramut, Doug Van Gundy, and Nicelle Davis)
Today we finished relocating the offices of Connotation Press to far more technologically advanced, upscale digs with a gorgeous lake view, and to be quite frank I’m exhausted! I’ll go ahead and wrap up my note for now, but I reserve the right to add more tomorrow when I’m better able to think. Ha!
Before I go, I want to thank you— all of you, our intrepid readers, who keep coming back week after week and who submit the strongest, most interesting writing to be found around the world. When I started Connotation Press four years ago I had no idea we’d find such a loyal group of readers and contributors, and so many of you, too! You guys ROCK and speaking for all the staff here on ConPress, THANK YOU!!
All best,
Ken Robidoux
Publisher/Founding Editor-in-Chief
Connotation Press
Connotation Press: Fifth Time Is A Charm