Ken Robidoux, Editor-in-Chief: December 2013
Welcome to Issue IV, Volume V: December 2013 of Connotation Press: An Online Artifact.It has been a long year, and I’m just about out the door for a much needed vacation. Woohoo!
Sorry in advance for the short note this month, but the Caribbean is calling! We have a strong issue for you so let’s get right to it and kick this pig to see what it’ll do!
A Poetry Congeries with John Hoppenthaler launches into our December issue with wonderful new work by Vievee Francis, James Galvin, Barton Sutter, Suzanne Paola, Dexter L. Booth, Amy King, Andrew McFadyen-Ketchum, and Leslie Harrison. And don’t miss John’s preface this month. Brutal and worth every minute.
Erica Goss, Editor of our video poetry column The Third Form, looks this month at the brilliant work of the talented Heather Haley. Erica reviews four of Ms. Haley’s videos that we’re certain you’ll enjoy. Another wonderful adventure with moving picture shows and the poetry that drives them from Erica, and we are grateful. Don’t miss it!
Drama Editor Kathleen Dennehy is back with a striking new collaborative piece, “String Theory,” by Michael Barakiva, Amy Boyce Holtcamp, and Sarah Braunstein. Of the piece, Kathleen writes, “I really loved reading STRING THEORY by Michael Barakiva, Amy Holtcamp and Sarah Braunstein. It's a great blend of Greek Mythology and modern American drama, which is also known as Reality TV. The play is by sudden turns funny and moving and a tribute to the beauty of storytelling and language. This is the kind of play that renews one's love affair with words, imagery and love. Enjoy!”
Our Creative Nonfiction Editor, Robert Clark Young, pulls double-duty this month as in addition to his usual duties, he clocks in with our Book Review, as well. Robert reviews Tim Parrish’s new memoir, Fear and What Follows: The Violent Education of a Christian Racist. A wholesale disturbing piece of literature, it receives strong words of praise from Mr. Young, and that’s good enough for us. We suggest you take a look and see what you think. Well worth the price of admission.
A Drinker with a Writing Problem, by John Turi, our all things wine-guy and the column he writes, spends some leisure time reminiscing over a $300 bottle of Château d'Yquem, 2003, musing on the virtues of noble rot. Yes, my friends, life is good.
And finally, although our full Poetry, Fiction, and Creative Nonfiction columns go live on the 15th of the month, Fiction Editor Meg Tuite delivers her featured artist of the month, Kristine Marie Darling. We have five new ekphrastic pieces by Kristine and the art that inspired them. We also have a memorable new piece, "Without Exoneration," by returning Connotation Press contributor, Diane Lefer, which Creative Nonfiction Editor Robert Clark Young highly recommends.
We hope you enjoy our December issue as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. And from all of us here at Connotation Press to all of you and yours, a safe, happy, loving holiday season.
Connotation Press: This Is My December