Time and again I am amazed at the kindness and generosity of my friends. I am an incredibly fortunate man and I count among my friends some of the more talented individuals you'd ever meet.

I was reminded in an online conversation recently with Al Maginnes of a poem written by one of the most talented writers on the planet, Frank Gaspar, that had me in it. It was 1999 and I had just got my copy of A Field Guide to the Heavens, which if things were fair and just in this world would have won the National Book Award. I was eagerly devouring my copy the day it was released when I read "Psalms in August" and realized it had me in it. Me. Ken Habitually-Ridiculous Robidoux. In a poem. Written by Frank X Gaspar. A Poem. Me. It laid me out. Still does even thinking about it now.

I remember shortly after the book release Frank was doing a reading at Cal State Long Beach when he started setting up this poem for the reading. He began to point me out as one of the subjects of the poem but stopped suddenly realizing he might embarrass me for reasons that are pretty clear if you read the poem. I am still warmed by the fact that he cared that much.

I'm not sure how to express what it feels like to have been immortalized by someone who I think is one of the greatest writers of the modern era. A writer's, writer to be certain, known more by the writing community than the public at large. An addict for the written word. A mentor. A writer that lived at times with Mary Oliver & Molly Malone Cook and drank with Norman Mailer.

When I told Al my little story about the poem, which coincidentally he'd read the night before, he wrote, "I'd carve that on my tombstone." I completely agree.

If you know me and you love me, and I'm assuming a few of you are not lying when you say you do, then you might be interested in what I see as my most prized possession: "Psalms in August," from the collection A Field Guide to the Heavens by Frank X. Gaspar. If you don't have this book, and seriously you really should, you can read the poem here.

Undoubtedly some of the authors we're publishing this month have written about their friends and family and undoubtedly one of those friends and family members will be surprised and honored to find themselves written on the page. Without further delay, then, and as is our tradition, let's kick this pig and see what it'll do!

Hoppenthaler's Congeries launches with John's blog with an interesting discussion on form and a nice goodbye to Adrienne Rich. From there John has new poems and an interview with Marie-Elizabeth Mali for his lead author. The brilliant Michael McFee, who I met years ago and was extremely kind to me, joins the Congeries next and is followed by Regina O'Melveny, Ioana Ieronim translated by Carrie Messenger, James Kimbrell, Katrina Vandenberg, Matthew Siegel, Jessica Piazza, Susan Terris, Eric Gudas, and Erin Warren. Another terrific column by the best in the business. Great job, John!

April also brings with it the end of our foodie series, Spatula. We had a terrific run and the Spatula crew did some enjoyable, classy episodes. Our most warm and grateful thank you to Spatula co-host Sarah Lenz. You rock Sarah! Amanda McGuire will be back next month with the return of From Plate to Palate. Until then, enjoy the last episode of Spatula, the ladies are cooking with chicken, I'm sure you'll be glad you did. Thank you Amanda & Sarah!

This month travel writer Nicholas Baker takes his Discovered column to PARIS! Gay Paree never looked so good! Join the boys as they bounce through one of the most interesting and complex cities in the world. As always, Nicholas has some gorgeous photos to go with his fun and informative writing that are sure to please. And we encourage you to read this one over coffee or tea and a pastry, like the beautiful red ones found in Paris Discovered, today. Enjoy!

Book Review editor Stephanie Brown brings us a look at Jason Felch & Ralph Frammolino's new book Chasing Aphrodite: The Hunt for Looted Antiquities at the World's Richest Museum. Stephanie has put together a strong crew and this month's review is written by return reviewer Laura Blasingham.  Laura makes it easy to see how interesting this book is and I have already ordered a copy for myself. Thanks Stephanie & Laura!

And as is also our tradition here are our Fiction & Creative Nonfiction Featured Artists for the month of March. For Fiction, we've got the enigmatic xTx with three new dynamic pieces of Flash Fiction, and for Creative Nonfiction we've got B.H. James's A Few Things People Don't Know About Walmart. We welcome you with open arms to come back on the 15th of the month for the entirely new Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Poetry, Book & Movie review and Undergrad  columns. You're always welcome here.

That's it for now. I hope my story about Frank's poem resonates with you in some way and you get the opportunity to feel how that feels sometime. And I hope you give your best friends a call or a hug or a hand-written note or all of the above now while you can. I've always seen my friends as my chosen family. Time to call home.

Connotation Press: Pressing Connotations For Years

This issue of Connotation Press: An Online Artifact is dedicated to the memory of Kevin O'Sullivan. On Friday at the AWP convention I got the call that Kevin, one of my best friends, passed away. Unexpectedly. Unbelievably. And way too soon. A couple of years ago while sitting on the balcony of a second floor bar in the Bahamas, Kevin and I watched the sun set and he told me that the epilepsy wouldn't get me, wouldn't do me in. He said I was too strong for that and he would probably go before me. I laughed and said if he went first I'd tell all the world his secrets. Here they are: Kevin was smarter than most people knew and kinder than most cared to believe. He was warm, loving, curious, and loyal to a fault. He believed in his friends and supported them at all costs. He believed in God. He wanted most to be a father. He could light up a room just by walking through the door and gathered lives around him with ease and grace. And yes, these aren't secrets. Anyone that really knew him knew all these things. They're truths. They are Kevin's truths and he will be missed. Completely. Love you, Big Man. I will keep you in my heart.