Welcome to the January, 2010 issue of Connotation Press: An Online Artifact. We have trudged through our first quarter and survived to tell the tale. And I believe we’ve managed to outdo ourselves this month!

 

When Hoppy wrote and said we should do an issue is support of the work Cate Marvin and Erin Belieu were doing with their new organization, WILLA (Women in Letters and Literary Arts), I was happy to jump onboard. It seemed like a nice way to start a new year. Cate and Erin’s feature is a wonderful nod to the work of the students at Florida State, a trend we find refreshing from our guest editors. Additionally, the interview with Kara Candito and her poems that follow are stunning.

 

Hoppenthaler’s Congeries, is also off the hook. Seriously, does this guy sleep? The interview and work of Alicia Ostricker knocks me out. I was thrilled to see Allison Joseph in the mix. Yay Allison! Add to that Pulitzer Prize winner Claudia Emerson, Felda Brown, Denise Low, Annie Finch, Janice Harrington, Lola Haskins, Amy Newman, Martha Rhodes, Maureen Seaton, Erinn Batykefer, Joni Wallac, and you’ve got one hell of a column. But to top it off, and this one is even hard for me to get my head around, we have Pulitzer Prize winner and US Poet Laureate Maxine Kumin. Amen!

 

And we breathe. And we regroup. OK. Better.

 

This month’s first post also offers a wide variety of talented artists. Garrett Anderson has joined us in the music column. We’ve got some live videos and an interview that we hope you’ll find enjoyable. Garrett is a native of Baltimore, MD and we are very grateful to have him with us this month. Also, the entire Connotation Press family welcomes Emma Noelle Anderson to the world! Garrett and Lauren had their first child just 27 minutes before Christmas. Hi Emma!

 

Amanda McGuire is back and she’s got both barrels blazing with reviews of Revolver and Big Jerk, two of Chef Michael Bulkowski’s fabulous restaurants. In addition to an interview, Michael was even kind enough to give us his famous eggnog recipe. WTG Amanda! And thanks Michael!

 

In the Creative Nonfiction column we have an interview with Richard Katrovas and an excerpt from his new manuscript, Raising Girls in Bohemia: Meditations of an American Father (a memoir in essays). Although we’d like to have extended the interview, Kaite and Katie did a great job.

 

Book Review editor Joshua Hardina has brought us a review by Julie Cline of Padgett Powell’s new book, The Interrogative Mood: A Novel? And Drama editor Joshua Fardon has brought us yet another stellar interview and offering, this time by the noted playwright Eric Patterson. Eric has given us his new play Sick, and it is every bit of it! I love this killer play. 

 

Finally, Maureen Seaton has introduced us to one of her fine students in the featured undergrad column, Maximilian Hagen. This Hawaiian native has chops, and we look forward to seeing more of him in the future. And don't forget to check out Maureen's new poems in this month's Hoppenthaler's Congeries.

 

Is that it? Is that everything? Jeez, as if that isn’t enough? Seriously, stop complaining and start reading!

 

On a personal note, I would like to thank all the editors and staff here at Connotation Press that have made this first quarter so thoroughly successful. I am grateful to be working with such an impressive and talented group.

Connotation Press: Like a Penguin Waddling through Snow and Ice awaiting Spring I’m tired of your dawdling.

 

This issue of Connotation Press: An Online Artifact is dedicated to all the women of the arts. And we send out our love to our dear friend and mentor Maurya Simon. Get well soon, M! We miss you!