Hello friends, 

Welcome to 2022. Howard Jones once sang "things can only get better", but he also suggested that in order for that to happen we'd have to throw it all away, and that's about where I'm at mentally these days. Perhaps you are too. 

Whatever though. Time marches forth, and with it a new year of Drunk Monkeying. We had a good and needed break. Thank you for all the love and support, especially around our anniversary issue in November. Wow! What an issue. So glad to have made it after all these years. 

Listen: the thing is I can't stop listening to "For Emily, Wherever I May Find Her" by Simon and Garfunkel, as if it were some protection spell against all the bad things that could happen in this world. In this month. In this day. It's the 16th of January and I'm exhausted. I'm about to take a trip that was planned long before Omicron, and I listen to this song over and over like it's going to find all my loved ones, when I get there, safe and healthy. I will put my hand on the side of each and every one of their faces and thank god (Simon and or Garfunkel, depending on who you ask) for their existence in this world. 

I just love everyone so, so much. 

At least we have a good issue for you all.  It's nice to be back in the saddle, even if I lapse in email replies and 24 hour turnarounds every so often. Please enjoy these features, some of which waited a long time to get here. 

I'd like to mention, concerning the state of the journal, that we are at about a year wait for poetry and fiction to appear after acceptance. That's just the way it is. Thank you for your patience regarding this matter. 

We're open right now for all submissions including our beloved and highly regarded April Pop Culture issue. So go ahead and send us your things! 

Love always, 

KCH