Editor's Corner

By Mary E. Adair

Yes, it is here - the second annual time period, noted as the month that takes up the least number of day blocks on the calendar, even when it expands importantly every fourth year. This is not one of those years wherein February, by adding one day to itself, causes the entire year to be known as "Leap Year," because 2000 was. None the less, let us leap right into the list of authors for this issue.

We'll begin with our faithful columnists: Cassandra ("Cassandra's World"), pbobby ("Provocations"), Darren Bardsley ("Ever Increasing Circles"), Gerard Meister ("Thinking Out Loud"), LC Van Savage ("Consider This"), Leo C. Helmer ("Cookin' with Leo"), Sam Vaknin ("Taming the Beast" with the second in a series on surviving relationships with narcissists), and Michael Craner ("Mikes Place").

The articles provide various viewpoints you may find you had not thought of previously: "All About Lent, Easter Dates, and..." by Leo C. Helmer; "War and Terrorism" by alremkin, a new author to our ezine, and one who requests comments on his words; and Jill Cruzan author of "Miracle Manor" last month, asks us "Where Do I Go From Here?"

Though none of the writers regaled us with specific poetic renderings on either Ground Hog's Day or Valentine's Day, with poems from ten different authors, we have a gamut of emotions. Read from the funny "Kleptomani-Cat" by Leigh Rocke, through patriotism in "Stars and Planes Forever" as expressed over fifty years ago by the then 14-year-old Lucille Herrington, and romance wished for/attained/remembered by Bruce Clifford "The Scent of Lime," LSeeker "A New Sun," June E. Miller ("A Place for Us," "In Our Very Depth," and "Love Will Make The Difference"), and Susan Glover ("He" and "Thin Brittle Lines"), to appreciating that mate for various reasons as in the humorous "A Rattler Meets His Match" by Sam Massey. Then peruse onward to thoughts of death, and even afterdeath, by the other authors: Rochelle Hope Mehr "The Scent of Breath;" Leigh Rocke "Written in the Dust;" and your editor's "Tribute to Grandma Kendrick." Plus, in the latter category, we are sharing a poem, "My Oak Grove," the only one he ever wrote according to him, by A. G. Adair, the late owner-publisher of AMEA Publications. A kind and quiet man, he always considered others, and lived a life of service to his country and community; but, seemed most content in his Texas canyon country where he was born. The poem was inspired by his longing to see again his favorite place to be, the oak grove, and by remembering comrades lost in WWII, who could not return to their homes for like pleasures.

Two of the poets also sent stories. Susan Glover shines a light on internet chatting with "My Missing Left Sock;" and Bruce Clifford reveals the dark "Thirteen, An Introduction" which is a stand-alone incident that appears to promise further instalments. Robert Beaty vignettes one of those moments of realization, told in his forthright, kindly manner, about "Three Calls and a Visit."

This is a good time to mention that if you are sending work to be carried as 'continued' from one month to another, and two or three chapters will tell your story, then send all of them, at once, stating that is all, and they will be carried in the regular story section in sequential months 'til completed. We now require author bio and contact info with at least six of the chapters of longer efforts, along with an outline and summary of those to follow, with the proposed conclusion idea, before we will print the first one. We will then set it up in the serialized story section where "Adventures of Ollie-Dare," "Time War 2055," and "Tales from the Good Book" are carried. If you see your composition requiring more than 20 chapters, then we will discuss with you the feasibility of setting up a new section, among other suggestions to help you,the author, get your work seen.

The policy guidelines are primarily to benefit our readers. It simply isn't fair to leave them hanging as they wait for the conclusion to a story. Poems, short stories, articles, and columns will continue to be governed by the very simple rules of submitting your work as near possible to what you wish to see published, so that a minimum of editing is required. Those pieces that require extensive rewrites will generate a request that the author send a corrected composition. We are dedicated to presenting the material in the best possible manner, encouraging authors, and maintaining a high literary standard, regardless of the genre, for the ezine.

Pleasure in reading the ezine is our goal. With that in mind, may we also direct your attention to a patriotic site that should bring pride, even tears, perhaps... I Am The Flag Enjoy.

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February will soon be gone, so we will look for you in March!