From the Editor

Okay. Guess I should say something… So begins Kenny Nowell's short story, "The Southern Writers Festival." Well, herein is the place where, as the editor of this fair publication, I offer my two cents. But where should I begin?

Best perhaps to start at the start: our interview with the always entertaining Jonathan Ames. In his latest novel, Wake Up, Sir!, Ames recounts the adventures of an alcoholic author and his faithful (albeit quite possibly imaginary) valet, Jeeves, while offering an interesting commentary on the classic American novel, and the importance of a woman's nose. Here, in response to our ever-probing queries, he offers an if-anything-more-interesting commentary on a wide range of topics, not the least of which is the pugilistic prowess of Stephen King. No surprise, no doubt, for a writer whose literary and real-life exploits show that his imagination knows no bounds.

What to say about this issue's fiction contributions? The narrator of Mindy Friddle's forthcoming novel seeks solace in an attic bathroom. Amy Havel provides us with "Safety Guidelines for the Operation of Michael." Dika Lam defines a form of "Entertainment for Women." Don Lee's strange short takes a swipe at stereotypes, and the main character of Kenny Nowell's story silently speaks his conscience, though may not exactly act in accordance with it.

Words become even more important when you're using so few. Poetry confronts this challenge. Arisa White asks, "Who Invited the Monkey to Omen's Party?" Annie Banks aptly describes "Downtown at Chino's." Karyna McGlynn heads out to "Cypress Point," and all the while, we're still trying to figure out just what Matthew Byrne is saying in his "Defense of the Book."

Last, there's the possibly impossible task of putting words to images. In this case, the artwork of Janet Gorzegno, whose method of painting with opaque watercolors brings several words to mind, not the least of which is the adjective, "amazing."

So you see… so they say.

TD

PS - Two notes worth… noting: one, a fond fare-thee-well; the other, a formal welcome-aboard.

First, failbetter bids adieu to one of its fiction editors, Sir William "Speed" Weed, who's turning his attention to his own writing and educational endeavors. We are grateful to have had Speed's input all these years, and wish him the best.

In the meantime, the failbetter family continues to grow with new readers, staff and most importantly, a new Managing Editor (our first!) - Andrew Day. His name should be familiar to you - Andy's the one who designed the site. Now he joins us full-time to assist us with both editorial and production matters. With Andy on board, failbetter plans to re-start its famed reading series come this summer, and furthermore, furnish you, dear reader, with what will be the first of our annual print editions. Stay tuned for more details…