Even though my time as Managing Editor is coming to a close, I can’t help but choose gratefulness over sadness. I’m thankful for so many things, including everyone who submitted to our 2023 awards (for which we had a record number of submissions!) and anyone who came to our lovely AWP reading back in March, which feels like years ago at this point. What I’m most thankful for, of course, are the readers, who continue to show their support. I hope you enjoy this issue wherever you may be.
Each time I send out an acceptance letter I’m honored, humbled, and elated to bring a writer’s work into the world. This position taught me more than I could even begin to describe, but above all, the one thing I can’t stop thinking about: writing doesn’t have to be lonely.
Thank you for reading, thank you for submitting, and thank you for everything in between.
Cheers,
Sean Dolan, Managing Editor
Greetings Bellingham Review supporters, writers, and readers. I must say that this time as an Assistant Managing Editor has been wondrous! There are so many incredible memories that I will cherish, and far too many to write out. While reading through the submissions, and 2023 awards, I can't help but to be extremely excited about this upcoming spring/summer issue, and my last. I wholeheartedly trust that this issue will be a marvelous experience for all that reads it!
To the contributors and supporters of BR, you all are extremely appreciated and a huge thank you to you all!
Respectfully,
Tay Stafford, Assistant Managing Editor
This June, I took a walk with poet and artist Anastacia-Reneé (who has a new book out, Side Notes from the Archivist, reviewed by our Poetry Editor Tanya Young) in the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. We paused at the entrance and Anastacia suggested we take off our shoes and stand in the grass for a few minutes. We slipped off our sandals and touched the cool grass, closing our eyes. We breathed together this way -- ushering in the summer season and our fullest selves.
I want to welcome you to our spring/summer issue at Bellingham Review, which is an issue that makes me feel all the feelings! First off, I'm so grateful for my incredible BR staff, many of whom just graduated with their MFAs and MAs! Extra thanks to Sean Dolan, our Managing Editor, and Tay Stafford, our Assistant Managing Editor for a truly momentous year. All the cheers! I can't wait to introduce you to our new editorial team this fall.
This issue features stunning cover art by Savannah LeCornu, who you can follow @savannahpants for updates on shows and new pieces -- her work was just featured as part of Columbia City Gallery's show, "arnaq, hana’ack, smɁem." You'll also find hybrid poem collages by Michelle Peñaloza, translations of Antonia Pozzi's poetry (from the Italian by Amy Newman), a haunting short story by Maureen Boyd, a new essay by Julie Marie Wade, incredible poems by Shelby Handler, Gary Jackson, Ben Kline, Patrycja Humienik, and so much more! Happy reading! With nearly 700 entries, I'm also excited to announce our 2023 contest winners soon, judged by Corinne Manning (fiction), Susan Nguyen (poetry), and Sasha LaPointe (nonfiction).
See you among the moss,
Jane Wong, Editor-in-Chief
