Meta-Note

This is the editor’s note to introduce all other editor’s notes. (Which is different than the editor’s note to end all editor’s notes, which is something I’d be open to hearing more about—thoughts?)

There are a lot of exciting things going on in this issue, as you’ll notice from the table of contents. Our very first editorial fellow, the fabulous DW McKinney, chose a suite of nonfiction pieces exploring the idea of home. We started the BIPOC Editorial Fellowship this year as a way to provide opportunities for up-and-coming editors as well as to enliven and invigorate our own aesthetic and offerings. DW set the bar for all of the editors to come; she is hard-working (even when she thinks she isn’t), open-minded, funny, thoughtful, and fun to Zoom with. Not much more you could ask for.

Rachelle Cruz also joined us to curate our comics section around the idea of survival. The result is a section that is beautifully moving. Rachelle is a multi-talented writer and editor, and I’m so grateful to her expertise. Check out her note for more context and run-don’t-walk to buy her book Experiencing Comics: An Introduction to Reading, Discussing and Creating Comics.

This issue’s poetry section is themed; poetry editor Lesley Wheeler presents this grimoire and the idea of “uncanny activism” in her fantastic introduction. You’ll also find the winners there of our annual Graybeal-Gowen Prize for Virginia Poets, with notes from judge Kyle Dargan.

Along with editor Seth Michelson, our translation section was curated by the incredible Kareem James Abu-Zeid. His introduction serves as a history lesson and an homage to Arabic poetry—the suite of poems that follow are breathtaking in their range. The section features poets and translators of enormous talent, and is dedicated to the Iraqi poet Saadi Youssef, whose work appears here. He sadly passed away less than a month before the issue’s launch. We mourn this heartbreaking loss.

I’m writing this note as a very active baby battles against the walls of my womb. It’s been a tough year for a lot of people, and mine has been, all told, more than I could have hoped for. Though constant “morning” sickness had made the past six months difficult, hence the reason this issue is appearing a bit late. I’m looking ahead to some time off for maternity leave and sabbatical, and will be handing the reigns of Shenandoah over to Brenna Womer, who is arriving in Lexington any day now. I’ll save more information about Brenna for my editorial note for the fall issue, but look out for Brenna’s great work on Shenandoah’s behalf. We are so lucky to have her on board.

Now go read all of the other, better editor’s notes!