October 2, 2010 Issue 3
The third time's a charm, and Pig in a Poke is charmed to be here. And we hope you're charmed by the great lineup of poets we have for you. I still can't believe the amazing writers we've managed to attract, and Trina and I are grateful for that.
As always, we try to put pearls of superb writing in our swinish sty. This issue, you'll get to read the poems of living legends such as A.D. Winans, Louis McKee, Lyn Lifshin and Doug Draime. My compadre and poet extraordinaire Tim Peeler is here, as are the superb Karla Huston, Donal Mahoney and Corey Cook. In fact, if there's anyone I haven't mentioned here — like M.P. Powers, Mather Schneider, Sandy Benitez, Carol Lynn Grellas, Michael Newell or Luis Berriozabal and Robert Demaree — it's because I've run out of space.
And talk about incredible fiction. Not to brag, but we have the outstanding Christina Hoag making a repeat appearance with two strong stories. Add in a brilliant short slice of writing from Jane Banning and stories from Lawrence Klavan, Laura Garrison, Thomas Sullivan and Nathaniel Tower. And for the whipped cream and cherry on top of this literary delight, add some amazing stories from two writers I am proud to call my friends, Lynne Barrett and Mark Howell.
The essays? Well, Anne Woodman is becoming a regular, and with her "Objects in Mirror are Closer Than They Appear," she gives ample reason why. Amanda LaPergola delivers some wry and interesting perspectives on that old but never boring topic, sex, and Michael L. Newell comes to us from distant spaces to deliver a touching and telling essay on his experiences in Egypt. Some foreign territory covered here by all, but made quite familiar by their craft and viewpoint.
And Trina and I are proud to call this our magazine. A Pig in a Poke it is, because you might never know what you're getting, but you know it's going to be good.
Harry Calhoun,
Editor