Good morning, friends. It's windy and rainy here an hour or so before dawn, as the year digs its way to the solstice, and I hope these updates start your day with some light.

First things first, last week I accidentally got a link wrong, so I'm including this note again with apologies to Geri Lipschultz (and thanks to Catherine Gammon for pointing out my error):

Geri Lipschultz reviewed Pilar Adón’s novel Of Beasts and Fowls, translated by Katie Whittemore and published by Open Letter. Geri previously reviewed Joan Conner's The Corner of East and Dreams for us. 

As for this week's book review (hopefully with its own links correct), Brittany Micka-Foos wrote about Without You Here by Jody Hobbs Hesler from Flexible Press. This is Brittany's first publication with us, and we're honored to share her writing. Jody has written several reviews for us since 2023, and her previous book was reviewed for us, coincidentally, by Catherine Gammon again.

And this week's featured story was "Poets of Fishers Drift" by John Cotter. The thick atmospheric sense of place in this story grabbed me right away, along with the surprises that setting has to offer. As I mentioned to John during our editorial exchanges, it reminded me of the feeling I got reading M. John Harrison's novel The Sunken Land Begins To Rise Again. After you've read this story, I recommend heading over to Joyland to spend more time with some of its characters in "The Gold Thread." And I happen to know there's a third story in the set which I hope to see published soon.

Elsewhere, contributor Carolyn Oliver ("The Concert Master" and "Easter Sunday") recently published a poetry collection titled  The Alcestis Machine with Acre Books.  

And Also Here, a memoir by  Brooke Randel ("Adultboat"), is coming in early December from Tortoise Books.

Until next week, thanks for reading.

Steve Himmer

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PS As we approach the solstice, which happens to be one of my favorite days of the year, I'd love to hear about the literature, art, music, whatever with which you'll mark the event. Or, if the shortest day of the year isn't for you, with which you'll get yourself through it. And if you'd like one to start with, I recommend "Into The Dark," an essay by one of my favorite writers, Kathleen Jamie.