SmokeLong Quarterly

It’s once again been a pleasure to work on this issue, which is packed with 18 stories for the end of the year. There is nothing more satisfying than finishing up an issue and looking over all the amazing stories we accepted this time around. I laugh out loud every time I read “Messing with Texas,” where Anderson Holderness manages to combine the strange with the even stranger (I still say I want to have a beer with this guy—just read my interview with him and you will, too). Another favorite in this issue is the understated “Crushed Ice” by Gary Fincke, whom I had the pleasure of studying writing under at Susquehanna University and whose writing still continues to give me shivers and makes me think, “Oh right, that’s how you do it.”

And since it’s the end of the year and I’m feeling nostalgic and generally grateful for many things, I want to take a moment to thank all of the wonderful people that make sure that SmokeLong continues to, well, smoke. Thank you to my co-editor Nancy Stebbins, who does much of the behind-the-scenes work that helps keep my sanity. She also works closely with all of our guest editors and helps answer their questions, calm their fears and make them happy happy people.

Thank you also to the rest of the amazing staff—Brandon, Gay, Beth, Ashley and Josh. Their talents and generosity continue to amaze me each and every day. Not only are they amazing writers and readers, but they are artists, marketers, designers, volunteers, and hilarious, sarcastic and fun people. I feel so very lucky to work with all of them.

And thank you to Dave Clapper, founder of SmokeLong Quarterly, who has developed and nurtured this publication for the last 10 years, and in the process, nurtured many emerging writers.

Speaking of 10 years, I want to let you guys know that 2013 is going to be an exciting year for SmokeLong Quarterly. You’re going to be sick of hearing from us. We’ve got some exciting things planned for the celebration of our 10th year of publishing. Look for us at the Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP) conference in Boston in March—we’ll have a table at the bookfair and want you to come by to say hello. We also have our best-of print anthology coming out with Matter Press early next year. And we’ll be doing a national reading tour! Look for SmokeLong readings in D.C, Atlanta, Austin and L.A. in 2013.

Until then, stay well, stay sane, and do something kind for a stranger.

Happy holidays,

Tara Laskowski
Senior Editor, SmokeLong Quarterly

December 17, 2012