Dear Friends of eMerge,

I want to start this note with an apology that we're a little late getting this issue out. Both eMerge and I, personally, have been in a season of change and growth. It's true that you can't rush growth; growth takes time, needs care and attention, patience and a good senses of humor. If you are also in a season of growth in your life, I hope you are kind and patient with yourself, even when navigating system glitches and email backlogs and to-do lists as long as an 19th-century novel.

This issue is full of work that was truly an honor to publish. Some pieces defy genre, such as "The 'Post' in Postcolonialism" by Khadidja Bouchellia; and some pieces are playful with form, such as "How to Get Lost" by Louise Krug. We're also publishing our very first translated piece: "Rusty, My Friend" by Yermiyahu Ahron Taub, which brought tears to my eyes both the first and second time I read it. But each piece in this issue brings something unusual, something inventive, something strange and wonderful to the table. I hope you take the time to read it all. Amid the hot, claustrophobic days of summer, there is fresh air to fill your lungs here.

Finally, I want to end on some good news! Because of the aforementioned system glitches, we've extended the Woody Barlow Poetry Contest through October 1, 2023! So pull out your notebooks and polish up an old gem or create something brand new. We can't wait to read your work.

eMerge is published because of the generous work of my very small team: Cat Templeton, our web editor, and Charles Templeton, my co-editor. Because we're a small but mighty team, we take a lot of joy in knowing that people are enjoying the work we do, so feel free to drop me a line with any questions or comments about eMerge at: [email protected]. Finally, thank you to our featured partner, The Writers' Colony at Dairy Hollow for their long-time support and commitment to uplifting writers of all genres at all stages in their career.

Stay hydrated and take care,

Joy Clark