Dear Friends of eMerge,

As the leaves begin to change and the air turns crisp, I'm delighted to welcome you to the Fall 2023 issue of eMerge. I hope this issue finds you well and ready to embrace the magic of the autumn season.

In this Fall 2023 issue of eMerge, we're excited to present a delightful assortment of holiday-themed works that will infuse your heart with the spirit of the season. As the year winds down and festivities approach, you'll find pieces that capture the essence of the holidays in ways that warm the soul. Moreover, we understand that our world can sometimes be overwhelming, and in these pages, you'll also discover works that resonate deeply with those facing the challenges of navigating the complexities of our times. From the joy of celebration to the solace of reflection, this issue offers a diverse range of voices and narratives, catering to a multitude of experiences and emotions.

eMerge is a labor of love brought to life by an incredibly dedicated and talented team: Cat Templeton, our web editor, and Charles Templeton, my co-editor. Despite our small size, we take immense joy in knowing that our work resonates with our readers. Your feedback and questions are always welcome, so please don't hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected]. Lastly, I want to express my deep gratitude to our valued partner, The Writers' Colony at Dairy Hollow. We also wish to recognize our new featured partner, WriterCon Magazine. Our heartfelt thanks to both of these organizations for their support in uplifting writers of all genres and stages in their careers.

As we step into autumn and then winter, remember to take care of yourselves in this busy season. Thank you for being a part of the eMerge community, and enjoy the diverse and captivating offerings in this issue.

Warm regards,

Joy Clark