For those of you waiting for its release, I’ve encountered some editing issues while proofing that had to be fixed. I’ve ordered another proof copy and expect to release shortly after Christmas. My apologies to all of you patiently waiting to order your copy. But, I must say, it is a good issue, so I do hope it’s worth the wait. Best, Ariana

Our new online feature project is up and running. Please check out selected work for the week of December 9, 2012 by Thomas Pescatore.

I’d like to take a moment to wish Emerge Literary Journal a Happy 1st Anniversary.

With that in mind, I have decided to make some changes going forward into the 2nd year. Beginning with this reading period, I will only produce two print issues (Summer and Winter) a year with a weekly featured poem/story on the website. My reading periods will remain December 1st-April 1st and June 1st to October 1st. Because of the elimination of online issues, the print issues will continue to feature the best material received during the preceding reading window. Those writers featured weekly on the website would have, under the old publishing platform, been featured via Issuu. All artwork received will be considered for coverart of the print issues only.

In addition, I will hold a chapbook competition with a reading period from April 1st-April 30th. The winner will be published in the Fall. More details on the chapbook competition to follow later.

Finally, I’ve selected a new guest reader for the upcoming reading period, Stephen Byrne. Stephen Byrne is originally from Dublin and now lives in Galway west Ireland and is a chef for his sins. His work has been published in various places in Ireland and recently in The Galway Review, The Dead Beats, Emerge Literary Journal, Crack the Spine and forthcoming in The Rusty Nail. He has participated in a master class with Simon Armitage, was a featured reader at the ‘Over the Edge’ readings Galway and was shortlisted for last year’s ‘Over the Edge’ Poetry competition 2011. His first book, a collaboration of poets called ‘Wayword Tuesdays’ was published in November. Please give Stephen a warm welcome.

Is now live! Check it out here. Please let us know what you think via Facebook. We want to know your favorites, what moved you, who you wish you could read more of.

We are open for submissions until October 1, 2012. Please check our submission guidelines and submit away. We are in need of images/photographs for the October electronic issue. Please tell your friends or submit yourself.

Please welcome our new guest reader, Marian Kent. Marian is the author of Responsive Pleading and can be found at Runaway Sentence where she blogs. By day, Marian Kent is a lawyer, a schmoozer, and a do-gooder. At heart, she is a purveyor of pretty words, an interpreter of dreams who flies by night. Prone to hyperbole and shrieking in ALL CAPS, Marian eats far too much cake. Marian writes poetry and stories from western Massachusetts, where she lives with her husband and two children.

The August issue is now live. I’m quite fond of this issue and several pieces in it. Take a gander at the issue and let me know if you have any favorites. Submissions are still open for October. We received a record-breaking 31 submissions yesterday, so I may not be able to keep up with my normal response time. Please also keep in mind that response time may vary due to vacations and such. I am always available via e-mail for any correspondence other than submissions.

All current submissions will automatically be considered for the October and December issues. The August electronic issue is now filled. It promises to be an extra-large issue jam-packed with some outstanding writing. We are still looking for flash fiction up to 750 words and photography/images, so please submit. Please note that submission responses may be delayed up to 5 days in the upcoming weeks due to vacations and such. Happy writing!

Our current reading period has been successful. We’re averaging 15 submissions a day and there’s plenty of quality work. We’re trying to keep the response time to less than 5 days. If you haven’t already submitted, please do so. Please also check out our growing list of contributors up now.

So, send us your castles, your best, well-crafted poetry and flash fiction. While you’re at it tell all your friends. We want their work too!