Musings
an Online Journal of Sorts

By Alyce Wilson

Today and tomorrow I'm putting the finishing touches on the Spring 2007 issue of Wild Violet.

This will be our first issue since last Fall, since I ran into some scheduling difficulties that caused me to skip the Winter issue.

It helps that I have a specific goal to work towards: a literary event happening this Sunday featuring Philadelphia area literary magazines at MilkBoy Coffee in Ardmore. Two of our contributors will be reading, and I'm going to be giving a brief introduction about the magazine. I won't be reading any of my own work, but I'll probably bring along a few copies of my chapbook, Picturebook of the Martyrs, in case anyone is interested.

I want to have the issue online before Sunday so that anyone who becomes interested in the magazine can view it as soon as they get home. Or hey, even on their laptop or cell phone. Why not?

Today, I shopped at Kohl's department store for a couple spring items to wear on Sunday. I was looking for something that was a compromise between artistic and professional, and after more than an hour of looking, I found a pink chemise and a bone colored jacket with 3/4 length sleeves which I'll pair with some items I already own: chocolate brown pants, a pink, aqua and black beaded necklace and peekaboo-toe leopard print wedges. The jacket was on sale at almost half price.

A funny moment came from a woman in a nearby dressing cubicle. She had her small children with her and was asking for their opinions, using language that was clearly above their heads: "I think this one is too busy. What do you think? This is cute, but I'd have to get some brown pants. I like the fit of this one, but I don't like the color. Do you agree?"

After each of her comments, the unfailing response from one of her children was to cry disconsolately. Finally, she seemed to remember she was talking to small children, and instead of asking them to weigh in on her fashion choices, she spoke to them on their level: "Who wants a fruit chewie?" The response to this was a delighted chirp. Fruit chewies are far more interesting to small children than fashion.

Here's a little preview of what's coming up in the Spring issue:

• Interviews with science-fiction author David Weber and book illustrator/matte artist David Mattingly.
  
  
• Fiction by Rik Hunik, Jacqueline Tait, Iris Green and Jon Picciuolo.
  
  
• Poetry by David Kiphen, Thomas Robert Barnes, Anselm Brocki, Connie Baechler, Gerald Zipper, Barry Ballard, Ray Succre, Janet Butler, Marie Ashley-France, Darby Diana, Sheila Black and Changming Yuan.
  
  
• Humor by Marsha Jordan, Ed Higgins, Michael Ceraolo, Lockie Hunter, Rick Jankowski, Marie Ashley-France and Dean Borok.
  
  
• Essays by Michelle Humphrey, Rada Djurica, Arlene Mandell, Anthony Freeman, Stephanie Nolasco, Tala Bar and Dean Borok.
  
  
• Artwork and photography by Christina Bruness, Cecilia Ferreira and Nathan Combs.
  
  

• Cuttings, or flash fiction, by Bill Winter and Eric J. Krause.

• Reviews of various books, albums and movies.

Look for Vol. VI Issue 1 (Live Steel) online soon!

Copyright 2006 by Alyce Wilson

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