Letter From the Editor
Dear Readers,
Being a part of the creation of Issue 19 has been such an honor. When we reopened our submission period back in April after AWP we received a record breaking number of submissions. While this was a humbling (and totally amazing!) surprise, it did make selecting pieces for the issue harder. It took many hours of reading, as well as debates between editors, to select the pieces that we published in this issue. Nevertheless, this is perhaps my favorite issue Glassworks has published because it embodies everything we stand for.
First-off, this issue has a unique tone. Each of our issues has a group of phrases on the cover to describe the issue. Our newest cover states: “Memory & Rumination, Conflicted Relationships, Liminal Spaces.” These words send chills down my spine. We at Glassworks make it our mission to find unique and well-crafted pieces to publish. We do this in an effort to expand the literary community. Even though all the pieces are by different authors, in the end, each issue ends up having its own voice and recurring themes. Almost by magic, all these individual pieces end up working together as a part of a larger collection with a strong message.
One of my favorite pieces in this issue is the short story “Cherry Preserves” by Olga Breydo (page 55). This piece is a classic coming of age story, however its placement in 1980’s Russia gives it a twist. Breydo’s vivid descriptions of setting gives the reader a captivating experience of the culture and conflict during that time period. Also, her well-developed and complex characters intrigue the reader throughout the whole story. This was a piece I ended up finding in the slush, loving, and pushing for. I was very excited when we accepted it and were able to reach out to Breydo with the good news. The opportunity to give authors an outlet to share their creative work has been my favorite part of this job.
Being a part of the creation of Issue 19 has been such an honor. When we reopened our submission period back in April after AWP we received a record breaking number of submissions. While this was a humbling (and totally amazing!) surprise, it did make selecting pieces for the issue harder. It took many hours of reading, as well as debates between editors, to select the pieces that we published in this issue. Nevertheless, this is perhaps my favorite issue Glassworks has published because it embodies everything we stand for.
First-off, this issue has a unique tone. Each of our issues has a group of phrases on the cover to describe the issue. Our newest cover states: “Memory & Rumination, Conflicted Relationships, Liminal Spaces.” These words send chills down my spine. We at Glassworks make it our mission to find unique and well-crafted pieces to publish. We do this in an effort to expand the literary community. Even though all the pieces are by different authors, in the end, each issue ends up having its own voice and recurring themes. Almost by magic, all these individual pieces end up working together as a part of a larger collection with a strong message.
One of my favorite pieces in this issue is the short story “Cherry Preserves” by Olga Breydo (page 55). This piece is a classic coming of age story, however its placement in 1980’s Russia gives it a twist. Breydo’s vivid descriptions of setting gives the reader a captivating experience of the culture and conflict during that time period. Also, her well-developed and complex characters intrigue the reader throughout the whole story. This was a piece I ended up finding in the slush, loving, and pushing for. I was very excited when we accepted it and were able to reach out to Breydo with the good news. The opportunity to give authors an outlet to share their creative work has been my favorite part of this job.
Glassworks holds a special place in my heart. A special shout out of thanks to both Editor in Chief Katie Budris and Managing Editor Jade Jones for their guidance. My internship here was an incredible learning experience that I will never forget. I am honored to have been a part of the Glassworks family. I feel magazines, such as Glassworks, are vital in the literary community. Glassworks is an outlet for people in the literary world who like taking chances and trying different things. Of course none of this would be possible without our dedicated readers, so a shout out to all of you who support us!
Even though the ending of my time as Associate Editor is bittersweet, I will be following as a reader, and I cannot wait to see what Glassworks does next!
Jenna Pauline Burke
Associate Editor
Even though the ending of my time as Associate Editor is bittersweet, I will be following as a reader, and I cannot wait to see what Glassworks does next!
Jenna Pauline Burke
Associate Editor
