North Dakota Quarterly (NDQ), currently under the editorship of William Caraher, has been publishing continuously in its inclusive format (fiction, poetry, literary non-fiction, and interviews) since 1956.

The most recent issue, pictured above, with cover art (“Bubble”) by Todd Hebert, contains work from nine fiction writers, five non-fiction writers, and forty-nine poets (a total of 81 poems.) It also features a timely and thought-provoking essay from NDQ’s creative non-fiction editor and bagpipe player Sheila Liming titled “Of Bagpipes and Brexit, Cabbages and Kings.”

As a public-spirited departure from standard practice, NDQ is offering a free digital version of the current issue to anyone who wishes to download it. And, believe me, it is worth reading cover to cover. My own copy, received recently, required many page points to mark work that delighted me and made me think.

Of course, you will have your own favorites. (I would love to know what they are!) Still, I can’t help mentioning just a few of my own.

Fiction: “The Workshop” by Dan Moreau and “how it will happen” by T. L. Toma

Creative Non-fiction: “Talking to Myself” by Michael Cohen

Poetry: “As Sea Levels Rise & Fall” by Sheree La Puma, “Dig” by Laura McCoy, “John Fahey Begins His Public Life as a TA, Hawaii, 1962” by Keith Carver, “Finding a World Inside This World” by Tom C. Hunley, ” and “Nothing Has Been Proven by Reaching the End” by Jeremy Griffin.

Each one of these literary artists was previously unknown to me. I am grateful to North Dakota Quarterly for introducing me to their work.

Thanks for allowing me to share this reading and publishing adventure with all of you!