.

Michael Allen is an unforgettable writer and well recognized as a leading voice in the book world.  He's a daring thinker in the world of publishing and I suspect his name will be remembered for some time.  Read his contribution, Mister Fenman's Farewell, in this issue and, if you are properly impressed, download the book free (or buy it) at his website.  It's a classic, as is much of Allen's writing.

What can I say about Andrew Losowsky?  If you follow the best seller lists or try to find something new worth reading at your library, you already know this has been a dull, uninspired period in literature.  I sit and wait for something exciting to come along and on rare occasion it does—in this case, Losowsky’s most ingenious “Doorbells of Florence.”  A triumph, and I’m pleased to carry a selection in this quarter’s Journal.

Those are just for starters.  There’s much more to keep you busy amongst some excellent story telling, poetry and humor.  I’m continually amazed that, with minimal chances of being included in the 175,000 books being published annually in the US alone, excellent writers continue to ply their trade against the odds. 

To quote Jules Renard, “Writing is the only profession where no one considers you ridiculous if you earn no money."