The reviews of mine in this quarter's issue have turned out be a sort of Monument to what I love about books, as well as the written "embodiment" of the reason why I continue to work as hard as I (often) do at a job I do for free. Even the negative notices, and maybe especially those, as in the case of two in this issue about writers I otherwise admire very much, are as telling or more so than the "positive" ones. It's a lot of work, and one might think I'd grudge doing it.
Ah, but it's not so—I do it because of my lifelong love for books and the written word at its finest execution. It's something of a cliché to say that one has to do it. But it's true, and for this issue I've blessedly found occasion to write about some really great works, both new and old. And I'm proud of and pleased with the other, different voices here, as always. In particular, I'm pleased to introduce Colleen Mondor as Children's Books Editor. In my over twelve years of magazine editing and twenty-plus as a writer, she's one of the best I've been blessed to work with: solid, sharp, versatile, astute and professional. We're thrilled to have her with us. And again we have the always solid and insightful work of Ann and David Skea and Gilbert Purdy, as well as the fascinating and more scientific perspective of Rajgopal Nidamboor.
But speaking only for myself (for who else would one speak for?), I find myself really pleased with what I've been given the chance to read and reflect on. I've received a good deal of mail, much of it very encouraging, about my blasting the Publishing Industry in a fit of honest and heartfelt frustration in a certain review I wrote last issue, the most scathing of my seventeen-year career. I meant it, and am glad I expressed what I did—but all hope is not lost. Not by a long shot.
—And here, at this point, I feel the need to publicly thank the people who have Kept me in the Game, as it were, during the last few months, people who in different but somehow similar ways have given me the validation and encouragement I've needed to keep reading, writing, and loving it: first, my Editor and Publisher, Tom Dooley. And Judith Ferster, my friend and former boss, who sent me new stuff to read recently. Larry Johnson, my wonderful and supportive uncle Michael P. Morris, Ron Crowell, The Reverend Al Dixon and the group at Anderson Chapel, Fr. Doug McCurry, Nick and Alex Gerogiannis, Zoë Dimetrios, John David McFarlin, and Allen Tanner.
Thank You.
And since the first draft of this Editor's Note in late April, I'm reaching the midpoint of Slender Accidents, my series of vignettes. I've written several stories, more reviews, and show no signs of stopping now.
So keep reading, keep living, and keep sending us your comments and reviews.
May we all shine on :)
—Kevin McGowin
Birmingham, July 1, 2004
