Purchase Issue 17
From the Far Side of the Desk
No one, and I mean absolutely no one, ever writes anything totally by themselves. I know a few writers who claim they do. However, they’ve forgotten about their editors and manuscript preparers and the folks who print and bind and mail the finalized volumes. They’ve also forgot about all their English and Creative Writing teachers, not to mention the people who supported them financially, emotionally, and spiritually, like their parents and friends and partners. Plus, every writer must admit, whether they like to or not, that they owe a debt to other writers who have gone before them and whose work has been impactful—to one degree or another—on their own. For example, my list of “influencers” would certainly include Hemingway, Bukowski, Ross Macdonald (Kenneth Millar), James Lee Burke, Adam Hall (Elleston Trevor), Louis J. Gaines, Larry Brown, and Paul Bowles.
With this thought that no man (or woman) produces any literary work totally on their own, I thought it would be most appropriate for me to share with the Trajectory readers the people who really make this publication happen.
First, of course, are you readers. Without you Trajectory would be nothing more than another tree fall in the forest primeval. Next, we must acknowledge our indebtedness to all the Trajectory writers, artists, and photographers. Without the creators there would be no creation. A front cover and, maybe a back, full, as Shakespeare said, “of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”
On a more personal level, I want to acknowledge the lady who does all the really hard work. With us since the very first issue, Myra Summers has done the layout and design work for every page of every issue, often making miracles out of my miscues. Myra has been working with me a long time, probably longer than either of us want to admit. How long? Well, let’s just say it was when I was still writing all more poems, stories, and novels in longhand.
Clay Gibson, my stepson, has helped bring Trajectory into a more modern focus. In addition to being a frequent contributing photographer to these pages, he has created, launched, and maintained the Trajectory website. It adds a wonderful new dimension to our outreach and gives voice to dozens of additional writers and photographers.
Finally, I would be truly remiss if I didn’t pay tribute to my Associate Editor, Gina Helvey. In addition to being my wife for twenty-five years, she has supported my literary ambitions through the good times and the tough ones, being there for me (and for my readers) whenever some real line-editing needed to be done. Gina, who brings a journalistic background to the magazine from her scholastic days, helps make the final poetry and short story selections, but her greatest value is her wonderful eye for lost commas, extra quotation marks, incorrect word usage, and author bios that have gone missing-in-action. Without her educated eye, I’m sore afraid Trajectory would have more typos, misspellings, and wandering words than any of us would like.
So please allow me, on your behalf, to thank the Terrific Trajectory Trio: Myra, Clay, and Gina, we who are about to read Trajectory salute you!! Salute!!!
Alumni:
Frequent contributor (poems and photos), t. kilgore splake has a new book of poems out. This thick, handsome volume is titled Final Curtain and contains a few photos of the old theatre in Calumet Michigan. There are many fine poems in this work (published by Gage Printing—Springfield, Michigan), but one of my favorites is “days gone forever.” No other poet I know writes quite like the old graybeard beatmeister who has a wonderful knack for capturing a lifetime in a dozen lines.
This issue should be a wonderful read. We’ve got lots of old friends like Gene McCormick, Cathy Porter, Dennis Trudell, and Alan Catlin, plus exciting new writers like Vickie Weaver, Tobi and Jeffry Alfier, and Eric Greinke. Plus, we’re featuring a pair of photo essays—one from our hero Morgan Smith and one from our born-to-be-wild (even in middle age) contributor Tom Hurtz.
As always, please feel free to write Trajectory with any comments, criticisms, or compliments you might have. You can reach us at: Trajectory, P.O. Box 655, Frankfort, KY 40602. Please enjoy Issue 17.
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