Heat City Literary Review releases Issue II

Welcome to the first print issue of The Heat City Literary Review. As embarrassing as this may be to admit, it has actually taken us longer to write this introduction than it did to put the rest of the magazine together as a whole. Weve tried to be casual, formal, pompous, succinct, sincere, scholarly, alluring; weve written a small, thesis based upon the work of the famed psychologist Erik Erikson; one of our introductions was even pre-empted by the work of a plagiarist who had been given prominent exposure within. Weve tried and tested every method we could think of to find a way to explain how we went about choosing the stories, poetry and memoir here within.

(PRWEB) April 24, 2005 -- We wanted to tell you that not all of the work inside reflects our actual, personal beliefs and that maybe it does; that we dont have a political agenda, when maybe we do; that you should trust our tastes over others. But really, why? When all we really mean to say is that the work inside of this issue chose itself. We didnt mean for it to happen this way, but looking over what is here now, we have noticed the obvious, yet unintentional, theme of identity. And in this day and age, the last five years in particular, why should we be surprised? We, ourselves, arent.

These protagonists seem to ask us, as we surely already ask ourselves: wheres this galaxys place in the Universe; our world in this galaxy; a country in this world; what is home in each country; our place in that home, in time and space, to the tip of a pin?

Additionally, the works within these pages beg some questions. What in this world is within our control? What isnt? And when and to whom should that control be given, if not ourselves?

While we, as editors, feel we should only give a sprinkling of our own interpretations of some of these works, some of these pieces present such clear motifs and struggles. In Jessica Keeners Boarders, the main character, Anna finds herself, dropping out of college and moving into her parents house, in an attempt to fill a need to have control and be closer to the object of her long distance relationship. Its a strategy that many of us have gone through, at one point of our lives, fleeing to greener pastures, and when things dont work out, fleeing again.

"So she fled as any animal would, out of instinct, to more nurturing waters and that promise of a sweet tasting hand."

The story throws emotional roadblocks at Anna, sabotaging her attempts at both internal and external stability and in turn her happiness.

In Lo Galluccios memoir, The Ganesha Factor, she believes she is being pursued by the dreamer God, Ganesha, in her dreams. But just who is chasing
whom?

"9th St. Im pursued by a voice of Ganesha, the elephant-headed deity I have been worshipping as a yogi and he is saying to me that unless I find shelter at someone elses house that night, even with the pink lily to protect me, he will turn me into sausages."

In contrast, in Joshua Michael Stewarts poem, Snow Angels, he invites us to imagine the times in life when we might be considered the higher power. Although, in Stewarts poetic world, gods who care are gods who dont know any better" and angels are mere mortals.

Its funny weve referenced a poem, a short story and a memoir without referencing any of the quick fiction or the review written by Edward J. Carvalho, and already we feel its time to leave well enough alone. Unfortunately, an editors note sometimes demands that an editor make an attempt to sum up the whole of a publication within one neat package, which we have done to a point, by noting what seemed most prevalent to us during the making of this issue, but we think its time, and not soon enough, to end this here, for all literary work, by its nature, is not meant to be contained. We could submit for your pleasure a comprehensive, philosophical analysis that would incorporate every piece present in this issue. Weve tried that already in introductions that will never see the light of day. Wed rather leave what you, the reader, take fromthese pages, up to you.

The first print addition of The Heat City Literary Review is now available. Visit our website and click the SUBSCRIBE button

It features fiction by;
- Alex Braverman
- David Bulley
- DB Cox
- Justin Crouse
- Diane E. Dees
- Emily Franklin
- Jessica Brilliant Keener
- Corey Mesler
- Marcia Lynx Qualey

Quick Fiction by:
- Jeff Gibbs
- Scott C. Holstad
- William Mozingo
- Diane Payne
- J. Post
- Lawrence Robinson

Poetry by:
- Ann Carhart
- Lyn Lifshin
- Michael Makowski
- James Scott
- Andrew Sofer
- Joshua Michael Stewart

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