Letter From The Editors – January 2021
Welcome to 2021. Sadly, the world has not changed markedly in the past few days. COVID-19 remains, racial injustice persists, global warming throws our seasons awry, and marginalized peoples fight to be heard. Despite this continuity of woes, we breathed a collective sigh of relief when we changed a single digit on our calendars. That, my friends, is the power of the written word.
That minor addendum, that edit, that redraft—something that leaves no tangible imprint on the world—is exactly what we needed to get back up and keep going. It is hope. It is meaning. It is a shot in the arm. It is the power that artists and poets recognize in their work and try desperately to share with the world. It is being human.
This year, we want to invite you to continue celebrating “Recovery & Resilience” with us because it is a daily affirmation of that hope and shared humanity. We are continuing to release new poetry each Wednesday and invite you to log on for reflection and inspiration. Each week features three poems with a thematic line that explore some unique facet of “Recovery & Resilience.”
At this time, I would also like to thank Daniel Horn, one of our first Managing Editors, and Beth Ann Downey, our first Editor-in-Chief for all of their work on volume 1. Through self-sacrifice, leadership, and countless hours in online meetings, they cultivated Paper Dragon from the germ of an idea into a full-fledged literary journal. Beth Ann in particular led the effort to create a new, beautiful, meaningful platform for creative work and marginalized voices. On behalf of the Paper Dragon staff—past, present, and future—thank you both, so very much.
Looking toward the future, I want to welcome Jaime Grookett, Nick Perez, and George MacMillan as new Managing Editors. They eagerly joined our staff in the eleventh hour as we were in the thick of producing “Recovery & Resilience.” I’m excited to incorporate their talents and experience into our ongoing mission.
Finally, I’m pleased to announce that we will are currently preparing for a spring issue. Please check back in for details soon. In the meantime, continue to enjoy “Recovery & Resilience” and celebrate the power of the written word.
Sincerely,
Bill Vargo
Editor-in-Chief