[Jennifer Reeser]

...where does one end, and the other begin? A slew of members in the issue of The Raintown Review which just hit my mailbox - David Landrum, Catherine Chandler, Lance Levens, Kate Benedict, Aaron Poochigian, Maryann Corbett, Timothy Murphy, Susan McLean, Quincy Lehr, Moore Moran, Janet Kenny, Wiley Clements, Anna Evans, and Tom Kerrigan. (Forgive, if I've omitted anyone).

Apart from those, a few other names you may recognize: Molly Peacock, Erica Dawson (Hecht Prize winner), Richard Moore, David Berman and Robert Crawford.

What a mine! Thanks, everyone, for this star number. Raintown has definitely become one of the journals I would not do without.

[Gail White]

We are everywhere...the Sphere will TAKE OVER THE WORLD!!

[Toni Clark]

I just got my issue, too, and wow, what an issue it is! I can't wait to read every single poem. Congratulations to all of you!

Toni

[Philip Quinlan]

Originally Posted by Gail White

We are everywhere...the Sphere will TAKE OVER THE WORLD!!

I believe Eratosphere is to star in the next Bond film

"My plan is complete, Mr Bond...MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Philip

[E. Shaun Russell]

Well, it stands to reason. Most contemporary formalists have found Eratosphere at some point or another, and I would imagine that the bulk of The Raintown Review's submissions come from folks around these parts.

When you're drawing from a fairly small pond, you're bound to get a lot of the same fish.

[Quincy Lehr]

As for "small pond," we're working on that, though I do see the point. And like most journals, the Raintown is dependent on what actually comes in. Year-round submissions, sim-subs allowed, etc. If you haven't submitted, the worst we can do is say no.

(That and burn your house down, but I tire easily, and Anna and John Oelfke are too well-bred for that.)

Quincy

[E. Shaun Russell]

Oh, absolutely Quincy. Hope my post didn't seem like a dig at TRR, as it wasn't. It's just that I see posts here from time to time marveling at how many Eratospherians are in such and such a publication...and it's largely due to the fact that many -- if not most -- formalists who actively submit their work have come across Eratosphere. A glance at the member list here is like reading the longlist of the Nemerov contest.

[Wendy Sloan]

Looking forward to reading the issue.
Congratulations, all.
And good work, Quincy, Anna & Oelfke.
(I feel relatively safe, Quincy ... being safely ensconced in a big brick apartment building ... you'd get tired just looking at it ... )

[Alex Pepple]

Wonderful news on the Eratosphere takeover on the Raintown Review! Congratulations to everyone!

...Alex

[Quincy Lehr]

You know that I love all of you and such... but, really "takeover" is a bit too strong a term. Yes, there is a good turnout of Sphereans in this issue--and there will be some familiar faces in the next issue (still some space, folks--keep the subs coming!), but there are a good number of non-Sphereans in the line-up thus far, too. It should be a good mix of the familiar and relatively unfamiliar, and well worth a read whether you've got a contributor's copy heading your way or not.

And we have a new web site:

http://www.theraintownreview.com

And, for the first time, you have the option of subscribing online. And you all should subscribe. Let's face it, there are worse things to blow $24 on than two issues of a literary magazine. And hell, $45 for four issues or $65 for six is even cheaper.

It's an obvious point, but the print run doesn't just pay for itself, and poetry is meant for an audience, and blah blah blah, you know all this stuff. And aside from your solemn duty to help keep us afloat*, it's a pretty nifty journal.

Quincy

*And we know who you are. All of you.