From the Editor’s Desk Kate Bernadette Benedict
Tweaks and Twists
Umbrella has a slightly different, and perhaps slightly quieter, look, with pale blue backgrounds and new art for its sidebar. Editor’s Forewords now appear for special sections. We remain a work in progress.
Call for Submissions
For Summer 2008 (online June 1), poems and prose on general topics are welcome, and also poems for a planned special section on “hot” poems. What’s a hot poem? It’s tropical or feverish or beachy or scorching or hot-tempered or erotic. As with all Umbrella extras, fresh work is strongly desired though previously published work will be considered as long as it isn’t a recent journal publication (within five years) or readable online (with the exception of online workshopping forums). And please remember that general poems are just as welcome as themed work. Please read the Guidelines Page before submitting. Deadline: May 10th.
Also, the Bumbershoot annual is coming back!—with a couple of planned special sections. Please see the Guidelines Page for details. We’re also soliciting letters on the subject of the Pushcart and Best of the Net competitions.
This Issue’s Art
This issue’s delightful cover images are by Jacqueline Howett, who was born in London, England but became a US citizen. She lived in Maine for twelve years and now resides in Florida. Her art has appeared in the Art Cellar Exchange, Manhattan Arts International Magazine, Art Now, and the International and New York Gallery Guide. She has appeared in group and solo exhibits such as the Danforth Gallery in Portland, Maine and The Oreno Print Museum, New York. The Herald Tribune in Biddeford, Maine did a feature article when her work was exhibited at The Saco Museum of Art. Starbucks gave her a solo exhibit and her work is in private collections and featured on various art websites.
Jacqueline served as online editor promoting an Artist and Poets Spotlight at her sites ATLinkswith and ATLinkswithPoetry. Jacqueline has also sold her art card designs at Gallery Seven on Exchange Street in Portland, Maine and in various bookstores and online. When she’s not creating art she’s a novelist and poet. Her poetry book, Amorphous Angelic, can be purchased at book stores, Borders, Amazon and from her own site, JACQS WORLD.
The Umbrella Face Book, Awards Edition
And now the first installment of the UFA or face awards, noteworthy author photos from Umbrella’s archive.
The Très Sportif Award
Janice D. Soderling
The I’m Too Sexy For My Hat Award (7 Way Tie)
Rick Mullin 
Diane Elayne Dees 
Janna Layton
Carole Stone 
Annie Finch 
Kimberly Becker
David Landrum
The Mary Tyler Moore Citation for Crustacean Abuse
Thomas Rodes
The Psychedelic Day-Glo Award (5 Way Tie)
Maryann Corbett 
Guy Kettelhack 
Steve Meador
Susan Roney O’Brien 
Queenie
The Mr. Peepers Occhiali Award
Paul Siegell
The Best in Show Award (3 Way Tie)
Taylor Graham 
Bette Husted 
Mark Thalman
The Down Da Hatch Award (Tie)
Henry Quince 
Moira Egan
Thanks, Thanks and Again Thanks
Our previous edition put out a call for contributions, with the goal of recouping Umbrella’s start-up costs of around $1000. Thanks heartily to the seven contributors who gave a total of $160. If you too are feeling flush, making a donation is as easy as pressing the following Paypal link, where both Paypal funds or credit cards may be used.
No amount is too small.