Our Second Issue!

We have a widely varied bunch of talents for you this issue, and since this is only our second, I’m very excited about what’s got to be coming in the future. How much more up can we get?

This issue is all about transformation. I’ve been mulling over transformation as it relates to story, how we tell stories of transformation, what each story tells about us, and how we transform ourselves through story. Some stories of transformation just explore the reality, while others result in a happily ever after, and still others underline the theme that transformation brings grief.

I know I’m very different from most of my family, in interests, personality, and style, and I attribute that, at least in part, to the fact that I read voraciously from the time I knew that letters meant words and words meant story. At night I read by flashlight, and when my flashlight was taken away, I read by moonlight, and on the nights there was no moon I told stories to myself before I fell asleep. I started with stories I knew, but that got boring, so I began to tell myself new stories I’d never heard before.

I’ve been told those of us who tell stories to ourselves are a rare breed. Once I discovered that not everyone did that, I thought it must be crazy; rare breed sounds so much nicer. Whatever it means, though, I was transformed by the experience in ways I can’t begin to number, but one of the results is this, Membra Disjecta, so it can’t have been a truly bad thing.

Cindy Lynn Speer, our author spotlight for this issue, used to tell herself stories too, and her story is also one of transformation. One of us…One of us… I hope you’re one of us too.

One of the ways Membra Disjecta has already transformed is that we’ve decided, as of next issue, to review chapbooks as well as ebooks. We think they both deserve some positive attention and I think this will improve our usefulness to our readers.

If you have a chapbook out and are interested in having your book reviewed, or you’re interested in providing reviews, please see our book review guidelines.

Mermaid by Вита Лапковская

Spread the Word!

If you like something in here, spread the word, come comment on the blog (it’s the “scattered thoughts” tab over there on the right), or drop us a note. We always love hearing from you.

Our next issue, which comes out the end of July, is themed “Activism or the Trickster.” Take a look at our submissions guidelines for more information. I can’t wait to see what you all come up with for that one.

We’re Rich in Fiction

The amount of fiction we have this issue is astonishing. If we put it end to end…we couldn’t publish it. Frankly, if we put it out in paper, we couldn’t publish it either (and, again with the frankly, it’s unlikely to happen again even here since our budget is a fragile thing). All hail the Internet!

Check out the Fiction tab on the right for stories from Denise Golinowski, Deborah Grabien, Eden Hail, Erika Jahneke, Isabelle Santiago, Kenneth Goldman, Lida Broadhurst, Nathalie Boisard-Beudin, Nicholas Ozment, Kathleen Wallace and David Sklar. The stories range from entirely natural transformation to something spookier, successful and failed, acted and acted upon. No matter what your taste in fiction, something in here should suit.

If you don’t like what you see, please let us know and tell us what you’re looking for. If you do, please consider making a donation, but only if it’s easy for you. We’re all about the easy.

April 30, 2008

In This Issue

Author Spotlight!
Cindy Lynn Speer

Check the Table of Contents or the tabs to the right for more:

Flash Fiction

Fiction:
Deborah Grabien and Denise Golinowski visit an old legend about tears in the sea, and more

Poetry:
How many ways can you rhyme with changeling?

Reviews:
Erotic Mistakes and Free Wolves

Media:

We have great art by Scott Grey, sculpture by Reynaldo Molina, video by Cecilia Chapman and Jeff Crouch, an audio edition of PodCastle, and more, listed for your viewing pleasure on the flash fiction tab.

If we haven’t given you enough great stuff this issue–or you just have a hankering for more folk tales–you might want to check out the Obekemono Project, a guide to the folk monsters of Japan.

Or, if you haven’t already, take a look at Freak Angels by Warren Ellis and Paul Duffield, their free weekly graphic novel.