Last week, a nice nifty package came in the mail address to me. Usually I take these type packages an add them to the bottom of my review pile, because most of the time they are either galleys and ARC's for me to review or someone's unsolicited manuscript, who thinks I am more than what I say I am. (Note: I'm not an agent or a publisher. Maybe a small press owner someday, but...) I get this package from Jasai Madden, publisher of Lorraine and James literary journal. Lorraine and James is a triannual global urban print journal that produces a summer, fall and winter issue of poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction. As I open the book and began to read, I notice my name in the acknowledgements section. Hotdog! Then I began to read some of the work included in this issue.
Let me just say I am excited about Lorraine and James. I am ecstatic for Jasai. Hon, this is an awesome publication. Each story whether this was planned or not deals with the issue of discovery. From spending the last year talking with Jasai about how this publication would come to fruition, these stories seem to parallel with Jasai's own discovery on what she could accomplish with this book. She wanted a publication similiar to Glimmer Train and McSweeney's, but held the voice of people of different ethnicities and races. But this issue #1 does more than that. It speaks on the discovery of the spirit. And since I'm still working on my conversion story. (Yeah. That's right. I am.) I found it helpful for me to read something outside the voices of Christian speak.
One of my favorite shorts in the issue is Jess Stuart's Blood of the Lamb. The story is about, a Jewish virgin who lost her assignment to bring the Christ child into the world, because she stood up to God and asked for a woman Messiah.
My other favorite is Debbie Annie Ice's Sculpting and Jasai's interview with Nicholas Montemarano.
To learn more about Lorraine and James, to read an excerpt of volume 1 click on the title. If you plan to submit to them, click on the title or check out their blog at LorraineandJames Blog.
Kudos, Jasai!
Dee
