One of my first memories of the NDQ editorial office was the buzz of production and the engaged conversation of student interns. Since then, we’ve had fewer interns and the buzz in the NDQ office has primarily revolved around me putting various issues of the Quarterly in boxes in preparation to move to new digs. 

We are now settled into our new office and I have the pleasure of working with five undergraduates who are taking a practicum in editing and publishing with me this fall. They’ve worked with me to bring the latest issue of NDQ into a landing, will help me expand NDQ’s digital archive, and have learned some of the processes associated with publishing a literary magazine.

In appreciation of their collaboration, I penned this short editor’s note for issue NDQ 89.3/4 which went to press this morning! Stay tuned for the table of contents and some sneak peeks over the next month or so.

As you likely know, these days are particularly challenging for many cultural institutions, publishers, and little magazines. If you’re here on our website, you must have already found something of interest in NDQ, and we really would love for you to subscribe. But, if NDQ doesn’t float your boat, consider buying a book from a small press, subscribing to a literary journal, or otherwise supporting the arts. I heartily recommend grabbing a copy of the new issue of Hotel Amerika which is celebrating its 20th anniversary by publishing an anthology of some its most creative, provocative, and stimulating work. Grab a copy here.

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This semester I’ve had the good fortune of being joined by five undergraduates from the University of North Dakota’s English Department’s program in a practicum in editing and publishing. Nicholas Ramos, Aubrey Roemmich, Emily Shank, Elena Uhlenkamp, and Karissa Wehri have talked with me about the content in the issue, put the articles in order, and have happily helped me organize NDQ‘s new office on campus.

As they organized the issue they discussed the themes in the poetry, stories, and essays. They observed how much of work embodied the power of everyday experiences where commonplace settings of offices, shops, schools, and homes give rise to religious, spiritual and even magical encounters. Parenthood, relationships, chance encounters, a bookstore, and even a cup of coffee create occasions for something special to occur.

In some ways, the work in this volume reflects the character of North Dakota. As Aubrey Roemmich noted: “Growing up a North Dakota native, I always thought that it was a boring place. It was not until I was much older that I started to appreciate its beauty and intrigue. Many of the poems in this issue perfectly capture the beauty that is inherent in these places.”

89.3/4