It’s been a while, but we’re still here! To celebrate our continued existence, which in this day-in-age is never guaranteed, I thought I would post the editors note for the next issue which went to our partners at the University of Nebraska Press on Monday:

Editors’ Note

First, we would like to thank all the incredible talent that submitted to the North Dakota Quarterly. This magazine could not be made without our contributors; we are honored to have been trusted with their work.

To honor their work, it is our duty to arrange these pieces in a thoughtful way. As students, we are handed the pieces from NDQ’s editors and asked to think about how to sequence them around a theme and tone. We also consider cohesion and how to present works to draw the reader deeper into the issue. We hope that through our efforts, the readers fall into these literary works, and, before they realize it, they have finished the last page.

For this spring issue, we ordered pieces around the theme of death and rebirth. Readers will see that this issue starts in winter, a season that carries themes of death, loss, and regrets: the passing of loved ones, the loss of a home or safety, and remembrance of a time that has passed. Then, the collection builds, adding pieces depicting politics, family, and fire: both literal and metaphorical. These themes are necessary to reach the last stage: rebirth. Rebirth brings about change: hope for new love, optimism towards life, and growth into something better. It is finally spring, and what could be better suited for our spring issue.

We were honored to work with our professor and NDQ editor, Bill Caraher, on this spring issue. He trusted us to put together this issue and, in turn, encouraged us to trust ourselves. Thank you, Bill, for this educational and challenging opportunity. We all learned so much, and we are grateful for your experience and willingness to help build our literary talents.

Gabrielle Park

Antesha Culmer

Jasmine Patera
Katrina Sandford
Robert Moore Jr.
Veronika Linstrom

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