As some parts of the country start to carefully emerge from their two-month, COVID-19 hibernation, we thought we’d share Shane Castle’s story “Ursa” which appeared in NDQ 87.1/2. I’m usually not at a loss for how to describe a story, but this piece is indescribable. At turns touching, funny, and absurd, it’s
There’s something very contemporary about Emily Scudder’s wonderful poem “Death by Project Management Webinar.” Like too many people in the U.S. today, I’m spending hours on Zoom meeting discussing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on everything from the university finances to curriculum changes. Anyone who has endured a similar
In my other life, I’ve been thinking about digital media, computer games, and archaeology of contemporary American culture. These musing may be why Evan Higgins’s essay, “Role Playing Games” resonated with me. It also happens to be a very fine essay that appears in NDQ 87.1/2. If you’d like to
We know that things are rough out there. Between COVID-19 and personal, economic, and emotional challenges associated with social distancing, there doesn’t seem to be a lot right happening in the world. To do our part to make the world just a little bit better, we thought we’d make the
In light of the fact the University of North Dakota’s Writer’s Conference had to canceled due to COVID-19, organizer Crystal Alberts was able to arrange for North Dakota Quarterly’s poetry editor Paul Worley to interview Laila Lalami whose 2014 novel, The Moor’s Account received the American Book Award in 2015 and was a
To celebrate NDQ 87.1/2 going to the printer, despite all the confusion, uncertainty, and tragedy in the world, here’s Terry Toma’s story “how it will happen” which will appear in the next issue of the Quarterly. There’s something about this story that captures the contemporary mood. It goes without saying that
North Dakota Quarterly is very pleased to share Maunel Tzoc Bucup’s poem, “Bullshit in oblivion” written for International Poetry Day in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the author notes: “I wrote this poem as we sit on the verge of mass death.” The poem was originally posted on Facebook. The poem
It goes without saying that there are very few reasons to celebrate these days, but as our publication workflow adapts to the challenge of COVID-19, we are getting back on schedule for the publication of issue 87.1/2. That means, if you’re a contributor, check your email for page proofs this
North Dakota Quarterly has been fortunate enough to receive two of Danny Barbare’s short and vivid poems over the past year. In 86.3/4 “The Snow” appeared toward the front of the issue, and we’re doing the same thing with “The Movie” for issue 87.1/2 which is currently in production. Remember that NDQ relies on
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