Current Issue: #4

CONTENTS:

Editor’s Note: Ben Aleshire

Robert McKay – How to be a tourist in your own city

Therapy for Desire

The Unknown

Paige Ackerson-Kiely – Provisions

Folding

Girl Next Door           

Julia Shipley – Two Eggs   

Noah and Persephone

TRANSLATION: Estefania Puerta – Adios Muchachos 

THEATRE: Galen Peria & Hugh Mackey – Mrs. Bob

April Ossmann – Loves Me, Loves Me Not           

Duet

Daniel Lusk – Star Spangled Love  

Blue

Lullabye in Wartime   

Pamela Ahlen – Directive

Rajnii Eddins – American Psyche/Psycho  

Nicholas Buckalew – Loud Cellmate

Nicholas Spengler – A Workable Arrangement

Annie Doran – In Virginia

Sadness

Charles Deniord – Sudden Shore

The Fire

FICTION: Kim Chase – Teach Yourself Icelandic

Frances Cannon – Habit

Wyn Cooper – Pity

Michael Fleming – Math Teacher 

Maurice Kenny – For Ed Kanze

CONTRIBUTORS’ NOTES                                                                                   

Editor’s Note:

The prevailing theory today is that digital technology is a reality we must face, lest we become an old bag lady: toothless, barefoot, swimming in memories of 1952. But if you listen closely, you might hear the tuning fork of irony ‘struck upon a star’—as Fitzgerald put it. Reality and digital reality are two very different things; Apple, Microsoft, Google, and Facebook have become very rich while convincing us otherwise.

            Many literary publications are following this trend: Submishmash, eBooks, Twitter accounts, print-on-demand publishing. Yet, after all these gadgets and global interfacing, most publications languish where sales and readership are concerned.

            The Salon has become somewhat of an experiment: can an unfunded upstart magazine run by twenty-somethings connect with readers on a broad local level?  Already, The Salon is distributed to over 50 locations in Vermont, including many independent bookstores, where it sells well enough to sustain publication. This year the magazine is participating in all 3 of our state’s literary festivals, as well as holding a host of other events—and this summer, Honeybee Press, the publishing body of The Salon, was awarded a grant from the Vermont Arts Council to launch a book series.

            I believe our success is due to several things: the spirit of unity that exists in Vermont’s arts organizations (The Salon could not exist without the collaboration and synthesis of Burlington City Arts, North End Studios, and Alleycats Studio); our refusal to buy into expensive digital trends, (and determination to work with out hands to produce the magazine); and lastly, the strength of the quality of work that writers are producing in this state. Take a look inside and judge for yourself.

—B.A.