Strange times. I hope you are well. The summer issue is in production, and it will be a special one. I asked the twenty accepted contributors for an additional "shelter-in-place response." Those who opted to answer will have their pieces in a special section that acknowledges our current pandemic situation. I await the first proof, and we should be set for our usual mid-June release. Meanwhile, I'm reading for the fall issue, 8.3. I'm hoping to continue this dual look at life: what goes on as usual and what changes. More COVID-19 related pieces are appearing in my in-box, but I'm still interested in general gentle submissions. Thanks for reading and writing. Star 82 Review is here . Submissions through Submittable here . UPCOMING IN JUNE!

Crazy times, but I'm still reading for Star 82 Review . Please do send your best and thoughtful poems, art, and stories for possible inclusion in the summer issue here . Below you'll find a sneak peek at the cover. I took this picture on a whale watching trip to the Farallon Islands. We were quite far from any land. Kind of how we might feel right now. But we'll get there! Meanwhile, there's this opportunity to hang out together.

Available now for free reading online here . Support the magazine and get a printed copy here . This issue has wonderful full-color art and short poetry and prose, much of it relating to love and loss, longing and learning, and shown in ways you might not expect. Thanks to all the contributors, subscribers, and readers! CONTRIBUTORS M. Shayne Bell Lily Blackburn Jill Bronfman Alessandra Davy-Falconi Ricardo Elisiário Mary Grimm Mark Havlik Richard Herring Rich Ives Maggie James Angie Kang Casey Killingsworth Melissa Knox Lisa Kokin Thomas M. McDade Benjamin Nash Kevin Ramroop Pablo Saborío Dorsía Smith Silva Robynn Smith Laurie Szujewska Jami Taback Jake Tringali Kim Vanderheiden Suzanne Verrall  Becca Wittman Jessica Woodward

Star 82 Review  is calling. Will you answer? Here's what is coming up for the spring/March cover of Star 82 Review , 8.1. Looking, as usual, for creative, gentle, and fresh art and writing. If you sign up on the website or here at the sidebar, you will receive quarterly mailings and discounts on the latest issues.

It's great for writers to have so many awards to be nominated to, but that means lots of difficult choices for the editors. Once again, here are the six Pushcart Prize Nominations from Star 82 Review , this time for works published in the year 2019. And again, even if you were not nominated, please know that your work is loved and appreciated! Good luck to all. Poetry Borders and Boundaries by Carol Dorf  (7.2) Gardening by Sarah Shapiro  (7.2) Why We Sing by Oak Morse  (7.3) pi- stash -ee-oh, -stah -shee-oh by Seth Grindstaff  (7.4) Prose Crescent Moon Autobiography by Alia Hussain Vancrown  (7.2) Still Dogwood by Carmen Gordon-Rein  (7.3)

Star 82 Review issue 7.4 features the absurd and the serious, lighthearted fun and deep thoughts, all to delight our way and lift our spirits. We have some wonderful art, predictive and found poems, a look back at New York City, poems about foster kids, a pond, and lethargy, and a variety of other playful and human interactions. Online link to 7.4 is here . Link to the print copy of 7.4, available from Lulu, is here . (The link is also at the bottom of the online web page.) Contributors Geonni Banner Amita Basu Wendy Bourke Rebecca Buller Roger Camp Marizio Caste Martha Christina Jane Costain John Darr Liz DeGregorio Coz Frimpong Laura Garrison Darryl Graff Seth Grindstaff Richard Herring Michael Hill LuAnne Holladay Shaun Holloway Linda Lowe Rebecca Minnich ayaz daryl nielsen Toti O'Brien Steven Pelcman Dan Richman Lindsay Shen Mark Simpson John L. Stanizzi Robert Stone Gene Twaronite Jennifer Woodworth

This year, the limit from the folks at Best Microfiction  was four stories, maximum 400 words. It's always hard. And I love you all! More nominations for other awards  coming soon. Community Policing by Elancharan Gunasekaran (214 words) http://star82review.com/7.1/gunasekaran-community.html Campsis Hearts by Olivia Germann (58 words) http://star82review.com/7.1/germann-hearts.html Three Wishes by K.M. Crane (82 words) http://star82review.com/7.2/crane-wishes.html Still Dogwood by Carmen Gordon-Rein (224 words) http://star82review.com/7.3/gordon-rein-dogwood.html Good luck!