Labor Day

While I had every intention of getting this issue online by Labor Day, it didn't happen. My only excuse is that ennui set-in over the Summer and I allowed myself to become sidetracked. I've found over the last few years that, when it comes to publishing this ezine (or anything else for that matter), I have two equally opposing desires working on my psyche: the desire to create and the desire not to create. It's a constant series of battles in an un-ending war. Perhaps I'm giving myself too much credit (or blame as the case may be). After all, there were other circumstances that got in the way of completing this issue. There were withdrawn manuscripts which, at one point earlier in the year, forced me to practically start over from scratch, continued health problems, financial setbacks etc. Some days, it just came down to the weather and my desire not to even get out of bed. So, as I finally approached the finish line, Labor Day came and went. I'd complete a page here, a page there . . . and then take a holiday, returning to the business of completing this issue when I felt like it (most days, I didn't feel like it). In the meantime, I busied myself with other projects, socialized, surfed the Internet, read books, played the Sims 3, watched episodes of Doctor Who, exercised and just did anything that would keep me from finishing this issue. Labor Day came and went. And then, finally, a couple of days ago, I said to myself, "Enough is enough. The sooner I publish this damn thing, the sooner I can move past it and forget about it." So, I gave myself one last push, one last sprint and, huffing and puffing, few grunts later and here it is, for your reading pleasure.

I'd like to think that taking a little extra time with an issue, ultimately makes it better than simply slapping it together. I do think it holds up quite well. Whether the readers will agree remains to be seen. Anyway, no more excuses and no further adieu, I give your issue number thirteen of The 13th Warrior Review, Summer/Fall 2009. Enjoy.