editorial

Hello and welcome to issue #76 of The Interpreter’s House. It’s been quite a while since I wrote the editorial for issue #75 but the extended break has given the team a chance to rest.

To breathe.

To reflect.

It has been an opportunity to process —or begin to process — the consequences of living in a world with Covid and consider ways of working that support the energy and wellbeing of all at the House, editors and contributors alike. I’ve had conversations in recent months with editors of other online journals in which we’ve spoken frankly about the pressures of producing high quality magazines, while also doing work that pays the bills and living up to family or caring commitments. For me, all of these are labours of love, but sometimes it adds up to a hell of a lot of labour.

The switch to a twice yearly production cycle is helping us to take better care of ourselves and others. We’ve had more time to consider submissions and to engage more deeply with our contributors. It’s been like having a book case that is actually big enough to fit all of your books. It’s been a joy.

The Interpreter’s House team has now officially expanded to include Lizzie Fowler who came on board as a guest fiction editor for issue #75. Annie and Lizzie will edit our fiction submissions, while Louise and I work with the poetry. Andrew has shifted his focus to our newest venture: podcasting. Yes, the Interpreter’s House is now available for your ears as well as your eyes. Please do check out Episode 1 in which Andrew interviews David Spittle about a wide range of subjects, including but not limited to surrealism, John Ashbery and David’s own poetry.

Issue #76 is our biggest online issue yet, featuring twenty eight writers who have contributed a total of twenty two poems and eight short stories. Correction: a total of twenty two stunning poems and eight amazing stories. It’s an honour to host such high quality work by both new and returning contributors. There is something for everyone here in terms of themes and styles, but I have been particularly struck by the high number of excellent submissions about embodiment and physical or mental illness; pieces that explore these themes with depth and nuance. Clearly, it’s not just the editorial staff that have been using recent months to reflect.

As you’ll expect if you’re a regular reader of the House, a few of the poems and stories featured in this issue deal with dark themes or unpleasant events. We make no apology for this – it reflects the world in which we live, and our contributors shine a light on dark places with great skill and empathy. Yet there is also warmth and humour to be found in our cyber-pages.

I hope that you’ll find a little of what you fancy or something that you need in this issue.

Whether you’re a reader, a contributor or another editor, keep on keeping on. Gently.

Georgi