FROM THE EDITORS

THIS ISSUE OF THE HUMBER LITERARY REVIEW IS BEING PRODUCED AND PUBLISHED DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC; an unprecedented moment in all of our lives. In times like these, it can seem as if we live in one long alarming present. To combat this malaise, we must look to the future for solace. For a guarantee that there are better days ahead.

This issue celebrates the bright future of writing in our community, featuring the winners and honourable mentions in our third biennial Emerging Writers Fiction Contest. We were thrilled to work with Waubgeshig Rice on this year’s contest, and the selected stories present a thrilling, diverse range of voices. In Waub’s words, “Harvest,” the winning story submitted by Pamela Dillon, “is an alluring coming-of-age journey set against a vibrant prairie backdrop.” He describes how what starts as a typical story about “the exploits of a group of boys delicately evolves into a story of self-realization, hope, and heartbreak. Here,” he continues, “the unpredictability of human ambition and desire is expertly married with a volatile, yet stubborn natural prairie landscape.”

Waub describes Chido Muchemwa’s second-placewinning “Who Will Bury You?” as “a touching account of a mother’s wish to understand her daughter, studying faraway on another continent. As she yearns for her child’s happiness, the mother naively misses revealing signs about who she really is.” He concludes his description by pointing out that “the incredulous affection emerges through a compelling first-person narrative.”

Of Nina Dunic’s “Bodies,” Rice notes that the disparate “creepy and compassionate elements make this a gripping story.” In this third-place-winning piece, “a dark discovery quickly plunges [the story] into a realm of mystery and intrigue. The death of a familiar figure haunts a young protagonist and unveils a strange family dynamic shrouded in secrets.”

Along with the winners and three engaging honourable mentions of our contest, this issue is loaded with incredible art and writing. Our new poetry editor Bardia Sinaee presents his first selections and they represent a stunning group of poets, including the return of Eva H.D. to the pages of the HLR, the exciting emerging voice of Zoe Imani Sharpe alongside the established, award-winning (and Griffin and Giller prize nominated) James Pollock and Jennifer LoveGrove.

Similarly, our creative non-fiction in this issue features the emerging voice of Brittani Birch, whose poignant essay describes a difficult coming-of-age moment with humour and insight, alongside the established and distinct voice of Mark Anthony Jarman.

And as usual, the visuals in this issue are stunning. There is a dreamy, surreal comic from Alëna Skarina, and we are truly honoured to feature the innovative work of the legendary Joan Butterfield.

Finally, we’re also excited to announce two new collaborations. First, we’re thrilled to work with a community partner, our good friends at InkWell Workshops, to feature another emerging poet in George Zancola. And Micaela Powers, a student in Humber College’s Professional Writing and Communications program, interviews the multi-talented Nancy Jo Cullen about the writing life and her new novel, The Western Alienation Merit Badge.

We hope that within this issue you are able to find solace for these uncertain times.

Best wishes, The HLR Collective