the editors

In 1993, Toni Morrison accepted the Nobel Prize for Literature with these words "Language alone protects us from the scariness of things with no names... it acts as a device for grappling with meaning."

We're very pleased with the level of contributions to Flushed, the poetry, art and prose that help us to make sense of our sometimes messy, non-linear lives and take some of the guilt out of being imperfect. We're touched by the stories, the experiences, and also the satisfaction people get from seeing their work in Flushed.

As we prepare this issue, our editorial collective has expanded to include several new members. And, we are starting to have submissions from a wide geographic sweep: pieces are coming in from England, the Czech Republic, Australia and the United States as well as from closer to home here in Canada.

The production of each issue usually involves about thirty individuals. It's a giant collaboration involving the writers, artists, and reviewers who contribute their work, the collective members who read and prepare material, and our webmaster Francis Lim who puts it all together in his office in Vancouver. Each person and each step is crucial to the final product.

We hope you enjoy Flushed and that you’ll encourage your friends to take a look at what we're doing. Take care of yourselves over the summer and join us in the Fall.