Wordgathering

A Journal of Disability Poetry and Literature

Volume 10     Issue 2     June 2016

Welcome

In the June 2016 Wordgathering returns to its roots with a heavy emphasis on poetry. We welcome back poets Michael Amram, Ann Eustace, Marie Kane, Raymond Luczak, Emily K. Michael, Rhonda Poynter and Roy White and are glad for the first time to have poems by J V Birch, Sister Lou Ella Hickman, Cali Linfor and Maakomele Manaka.

Our interview for this issue is with Sarah Katz who discusses her poetry and the launching of her new journal Deaf Poets Society. Two of our essays in this issue involve poetry. One is from Liz Whiteacre who has been working on poetry based on transcripts from college wheelchair users. The other is a tribute to Linda A. Cronin, Wordgathering poetry editor who died shortly after the March issue of this journal appeared. Four books in our reviews section also concern new volumes of poetry including work by Millicent Borges Accardi, Tony Gloeggler, Raymond Luczak and Dana Robbins. In addition, the Reading Loop for this issue zeros in on referential disability poetry, poems in which the writer takes as its starting point the work of other writers with disabilities. Contributors to the Reading Loop include an impressive list of poets: Kathi Wolfe, Lisa Gill, Stephen Kuusisto, Jim Ferris, Hal Sirowitz, Des Kenny, Ana Garza G'z and Andrea Nicki.

Prose work is not entirely absent, however. Chad MacDonald makes his debut appearance in Wordgathering with an impressive short story about the intersection of poverty, drug use and disability, "Blow, Push, Blow." Sean Mahoney's breezy essay is a look back at a significant event for writers of disability literature, the Disability Literature Consortium's first appearance at this year's AWP conference. Rachel Kallem Whitman relates an episode from her life as a person who lives with bipolar disorder. In the book reviews section, Donna Hill's novel for young readers is given one of its first reviews, while Salman Rushdie's Shame is viewed from a disabilities perspective.

As mentioned above, the death of Linda Cronin was a surprise to all who worked with her, not only the Wordgathering staff, but the staff at Breath and Shadow of which she was a part for so long. Filling in the gap was not easy, so Wordgathering wants to give special thanks to Emily K. Michael, Sarah Katz and Sylvia Bowersox for stepping in. The work of these editors and everyone else who helped to insure that the June issue of the journal came into being is also recognized in our About section.

Writers interested in keeping current on disability literature can join us on Facebook and on Twitter at @wordgathering.com. The activities of the Disability Literature Consortium can be followed on their blog or contacted at dislit666@gmail.com.

Wordgathering continues to seek work that develops the field of disability literature. We invite the submission of poetry, short fiction, drama, art and essays that discuss poetry from a disability perspective or that contribute to the theoretical development of the field of disability literature. The journal appreciates hearing from authors whose books are consistant with the mission of Wordgathering and would like them reviewed. Our guidelines provide further information about the kind of work we seek. We value our readers' opinions and hope you will send your comments, concerns or ideas to us at comments@wordgathering.com.

The Editors

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