Dear Reader,
As we approach the halfway point of 2020, we never would have imagined the circumstances that would surround issue no. VI, melody, or that we’d be postponing the issue from its initial launch date. Our hearts go out to all those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and we’re so grateful to those who’ve supported us through it—everyone who’s shown us patience, sent work our way, or purchased issues of the lit mag (like this one!) or Nightingale & Sparrow Press titles. We’ve had four books launch since March—A letter from your sheets // if your sheets could speak by Elizabeth Kemball, Dichotomy by Mikhayla Robinson, A Daughter for Mr. Spider by Megan Russo (who also serves as production manager here at N&S!) and Natalie by Keana Aguila Labra. We’re so excited to add melody to our spring lineup!
When issue no. V, love, came to be, I prefaced it in part with a note that the new year had already been chaotic. As you can imagine, that chaos has certainly intensified! But our team has been hard at work to bring a bit of a bright spot into being with melody. I’m so grateful to the members of our team who’ve kept us on-track, even when some of us (myself included) have struggled to adjust. At the end of the day, our N&S nest really is a community, and I’m so grateful to each one who makes our press possible.
Of course, that gratitude extends: thank you to our contributors, submitters, readers (like you!), followers, customers, and Ko-fi donors. As you likely know already, Nightingale & Sparrow is currently run on an entirely volunteer basis—every bit of income we bring in goes back to producing the literary magazine, website, and every print and digital book we put out. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
With all that in mind, welcome to melody. We asked submitters to send us “heartsongs and top hits, your ballads and breakup anthems. Share the songs that have made you who you are and the soundtrack to the worst moments of your life. Sing us to sleep and make us dance to the beats.” Let Linda McMullen’s “Daphne” and Kathleen McKitty Harris’ “New York’s (Just Like) Starting Over” pull at your heartstrings and “Soft susurrus” by Athena Melliar and “A little love poem on a little love poem” by N.D. Erwin lull you. Lean into the music that plays through each page.
Thank you again from all of us at Nightingale & Sparrow. Enjoy melody and stay tuned for schoolhouse this summer!
Juliette Sebock
Editor-in-Chief, Nightingale & Sparrow
