David Keefe – Editor

Without books, we would have no libraries; and without libraries, we would have no civilization. There is no greater responsibility than passing civilization from one generation to the next. There are some who say that civilization is only created by occupations such as doctors, lawyers, businessmen, soldiers, and civil engineers. These are indeed noble professions and necessary to sustain life; but writing, reading, imagination, creativity, knowledge, ideas, passion, discovery, celebration . . . these are why we stay alive!I have spent years developing my craft in order to create a job I can enjoy—one that is fraught with meaning, full of purpose, and overall essential. Books have been a passion for me ever since I was a child. Now that I have children of my own, I understand their value and worth even more. I seek to pass civilization on to my children through the literature, science, and history in our possession.We members of the human race are by nature story-based creatures. We learn how to think, how to feel, and how to act based on what writers share with us. We learn that while there is fear and doubt in the world, there is also hope and trust. There is ignorance and hate but also acceptance and love. There will always be darkness lurking, but one may light a candle to help keep the darkness at bay.Let us collaborate, dear writers, and seek to increase the amount of light in the universe one book at a time.