From the Editors
Welcome to Big Ugly Issue #1, "The First Time" issue. It all starts here: "The Big Ugly Review showcases emerging and established writers, photographers and musicians. Each issue includes fiction (short stories an flash fiction), creative non-fiction, poetry, photo-essays and downloadable songs, all related to that issue's theme."
The debut issue is all about beginnings, jumping off with the "And So It Begins" flash fiction contest, which prompts writers with a first sentence (this time: "I had never seen a tree on fire before.") There's a three-way tie for first place, and two honorable mentions.
Plus stories, essays, poetry, songs, and a photo essay... Here we go!
Affectionately yours,
– Editors
AND SO IT BEGINS:
My Flaming by Heather McDonald
The Phoenix by Ericka Lutz
Seed by Debra DiBlasi
A Valuable Girl by Lisa McMann
Dredging by Judy GeBauer
FLASH FICTION:
Recovery by Dan Coshnear
Correspondence by Dan Coshnear
Laundry Day by Elizabeth Bernstein
Walking Through Walls by Emily Spreng Lowery
Vice Versa by Julia Serano
Execution Girl by Kim Curtis
Raider of the Lost Ark by Ken Samuels
Breath-taking by Lisa Polito
Running Away in San Francisco: "The First Man" by Evelyn Manangan
Arrivals by Nigel French
Night Swim by Polly Kimberly
Disabused by Susan Richardson
excerpt from aporia::porchlight by Rebecca Stoddard
The Last House in Minneapolis by James Cihlar
case by Kitsune Hime
Birds Fly South by Blame Sally
Sleeping with the Driver by essence
I Can't Speak Your Name by David Hopkins
We Don't Get to Watch the Trains by Stephen Yerkey
First Images by Tom Erikson
Get ready for some great writing about fights and flights, and that unnerving gray area in between.
Admit it. We look fantastic. I mean, just look at us! We're still big and we're still ugly, but my God. We can hardly stop looking at ourselves.
This issue was a "first time" for us in many ways. It was our first contest - each category of The Contest Issue had a different judge and the winner took home a prize, and the theme was a free-for-all.
Apparently our readers have lots to hide, because we got hundreds of great submissions for The Hidden Agendas Issue. We're very excited about what we have for you inside.
Losing yourself in the world, and trying to find your way back.
Picking up the pieces, shaking what doesn't work anymore to see if it's really kaput.