Sensations Magazine
Issue 9: Released
December 12, 1993
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1993
Adding
full color in a dramatic way . . .
Sensations
Magazine Issue 9 remains one of my favorite issues. I'm
thrilled with the quality of poetry and fiction, and was
pleased to win First Place, Design in the 1994 American Literary
Magazine Awards for my design contributions to the masterful blend of 19th century print reproduction and 20th century color
photography, both enhancing the selected poetry and
fiction. In 1994 and 1995, we would win two more American Literary
Magazine Awards, making us a rare three-consecutive-year winner in that
competition.
The 126-page
issue offered poetry, fiction, research, and something unusual: a
historical retrospective of our first six years of operation (including
a list of readings and key dates in our history), a nine-year operation
plan, and a financial statement. (The nine-year plan had us up to
Issue 20 in 2002; we exceeded that by achieving Issue 28 in 2002.)
Due to the acid-free paper, color reproduction, and issue size, the cost
of Issue 9 set a new record, at $20/copy. (It sold out quickly.)
Some other
highlights of Issue 9, our sole 1993 issue:
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Poets published
in Issue 9 (27): Moira Bailis, Joe Bracco, George Chadderdon,
Brenda Clark, Colin D. DeVault, Liza DiSavino, Austin Gil, Daniel Green,
Mary Grow, Carolyn Howard, Steven Koenig, Andrew F. Kopycinski, Florence
Szerlag Maerz, Lorin Marshall, Debbie Mayhew, David Messineo, Barbara
Meyerson, Rita Michels, Treva Myatt, James Nicosia, Christopher Olson,
Gail Pidgeon, Melanie A. Pimont, Theresa Ryan, John Patrick Schutz,
Leeander Scott, John J. Trause
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Fiction writers
published in Issue 9 (7): David Appell, Barrie Creedon, Treva
Myatt, Phoebe Otis, Maggie Reilly, Verbena Pastor, John H. Wilson
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Research
article, "Native America by Native Americans: Pre-Contact to
1800," examined the extant chants and "writings" of Native American
tribes, adding a non-Western-European perspective to our Rediscovering
America in Poetry research series
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Line art by
Christopher Bing
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Color
photography by David Messineo
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"Symphony for my
Grandparents," a 7-poem cycle published in Issue 9, recounts the
passings of my four grandparents - one in August 1989, two shortly
before Christmas 1992, and the last in February 1993
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The first of
occasional staff changes occurred, with Poetry Editor Matthew Holbrook
departing for parts unknown in May 1993, during the development process
of Issue 9. (He would be replaced with a series of rotating Guest
Poetry Editors through our 1999 issue. I would solely select all
poetry from 2000 on.)
While the 1993
issue set new heights for production quality, I had some concerns that
it was getting, well, too literary. The following year would bring
a dramatic change in content and tone.
. . . while poetry readings,
and poetic inspiration, continue
in colorful locations.
(Above) Poetic inspiration can
come from the most usual circumstances, as the Publisher proves in his
first face-to-face meeting with a 400-pound mammal in March, 1993 in
Marathon, Florida. This was the inspiration for his series "The
Dolphin Trilogy," published in his book Suburban Gothic in 1999.
(Above) Sensations Magazine
sponsors a Victorian Poetry Reading by Canoe in Ringwood, NJ, during the
afternoon of August 1, 1993. While Kleber de Freitas guides the canoe, poets
Andrew Kopycinski, Tom Jones, and Barbara Meyerson, and I (not pictured)
share some work.
(Above) Andrew at the Meyerson
house, in a second reading the evening of August 1.
(Above) Sensations Magazine
hosts a poetry reading in the fluorescent room of an underground
mine--specifically, the Sterling Hill Mine Museum in Ogdensburg, NJ--in
the autumn of 1993. Pictured L-R: Robert Pace, Steven
Koenig, David Messineo, and Barbara Meyerson.
(Above) The Publisher poses
with docents at the William Robinson Plantation in Clark, NJ in December
1993, at the debut celebration of Issue 9. The site is a 17th
century home; our reading was by firelight in the main room.
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