Before we go any further, let’s get one thing out of the way:

VOTE!

Which brings us to the issue at hand:  Participation.  Fall is harvest season.  Beyond being sweater weather, it is also long sleeve weather.  Time we roll up those long, cozy sleeves and participate in reaping rewards we spent all Winter Spring and Summer working towards.  Get your hands muddy; get your heart rate up; get your back good and stiff.  It is why we are here – to plant seeds, work the earth, nurture it, give it the respect it commands, then watch the fruits of our collaboration grow.

Participation is key.  It is why voting is important.  It is also why platforms like the Thieving Magpie (www.thievingmagpie.org) exist; like a farmer’s market or a collective, we provide space for working artists to show the fruits of their collaborations of words, themes, rhythms, imagery, machinery.  It’s another bumper crop this season – photography, visual poems, art, poems and, of course, stellar stories from some of the most interesting storytellers and artists from around the world.

So, come pick some fresh literary fruit, cut yourself a slice of juicy mischief, pour yourself a cup of hot mayhem and enjoy our harvest.

And . . . Vote… seriously.