Here we are, three years on and feeling good!  We survived Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall of 2020 and we’re still here, flapping, squawking, raising dust and flashing some genuine gems and nuggets for all to enjoy as we bid an eager and ecstatic farewell to 2020.  Righteousness is right around the corner, we are sure.  And the lights are all green, indicating GO GO GO!

The Thieving Magpie has been happily overwhelmed with submissions by talented artists from all over the world this entire year.  So many submissions, in fact, that we had to save some for the next issue.  But in this Third Anniversary issue, we have found wonderful poets and writers from the west coast, east coast, midwest, Canada, Australia and beyond.  We have found teachers, doctors, writers and retirees all polishing up their best words, sentences, ideas and images to share with our world.  Why?  Because while elections have consequences and Pandemics wreak havoc, the Human Spirit is much more resilient than anything out there.  It is too easy to see only the red lights and think “emergency” or “pull over” or “don’t walk” or “stop.”  What we see in this 12th Issue of the Thieving Magpie – and in all of the literature, photography, film, art and music that continues to be created and disseminated even in these tough times – is proof that we create our own Green Lights!  We find the openings; we negotiate the turns and navigate the dark corners; we glance down at the steep and narrow ledges and fearlessly keep moving.  We are the Green Lights we want to see.

[Editor’s Note:  Please drive safely at all times and adhere to all traffic signals; or as Dylan says “don’t follow the leader, watch the parking meters”].

We hope you enjoy this Winter 2020/21 Issue 12.  Keep reading.  Keep creating. Keep submitting.  And spread the word.

Happy New Year!