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From the Editor By R.D. Hohenfeldt Managing Editor March already, and just yesterday it was Christmas—or so it seemed. And I’m still working on compiling my list of New Year’s resolutions from all the notes I jotted down. March already, and I haven’t planned my garden the way I’d intended. March already, and I haven’t read the books I’d wanted to finish by now and I’m way behind in my Bible reading, too. It’s March already. Goodness gracious sakes alive. Or, as my Grandma Howe would say, “well, for pity’s sake.” Well, folks, while you’re reading this March issue, I’m working on the April issue, and maybe even part of May and June. We
try hard each month to provide you with a high-quality magazine, because
we know you expect quality. I’ve discovered that you readers of The
Ozarks Chronicle line up in several queues (a word I learned while
playing Scrabble with my Grandma Hohenfeldt). Some of you line up to
read our stories about the arts; you like to know the backgrounds of
artists, musicians and writers in the area. Some of you line up to read
our stories about agriculture and horticulture. Some of you line up to
read about the natural world, the columns and stories about birds,
flowers, the changing seasons and geology. Of course, a whole host of
you stand in more than one of those lines. A good many of you do as both
David Finch, of Rolla, and my wife’s beloved Mom-Z, way down yonder in
No matter which readership queue you’re standing in, all of you readers have one thing in common: You recognize quality in writing and you expect quality in writing. That’s why The Ozarks Chronicle is more thrilling than anything I’ve ever done before. Thank goodness, I’ve been able to find writers of quality. I am honored to have Dr. Lynda Richards, Lorraine McFarland and Holly Atkinson writing for The OC. This month, Dr. Jim Bogan jumps into the mix with his Ozark Meandering column. Two top photographers, Bob Phelan and Julie Atkinson, also allow us to present their work, and I’m thrilled by that. Among my favorite reading in the magazine are contributions from readers. We had several last month; brief stories and letters from people who shared their Ozarks memories, recipes and thoughts. We don’t have any this month, and I miss them. How about writing something for April? Let me hear from you about Easters you remember, or April weather, or bouts with spring fever, or spring hunting stories, or April fool’s jokes or pranks in the Ozarks. Don’t be afraid to write, for you’ll have one of the area’s best editors, me, helping you. Also, I got no recipes for the March issue; I hope to get some recipes this month for the April edition. The February issue (the one with the bald eagle photo by Bob Phelan on the cover) was greeted with enthusiasm by readers. I lost track of the number of people who told me it was the best issue we’d ever published. It was also the issue that had the fewest of my bylines. That told me something. I figured out I need to spend more time working with writers; in other words, I need to spend more time as an editor than as a writer. I’ve started doing just that by working with members of the Rolla Area Writers Guild, and I hope to begin presenting their work in May, if not in April. I’m also posting our writers guidelines on our website at www.theozarkschronicle.com/writers.htm, and I invite those of you who are freelances to take a look and consider this magazine. I hope you like this month’s edition as much as you liked last month’s. In fact, I hope you like it so much that you’ll subscribe to it. It costs just $12 per year to have it delivered by mail. At least that’s what it costs now. In July, the annual subscription rate will go to $18 per year, so send in your new subscription or renew your subscription today. Think of it: For just $12 you get to read the works of some mighty fine writers (and my stuff, too, of course) all year long. All right, enjoy the magazine, and I’ll see you back here around the first of April.--RDH |