A Note from Editor William Rubel

Behind the scenes lots is happening at Stone Soup. Jane Levi, our new operations manager, is getting us set up so soon, probably defined as within a couple of months, we will be running efficiently in our virtual office configuration. Many of our back office systems are in flux as we move to a fully automated system for subscriptions. Michael King, our go-to person for just about everything, is responsible for customer relations. Michael is setting up a modern FAQ system for us so you will soon be able to answer more of your questions at our site online. I will be more formally introducing new staff in a few weeks -- I want to introduce everyone along with a coherent explanation of future plans. But I do want to say that Emma Wood, a poet with an MFA from the prestigious Iowa Writers Workshop, has joined our staff and is developing ideas for upcoming issues. I can also say that, beginning in September, we will be increasing the frequency of publication to monthly, though probably still with a combined Summer issue.

Last week's newsletter was short because the website was down, owing to an error made as it was shifted to a new server. The site is now transferred and opening many, many times faster than it was before. It is also more secure. In the change, however, we lost our Stone Soup Store with the Stone Soup Anthologies  for sale. We hope to have that back up next week.

From the Stone Soup issue:
May/June 2017

Maple and Marmalade

Written by Fiona Mulley, 13
Illustrated by Maya Work, 12

A loud knock sounded on Violet's dressing-room door. "Places for Act One!"

Violet leapt up from her dressing-table stool, her breath quickening. A little shiver of nervous excitement ran down her spine as she peered into the mirror one last time, checking anxiously to see that her microphone was in place. She didn’t look quite like herself; the reflection staring back at her from inside the frame of lights was not the image of a thirteen-year-old girl but that of a young Civil-War-era woman. What with the stage makeup, full hoop skirt, and her normally loose hair gathered into a stately bun, she scarcely recognized herself.Violet slipped her hand into the hidden pocket in her costume and groped about, closing her fingers around a pebble- like object. It was a small piece of wood, its surface was smooth and soft; the bark had been whittled away. She drew it out of her pocket and gazed at it wistfully, slipping into a reverie.

She could remember . . . .

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