By Lorna Reese

Special to the Weekly

Local writers Susan Foster Hale of San Juan Island and Gretchen Wing of Lopez Island, both former teachers, and poets Ande Finley of Lopez and Dorothy Trogdon of Orcas are among the writers and artists featured in SHARK REEF Literary Magazine’s Summer 2012 edition, online now at sharkreef.org. Submissions to the issue came via internet from all over the United States.

The issue explores the various forms of love in several prose pieces in the issue: sexual love, one-sided love, first love, mother love, parental love and parents-to-be love – and fear, and taking a chance on love. There is also a mythical tale inspired by Australian aboriginal culture and the usual nine superb poems which will take readers in numerous other directions – to graphology, instinct, the importance of being watchful when seeing, cold comfort, Prague and more.

Launched in 2001, SHARK REEF is now in its second decade, a significant feat for online magazines. As editor, I work with different local co-editors for each issue. Rita Larom, former “Spotlight on Seniors” writer for the Islands’ Weekly, was co-editor for prose submissions –fiction and creative non-fiction — for the summer issue.

“Co-editing this issue provided me insight into the varied and exceptional writing that is submitted to SHARK REEF,” says Larom. “Fortunate authors have a valuable

opportunity for publication and lucky readers have fine selected material to enjoy and consider.”

John Sangster and Elizabeth Landrum, both Lopezians, served as poetry co-editors for the last three editions. It’s been such a pleasure to work with them. Not only are they superb poets in their own right, they also are much better judges of poetry than a prose writer like me. We’re so grateful for their thoughtful and wise shepherding of the review process for the numerous poetry submissions SHARK REEF receives.

SHARK REEF is, in fact, seeking two new poetry co-editors to review submissions to the Winter 2013 edition. Writers interested in collaborating on an issue in this way are invited to write to editor@sharkreef.org.

Visual art in the issue includes stunning and mysterious photographs, dreamy, ethereal encaustic paintings and surprising mixed media works that bridge the gap between drawing and painting. Judy Connor, St. Paul, Minn., is SHARK REEF’s art editor.

Though founded as a venue for serious local writers to get their work published, the online literary magazine now accepts good writing from writers wherever they live. Writers and readers may subscribe (for free) to receive email updates at sharkreef.org and visitors to the website are invited to “like” SHARK REEF on Facebook (Shark Reef Literary Magazine).

SHARK REEF publishes two issues a year, one in the summer and one in winter and is now accepting submissions of writing and art for its Winter 2013 edition. Submission deadline is Sept. 30. The literary magazine considers solicited and unsolicited material: fiction, non-fiction prose, poetry and drama. It also features artwork by visual artists in each issue. Go to sharkreef.org for submission guidelines, current offerings and archived issues.

SHARK REEF is published by Heron Moon Press.