Happy Birthday! (well, almost)

Amazing: this weekend marks the one-year anniversary of Isak!

Born at this savvy conference, I've taken so much joy in the reflection and community emerging here, 693 posts later. And I want to thank all of you who have written me emails or commented: I've learned so much from you.

So what can you expect from Isak 2.0 this coming year?

*Book giveaways
*A new, improved look
*Increasingly streamlined and thorough link collections
*Increasingly regular reviews of novels, short stories, nonfiction, and poetry collections

That said, it's worth recalling the debut post (aptly titled "Debut"):

"The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea."

There's truth in Isak Dinesen's words, and also romance: after all, one might suggest, say, food and shelter are other useful elements in our lives.

Dinesen, whose true name was Karen Blixon, was a Danish woman who operated a coffee farm in Kenya from 1914 to 1931. Her famed storytelling eventually emerged on paper. Out of Africa was her favorite of her many books "because it is true." But she was also a prolific writer of dark-edged tales--long, luxurious stories that rattle and creak and slant reality with unabashed verve.

I don't mean to imply, by naming this website after her, that Isak will be a tribute site, or a research site, or a bio site. Rather, Isak is a space to celebrate tales and truths in the curious, loving way that embodies the spirit of the writer for which it is named.

By tales, I mean fiction (especially short fiction), as well as other literary and artistic narratives. By truths, I mean the world in which we live. I especially have my eye on creative social justice.

And I take the word "celebrating" in Isak's tagline seriously. While there is so much to fear for in this world (hello, U.S. empire!), and, dare I say, an equal amount to fear in the artistic world, it's impossible to ignore the causes for joy and hope.

Let's explore them together.

Welcome to Isak

Comments

[Ben]

A very Happy (almost) Birthday to you!

693 posts in one year? Yikes, I've been at this whole blogging thing for nearly two years and I only have just under 300 posts. Guess it shows that you were definitely born to be a writer. Let's see one of those stogie "old media" people try to top what you've done here in one year :)

[Anna]

I'll be honest: I do have a good time!

[fred]

hey! i think you started isak on my birthday!

[Anna]

Fred, you are my lucky charm! And a massive, well-earned happy birthday to YOU, sir!