This is rare. Unlike the magazines who never reveal their secrets, we are taking this opportunity to come clean. In two ways, even. Showcasing our work and letting you take a little peek behind the curtain of QWERTY's production so far. Stare into the machinery.

When we started, nearly two years ago now, all we really had was Energy. As it turned out, for once our energy was rewarded. All those things which we believed would be most difficult to secure: resources, technology, finances, fell into place quickly. It was a profitable combination of luck, naivete, knowing a few key people, and a bit more luck thrown in.

It was, in fact, the abstract questions we posed to ourselves which gave us the most trouble: who is QWERTY for? what does it publish? who reads what and who makes the decisions? We had several planning/strategy meetings. Eventually a constitution/mission statement was drafted, an editorial hierarchy was adopted, the future of QWERTY was secured (fingers remained tightly crossed). So what difference did this newly well-oiled artistic machinery make in the preparation of QWERTY? Practically zip. We're yet to accurately define what makes a work QWERTY worthy; but we know when we see it (though usually never unanimously). As for the rest of it: who does what and when for this journal? Well that changes like the wind's direction. Regardless, the fact that you're holding our third issue in your hands would seem to indicate the job gets done.

Somehow.

This issue's underlying motive is secret, but psst: since you're listening--VANITY. Not destructive, ego-overinflating stuff, but a recognition that our "staff" is mostly made up of the UNB English Creative Writing program & alumnus. So to not publish our writing at some point (at this point obviously, since people have a bad habit of graduating and moving) would be to ignore some of the best writing we have available to us. Modesty go and lick a turnip. Also, it will give you, faithful reader (and especially you, exalted subscriber), a chance to meet, greet, and embrace in a platonic and fluid-free manner QWERTYsians of all shapes and sizes.

Introducing:

PAUL DECHENE, whose trajectory to NB began in AB, is writing a novel, drinking too much, designing our & others websites, smoking too much, listening to a high density of RHEOSTATICS recordings, and is both a fiction and poetry editor, not to mention lead off man in our little parade d'ego.

SHANE RHODES, whom you'll recall was New Kid last time 'round, is handling growing up in front of the reading public quite well. he is also an AB-NB shuttle-fish and does double duty as poetry editor for QWERTY and filling station.

GREG DORAN, theatre specialist and token academic, is pursuing and near catching his PhD. If you need anyone to find, build, knock down & rebuild a better whatever, Greg'll do it for you. He usually edits fiction but has some poetry here for you.

MATTHEW F. TIERNEY has tried to leave Fredericton after graduating with his MA, but he didn't take into account the Herpes-like nature of the town (in the nicest possible sense). He is the New new kid and an addition to the fiction editor position.

DARRYL WHETTER, eternally ubersmooth, has a story about it, whatever it might be. He is QWERTY's master of getting free technology, getting his friends to subscribe and getting outvoted during editorial meetings. He edits both poetry and fiction and is bridging the MA-PhD gap.

ANDY WEAVER is a man for all seasons, but especially late autumn. His cardiganesque sensibilities are balanced by a love of concrete poetry. He has rebounded from NB to Western Canada to Ottawa and back to NB in a kind of horizontal bungee action. He edits poetry and is the only vegetarian I know who hates vegetables.

STEVE MCORMOND had to come West to Fredericton, so that's something, right? Steve's nature often puts him in the position of tie-breaker during meetings. He edits poetry and writes Al Purdy for fun (and to get poetry for the next issue). He may well be the tallest QWERTYsian.

LINDA BARTLETT is the nexus of all things visual and hair colour related. She brings a welcome chromosonal shift to the editorial board. She also brings us news of the outside (ie. non-English Graduate) world and understands the need to give away free gum with each issue.

As for myself, ERIC HILL, I displayed some of that aformentioned energy and naivete in volunteering to edit and put together this issue. I usually edit poetry and sit dreamy-eyed hoping I'm not screwing anything up.

QWERTYsians departed (not dead, just busy elsewhere): JANET HOOPS & RODGER WILKE---their work remains key to the continuation of this magazine.

QWERTYsians signed on: MURRAY SUTCLIFFE---we will be imposing on his time quite shortly.