Dear Readers, Authors, Artists, and Community Members,
We must first start by saying what an honor it is to be the newest Co-Editors-in-Chief in a long line of dedicated individuals who have all strived to help keep the literary arts community alive in Albuquerque. Blue Mesa Review’s thirty-five year legacy is nothing short of impressive, especially in the wake of a global pandemic that left many established journals behind or fighting. We want to thank those who have led this journal before us and everyone who has supported the journal in any way throughout the years. We’re especially indebted to Rudolfo Anaya, who started the journal in 1989. Without these people, we would not have this incredible platform and legacy.
Anaya’s vision in 1989 was to provide a space for New Mexican and Southwestern writers to publish their work, and our mission is to uphold that vision. As we set sail with a brand new masthead for the 2024-2025 term, we are keenly focused on further establishing our unique position to uplift New Mexican and Southwestern voices by looking for art and writing that is tied to the cultures in this beautiful corner of the United States. As we read submissions, we especially appreciate those that reflect the rich literary traditions of the Southwest by writers who historically may not have had many opportunities to have their stories published. We value diverse voices with unique insight, and as we continue to publish within this vision and reach out into the community we have right here, more and more of these voices are coming out needing to be heard.
That being said, Blue Mesa Review has never been exclusively a Southwestern magazine; our goal is, first and foremost, to publish exceptional writing. Though Blue Mesa Review is managed by a revolving masthead of the University of New Mexico’s Creative Writing MFA students, our standards of artistic quality and integrity are pillars by which we proudly stand. We look for writing that moves us, that connects us to the human experience, that helps us understand and appreciate complex worlds, and that celebrates the beauty of language.
We’re particularly honored to shepherd Issue 50 of Blue Mesa Review, which will come out in December 2024. Issue 50 is a chance for us to show the best of Blue Mesa Review–to gather together writers and artists whose work speaks to each other and our readers in unique, innovative, and challenging ways. It’s a way of honoring what we’ve already accomplished as a magazine and heralding what we hope for its future.
So, to everyone involved with Blue Mesa Review–our readers, contributors, submitters, editors, and anyone else who has made this magazine what it is today–thank you.
Warmly,
Amy and Gwyneth
