SURPRISE

What was the best surprise of your life? The favorite surprise you gave someone else? The one you watched take place in vicarious delight? The one you would like to arrange but haven't yet?

Surprises may be mundane, a tiny moment of grace that brings a smile to one's face, or a life-changing experience, the unexpected expression of forgiveness. The dictionary definition emphasizes such thoughts as miraculous, astonishing, awesome, marvelous.

What inspired the editor's choice of this topic was an observation of small children, who so often find astonishment and pleasure throughout the day. Current times are so loaded with news to arouse fear and trembling that our minds are filled with dire predictions and memories. Enjoy this opportunity to reflect upon actual surprises, wished-for surprises, fantasy surprises, silly surprises. Be a child poking a metaphorical stick in a metaphorical ant mound.

Tell us about it, in 400 words or less on one page, to make your editor happy. [If you really really need 2 full pages, that's possible too, provided you check with the editor first.]

Challenge yourself! It not a contest or a juried show; it an opportunity to see your work in print, be invited to a swell party, read your work aloud (if you wish), and meet your fellow contributors.

Please send your piece by regular mail to
Clarice Stasz
Editor, Publication Project
The Sitting Room
170 East Cotati Avenue
Cotati, CA 94931

or by email to Clarice Stasz.

You may send prose, poetry, art, a photograph, as long as it meets the criteria. Make it camera-ready, with generous margins of at least 1 1/4”. (We need room for the binding.) Please keep type no smaller than 12 point. Single space is fine.

Include a title, your name and contact information, and instruct us on what information we may include on the printed page. Due date is March 14, 2010.

Spread the word, encourage your friends to tell us their stories or art work of SURPRISE!