No. 5

Winter 2004

First Quarter Growth

Behold the triumph! The first "winter" issue of nidus presents to our dear reader, its precious incubations. Their delivery was delayed, but look what that time has produced! Our dedicated staff has toiled with expert skill and pioneer-like resolve to provide to you an exciting issue; a startling canvas of "firsts." This is an online literary journal sure to rejuvenate troubled humors, stir the soul, and cultivate the artist in all who read. Yet, readers need not simply use their eyes, and no-doubt superior mind, to partake of this fine issue.

Thanks to the marvels of the Internet, we are now able to stimulate the refined auditory faculties of our audience. Four and one-half minutes of essayist Richard Rodriguez's insightful intellect is brought to you in this interview through the distinguished skills of Ms. Hattie Fletcher and Mr. Chris Weber.

This issue of nidus marks another first; an author in two sections. Ms. Deborah Bogen's unorthodox piece My Boys questions the expectations we hold for creative nonfiction, while a second piece, Generation Gap Results in Rent Increase at Venice Beach, was chosen to open the poetry section. Bully for Ms. Bogen!

The firsts continue as rapidly as industrial jobs move overseas, but our strong and diligent fiction editor, Don Strange, organizes our first ever fiction contest. Readers may find all details at this hyperlink. Yes, as the wheels of industry spin away from these noble shores, the fiction board will always be employed in the service of extracting superior fiction from the core of mere chestnut.

One should also regard with great interest the wisdom of Dan Chaon, who graciously contributed the pleasure of his time for an interview with our own Karin Lin-Greenberg. Ms. Lin-Greenberg volleys a barrage of questions, but Mr. Chaon responds in-kind with superb answers, bringing together a singularly fine interview.

Our diverse firsts set this issue apart from others, but my fingers gallop across this key-board with urgency not only for these accomplishments, but so as to tell you of the artist whose works provide a uniting metaphor for this issue. We are most pleased to display for your delectation, the work of collage artist Charles Schneider. We are sure you will agree that his work is as fine as any who cut, glue, or adhesive tape today. Mr. Schneider's work provides a suitable metaphor for the wide-range of elements you will see in our poetry, fiction and creative nonfiction sections that have been brought together to form issue 5.

We shall return in a mere three months for issue 6 -- our third spring issue. I extend deep gratitude to the dedicated staff and loyal readers of nidus. As this industrious new century marches on, nidus will continue to bring you the marvels of literature.

For your perusal,

Marshall Warfield
Managing Editor

nidus awaits your e-mail responses!

nidus is an online publication supported by the Writing Program at the University of Pittsburgh's English Department.