Editors' note
We never found out what Rose wanted. She wanted breakfast in bed with a villain, an audience –
she didn’t want an afternoon with her dearest friend, or the love of 40 men. She wanted a BLT, a
freshly pressed dress, a crusade. She wanted to hold things for a second and then give them back
again. Rose was a noise in a throat, a he, a she, an eBay username.
This issue was fun. Everything we’ve published, every submission we received and
commissioned, was created especially for this theme: ‘What Rose wanted’. It’s a testament to
your imaginations that three simple words can spark entire lives and stories and new characters.
In fact, this was all a ploy. It was one big fat writing exercise. Those who submitted to this issue
were obviously inspired by Rose and what she wanted – or didn’t want, as the case may be – and
it got you writing, didn’t it? It got you sketching, painting, scribbling down notes. If there’s one
thing we love most about this issue, it’s that we’ve helped you pick up your pens and or open a
new Word document and write, create. That’s incredible. That’s huge.
Carlotta actually stumbled across the words ‘What Rose wanted’ in Annabelle’s
sketchbook (she was being nosy). Annabelle had the words written next to a
portrait of a woman with roses in her messy hair and a look of
impatience about her. The idea for our themes can come from
anywhere – this one just happened to be right under our nose
the whole time.
There are things you love about being an editor and things you don’t
(sending rejections, liaising with printers, writing with headaches),
and if there’s one thing Rose taught us, it’s that there’s something
exhilarating about each individual interpretation of a theme, especially
one so open. That’s been the best part; we really believe each issue is getting
better and better, but we always know there’s still room to grow and room
to improve. Baby steps. We’re still learning to walk.
Thank you to each and every contributor. You’re a talented bunch.
Annabelle and Carlotta
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