Image by Dong Chensheng

Dear writers, readers and friends,

The end is nigh … for 2018 at least.

To wrap the year, we bring you this curious character in red by Chinese artist Dong Chensheng and lead pieces by the founders and contributors of BLYNKT Magazine (http://www.blynkt.com/) . BLYNKT is an online publication which explores one theme deeply each issue through a range of creative non-fiction, essays, art, interviews, prose and poetry. Issue 4 “New Beginnings” will be available in early 2019 and BLYNKT is accepting submissions (http://www.blynkt.com/submissions.html) until December 15th, 2018. Stay in the loop with BLYNKT via Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/BLYNKT/) , Twitter (https://twitter.com/blynkt) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/blynkt/) .

Our first lead piece, which explores the value of family legacy, is by Carly Dee, a writer from London who is the co-founder and co-editor of BLYNKT Magazine. Carly writes prose, poetry and creative non-fiction which has been featured in Corner Club Press, Firewords Quarterly and The Avalon Literary Review, among others. She is currently working on a film-script in Berlin with her BLYNKT partner and co-founder Q. Lei, as well as a non-fiction and spoken word project which will be available in 2019.

Q. Lei has penned for us a short story that will make you nosocomephobic if you aren’t already. Lei received her PhD in East Asian Studies in the discipline of Philosophy of Science from Princeton University. She is currently working as an independent filmmaker and writer between Shenzhen and Berlin. She has conducted various research projects on the topic of science and society at the University of Tokyo, Freie Universität and Princeton University. Her creative writing has been published in Litro Magazine, the Centum Press Anthologies and The Speaker, among others. She is currently working on her second documentary on the history and development of Shenzhen – the “Silicon Valley of China”. You can find her latest updates and adventures on her blog (https://www.inbetweenalbum.com/) and on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/qleifilm/) .

Next up, we have a piece about elements, eyes and ‘i’s by Malik Ameer Crumpler (http://malikameer.com/) . Malik Ameer is a poet, rapper, music producer and editor who’s released several albums, glitch art films, five poetry books and one book of raps. He was guest-editor of Paris Lit Up (http://parislitup.com/paris-lit-up-4-magazine/) issues 4 and 5. He’s editor-at-large of The Opiate (https://theopiatemagazine.com/) , co-founder of Those That This (https://thosethatthis.com/) and Visceral Brooklyn. Malik has an MFA in Creative Writing from LIU, Brooklyn. He co-hosted Transatlantic Poetry 2017-2018 (https://www.transatlanticpoetry.com/) , curates/hosts Poets Live (https://poetslive.org/) and The Wordists. He is the M.C. for Hip Hop group Madison Washington (http://defpresse.com/artists/madison-washington/) on Def Pressé and a non-fiction staff writer for Itchysilk (http://www.itchysilk.com/) . Beneath The Underground: Collected Raps 2000- 2018
(http://www.lulu.com/shop/http://www.lulu.com/shop/malik-crumpler/beneath-the-underground-collected-raps-2000-2018/paperback/product-23879473.html) is Malik’s new book and ((((FACTS))))) (https://defpresse.bandcamp.com/album/facts) is Madison Washington’s new album.

Our fourth piece is a tender love letter written in paint by Lavinia Abbott (https://twitter.com/laviniasabbott) . Lavinia is a London-based independent filmmaker with over fifteen years’ experience in theatre and film. After graduating from Nottingham University with a degree in German and Politics, she attended drama school in Paris and New York and appeared in several plays before she turned to writing and directing for film and theatre. Her first short film What Happened to Manfred (shot in Berlin) recently won the Award for Best Student Film at the Around Films International Film Festival in Berlin. She has since written and directed three more short films in West Africa and in the UK. Lavinia is passionate about social and political issues and will typically make these the focal point of her work.

Wrapping up our lead pieces for the year is a poignant and reflective poem by Benjamin Lawrance Miller. Benjamin teaches composition and creative writing at Queensborough Community College (CUNY). He grew up in Wheeling, West Virginia, and he has an MFA in Writing from the School of Critical Studies at CalArts.

Finally, thank you to all of you who submitted to our birthday issue last month. We had an overwhelming response
– over 100 submissions arrived in just two days and they kept on coming! Luckily, our editorial assistants – Luke and Rithika – were on hand to help us publish these wonderful birthday presents.

And so, beloved members of the VV community, we wish you all the best for the final chapter of the year and look forward to seeing what 2019 brings. The image is the starting point, the text is up to you.

Kristen, Preti, Lucie, Luke and Rithika
(Welcome to the team, Rithika!)