This issue of the LARB Quarterly Journal is dedicated to “romance” in that very expansive sense. Two Romance writers, Cat Sebastian and Scarlett Peckham, describe their relationship to the craft and the strong political message of the genre. Many of the pieces use love — erotic or otherwise — as a jumping off point. Yaagnik Kosuri’s piece, “Little Bee”, is about his complicated relationship with his mother, the love of his life. “Nkori” by Onyinye Ihezukwu tells the story of a young woman, trying to understand her sexuality. Kristen Gleason’s surreal short story “The Cafe” tells an incredible tale about the importance of travel. Mark Edmundson asks “Why does love got to be so sad?” and lets Shelley, Nietzsche, and Schopenhauer answer the question. In “Protest”, Lisa Locascio tries to understand her romantic happiness in light of current events.

There is another radical thought: happiness and joy in otherwise difficult times. Romance has a way of turning things inside out, like clothes for instance, or lives. There is suddenly love at the very end of life, or a way to start with a good, happy ending.

Medaya
Editor, Quarterly Journal

TABLE OF CONTENTS

E S S A Y S

On Anaïs Nin By Joanna Walsh

Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad? by Mark Edmundson

How To Write A Love Story by Scarlett Peckham

The Queer Arts Of Friendship by Jonathan Alexander

Romance, Compassion, And Inclusivity by Cat Sebastian

She-Stag and The Tiger Of Wanawatu: Remembering Gregory Corso by Kaye McDonough

Protest by Lisa Locascio

F I C T I O N

Little Bee by Yaagnik Kosuri

The Cafe by Kristen Gleason

Equation by Kay Iguh

Nkori by Onyinye Ihezukwu

P O E T R Y

Two Poems by Kim Addonizio

The Tiger Abandoned At The Hunt’s End by Monica Ferrell

Air by J.P. Grasser

Midnight In The Elevator Of The Bonaventure Hotel by L.A. Johnson

Two Poems by Donika Kelly

So, Ecstasy by Roger Reeves

Anxiety Sonnet by Yanyi

S H O R T S

Valentine by Myriam Gurba

Excerpt From A Million Blows by Jade Sharma

Good To See You by Emma Koenig

Excerpt from An Apiary Concubine by Vi Khi Nao

On Beauty by Katherine Faw