Hive Ave Fall2024 - Flipbook - Page 4
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This is my 昀椀rst time as advisor of an undergraduate literary
journal, or any literary journal, and it’s been quite an experience.
This issue of Hive is one that I have looked at as a revival – since
the journal had drifted to the wayside since Spring 2023. With
Issue 8 of Hive Avenue I wanted not to abandon what previous
NWACC faculty and students began in 2019, but to help create
something that would make both that 昀椀rst editorial sta昀昀, and
our current sta昀昀 and student body proud.
We wanted to honor Hive Avenue’s roots, while taking a
fresh new direction – in part with our theme. When I 昀椀rst began
gathering a new editorial sta昀昀 and gearing up to produce a Fall
2024 issue, I knew we were going into an election season and
felt Issue 8 was a perfect opportunity to showcase art’s unique
ability to impose some shape and order to con昀氀ict. So we set
o昀昀 looking for pieces to remind us of what brings us together,
and demonstrate the ideas of unity, connection, and belonging
in the midst of time often associated with division.
Faculty Advisor: Larissa Sprecher
Larissa is an Assistant Professor of Creative Writing and
Composition at NWACC, with previous experience teaching
at the University of Arkansas after graduating with her MFA
in 2017. She writes historical 昀椀ction, and loves novels like The
Book Thief, and All the Light We Cannot See. She is working on
a novel about the WWII battleship Bismarck, although she
spends most of her free time riding horses or trail running. Her
昀椀rst publication was in her own undergraduate school’s literary
journal, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire’s None of the Above
(N.O.T.A), so she has a particular fondness for undergraduate
literary journals.
We also looked to produce a leaner, tighter Hive Avenue –
aiming for around half of its previous length to better highlight
the chosen works and o昀昀er a focused, coherent journal for both
our readers and authors. Finally, in e昀昀orts of truly pursuing a
sleek, contemporary feel, we engaged in a valuable partnership
with NWACC Graphic Design students and faculty, with the goal
of producing an issue that looked and felt as though it belongs
in the modern era.
We trust that the insight of our writers and the innovation of our designers will speak to you and remind you why our
di昀昀erences and individuality are what truly make us shine, and
more importantly, make us human. Happy reading! - from my
whole editorial team, and all the generous and talented people
who made Hive Avenue Issue 8 possible.
Fiction Editor: Brett Nichols
Brett Nichols is a reader with a passion for writing. His goal
is to graduate with a Creative Writing degree and put that to
good use
Brett’s thoughts on editing Hive Avenue: When I 昀椀rst
asked to be an editor for Hive Avenue, I had no idea what I was
even doing. It was all new to me, but something I was eager to
learn and add to my resume. Hopefully I’m able to keep doing
this in some way, shape, or form in the future. I’m grateful to
have been given this opportunity.
As for the pieces I chose. . . that was di昀케cult. There were
so many excellent stories to choose from. Unfortunately, I could
not pick them all (even though I absolutely would have). The
ones I chose were the few that really nailed the Unity, Belonging,
and Connection requirements we were going for. It’s a short list,
however, for the next issue, I look forward to 昀椀nding even more
pieces that 昀椀t just as snuggly as these.
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