The opening statement on our featured artist Jonathan Safir's website states that A photograph should give more than what someone or something looks like, perhaps to feel the action still moving, or to hear the silence of concentration.

Safir delivers on that statement so well that I was determined to saturate Issue 3 with his unique photography. For the first time in Literary Salt's short history, we may be more focused on visual art than literary art. Safir's work deserves no less than this exalted treatment. His style is iconic of a type of energy unique to our time and place in history. Without digital manipulation of any kind, frenetic movement translates even into his still photos, leaving you sure that trees can and should rush at you ­ as his do. I selected from a specific style for Issue 3, but go to his website at http://www.jonathansafir.com/ to witness the range he delivers with a quite singular virtuosity.

Neil Connelly wrote the only fiction/prose work to be accepted for Issue 3. It is masterful in its ability to define a character without ever giving you so much as a fleeting glance at the actual physicality of the protagonist. Not a raised eyebrow or shrugged shoulder appears in "Dear Literary Agent, Editor, or Publisher," but that is no handicap in the hands of Mr. Connelly. His protagonist breathes onto the page (or in this case the screen) with a palpable presence. I salute him and am honored to present his work to you here in Literary Salt.

The editorial board and I are enthusiastic about this third issue of our magazine. Its pages are filled with excellent work by outstanding talents such as the above mentioned Jonathan Safir and Neil Connelly. We're happy to present our current Issue's poets: Kelli Russell Agodon, James Bertolino, Roberta Feins, Judy Galbraith, Carolyn Maddux, Linda Malnack, A. J. Rathbun, Elizabeth Robinson, Derek Sheffield and William Trowbridge. We are equally pleased to present 3 works by visual artist David Dalessandro.

Three contributing poets from this issue will appear at The Jewel Box Theater, 225 Iverson Street, Poulsbo, Washington sponsored by Writer¹s Haven. Please join us there on April 13, 2003 at 3:00pm to hear Kelli Russell Agodon, Roberta Feins and Linda Malnack read their work. Thank you for your continuing interest in Literary Salt.

Pamela Moore Dionne
Founder & Managing Editor
Literary Salt: A Journal of Art & Literature