A HOLIDAY STORY

Throughout the world, regardless of culture and beliefs, there are celebrations and festivities centered on annual holidays, which are traditions embraced by the people who live in that particular country. Usually marked by parades, speeches, religious observations, and family gatherings, holidays give people a short reprieve from the mundane, daily rigors of living Life. 

In the United States, today, Monday, September 5th is Labor Day.

"Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of [the United States.]"


aaduna has a brief holiday story to share that speaks to the journal’s soul, and the specialness and perseverance of the human spirit.

Jen Soriano (photo provided)

Jen Soriano submitted work to aaduna on February 28 of this year. In her cover letter she shared, 

I discovered your journal not long ago and very much admire your commitment to supporting, publishing and promoting emerging writers and writers of color.  

I am a Filipina-American emerging writer who has yet to publish in a literary magazine.  I have been a journalist and communications worker for about 15 years, but have only recently given myself permission to commit to writing from "the messiness of my psyche," as one of my creative writing teachers has said.  I write personal essays about what I can't forget.  I am currently enrolled in an MFA program through the Rainier Writing Workshop at Pacific Lutheran University.

I am submitting two essays for consideration for the Summer 2016 issue of Aaduna.  The first is a short essay or prose poem called "Razing Boys," the second is a lyric essay called "Making the Tongue Dry".  

Well, aaduna finally responded with a positive publication decision on July 18^th. 

Now, this is where this story gets poignant and interesting.  Remember Jen’s statement about being an “emerging writer who has yet to publish in a literary magazine.”

Through ongoing communication with her, we found out that “Making the Tongue Dry” received a confirmed publication decision from another journal and was no longer available.  Jen had a publication pending before we could be the first to publish her.  She had informed us a few months earlier, but we “missed” that notice. 

We congratulated her and wished that we had been quicker. 

“Razing Boys” is now available in aaduna’s summer 2016 issue that was officially released last night at 9:29 PM (Sunday, September 4^th!)

Go to www.aaduna.org and Click on Current Issue. 

But Ms. Soriano’s summer journey with aaduna was not over.

bill berry, aaduna’s publisher, still wanted to extol the vibrancy of the creative non-fiction piece that was simply titled “Making the Tongue Dry” knowing that our policy is to only present unpublished work.

Working with a gracious and cooperative Jen, and through the generosity of the work’s publisher, Blue Lyra Review, aaduna shares a segment of “Making…” to celebrate Jen Soriano’s publication accomplishment(s)…from never being published to a few publication credits now under her belt!

1.

          I’ve blown a bubble, and rather than chase it with the wand, I catch it on my tongue where it stays – plump, seductive, shining – till it bursts.

          My infant son shrieks with delight, claps for more.  Is this a natural human impulse, to desire bubbles even though they burst? 

          The residue has left an acrid dryness on my tongue.  I run the kitchen faucet, cock my head to catch sips of the stream. 

          Rinse. Spit. Repeat. A dozen washes, but the bitterness remains.    

          Faucet shut, I walk with baby on hip to our balcony.  In the harsh afternoon light, we quietly watch the surface of Puget Sound recede.

The full version of “Making the Tongue Dry” is forthcoming in the Fall/Winter 2016 edition of Blue Lyra Review.   And we appreciate that publication’s spirit in enabling us to share a portion of Jen’s work with you.

Jen’s work and bio in aaduna is available via this link:  http://aaduna.org/summer2016/non-fiction/jen-soriano/

Have a great holiday!

Stay creative,

bill

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aaduna - a timeless exploration into words and images - is a globally read, multi-cultural, and diverse online literary and visual arts journal established in 2010.  Visit us at www.aaduna.org where we put measurable actions to our words.

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