The Writers: Francisco Aragón – Madrid, ESP. A native of San Francisco, Francisco holds degrees in Spanish from UC Berkeley and New York University and an MA in English from UC Davis, where he was awarded an Academy of American Poets Prize. His poems and translations have appeared in many anthologies and journals including Chelsea, Luna, and Poetry Flash. Jedidiah Chavez – Fort Collins, CO. Jedidiah is a student of Art History, with a strong emphasis in African and Oceanic Arts. He is a freelance artist and the assistant art editor of Gertrude. This is Jedidiah’s first poetry publication. Robert Costa – New Holland, PA. Robert is an eighth grade English teacher and a “tinker of words.” His work has been published by Mobius, The Aurorean, Twilight Ending, and Vol No. Ar Foster – Fort Collins, CO. Ar works for the Neenan Company and is a Creative Writing student at Colorado State University. She is a longtime AIDS worker and has recently been published in the online Nieve Roja Review and Upstairs at Duroc No. 2 and 3. Elizabeth Howkins – Ardmore, PA. Elizabeth’s fiction, poetry, and drama have garnered numerous awards throughout her career. She has several publication credits including Stand, The New Writer, Taproot Literary Review, Paris Atlantic, asspants, and Haight Ashbury Literary Journal. Kim Hunter – Charleston, IL. Kim has received several scholarships and awards for her writing, including best poetry and best prose from Eastern Illinois University. She is the assistant speech team coach at the same university. Stephen Kopel – San Francisco, CA. Stephen is a teacher, cyclist, dancer, and art collector. His work has appeared in several publications including Troubadour, Comstock Review, Haight Ashbury Journal, Plainsongs, ICON, and asspants. He was a Pushcart Prize XXV Nominee. Tony Leuzzi – Rochester, NY. Tony teaches English literature and composition at Monroe Community College in Rochester, New York. He is a two-time grant recipient from the New York State Council of the Arts. Tony has published three chapbooks and his work has appeared in many journals including Fox Cry Review, Amelia-SPSM&H, and Troubadour. Chris McGuire – Tucson, AZ. Chris holds a Masters in Counseling and is a survivor of abuse. She has been writing for eight years. Her poem, “No More Magic,” was awarded the Editors’ Choice Award in our Fall/Winter 1999 issue. Maggie Rowlett – Loveland, CO. Maggie is a member of the Denver Poetry Society and National League of American Penwomen. Her poetry has appeared in several journals, most recently in Crone Chronicles. She maintains a studio/gallery in her Loveland home. Elizabeth Simson – Portland, OR. Elizabeth earned her BA from Willamette University. Her poetry has appeared in Earth’s Daughters and Earth Beneath, Sky Beyond. She lives with her partner, Trish, in Portland. Elisabeth Tyler-James – Loveland, CO. Elisabeth earned her MA in English at the University of Northern Colorado. She lives in Loveland with her wife. The couple has four grown children. Elisabeth’s poem, PMS, appeared in the first issue of Gertrude. Scott Wiggerman – Austin, TX. Scott has edited several poetry anthologies and his first full-length book, Vegetables and Other Relationships. He is the editor of the Austin Writers’ League newsletter, Austin Writer. His work appears in dozens of journals including Paterson Literary Review, utter, Texas Poetry Review, and modern words. The Artists: Max Coopwood – Fort Collins, CO. Max has been taking photographs off and on for 15 years. He enjoys capturing images that are out of the norm, such as graffiti, old farm trucks, and such. Black and white photos are his passion, although he also enjoys color shots. Michael Dineen – Denver, CO. Michael is a zen computer programmer, photographer, and lover of wilderness and all living things. He and Beth Firestein are recent collaborators in life and art. Beth Firestein – Loveland, CO. Over the past 15 years Beth has gradually taken up residence in her right brain, expressing her talents through poetry, painting, and photography. This is her first publication of visual art. Maggie Rowlett – Loveland, CO. Art, for Maggie, is a celebration of life. Her work is a response to special moments of perception that generate a sense of wonder and reverence. A critic has described her work as “lyric visual poetry.” Derrin Schoney – Tucson, AZ. Derrin has explored art as an inner language, both personal and universal, since graduating in 1995. He has shown in numerous states. His inspiration comes from the earth and cosmos and children who still experience life with a sense of awe. Mark Skalny – Tempe, AZ. Mark is an outdoor stock and assignment photographer. He is a member of the American Society of Media Photography, and an award-winning photographer with numerous publication credits. Julian West – Berkeley, CA. Julian’s work ventures into the magical world of moonlight photography. He plans more explorations this year including underwater photo shoots. His work explores motion, working closely with several dancers.