Note from the Editor: Mike Bove

Let us give thanks to Bill Schulz.

I met Bill some years ago, where else, but at a poetry reading. By then Hole in the Head Review had already been going strong for a few years, and I was surprised our paths hadn’t crossed earlier. I liked him immediately, then read his poetry and saw his paintings, and liked him even more.

That Bill thought to ask if I’d join Hole in the Head’s editorial team in 2023 was a great compliment, and I’ve enjoyed working on the journal with him at the wheel. I’ve seen up close his dedication to the arts community, not just in Maine where we’re based, but across the country and around the world.

When he decided to step down as Editor last year, I told him I was interested in stepping up. So here we are. This issue will be our sole offering for 2025, but we’re just getting (re)started. One notable change is that we’ve moved to a biannual format, with a Spring Issue in mid-February and a Fall Issue in mid-August. We’re also pleased that we’re now able to offer payment to contributors.

If you’re a longtime reader, a few things may look and feel different. But rest assured the new Editorial Staff is committed to continuing Bill’s vision of publishing the strongest work from new and established voices. And don’t worry, he’s not far away.

I hope you find something joyful and worthwhile in this new issue. I think you will. I hope you enjoy Bill Schulz’s striking cover art and fine poems by Betsy Sholl, Dawn Potter, Carol Bachofner, and all our gifted contributors. As you read, I hope you’ll remember what can happen in the silent space a poem makes; there, we grow.

So, thank you to Bill Schulz. Thank you to the previous Editorial team and the current one. Thanks to our donors and contributors. Thanks to you, our readers.

Here is Hole in the Head Review.

Mike Bove, Editor