Editor’s Note Kelly McMasters
T
he Pythagoreans believed four to be a perfect number, symbolizing stability and a strong foundation. In the natural world, there are four seasons; four moon phases; four elements; and four cardinal points. And of course, the four-leaf clover promises luck! We hope our fourth issue embodies all of these facets. Our goal was to build a collection that championed balance and beauty, while retaining our hallmarks of narrative depth and diversity—without losing the spirit of experimentation upon which this project was built. Our year was marked once again by visits from amazing writers and thinkers thanks to the 15th annual Hofstra MFA Great Writers, Great Readings series run by Professor Martha McPhee. Windmill had the chance to interview literary superstars Mitchell Jackson and Pamela Paul for our pages, and their electricity and hope directed the issue’s intention. Paul’s “By the Book” column in The New York Times Book Review also directed our copy; this issue introduces a new section, “The Grind: Questions on Creative Process.” Here we ask the same nine questions to three disparate creatives: artists Elizabeth Haidle and Carol Paik, and poet Derek Pollard from AMP magazine, our sister publication focusing on poetry and video. The perspectives in this column underscored Paul’s notion that books are “the genesis of ideas,” regardless of an artist’s medium or genre. Along with this new section, the editorial team experimented with our treatment of art in the issue. We brainstormed about our identity—Modern! Unexpected! Hopeful!—and how to best communicate that to a reader visually. We wanted to reflect our commitment to dynamic narrative, vulnerability, connection, and the power of words. Art Editor Maia Loy’s hand-drawn images inspired by Jason Primm’s “Rabbits” and Jenny Wong’s “Cornish Hens” 10 McMasters
