I am presenting 36+ writers in this issue of the mini-MAG, which is the first issue of hopefully many more to come. You are being presented with many different kinds of writers, all of whom are very good. The writers come from different backgrounds - they are all independent minds whose work does not fit into a predefined genre or category. This isn't avant garde or experimental or speculative or underground literature. These writers are all forming their own brand of writing. All the work I select for the mini-MAG meets this criteria: "outside the ordinary".

We are very lucky to have the opportunity of presenting the prize-winning writers from American PEN's Prison Writing Program. Rochelle Ratner is chiefly responsible for helping me with this project. It's a great honor to have a partnership relationship with PEN and I am very grateful to Rochelle for making this happen.

I am also presenting 30 poems by Rich Quatrone who is one of my favorite poets. The 30 poems I am presenting are only a fraction of the work he has sent to me. I will present more of Quatrone's work in forthcoming issues. Jeff Harrison, another one of my favorite poets, is presenting 20+ poems. A new writer to the MAG is Maria Kazalia who is also prolific. Parental discretion advised before reading her work. The MAG is a context free of prejudice of form or content. Kazalia's work will either impress or shock you or both.

There is also work by Giovanna Mulas, who was one of this year's nominees for the Nobel Prize. Andrew Shelley's new work is in this issue too. Shelley has made a departure from his previous style and has entered a new period in his writing which is a fusion of genres and influences, making the work courageous and inimitable.

Two very significant writers are serializing their work in this issue: Harry Polkinhorn and Stephen-Paul Martin. Polkinhorn is serializing an epic 500-page poem entitled "Raven", and Martin is serializing his novel, "Home on the Range". The works of these two critically acclaimed writers will be published by the MAG Press later this year.

Brent Bechtel is the first writer being published by the MAG Press. I am presenting two poems from his first Chapbook which is scheduled for release in February.

I am only mentioning a few of the writers. I don't want to blabber on any further.

I have only a couple of other things to mention. I am selling banners for only $10 a month. The banner you submit can be for your new book or website. I am going to stick with literary banners only. I am hoping this idea is successful by guiding readers to your website and introducing them to your work so that they will want to buy your books and add them to their home libraries.

All the work in this first issue of the mini-MAG is important work in my opinion. Read it and see what you think.

That's it for now.

--August Highland