Welcome, Dear Reader, to the inaugural issue of Quist!
We’ve been preparing for this moment for a long time, gathering virtual twigs, string, and bits of fluff to weave into a nest—a place to shelter the wondrous pieces of prose, poetry, and art we hoped to attract. At first, we put out our call a little timidly, unsure if anyone would answer. To our delight, anyone did! And it turns out that anyone is quite talented. In fact, we received far more excellent work than we could publish. We hope that, in future issues, our nest will grow more spacious. The pieces we couldn’t accommodate deserve readers, too.
This issue features three stories, two pieces of creative non-fiction, seven poems, and six original works of art from an exceptionally talented group of contributors. Though diverse in medium, genre, and style, these works weave together a rich tapestry of themes: the experiences of loss and grief, the spirit of gratitude, the complexities of family, relationships, and love, and the pressures of navigating personal growth and societal expectations—especially when the society shaping the expectations is deeply flawed, and the expectations themselves are antithetical to growth. Brimming with humour and poignancy, vulnerability and pain, truth and urgency, these works invite you to reflect, question, and feel deeply.
The editorial team is immensely grateful for the support of the Quebec Writers’ Federation, Heritage Canada, and the anonymous donor whose contribution enabled us to expand our team. We are also grateful to you, Dear Reader, for without you, the written word remains inert—black marks on a white page. Most of all, we thank the young writers and artists who entrusted us with their work, most of whom are being published for the first time. We are honoured to be part of the beginning of their creative journeys.
Now, these stories, poems, and works of art are ready to leave the nest and find new homes with their readers. Like any rite of passage, this is a transformative journey. To paraphrase the poet W.H. Auden, the words of the writer are altered in the gut of the reader. The same is true for any art form: it is transformed in the process of being experienced—through the eyes, ears, gut, and heart of the individual who encounters it.
We could not be more excited to share these works with you. Please give them a good home.
Jen DeLeskie
Editor-in-Chief
Quist