From the Editor's Desk
T.W. Ambrose

Dear Reader,

Thank you for taking a moment to join us here at Digital Dragon Magazine.  There are so many things I’d like to say here at the launch of our first magazine that I hardly know where to begin. It was just six months ago when the idea first entered my mind.  From there is has taken a lot of people and a lot of time to make this dream become the reality it is today. 

Digital Dragon Magazine came from a desire and to help fill what I see to be a void of family friendly Science Fiction and Fantasy.  Not that there aren’t some magazines out there doing it, but they are few, and the genre is great.  I wanted to create a magazine that I would be comfortable letting my kids read, yet adults who had been reading the genre since they were kids could still find enjoyment and meaning out of the stories.  Not a children’s magazine, but one they don’t have to wait until they’re 18 to read.

I also wanted to create a magazine that was Christian-friendly, although not Christian exclusive.  Often, stories with a “Christian” worldview get passed over in the market.  It is my belief there are some amazing writers out there writing from this worldview and I hope to allow their work to be seen by the world.  That being said, this is not solely a Christian magazine, so you will find an assortment of stories in these pages; some with a message, some without.

Speaking of stories, I feel we have some great ones for this issue.  For starters, the theme of this issue was “beginnings” so we have two young authors both at the beginning of what I feel will be amazing careers.  Sarah Ashwood has a number of short story credits to her name, and is the Co-Editor ofMoon Drenched Fables,a top-of-the-line fantasy web-zine.  Sarahhas also recently had her first book of poetry published titled A Minstrel's Musings, which we will be previewing later this issue.  Brandon Barr, is also a young writer with a number of short story credits to his name.  Brandon also recently co-wrote an epic sci-fi novel with Mike Lynch called Sky Chronicles: When the Sky Fell; which I will be previewing for the July issue (Although from what I’ve read so far, you may not want to wait that long to get your copy).

From there we have a number of new and established writers with stories: Tony Lavoie, John Bray, Melanie A. Billings (Our first contributor) and Jeffrey Conolly.  In addition,we have poetry by C. Maggie Woychik and Sarah Ashwood, as well as the preview of A Minstrel’s Musings by our very own Randy Streu.  We hope to release each issue to you the readers in two installments so as not to overwhelm you.The first installment will release on the first of the month, and the second on the 15th.

All of that being said, I mentioned earlier that it took a lot of people and a lot of time to get this magazine of the ground, and I would like to pause and say a special thanks to a few of them now.

Jeffery Conolly – Jeffery was sitting with me when I first had the idea for the magazine, encouraged the vision, built the first website and got everything off the ground.

Randy Streu – One of my oldest and closest friends.  Randy has jumped into this project with both feet, and I couldn’t have done it without him.

Jen Ambrose – My lovely wife was unsure how involved she wanted to be at first.  She is now the Sr Copy Editor, and has jumped in with her web expertise to help get us off the ground.  It’s probably only a matter of time before she has my job.

Kim Conolly & Julie Mauer – Our copy editing staff.  With no pay, they have been happy to do anything I’ve asked with a smile.

Sarah Ashwood & Johne Cook – A couple of great editors and friends of the magazine.  Both have stepped in with advice, and know how to help me get this off the ground. 

To all of our writers – We wouldn’t have a magazine without you.  You have submitted great stories for the love of writing, you all deserve so much more then I can pay you.

I could keep going, but it’s probably good if I stick with my own 1500 word limit.  I look forward to a long magazine life with you.  It has been said the short story is a dying thing.  I think the best has yet to be seen.  Please keep reading, keep writing, and enjoy this inaugural issue of Digital Dragon Magazine

 T.W. Ambrose
Managing Editor Digital Dragon Magazine

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