Welcome to our Halloween Issue.

It occurred to me while reading submissions for this issue that Halloween is not only about darkness and graves and monsters, it's about having fun and levity as well. About laughing at ourselves and the world around us. Although I was never one of them, we can’t forget about the kids that choose to dress as a ballerina, or a clown (no, not the scary ones), or the current presidential candidate.

Because of this innate contrast, I’ve chosen fiction pieces for this issue that are not all deep, dark, mysterious and foreboding. A couple of them are light and airy and fun. Sure, they still smack of zombies and things that go bump in the night, but they might just make you chuckle while you’re reaching for the lights.

The first such story is by Gregory L. Hall, titled "Face Your Fear." Mr. Hall runs Choate Road, (those of you who haven't stopped by, definitely should) and he is known for spreading laughter (I'm not so sure about joy...) wherever he goes.

"Babies in the Backyard" by Janet Loftis is not one of those on the "lighter side." It's atmospheric, and creepy children are involved. We can't ask for much more around Halloween time, can we?

Aaron A. Polson's "In Green Water," is a cautionary tale about, well, about being near the water. I loved this story because it gives us a different perspective on the idea of drowning and of death.

Another of the lighter stories is "The Extra" by Natalie Sin. I found this story comical, entertaining and engrossing. I think you will, too.

Terrie Leigh Relf, "Mistress of Rhetoric," offers many poetry delights in this issue by well-respected poets such as Stephen M. Wilson, Hillary Lyon, David Kopaska-Merkel and many others.

In our articles section you'll find a virtual Halloween grab bag with articles by Terrie Leigh Relf, a John Plunkett movie review and Tricia Urlaub.

The winners of the "Ghost Story" Contest have been announced! Congratulations to the winner and the honorable mentions. We appreciate everyone's submissions and had fun reading them. Grand Prize is a $25 gift card from Barnes and Noble!

Also, as a reminder, we have created a myspace presence. We welcome all of our readers and contributors to check us out and add us to your friend list. Click here to reach our myspace page.

We have also updated our submissions policy. In short, when we are shorthanded, we may only notify those authors we seek to publish in upcoming issues. In other words, if we have decided to pass on your submission, please assume after six weeks that we are not interested in publication.

We continue our search for current and past contributors' information. We are striving to create an online "community" of our contributors and need your help to do this. If you are a current or past contributor, please send a full bio (several paragraphs), plus a picture of yourself (if you wish), your favorite links, book/story purchasing information, and whatever else you would like to be included on your own personal Moonlit Path webpage. Send this information to this address: contributors@moonlit-path.com.

Again, thanks to all of our readers and submitters, please let us know your thoughts on the stories we've chosen for our Halloween Issue!

~Tricia Urlaub, Editor
10/13/08

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