Downstate Story Vol. XXX, December 2021
DOWNSTATE STORY
From the publisher: This tenth issue of Downstate Story to appear on the web shows our continued commitment to digital publishing, where readers from anywhere in the world can enjoy these terrific stories.
People from far and wide have read the previous web issues of 2012 to 2020, and even donated to help us pay the authors. Thanks to everyone who did that. We hope many will donate after they read the amazing and brilliant stories in this 2021 issue.
There's a way to donate using Democracy Engine, a progressive site set up for donations to not-for-profits. Just click and give. Suggested donation is $10.
The fiction presented here is so good that any of these stories could be in The New Yorker or other mainstream or literary magazines that publish serious fiction.
Many of the authors have won awards and published books and stories in prestige literary journals. Downstate Story is able to attract these talented authors because it pays them.
As always, the 2021 issue of Downstate Story has a fascinating collection of stories. Many reflect the turbulent times we are experiencing, with COVID-19 turning the world upside down. A gun story, a murder, beatings and troubled relationships in this issue, are paired with a couple of animal stories, featuring a mouse and a goat. All of the stories involve a variety of topics to continue our commitment to publish diverse works so everyone will find something interesting.
Downstate Story has been publishing quality fiction featuring mostly writers from Illinois and Midwest, since 1991. The printed copies, which also contain original art, can be purchased through the magazine's pioneer website, or by paying through Democracy Engine.
The pioneer website is going away, WIU says, and cannot be updated. So the information has been copied and moved to this site. Check out the pioneer site, as it cannot be duplicated fully.
Now click on a story or scroll down -- authors in the 2021 edition are listed in the column on the right under '2021' -- and enjoy.
You also can comment, below. And visit our Facebook page, where you can comment and keep in touch.
--Elaine Hopkins
The Details
Publisher, fiction editor: Elaine Hopkins
2021 Readers: Jessica Frasca, Lucy Macrea
The comments and situations of the characters depicted in Downstate Story represent only themselves, and are not meant to reflect or characterize other people or groups of people. The characters are fictitious, and any resemblance to actual people is coincidental.
Published by DOWNSTATE STORY, INC., An Illinois not-for-profit corporation
1825 Maple Ridge, Peoria, IL. 61614-7915
email: [email protected]
original website: http://www.wiu.edu/users/mfgeh/dss
Copyright 2021 DOWNSTATE STORY, Inc.
Permission to reprint must be obtained from respective authors.
ISSN 1066-1662