A Letter of Thanks from HDJ’s Outgoing Editor, Charles Finn

Dear Readers, Contributors, and Friends of High Desert Journal,

For the last ten years I’ve had the great honor and extreme privilege of being the Managing Editor of one of the great literary magazines in America. To this day, I wonder how I ever got so lucky. Throughout that time, I’ve done my best to uphold the vision and mission of the journal, to support and shine a light on the writers and artists of the interior West, a region so often overlooked for its cultural and artistic contributions.

But ten years is a long time, and as much as it saddens me to say, it’s time to pass the torch and let the experienced and talented team of editors assembled usher in the next chapter of this illustrious magazine. Without doubt, it has been a labor of love, that much is true, but really, when it comes right down to it, it has only and ever been one thing—a love.

So now it comes time to hand out thanks, and my regret is I can’t thank each and every one of you by name, can’t say thank you in person to all the donors, contributors, writers, artists, editors, board members, and not least, you, our readers—what a group, what a wonderful family. I can’t put into words how grateful I am. But I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention at least a few of the individuals who without their help, advice, and friendship, I couldn’t have succeeded even to the small degree that I did. 

When founder and editor Elizabeth Quinn handed me the reins in 2008, the very first call I made was to Joe Wilkins, our first nonfiction editor. My second call was to the novelist Laura Pritchett who I invited to be the fiction editor, and the third call was to my friend and former Poet Laureate of Montana, Sheryl Noethe. Later, when Joe eventually left on sabbatical from his work, I made my fourth call and asked the poet and essayist CMarie Fuhrman to take over for Joe. If I got one thing right, it was bringing on this team of talented and dedicated writers. They, more so than I, are High Desert Journal. To them we owe our deepest gratitude—they made it a success. To these four, your dedication and love for the journal are unequalled. I’ve seen you put your hearts and souls, your time and energy, into this crazy venture we call HDJ, and I will never be able to thank you enough.

I must also thank Elizabeth Quinn who created this beautiful magazine out of thin air and then trusted me to take it over. It is the brilliance of her vision—so well executed—that is the bedrock of the magazine. So, so many journals come and go, but the idea behind High Desert Journal to be a voice for the landscape of the interior West, a “Witness to the West,” to bring forth its stories, that’s the genius and that’s what sets it apart. Kudos, Elizabeth.

I will also mention Thomas Osbourne, High Desert Journal’s first designer. As much as Elizabeth’s idea for the journal was brilliant, it was Thomas who made it shine. Right out of the gate he created one of the most beautiful magazines on the market, and he deserves equal credit with Elizabeth. Ben Kinzer deserves credit too, for his creative stamp on the magazine as designer after Thomas left. And now we have Corey Oglesby, a true gem, who makes each issue of HDJ look so beautiful it’s a standout, a truly distinguished magazine. Last but not least, Stacy Boe Miller, who handles all social media, also deserves a shoutout for bring HDJ into the present with her fantastic work. All four of you please take a deep bow.

Finally, the donors. This is your magazine. Look what you’ve created. Every year hundreds of you, many of you writers and artists yourself, from all across the interior West and beyond, open your wallets and checkbooks for no other reason but a love for literature and the arts, and deep love for the land. We, the readers (and I consider myself one), are indebted to you for your incredible generosity in bringing us the poems, stories, essays, and art born of the land we love and call home. Without you, there is no High Desert Journal. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

So thank you one and all. It has been the pleasure of my life to be part of High Desert Journal and this incredible family. And even as I’m sad to be leaving, it is not goodbye. I feel confident in the direction HDJ is heading and hope to stay part of it for years to come. I can only imagine a bright future for all involved, and look forward to seeing where it, and we, go from here.

Sincerely, warmly, and with great appreciation,

Charles Finn