Clichés, although gauche, tend to come in handy when describing human experiences, and so, to discuss Issue 001 of the TONIC, I plan to wield clichés as my literary weapon and shield.

For example, to describe the process of launching this journal, it's difficult for me not to compare it to some kind of birthing process…And despite the discomfort and birthing pains I've felt, like a mother with a newborn, I find myself embracing Issue 001 with a certain kind of pride that overflows with protection. I hold these digital pages, colorful and dense at times, close to my chest.

In 2020, when the concept of this journal was brought to my attention by Danielle Legros Georges, poet, translator, editor, professor emeritus of creative writing at Lesley University, and the former Boston Poet Laureate, I did not imagine it would take years to flesh out the idea and develop it to completion. The giddiness I felt in 2020 has slowly transformed into an anxious hope. I hope that readers see the vision. I hope that Issue 001, dedicated to the incredible Danielle Georges, amplifies underrepresented voices and brings to the forefront innovative literary works from new, emerging, and established writers. I also hope readers realize that this is my first Editor's Note, and lowering expectations around the quality of this note would be greatly appreciated. I look forward to many more Editor's Notes that I promise will eventually evolve.

To end this note, I would like to thank Faculty Chair Janet Pocorobba for her support and direction, Guest Editor A.J. Verdelle for her contributions to Issue 001 and her words of wisdom, Genesis Lauu, Sarah Kilgallon and Daniel Serrano for strengthening the design of the journal and of course, all of our readers and volunteers.

My final hope is that you truly engage with each piece of text and visual art. That you are so moved and inspired by the outstanding works in the TONIC that your hunger for innovative literary art is sated. Until Issue 002, of course.

Ọna Anosike