Wow. It’s been five years since the restart of Penumbric, and … just wow. You all continue to amaze me, both by sending us such amazing work and by even sending us work in the first place. I honestly just had such a vague hope that I’d receive enough work to put out a magazine back in 2020, and for those first couple of issues that was just about what we received. And I want to give a big shout-out to my friends from the first run of Penumbric back in the early 2000s (including Tom Motley, Jesper Nordqvist, James Cukr, and most especially Christina Sng) and to those whom I’d known for years before even that (Colleen Donnelly), for without them I’m not sure I’d have gotten anything new off the ground, especially given we were all stuck in our various locations due to the pandemic.

Since then, we’ve received more and more and more subs, and I’ve made more friends as well! For in part that’s the fun of this kind of endeavor—even though I hardly go out, and often am a bit too anxious to really meet people (or reverse that and am far too outgoing), I meet so many new people through Penumbric, and I appreciate every one. (What, did you think I was in this for the money? Oh, the laughter …)

I’m also in this to try to give what small bits of help I can to authors and artists, both in recognition for those we publish and in what (hopefully helpful) advice I can give regarding pieces that were not accepted for publication. I’m trying to get better about nominating pieces for awards as well, and have been submitting horror work from each issue to Ellen Datlow, editor of each year’s “Best of” anthologies. If any of you have suggestions for other places to nominate, let me know.

Speaking of awards, I’m super happy that some of the works we’ve published have been nominated for awards—Stokers, Rhyslings, and more—as have several of the authors/artists we’ve published (even if not for works published by us). It makes me feel like we’re achieving at least some of our goals.

And finally, in a world that seems more ready to tear itself apart than at any point in my life (barring possibly the tail end of the Cold War), I’m pleased that Penumbric is able to publish works from all over the world. My philosophy has always been that we’re stronger together than in tiny enclaves, and I want Penumbric to continue to be an example of that.

(There. Look at me being almost relentlessly optimistic. Better not blink.)

Looking forward to what I hope are many more years of this,

Jeff Georgeson
Managing Editor
Penumbric