Co-Founders’ Note

Dear Reader,

If you know anything about our editing team, you would know that many of us grew up surrounded by mythology, whether it was in the form of our favorite Greek goddesses, stories of the moon rabbit, Brothers Grimm fairytales, or simply the family narratives passed down from our grandparents. You, too, have likely consumed some sort of folktale in your childhood that might have made its way into your viewing of the world.

Our goal for this issue was to curate a selection of works that not only recall but reimagine the stories we have been told growing up, works that play around with the meaning of culture, heritage, and storytelling itself. As our team read through over three hundred submissions, we found our own definition of the word “folktale” stretching out before our eyes. We learned about local myths from around the world and encountered both new and familiar characters residing in different contexts. From a narrative poem told by a Skinwalker to an empowering play weaving together female voices in history, you will find that what we have captured in Issue Three serves as a powerful reminder of why we write, make art, and curate teen talent.

Thank you, once again, to every writer and artist who submitted this issue, to our hardworking editors that make all of this possible, and to all of our readers for their patience and support. This has been our most creatively challenging endeavor yet, so we sincerely hope you enjoy the read.

Note: The full collection of artwork chosen for Issue Three will be displayed on the Folktales gallery at theemptyinkwellreview.org/gallery3

With Love,

The Empty Inkwell Co-Founders

Isabella Zhu, Acadia Phillips, & Julia Glazebnik