Yes, Boys and Girls, here we are again. Issue number 92 is up and running. For any newbies who might stop by, this has been going on for 23 years now, the first ten in print before we got tired of losing money and wised up.

Then we went to the web and we’ve been right here all this time. For the last 14 years, Anne Stickel has been your editor and I have taken care of the webmaster chores for both BP and our sister mag, Yellow Mama. Anne is on leave right now, so you’re all stuck with me.

I had a lot of great submissions this last time around which has allowed me to publish some really good stuff and as usual, our team of artists have done a great job illustrating the stories. Our thanks go out to the crew once again—wonderful job, guys and gals.

There have been times in the past, I have to confess, when I have thought seriously about shutting down Fossil Publications entirely, but then, since the Covid 19 hit, suddenly I find myself in an advantageous position. I have something useful and creative to do with my time and I can more easily avoid boredom than some people who have nothing to do.

I’m not going to get into my own opinions about the virus and its implications, or the politics involved or the media hype. We run a horror/science fiction magazine here and we’ll try to stay out of all that other stuff. We have a good supply of masks, and having retired from a job at a major hospital/trauma center, I was no stranger to masks, other PPE and universal precautions. Not near as big a problem for me as for many others.

So, hang in there, kiddos (I can say that because I just turned 76 and to me, most of you are youngsters) and this too, shall pass. And when your grandkids someday are at your knee and they ask, “what did you do during the great Covid Pandemic, Grampa?” You can tell them about reading Black Petals and Yellow Mama online and being entertained for at least a little while. Have fun and for you writers, keep that good stuff coming our way…

Wichita, KS  7/14/2020