December 2020 makes one year this tiny ezine has been around. The inaugural issue came out in December 2019, in what seems a decade ago or another universe. Because we live in a different world now, one Covid-19 has changed beyond recognition.

Some of those changes will go away once we are back to some degree of normality —i.e. when the vaccines will start making a difference. Some will stay with us forever, even though it is too soon to begin elaborating anything about. We have still to fight to get to the level where we have that luxury.

Frozen Wavelets felt the impact of the pandemic straight away in its first year of life. All the projects and plans have been disrupted as the life of so many people around us. We made a point to just keep publishing the zine in a way or another, to give our authors and poets the space they deserve.

Issue #5 is, as the previous numbers, a mix of flashes and poems alternating darkness and esprit, science fiction and horror. The poem in translation with its German original is again by Laura Theis, an author already featured on FW #4.

We will announce future submission openings at some moment in Winter 2021, when things become a bit clearer. For now, enjoy the last days of 2020 the best way you can. Frozen Wavelets #5 will accompany you to a Brave New Year.

Steph P. Bianchini, Editor

Acknowledgement: We’d like to acknowledge here the work of our second readers (essential for voting on the shortlisted pieces) and the graphic design consultant, Barbara Vacca.  Cover art by H. Eskandr.