Safety Harbor Writers & Poets presents the 2019 Edition of Odet, a journal of prose, poetry, and art/photographs written and produced by Florida authors and artists.For this edition, we chose the theme of "a line." Lines are everywhere, both man-made and natural. Literal and figurative lines define our actions--we cast lines, draw lines, cross lines, and the list goes on. After entries were reviewed and selected, we asked our editors to submit their own pieces, specifically appealing to them to push the limits of the use of this term. Their works appear at the end of the volume.
Once again, the journal includes the winners of the annual Romeo Lemay contest generously funded by Romeo's son Tim and administered by Safety Harbor Writers & Poets under the leadership of the journal's editor in chief, Laura Kepner. All entries to the contest--not only the winners--were considered for inclusion, an expanded association now permanent. Romeo was a fellow writer and friend who passed away in 2013 at the age of 88, and is dearly missed by all who knew him. Despite writing in his second language, he had a true gift of describing his experiences growing up in a small town in French-speaking Canada many decades ago with humor, poignancy, and grace. We are thrilled to include one of Romeo's previously-unpublished stories in this collection, Route 148, about the encrouchment on property lines in his hometown.
Laura Kepner is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in numerous publications. She created Safety Harbor Writers & Poets in 2010 and has since facilitated writers groups, workshops, conferences, and open mics. She is co-author of A Brief History of Safety Harbor, Florida and is editor-in-chief of Odet. She loves living in the quirkiest state in the US and spending time with her family and friends.
In addition to being the cofounder of Odet and serving as its managing editor, New Jersey native Warren Firschein is the author of two middle grade novels, The Pirate of Janaconda Island and Out of Synch, as well as the coauthor of A Brief History of Safety Harbor, Florida. When not writing, he is an attorney for the Federal Communications Commission. He lives in Safety Harbor, Florida with his family. Visit him at www.warrenfirschein.com.
Carrie Font Granato is a former advertising art director and graphic artist. She has been published in Scene magazine and is currently working on a near future rom-com novel. She is a member of Safety Harbor Writers & Poets and is an editor and the art director of Odet.
