Preface

Dear Reader,

Welcome to The Bloomin’ Onion’s inaugural issue—Issue One: Breaking Ground.

Though I didn’t want our first issue to be themed in regard to the submissions we received, a clear and present thread showed itself when examining the accepted stories collectively. That thread got me thinking about new beginnings, fresh starts, and breaking ground. When that idea crossed my mind, it felt right, like a pair of pants fitting perfectly in the dressing room—you just know. Hopefully, as you read the stories, you also see the throughline and consider the possibility of breaking ground on something new in your own life.

As a new editor, I must say this process has been incredibly fulfilling and just plain ol’ fun. Reading the hundreds of stories submitted revealed to me something about humanity on the whole—that we’re hopeful. Despite all the bad that exists in the world at the moment, we continue to plant seeds, not knowing whether they will grow, nor if we will ever see them bear fruit. As a writer myself, I know when I send my work into the world, it will almost inevitably be rejected, yet I send it anyway. What I failed to realize from my limited perspective was just how many people are doing the same thing. Seeing things from the other side has truly opened my eyes to another piece of what the world has to offer. And isn’t that what reading and writing are really about? Seeing the world through someone else’s perspective?

While these stories are the best of what we’ve seen so far, I want to ensure you that doesn’t mean those we rejected were bad. In fact, many of them are very good. We strive to publish the best work possible, be an inclusive and open writing community, and support new writers as best we can. Contained in this issue are stories from both new and veteran writers, but, nonetheless, it is all excellent work. I want to sincerely thank each of our contributors—whose names and pictures can be found using the Contributors button at the bottom of this page—for trusting us with their work, and I want to congratulate them again on stories well-written. The Bloomin’ Onion would be nothing without our contributors.

Thank you again, dear reader, and I hope you enjoy devouring these stories as much as I have constructing this issue.

Sounding my Barbaric Yawp,

Daniel Groves