This is our third issue of Straitjackets, and in many ways, our best. First, we are finally getting acquainted with all the problems that go into putting out an e-magzine. Second and mort importantly, the quality of writing is getting better. We have had so many excellent submissions that we had to turn down many just because we didn't have the room or the time to include them.

In this issue we are proud to showcase a chapter from Herb Jeffries autobiography The Color of Love, co-written by Raymond Strait. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Herb, let me say that he is an important figure in th Big Band era (he sang with Duke Ellington), and he was at the forefront of the African American movie business when it was still in its infancy. He made four 'B' western films, and became known as the Bronze Buckaroo.

Carolyn Kingyens, our featured poet for summer 2008 , returns with three more terrific poems. We feel she is an important new voice in the field. Also we have three poems from Ryan Thomson, a 14 year-old high school student from Nogales High School in Arizona. Howard Feigenbaum gives us three delightful poems that are mixtures of humor and pain. Our featured poet is Carl Palmer, new to the magazine, whose gives us an eclectic mix.

Two short memoirs--'Love Letters' by Lorena Perera-Smith  and 'Cajun Realization' by Hardy Jones--speak poignantly about memory and the past.   

Inj the area of fiction we present the opening chapter of Curt Smith's new novel, Sound + Noise, due out September 2, 2008. Two short stories, 'Perfect' by William Blick and 'Sloppy' by Brandi Wells, also grace our pages. A bit of warning--'Sloppy' does contain some sexual content.

So w e think this is our best issue yet. We hope you agree.

If you wish, drop us a line at www.jvhitt73@yahoo.com and let us know what you think.

Jim Hitt, editor