We are excited to announce the release of Fig:ment's inaugural issue - Imber!

This issue is about relationships – how we relate to others and how we relate to ourselves. Lenore Rowntree reminisces about her sister in the poem “7 lbs. 6 oz” while her sister Beth Rowntree converses with herself about her insecurities in the poem “My Life With Beth.” Ray Hsu bittersweetly recalls his friend who died by suicide in the memoir “Beyond Poetry.” Ian Cognitō explores the horror of no one else taking his anxiety seriously in the poem “Exponential.” Trevor Groves discusses the shared bipolar experiences of his son and himself in the poems “Finn's Roller Coaster” and “Surviving.” Bevan Thomas recounts how a superhero cartoon revealed to him that other people struggle with similar anxiety and depression in the memoir “My Adventure with the Fatal Five.” Ira Allen defines his anxieties and feelings of powerlessness in the short story “A Parable of a Box.” Nine Yamamoto explores her feelings of hope and despair in the comic strip “Tunnel Light.”

How we relate to ourselves is entwined with how we relate to others – understanding our own struggles gives us empathy for other people's while understanding other people's struggles helps us better relate to our own. When we connect to ourselves, we remember how we and others need healing, and when we connect to others, we remember we are not alone.

If these pieces resonate with you, please share them. As our community grows, we also invite you to submit your own content. Please reach out to us if you would like your work to be featured in future issues of Fig:ment (see the Submissions page for more details).

As always, we would love to hear your thoughts and opinions about Fig:ment Magazine. You can reach us at hello.fig.mag@gmail.com.