Up the Staircase in...Retrospect! To celebrate one year of inspiring and brilliant writers that have contributed to our success, the editors have picked 5 poems and 5 pieces of fiction that we have published from the past year to give again to our readers. These particular writers have touched us deeply, made us laugh, shocked us, or inspired us to think differently; we hope that our readers enjoy coming back to them over and over, just as we have.

Editors Choice Poetry, Spring 2008 - Winter 2009

Tatevik Khurshudyan, Spring 2008	Tatevik Khurshudyan was born in 1980, in Ararat, Armenia. She enjoys history, art, nature, literature, good talks, nice people. She has been writing poetry for more than fifteen years. In 2004, Tatevik won the "best Armenian young poet" award. In 2005, on 21st March, (on International Poetry Day), The Armenian P.E.N. club awarded her second place for her poetry. Khurshudyan's works have been printed in Grakan Tert, Garoun, Eghitsi Louys(Armenia), Taj Mahal Review(India),Nouvelles d'Armenie (France),Up the Staircase (USA), and The Scruffy Dog Review (USA) among others. One of the two most important things in her life is her daughter, Beatrice, who Tatevik says, will one day think Tatevik brought her to this world, but really, Beatrice was the one who brought Tatevik here. Second is her pen, the greatest gift from nature and she has to be thankful to it, by writing.	"Special Breakfast"
Lisa Feinstein, Fall 2008	Lisa Feinstein is a poet and writer who shares her western NewYork ghetto-hideaway with a neurotic coon hound, a fat cat and a good man who was hard to find. Lisa’s writing has appeared in the online journals Poetry Midwest, Flutter Poetry Journal, Up the Staircase, The Houston Literary Review and has been printed in Jigsaw, Hazmat Review, Poetry Motel and Vincent Brothers Review. She also has work appearing in upcoming issues of GUD Magazine and Greenbeard. Lisa was awarded first prize over-all in the Mississippi Valley Poetry Contest. Lisa and Alicia Hoffman operate Crow Pie Press out of Rochester, New York. Crow Pie Press produces handmade chapbooks featuring artwork, photography and unique papers. .	"Let Us Make a Pie of Time"
Jana Russ, Fall 2008	Jana Russ has an MFA from Northeast Ohio Universities. She teaches World Literatures and Asian history at The University of Akron. Her poems have been published in Poetry Midwest, Riverwind, The Penguin Review, Georgetown Review, and other journals, as well as in two recent anthologies Women. Period (Spinsters Ink Press, October 2008) and In the Hardship and the Hoping (J. B. Solomon editions, July 2008).	"Dinner"
Jennifer LeBlanc, Winter 2009	Jennifer LeBlanc is a student at Regis College, and she edits The Cherry Blossom Review and Ocean Diamond. She has been published in literary journals such as Up the Staircase, Oak Bend Review, and The Orange Room Review.	"Comparison"
Benajamin Stainton, Winter 2009	Benjamin Stainton lives in rural Suffolk, England. His poetry has appeared in Poetry Salzburg Review, Blackbox Manifold and Great Works. He has published a book of poems, called The Jealousies (BeWrite Books), which he fully expects to solve his dire financial problems. He is of average height and intelligence. More poetry, reviews, libel etc, here: www.bpswords.co.uk	"Violet"

Editors Choice Fiction, Spring 2008 - Winter 2009

Dakota James, Spring 2008	Dakota James is a writer, artist and musician living in a small fishing village in Turkey. Born in London he has spent his life travelling the world, playing music, seeking truth and finding his way to some semblance of understanding.	"State of Mind"
Marla Cordle, Summer 2008	Marla Cordle is the author of two novels, Breach of Trust and Silencing Sarah, both endorsed by New York Times bestselling authors. Her poetry and essays have been published in various literary journals. She also does occasional freelance work for Women on Writing.	"The Scheming of Kirby Bain"
Ashley McAtee, Fall 2008	Ashley McAtee, from Massillon, Ohio, is currently studying Creative and Professional Writing at The Ohio State University. Up the Staircase is the first journal to publish Ashley’s work. She enjoys writing of all sorts, but is fond of flash fiction for the way it can so precisely capture a tiny moment in time. After finishing her Bachelor's degree in the summer of 2009, Ashley will begin pursuing an MFA in creative writing.	"The Cashier"
Kori E. Frazier, Winter 2009	Kori E. Frazier is an M.F.A. fiction candidate at West Virginia University and received her B.A. in creative writing and professional writing from Ohio Northern University. Her work has appeared in The Summerset Review, North Central Review, Genie, and the Appalachian women's anthology The Zinnia Tales.	"How to Peel an Avocado"
Michelle Reale, Winter 2009	Michelle Reale is an academic librarian at a university in the suburbs of Philadelphia. Her fiction has been published in Verbsap, elimae, Dogzplot, Apt, Pequin, Willows Wept, Diddledog, 3711 Atlantic , Freight Train, Laura Hird,and others.	"Wild Life"