THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT

Thank you for publishing the fine short stories that appeared in your New California Fiction issue (July 17). The short story is my cherished favorite of all fiction forms and is, as you know, hard to find in mainstream magazines. I hope you discover a large audience for this quality fiction so you can continue publishing it. I was particularly impressed by “Color Struck” (by Alyce Miller).

JOAN DEBARONCELLI

South Pasadena

Recently my neighbor drove away while a little cat was playing underneath her car. The cat fell onto the road horribly injured. I picked it up, drove it to a local veterinarian and paid $25 to have it put out of its pain. This was an awful experience for me. I also don’t need, when relaxing with my Sunday paper, to see an illustration like the one that accompanied the story about the dead cat (“Bad Luck With Cats,” by Cris Mazza).

For those of us who are too aware of the insensitivities of the world, couldn’t the magazine find more uplifting, inspiring works to showcase? Instead we get a supposedly trendy, hip illustration laced with sophomoric humor and a harshly written story.

PATRICIA MACE

Los Angeles