On the Cover
By Stephanie Lynn, age 23, Massachusetts
SDM Editor-in-Chief
On the cover this month: the authors of our Top 25 articles of 2008. We received 317 publishable submissions from our staff in 2008, and I recently punished myself with the task of choosing a Top 20 list, which quickly became a Top 25 list, and still this wasn't nearly enough to spotlight the year's best. Believe me, even a Top 50 list would have left some great scenes on the cutting room floor. But my original motivation was to point out some articles worth reading (if you missed 'em), or reading again. If you think I left some very good work unmentioned, yes, I surely did. But feel free to tell me your favorites using the response form below. I'm all ears.
Also in this month's issue, Christina scores her second Gold Star, with her article and photos of her first experience with what Kate and I in the Northeast deal with all winter long - snow and ice. So pour yourself a mug of hot cocoa and read these 3 frosty treats. And let's greet left coast Kate, a talented 18 year old writer from California, who checks in with her first 3 awesome features. SD now has two great Kates!
Samantha, Briana, Gia, and Tess come through with some of our best short stories yet - these are must reads! Emily deals with "Complicated Relationships" and delivers some exam cram wisdom, Jasmin shows you some "Back Then Trends" that are back now, and Seema gets her tonsils out. All this, plus "Young Artists Get Crafty", featuring teen artists and crafters doing some cool things on Etsy. Mmmm, Sweet Designs indeed!!
Hope you had a Great '08, and Have a Fine '09,
Stephanie Lynn
