PARTING IS SUCH SWEET SORROW
– A FINAL EDITORIAL
By Philip Nutman
Two years ago, late one night, I came up with the idea of UP AGAINST THE WALL—instead of just adding new content to my official Web page (PhilipNutman.com) why not go for broke and start an Internet-based magazine? It couldn’t be that hard, could it?
Two years later, my life, and those of some other UATW contributors, has changed in such ways that the answer to that question is now alas, “yes.” I won’t bore you with the details (in past editorials I’ve mentioned a run of deaths and illnesses last year that derailed our proposed publishing schedule between August-November), but the sad fact is that this will be the last issue of UP AGAINST THE WALL—at least for several months, and maybe permanently.
I had made the painful decision two weeks ago after months of thought, and the decision was UATW – R.I.P., period; but after notifying the contributors, and the outpouring of disappointment and evident love for the “magazine,” I may now reconsider my decision.
I stress “may,” not will.
Personally, there’s a lot on the horizon for me in the coming months, professional commitments more complicated than those which helped push the train off the tracks late last year (as publisher and editor-in-chief, I accept full responsibility for the site not changing when advertised and sometimes dropping the ball with proposed interviews). If my professional commitments are too much for me to even conscience announcing a new issue and then having it not appear, then UATW will remain dead. If, however, in six months’ time, circumstances will allow for a resurrection on a quarterly basis with guaranteed “live” publication dates, then we’ll see what happens (just thinking of not doing the Halloween issue saddens me no end). So we shall see… (Six months is the decision-making period I’ve set myself.)
A special thank you to all the terrific contributors who have written up a storm and provided so much content that’s exceeded my expectations, to our fantastic Webmaster/designer Chris Kern—and, of course, a big thank you to the thousands of readers who have visited the site and have written emails of thanks.
It’s been an interesting two years.
Sincerely,
- Philip Nutman
Philip Nutman is the multiple award-nominated writer of the critically acclaimed cult novel WET WORK. As a screenwriter and producer, his adaptation (with Daniel Farrands) of the controversial book by Jack Ketchum, THE GIRL NEXT DOOR, has just been released on DVD.