zyzzyva (ZIZ-zi-va) n. Any of various tropical American weevils of the
genus Zyzzyva, often destructive to plants. Last word in some dictionaries.

Letters to the Editor, Winter 1999

Thank you for making this autumn (or nearly autumn) day perfectly complete. My ZYZZYVA arrived on my doorstep like the first ripened Gravenstein. I shall carry it out to the garden where I may enjoy it without interruption. (Or so she thinks.)

Catherine Conlin, Bodega

Now that I am not in school, ZYZZYVA represents one of my strongest links to other local artists. It has been a joy to read.

Phillip M. Calderwood, San Leandro

Every couple months or so, I head to Kepler's in Menlo Park and load my arms full of literary journals. I take them home, spread them out on the floor like spoils from Halloween night, and decide which to read first. This time, my puppy, Rose, who is known in puppy school as "Mouthy," made a beeline for the ZYZZYVA with the Thiebaud cover and began to gnaw at the binding, thereby confirming my belief that the dog has bitchin' taste.

Tara Cottrell, Palo Alto

My friends said, "Submit to ZYZZYVA, at least you'll get a good rejection letter." I appreciate the thought, but to be honest, I'd genuinely prefer a curt, unimaginative, grammatically poor acceptance letter any day of the week.

Jessica Rosenfeld, Berkeley

My favorite thing to do now when visiting the Bay Area is to wander into the Community Thrift Store in the Mission and nonchalantly thumb through a back issue of ZYZZYVA (of which there is usually a formidable amount), not-so-delicately stopping on the page that lists my name among the editorial assistants. It's best to do this with a friend, but any passerby will do.

Jeff Fetters, Nagasaki, Japan

I'd like to submit my work to your publication, however, I am in Arizona, alas, not quite west enough. I was hoping you'd overlook this little detail since I have to suffer through the long, hot summers in the desert and because of all the bad press my state gets. Any chance you'll let down the drawbridge for me?

Felice Prager, Scottsdale, AZ

Yesterday, two customers were purchasing a ZYZZYVA at A Clean Well-Lighted Place for Books, where I work, and one of them asked the other, "What the hell is a zyzzyva?" The other explained in a pedagogic tone, "It's a literary journal." This did not satisfy the query, so I, in the interest of superlative customer service, butted in with, "It's a bug. Also, the last word in the dictionary, thus, the last word in literature, get it?" All who witnessed were impressed with my erudition and wished that they, too, could work in a bookstore and be equally wise. Of course, I came upon this tidbit of knowledge many moons past, when I worked for Tower Books in Chico, and I purchased your first issue, which featured said bug on the cover. Since that time, I've enjoyed your journal many times and have taken full credit for every inspiration that I could pass on in conversation to impress girls and less essential people as well. I know I probably owe at least one of my past girlfriends to your contributors, though they'd have to sue to collect.

Mao Dom, San Francisco