Today, Exponent II has two big announcements!  We are unveiling our exciting new webdesign, lovingly created by our Exponent sister of many hats, Jana.  And, we’re thrilled to publish our first issue since Winter 2009.

Our latest issue is available for free at our new website and contains articles from Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, an excerpt from an 1881 issue of The Woman’s Exponent, and a tribute to our friend, Linda Sillitoe.  Also, read personal essays on finding spiritual strength through other religious traditions, being inactive and still loving the Church, and how to educate others about sexual abuse.

Exponent II was first published in 1974 and has been a voice for Mormon women for over 30 years. The new ExponentII.org allows you to access the latest online copy for free (information on how to order your very own hard copy will be forthcoming), and has informative links on: our history, our annual retreat in New England, The Exponent Blog, request for submissions, and prior issues of the paper.

We welcome submissions to Exponent II on all topics relating to the diverse experiences of Mormon women. To submit your work, please send us an email at exponentii editor at gmail dot com.

Reminder: Today is the last day for submissions that will be read by our Readers’ Committee over the summer. The next round of submissions are due September 13th.

**Exponent II’s Summer 2010 Issue’s cover art by Tessa Lindsey

After a publication hiatus and the naming of new co-editors, Aimee Hickman and Emily Clyde Curtis, Exponent II’s Summer issue is slated for publication this June.  We’re now looking for personal essays, poetry, book reviews, fiction, art and other writing for upcoming issues including our next due out in the fall.

Please submit pieces by June 15, 2010 to exponentiieditor@gmail.com.  Suggested (but flexible) length of submissions is between 1,000 and 3,000 words.

Can’t think of what to write about?  Consider some of these ideas:

Upcoming Topics
a.  My Spirituality and My Passion: How has your spirituality helped you to discover a passion you pursue outside of the Church?  Does the statement “the glory of God is intelligence” (D&C 93:36) influence you in your studies?  Have you comforted those that stand in need of comfort according to the baptismal covenant in Mosiah 18:9?  Has the Word of Wisdom, a principle with a promise, encouraged you to look more deeply at your eating practices?
b. Raised Mormon: What are your reflections on the unique experiences of a Mormon upbringing?
c. Interfaith Practices: How have you incorporated non-LDS religious practices into your spiritual life?  How have they helped you grow?
d. Mother’s Day:  What are your experiences with this infamous holiday?  Do you love it?  Hate it?  Why? 

Ongoing Features
a.  Global Zion: A new column featuring essays and articles related to the experience of Mormonism outside of the United States.  We’d love to hear your experiences.
b. Sister Speak: Mormon women ask each other for advice in this long-standing column.  See Sister Speak editor Caroline Kline’s question for the June issue and watch for Fall’s question on the blog next month or write to Caroline with a question of your own.
c.  Awakenings: This new feature asks women to capture moments in their lives where they discover a new part of themselves or the world around them. The category of awakening can include many types of experiences: social, religious, feminist, personal, etc.

Preferred formats for submission are Microsoft Word (.doc) or rich-text-format (.rtf).

Upon receipt of writing, authors will be notified via email about when they can expect to hear back from us once submissions have gone through our Readers Committee.

Print submissions may be mailed to Aimee Hickman, 2035 Park Ave, Baltimore, MD 21217

We’re looking forward to reading your work soon!
The Exponent II Board and Editorial Staff