Why I Joined ILLUMINATION?

Why I continue writing for this publication

I’m not a normal person. Not what you might have expected from the headline above, but it’s true. I have never been within five miles of normal in my entire life and I’ve grown accustomed to my mind responding in unusual ways when asked a question. It seldom just gives me an answer.

It was the summer of 1973, Redondo Beach, California, when a certain incident took place, that actually does relate back to the above question. Let me continue.

I’m from Brooklyn and the city is not known for its beaches. Or pools. It’s known for brick and asphalt and concrete avenues by the mile. But water — only what comes out of the faucets or on a hot summer day, what comes out of the Johnny Pumps (Fire Hydrants for non-New Yorkers) to get all of us cooled off. So, suffice it to say, I was never much of a swimmer.

On that day in 1973, I was there with David, a friend who had grown up on the beach and in the water and could probably swim just fine with a kitchen table strapped to his back. Me, not so much. We both dived in and headed out beyond the breakers. David soon disappeared while I treaded water and looked like I knew what I was doing. After about 30 minutes I grew tired. I liked the water, don’t get me wrong. I loved the idea of floating free and being a part of it. I just never felt really comfortable since I never spent much time among good swimmers who could help.

So, I started swimming to shore and after about 5–6 minutes of giving it my best freestyle form, I realized I hadn’t moved at all. I was actually drifting out to sea. I was caught in a riptide. Amazingly I didn’t panic. And I don’t know why, exactly. I just looked around, spotted who I thought was a likely candidate and called out to a guy who looked at home in the water. I explained my situation — well, I did. I told him I was tired; That I was trying to get to shore and I wasn’t succeeding.

He said cool. He grabbed hold, pointed us toward the shore and yelled swim. And we did. Within a minute I was sitting on the sand looking up at him and feeling an incredibly warm sense of relief and appreciation that a total stranger had taken the time to help. To be interested in what was happening to me and lend a hand.

Why I Joined ILLUMINATION

So, when Dr. Yildiz reached out to me and said — Joe, I’ve read your articles and I like the way you write. Would you be interested in coming onboard to write and edit for a new publication I am putting together called, Illumination?Well, I felt that same warm sense of relief and appreciation that on a great big platform called, Medium, where I had spent many months treading water, I had found someone who was willing to lend a hand. So, I said absolutely. And have enjoyed every moment since.

Writers write. This is a known axiom that goes back about 10,000 years and is still as relevant today as it was back then. But what is perhaps a lesser known corollary, is that writer’s write to be read. We put words to paper in the hope that others will find them, read them and discover something of value as a result. That perhaps a new idea will come about through our words or a greater appreciation of an older one.

I love to write. I love to read. I look at words as a fine artist looks at colors. Every word is capable of creating an image that will speak to someone, somewhere. And that brings me great joy.

I continue to write for ILLUMINATION, because I want the same for others as was given to me. I want the publication to succeed and endure, while providing authors with a place to bring their best work and have others enjoy the experience.

So please, stop by, read a few stories, articles or poems and by all means submit some of your own. We’ll read them and publish them and help you get started or support you on a journey you’ve already begun.

Welcome to ILLUMINATION.

Joe Luca is a published author and writer of children’s stories, short fiction, non-fiction articles, screenplays and poetry. Publications include Child’s Life, Children’s Playmate and others. There are some other articles below — have a read. And thank you for stopping by.