Welcome to issue 26. As many readers know, TBR has long had a love affair with Scottish authors, and for good reason. Some of the best writing today is coming from there, as we’ve hoped to show in various of our past issues (all still available in Back Issues). This time round we’re happy to present another Scottish writer, Des Dillon, well known in the U.K. but perhaps not so well known elsewhere. Our Spanish translator, who took on "The Blue Hen," said it reminded him of Ken Loach and that he didn’t know of many contemporary writers who did justice to the Loach style with its focus on the working class and those on the dole - without, that is, veering off into the more exotic realms of drugs, crime, etc. He has a point, but if you don’t associate humor with a Loach film, you will with Des Dillon.

From the U.S. we’re happy to present our second story by Ohio’s John Aber, whose first contribution - "Massage," from issue 22 - proved to be a big hit with us and our readers for its wacky, offbeat humor. Be sure to catch it if you missed it before, and don’t miss this latest which is a teenage girl’s reverie on sperm.

Also from the U.S. we have a winning story by Los Angeles writer Jim Ruland - an amusing Q & A piece that ponders the quandary of why "Kessler Has No Lucky Pants."

And in Spanish translation we have a short story by new writer Daniel Gascón (age 20) from Zaragoza about a conference on Kafka that is a fun and playful take on academic conferences.

Our "Picks from Back Issues" brings up Steve Lattimore and Alden Jones, two fine American writers whom we are proud to have in our archives. And for a look at the Scottish writers in our archives, check out these names: Irvine Welsh, Alan Warner, Michael Faber, Laura Hird, James Meek, Alasdair Gray, Anne Donovan and David Ewen.

Our winner for last issue’s James Baldwin Quiz is James Strachan from British Columbia, Canada (click here for answers). Congratulations to him and all who participated. Test your knowledge this issue on Virginia Woolf.

That’s it for now. If you’d like to be informed when new issues are available, just click here and write "subscribe" or "qué pasa" in the Subject Box.