Bacopa Literary Review 2018, published by Writers Alliance of Gainesville, is the 9th annual volume of our international print journal. Last year our contributors sought meaning and inspiration in the face of environmental concerns, political dissent, divisiveness, war, discrimination, and suffering. This year the work as a whole is even tougher, more demanding, angrier. Metaphorically knocked out by the clout and courage in these poets' and writers' voices, we find heart in the notion of combat breath. Readers, you too will benefit from combat breathing as you engage with the works in these pages. Inhale, exhale, slowly, deeply. Release your fear, inspire a survival mindset. SHORT STORYDean Gessie (Prize Winner), Kelly Beard, Janelle Garcia, Dean Gessie, Amie Heisserman, Michael Smith, E. Yerkes, Stan Lee Werlin. CREATIVE NONFICTION Roberta Marstellar (Prize Winner), Meghan Beaudry, Lesley J. Boyer, C. Graham Campbell, Penny Church-Pupke, Kerri Davidson, Don Delo, Mary Beth Hoerner, Linda Murphy Marshall, Robert Moskowitz, Charlotte M. Porter, Paddy Reid, Saralyn Richard, Kurt Schmidt, A.M. Thompson, Arleen Wolf PROSE POETRYCynthia A. Roby (Prize Winner), Lisa Allen, Devon Balwit, Claire Bateman, Darren Demaree, CB Follett, Keith Mark Gaboury, Sophie Gregory, Deborah Guzzi, Marnie Heenan, J. Lucas Hughes, Donna Isaac, Derek Kannemeyer, Fran Markover, Jeremiah O'Hagan, T.L. Sherwood, Eldon R. Turner POETRYPatrick Synan (Prize Winner), J.L. Aijian, Jeffrey Alfier, Steve Borst, Jennifer Bradpiece, Joanne M. Clarkson, Jin Cordaro, Rebecca Dettorre, Veer Frost, Lorraine Jeffery, Paul Kiernan, Jayne Marek, Regina O'Melveny, Adrian S. Potter, Amy C. Rea, Timothy Robbins, Amy Schmitz, Claire Scott, Matthew J. Spireng, George J. Stevenson, Pamela Sumners, James Thompson, Kathleen Tyler, Susan Levi Wallach, William Waters, Lillo Way, Laura Madeline Wiseman EDITORIAL TEAMMary Bast (Editor in Chief), Cynthia D. Bertelsen (Associate Editor), Susie H. Baxter (Creative Nonfiction Editor), J.N. Fishhawk (Poetry Editor), Kaye Linden (Short Story and Prose Poetry Editor) COVER DESIGNSusie H. Baxter (layout) and Mary Bast (artwork) To see all writers and poets previously published in Bacopa Literary Review, visit us at https: //writersalliance.org/bacopa-literary-review