Editorial Ovi issue 4

A blank screen, a flashing cursor, a looming deadline and writer's block…thankfully, I have not been afflicted with this nightmare while producing the fourth edition of Ovi Magazine. Strangely, the opposite has happened and, at times, I think somebody has been spiking my coffee with a literary laxative.

The momentum of Ovi has triggered some dormant feelings inside Thanos and I; we understand that the everyday folk call it hope, motivation and enthusiasm. I don't care what it is called; just tell us how to get it on repeat prescription.

Our Inbox is no longer purely receiving offers of Viagra, University degrees and cheap OCM software, we are now getting reactions from you gals and guys. We are being added to blogs and our traffic is steadily increasing, like rush hour on the M25.

Part of my day job is to promote Ovi, so I trawl through the web searching for blogs and contacting the writers. On my eternal quest, I have seen hundreds and hundreds of these blogs, many blend into one, others catch my eye, a couple make me smile and too many have been dormant since 2001. Ovi is still eager to cooperate with blogs of all shapes and sizes, so don't hesitate to contact us.

In answer to some of your emails: we are considering adding a blog to Ovi, we will be removing the frames layout soon, we will create a searchable archive, we are interested in new writers, we won't tone down our 'EUrabian' outlook and no my wife is never angry about anything I write.

My day job consists of more than just blog hunting, I have to feed my cats and keep Thanos' stress levels just below that of a disgruntled US postal worker. I don't know if it is his Greek temperament or 'artistic' passion for Ovi that makes him torture a cup of coffee for an hour, while taking three drags of a cigarette before stubbing it out. Whatever it is, it has resulted in a third different photo of him for the editorial page!

This month, John has elevated Thanos' status to a mysterious all-knowing yogi, sat cross-legged on Mount Kalamidas, offering words of wisdom to those starting out on life's twisting road. I will always remember the words he once uttered to me, "Lad," he began, "I really need a coffee and a cigarette." Such insight…

Back to Ovi, we have gone for a 'crime' theme in issue four. However, when I say 'we' it should be Thanos, Juliana and John because I decided to break our own rules and commit a minor crime by not writing about the theme. I am a law-abiding citizen, the only time I have been handcuffed was a kinky night with my wife and the cuffs were covered with a pink fluffy material, so this minor misdemeanour was a temporary lapse.

Tomorrow we all begin working for issue five, we have more ideas and the motivation will stave off any writer's block. The traffic will continue to build, our fan club will soon be printing t-shirts and Thanos's nicotine and caffeine addiction will still be here. We hope you appreciate this issue and will help us in our promotion.

It took The Beatles six albums and 13 UK number ones before John Lennon could make his off-the-cuff observation that, "We're more popular than Jesus now!" How many issues until Ovi could make the claim?

Asa