February was a banner month for WWS members getting their work into the world. Here is a brief look at the work published and awards won this month.
From “Tract Home Take Down” by Rachel Sona Reed published at Angels Flight Literary West:
A house like ours
is a pile of rubble
is a new foundation
is a giant skeleton
is a mess of noises
is an empty stucco signifier
is a nameless neighbor
is a neighborhood renewed
is a house no more.
Also from Rachel Sona Reed, “The Medical Procedure that ‘The Blacklist’ Blacklisted,” published at Hello Giggles:
Yet after the shock of finding herself pregnant by her (fake) ex-husband, Elizabeth spends exactly one episode in tearful contemplation before calling an adoption agency. Perceptive viewers will note that this decision still exposes the baby to the occupational hazards of her life, if only for nine months or so.
Notably absent from Elizabeth’s calculus is abortion. It’s not that it would be in character for her to elect an abortion, but it’s difficult to believe that this character wouldn’t even consider it.
From Tisha Reichle’s “South of Resurrection” published at Annotation Nation:
Before I sign up for a workshop or class with any writer, I always read at least one of her books. If she has multiple novels, I choose the one that has some element similar to what I’m doing with my own writing. I selected South of Resurrection by Jonis Agee because it is in a rural setting with characters who are not wealthy; these are the people of my childhood. The characters also battle nature and a history of racism; this has been the chaos of my adulthood.
Tisha also received an acceptance from Ghost Town (Issue 9) for her story “An Argument Against Old Cheese.” Great news!
For ten weeks, Cultural Weekly will publish one poem per week from Ashaki M. Jackson’s chapbook, Surveillance, forthcoming from WritLarge Press. In February, “Professional Wrestling Holds,” “The Public Examines Black Resilience and Is Dissatisfied” and “The Public Confuses Death with Pornography” were published.
From “The Public Confuses Death with Pornography”:
You sit in the violence Teeter
into the video from your safety
You are – each time – unsure
of what you’re viewing: Videos
of Black bodies crumbling so primitively
it is convincing
From Lauren Eggert-Crowe‘s poem “Things I Have Burned Intentionally” published at Horse Less Press:
Come June, we gathered our papers. Flung them in
unmemorized. We children, we lit fires.
Look forward to “Supercuts” from Kate Maruyama upcoming in Duende magazine and “Traces” upcoming in F(r)iction.
Toni Ann Johnson’s short story “Time Travel” will soon be featured on the podcast Reading Out Loud.
Carla Sameth‘s “Donor X” is forthcoming in MUTHA Magazine.
Jay O’Shea was invited to give a TEDxUCLA talk called “A Crisis of Play: Kinetic Experience in a Viewing Society,” a presentation focusing on the importance of physical, informal, competitive and cooperative recreation for the individual and the larger society.
Lots of great news for Elline Lipkin who was accepted to a July residency at the Dorland Mountain Arts Colony and also had a poem, “Florida,” come out this month in Cherry Tree. Look for her poem “Among Mothers” in TAB: The Journal of Poetry & Poetics in March.
Last but certainly not least, Antonia Crane received a string of acceptances this month:
- an article (title pending) in Buzzfeed for a column called “Concepts of Home”
- two articles in a new publication called PrimeMind: “White Hat, Black Stilettos: An Interview with Violet Blue” about the connection between sex workers and hackers AND an interview with neuroscientist Dr. Nicole Prause about the effect of pornography on the human brain
- two articles in Tabu, a new publication about sexual health and wellness, which encourages women to feel empowered in their unique sexualities (coming in March)
Congratulations to all of you! Truly inspiring.