Happy New Year! The Women Who Submit members included in this post published their work in amazing places during December of 2025. One of our committed members heard about their publication opportunity through WWS programming and/or another member.
I’ve included an excerpt from published pieces (if available), along with a link (if available) to where the pieces can be purchased and/or read in their entirety. Please take some time to celebrate yourself and your wonderful accomplishments, especially with so many writers published this month. Thank you and happy submitting!
Huge congratulations to Amy Raasch whose poem “My Sister Donates Her Eyes to the State of Minnesota” won the Beullah Rose Poetry Prize.
Kudos to Christine Heriat whose fiction piece “The Ledger” was published in Shotgun Honey.
You carry a heavy case.
His narrowed eyes, his tight mouth, tell you it would’ a been smarter to carry what’s inside the case in your waistband, or hand. But you worried too much over drawin’ the attention of other gang members, a stray cop, that sorta thing. Really, your big case makes you feel big, even though you left your colors at home. Gotta find a way to look strong when you take this kinda risk. Make a move to improve your circumstance, scratch your way up with one fingernail, one job, one bullet.
Shoutout to Elizabeth Galoozis whose poem “ode to an adolescent niece” was featured in Sontag Mag.
you’re blazing
hot pink-orange,
an angry sunrise
through wildfire smoke,
a highlighter
obliterating words
you’re expected
to remember.
Please join me in congratulating Diosa Xochiquetzalcoatl who published a new poetry collection MeXicana: poemas y mas poemas with Riot of Roses Publishing House.
Kudos to Viktoria Valenzuela whose poem “Top & Tail Lover’s Knot” appeared in Zócalo Public Square.
Congratulations to Shelley Ettinger whose poem “Disappear” was featured in Radical Catalyst Vol.1, No.2.
Shoutout to Michelle Smith whose poem “Heart of Simon” appeared in LA Art News‘ December Poet’s Place series (excerpt available below). She also published the poem “Look Out Below” and the book Do SoCal Palms have Branches? with Four Feathers Press.
Simon Rodia visionary Italian artist
33 years climbing The Watts Tower
1990 historic California landmark
At 70 years old
a.k.a El Nuestro Pueblos
Is mightier than gold
Globally admired
Symmetrical
Intricate
Magnificent
Ornate
Nuance
Renowned
Original
Daring
Intriguing
Artist
Lastly, huge congratulations to Julia C Gaytan who published a new book Imported Sand with Chicana/Latina Studies: The Journal of Mujeres Activas en Letras y Cambio Social.
*Feature image credit to Margaret Gallagher*