Contributors

David Richard Beasley lives in Simcoe Ontario. Born Canadian he lived in Europe and Manhattan for 40 years, has a PhD in political economics, worked for years at the New York Public Research Libraries where he was the president of the union of library workers. He has written over a score of books in all genres including biographies of Canada’s first novelist, of North America’s greatest actor, of the great artist Clay Spohn, of the curator Douglas MacAgy, a major force behind modern art, historical novels of WWII in Burma, and many other entertaining social novels, short stories, novellas. His Episodes and Vignettes; an Autobiography. Sarah’s Journey, the story of a slave escaping to Upper Canada in 1820, won a literary prize and From Bloody Beginnings; Richard Beasley’s Upper Canada won a Brag Medallion. He was awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for his writings. See www.davuspublishing.com.

Dawn is a two-time heart transplant recipient and trauma survivor. Her work has most recently appeared or is forthcoming in Insider Magazine, Blue Villa Magazine, Open Secrets, Remington Review, Alchemy Spoon, and Wishbone Words. You can find her online at www.dawnlevittauthor.com or on Twitter/X @2HeartCore4U.

Debbie Smith likes to play with words to capture life’s moments from on and off her front porch in a place called Paris, Ontario.

Deborah Blenkhorn is a writer and teacher living on Bowen Island in British Columbia, Canada. Some of her stories have been published in Blank Spaces Magazine, Queen's Feminist Review, and This Island, We Celebrate (a collection of Howe Sound regional writing). She's done several book reviews for the Canadian Literature periodical journal, and several entries for the Encyclopedia of Literature in Canada.

Debra Zannelli was raised in Cumberland, Rhode Island. She lived in Salem, Connecticut with her husband for twenty-four years, working for eighteen years at Chelsea Groton Savings Bank. While working at the bank, she earned a business degree from Mitchell College. In 1996, Debra was diagnosed with a non-cancerous brain tumor. During her recovery, she wrote her first novel, Dark Night of the Soul. Returning to work, she put her book aside and did not pursue her writing career. When her husband was transferred to Newport, they moved to Exeter, Rhode Island, where she continued her education. After receiving a certificate as a teacher’s assistant, she was hired by the Exeter/West Greenwich School District. Retiring, she once again found time to return to her first passion. She still lives in Rhode Island with her husband of forty-four years. She has one adult son. Debra enjoys hiking with her dog Boots, traveling and writing.

Dennis Stein lives in Brockville, Ontario, not far from the scenic Thousand Islands. He has lived in Eastern Ontario for most of his life, and he and his wife love to mold their backyard into a slice of paradise on weekends. Stein enjoys writing in a variety of genres, and regularly writes historical and human interest articles for several local publications. He has published several novels, including two series, and is currently working on several large projects for younger readers.

Deryck N. Robertson lives and creates in Peterborough/Nogojiwanong,
Ontario, where he is an elementary educator. Work has appeared with
The Minison Project, Orchard Lea Press, Loft Books, and forthcoming
with Vital Minutiae Quarterly. His first chapbook, All We Remember,
was realeased by Alien Buddha Press in 2021. He is the EIC of Paddler
Press and has a couple of songs on Spotify. When not writing, he can
usually be found drinking maple roast coffee around a campfire or in
the stern of his canoe in Algonquin Park. You can find him online
@Canoe_Ideas, @PaddlerPress, and deryck.ca.

Devonne Brown is a West Virginia author, teacher, and mother of twin boys. She has taught English from Shakespeare to basic Reading in a career that spans closer to a half than a quarter of a century. A scary “Warhorse English Teacher,” she has divided her professional time between alternative and traditional schools in West Virginia, North Carolina, and in the UK. Her first book, Norris Tales, the Adventures of an Awful Housecat, an anthology of anecdotes and short stories revolving around family tyrant Norris, a cat of unusual presence and demeanor. Her upcoming historical fiction in women’s literature, In the Time of the Sonnets: 127 -154, explores the tale of Shakespeare’s Dark Lady, and is on track for publication in February 2023.

Diana writes domestic noir novels. She has been writing since she was a child and her dad inspired her to write. She lives with her husband, and German Shephard Rottweiler. A mother of two grown up children, she is also a proud grandmother. She has been writing since she was a child. Her first novel ‘’Sticks and Stones’’ was self-published in 2005. Her second novel ‘’It Won’t Happen Again’’ was self-published last year on Amazon. It is a fictional story about a woman called Martha (a victim of domestic violence). Her daughter and best friend tell her to leave, but it takes a catalytic event to change her life forever. Diana joined a playwright group, where she was part of a group of amateur writers. ‘’The Kingswood Beast’’ premiered at The Corby Cube.

Diana Raab, MFA, PhD, is a memoirist, poet, workshop leader, thought-leader and award-winning author of fourteen books. Her work has been widely published and anthologized. She frequently speaks and writes on writing for healing and transformation. Her latest memoir is Hummingbird: Messages from My Ancestors, A memoir with reflection and writing prompts (Modern History Press, 2024). Raab writes for Psychology Today, The Wisdom Daily, The Good Men Project, Thrive Global, and is a guest blogger for many others. Raab lives in Southern California. Visit her at: https:/www.dianaraab.com.

Diane Funston writes poetry of nature and human nature. She co-founded a women's poetry salon in San Diego, created a weekly poetry gathering in the high desert town of Tehachapi, CA and most recently has been the Yuba-Sutter Arts and Culture Poet-in-Residence for the past two years. It is in this role she created Poetry Square, a monthly online venue that features poets from all over the world reading their work and discussing creative process. Diane has been published in Synkronicity, California Quarterly, Whirlwind, San Diego Poetry Annual, Summation, and quite a few other literary journals. Her first chapbook, “Over the Falls” was published this July 2022 from Foothills Publishing. Diane is also a visual artist in mosaic, wool felting, and collage. Her pieces have been in galleries in the Sacramento Valley. noparadise@e.com

Dinah Susan Alobeid writes fiction to grapple with the ever-complicated state of the world. In trying to make sense of it all for herself as a first-generation Syrian American, late-Millennial mother, she hopes to shed light for everyone. Her work is deeply influenced by her experience as a woman in tech of Arab descent and she hopes to continue to explore personal meaning and diverse perspectives in her fiction, short stories, essays, and poetry. Infusing languages including Arabic, Spanish, and French into her writing as well as the heady visceral descriptions of food, drink, and heartache, much of her fiction centers on relationships between two or more inaccessible hearts.
She lives in New Jersey with her partner and their rambunctious toddler.

Dominique Weldon is a Black biracial writer who grew up in Iowa. She is a first-generation college graduate of the University of Iowa and received her MFA in Fiction from Butler University, where she served as the nonfiction editor of Booth. Her fiction has been previously published in Lover’s Eye Press. She lives in Indiana, where she teaches at Butler University, and reads fiction for Split Lip Magazine. She is currently working on her first novel as well as a graphic novel.

Donna Dallas studied Creative Writing and Philosophy at NYU’s Gallatin School and was lucky enough to study under William Packard, founder and editor of the New York Quarterly. She was on the editorial team of Red Fez and she currently serves on the editorial team for New York Quarterly.

Dr. Adyasha Acharya is a medical intern in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. She is a voracious reader and her most favourite genres are fantasy and science fiction. She has published two novels previously- "The Fearless Warriors" (2015) and "The Guardian" (2021), a short story titled "Nexus" and "The Psychics" in the Indian Periodical Magazine and "The Midnight Ritual" in the anthology "The Selection of a Sacred Strawberry" by Writefluence (2023).

Duane Anderson currently lives in La Vista, NE. He has had poems published in Fine Lines, Cholla Needles, Tipton Poetry Journal, and several other publications. He is the author of ‘On the Corner of Walk and Don’t Walk,’ ‘The Blood Drives: One Pint Down,’ and ‘Family Portraits.’

Author of the critically applauded debut novel Twelfth House, E.C. Traganas has published in DarkWinter Literary Magazine, Ibbetson Street Press, The Penwood Review, Sacred Journey, Agape Review, Ancient Paths, The Chamber Magazine and numerous other literary journals. Hailed as ‘an artfully created masterpiece’ and a ‘must-read’, her new work of haiku and short poetry, Shaded Pergola, was recently released by Tropaeum Press and features her original illustrations. A resident of New York City, Ms. Traganas enjoys a varied career as a Juilliard-trained concert pianist & composer, activities that have earned her accolades from the international press. www.elenitraganas.com

E. F. S. Byrne works in education and writes when his teenage kids allow it. He blogs a regular micro flash story. Links to this and over fifty published pieces can be found at efsbyrne.wordpress.com or follow him on Twitter @efsbyrne

E.P. Lande was born in Montreal, but has lived most of his life in the south of France and Vermont, where he now lives with his partner, writing and caring for more than 100 animals, many of which are rescues. Previously, he taught at l’Université d’Ottawa where he served as Vice-Dean of his faculty, and he has owned and managed country inns and free-standing restaurants. Since submitting less than two years ago, 49 of his stories have been accepted by publications in countries on five continents.

Eddie Malone (he/him) is a writer who lives far,far out in the boggy woods with his rescue dogs and his demons.

Edward Lee's poetry, short stories, non-fiction and photography have been published in magazines in Ireland, England and America, including The Stinging Fly, Skylight 47, Acumen, The Blue Nib and Poetry Wales. His poetry collections include A Foetal Heart, Bones Speaking With Hard Tongues, To Touch The Sky And Never Know The Ground Again and The Heart As Dust Lost In The Wind. He also makes musical noise under the names Ayahuasca Collective, Orson Carroll, Lego Figures Fighting, and Pale Blond Boy. His blog/website can be found at https://edwardmlee.wordpress.com

Eileen Patterson lives in Cudahy, Wisconsin. Along with fellow poets she has read her poetry at the local library. Her poetryshe has appeared in Underwood, Bombfire, Medusa’s Kitchen and she has a short story in Darkwinter.

Eileen Tull (she/her) is a writer, performer, and teacher based in Chicago. Her writing has been published online by Grim & Gilded, Empty Mirror, First Literary Review (East), Literature Today Journal and Scout & Birdie, among others. Eileen’s poetry has been included in the following books: The Art of Being Human Vol. 9, The Art of Being Human Vol. 10, and Veils, Halos & Shackles: International Poetry on the Oppression and Empowerment of Women. She recently self-published her first poetry collection, 33 Poems About Peanut Butter, on Amazon. As a storyteller and theatre artist, her work has been seen across the country in San Francisco, New York City, Cincinnati, Dallas, and all over Chicago. www.eileentull.com, Instagram: @Eileen.Tull, Twitter: @tullie23

Elisha Oluyemi won the 2022 Lagos-HCAF Writing Contest (Prose) and came 1st runner-up in both the Shuzia 2021 Short Story Contest (2nd Ed.) and 2022 Flash Fiction Contest. He co-edited the PROFWIC Crime Fiction Anthology, Vol 1. Elisha has writing published/forthcoming in journals, including Mystery Tribune, Brittle Paper, Entropy, The Hooghly Review, Iris Youth Mag, Hotpot Mag, African Writer, Salamander Ink, Erato, Neurological, Kalahari, Nymphs, Shallow Tales Review, Sledgehammer, Arts Lounge, and elsewhere. He writes in the psychological and literary genres.

Elizabeth Mercurio is the author of the chapbook Doll. She is an Assistant Editor at Lily Poetry Review and earned her MFA in poetry from the Solstice Program. Her poems have appeared in Third Point Press, Philadelphia Stories, The Literary Nest, Ample Remains, The Wild Word, Thimble Magazine, and elsewhere. She was recently named a finalist in the Cordella Press Gwendolyn Brooks Poetry Prize.

Labrador Inuk Ella Nathanael Alkiewicz (she/hers) is a self-taught poet. She is a dual citizen and loves visiting her family in Toronto when her schedule permits. Ella teaches online poetry for Indigenous students at the North American Indian Center of Boston. She’s been published in Lucky Jefferson and other magazines. She can be reached on Facebook @ellanathanaelalkiewicz or on Twitter @ellaalk or on Instagram @ella_alk.

Elliot Wilner is a retired neurologist, living in Bethesda, MD. Since retirement, he has – with his wife’s indulgence – enjoyed a long-deferred dalliance with creative writing.

Emil is an American currently living in South Korea. He enjoys reading and writing horror and sci-fi. He believes that writing is a powerful art form that allows one to tell incredible, emotional, and impactful stories from different perspectives.

Emily De Angelis, shortlisted for our 1st Anniversary Contest, comes from a long line of visual artists, musicians and storytellers. She has spent many years developing her writing through independent study, workshops, conferences, and courses, including a year in the Humber School for Writers under the mentorship of Richard Scrimger. She was also fortunate to receive an OAC grant for Works in Progress. Emily has western and Japanese-style poems as well as short stories published in various anthologies and periodicals. She served as the President of the Sudbury Writers’ Guild 1998-2000, and recently served as Treasurer as well as Facilitator of the Guild’s Children/Young Adult Inner Circle. Emily's YA manuscript entitled, The Stones of Burren Bay, has been accepted for publication by Latitude 46 Publishing and will be out in 2024. Emily is wintering in Woodstock, Ontario while spending summers on her property on Manitoulin Island.

Emily Toliver is currently a sophomore at The New School where she is studying Literary Studies with a concentration in writing and minoring in Psychology. Her love and admiration for storytelling began as a child after being introduced to Rod Serling’s, “The Twilight Zone”. In her sophomore year of high school she wrote a play titled, “Behind the Frame” that tackled the idea of capitalism’s effects on artists who simply want to pursue their professions because it's what they love rather than what they make. This play was then published by Samuel French through their LEAP OnStage program and performed at Baruch College. She continued her earlier studies in creative writing, working with TDF and NYU in specialized programs made for high schoolers in the arts. Now, she is focusing on her classes all while learning new forms of storytelling and working as a social media intern.

Eric Burbridge has been writing short fiction for years and after his retirement started to pursue his passion for story telling in earnest. He is currently working on a novel.

Eric H Janzen is the author of two fantasy series, The Dreamtrekker Journals and The Essence Tales—both available on Amazon. He also writes non-fiction and has had numerous essays on the spiritual life published online in the Clarion Journal of Spirituality and Justice. Recently, his short story, Fair Field Gate was an honourable mention in Off Topic’s July 2022 writing challenge. He lives in British Columbia, Canada, and plans to continue writing… forever.

Eric Twa (he/him) is a gay writer living with schizophrenia. He has published fiction or is forthcoming in Qwerty, Bull, A Thin Slice of Anxiety, decomp journal, and others. He also has poetry published in The Nashwaak Review.

Erich von Hungen is a writer from San Francisco, California. He lives under a giant Norfolk pine in a century old house between Golden Gate Park and the Pacific Ocean. His writing has appeared in The Write Launch, Versification, Green Ink Press, The Hyacinth Review, IceFloe Press, Fahmidan Journal, Hearth and Coffin and others. He is the author of four poetry collections, the most recent being "Bleeding Through: 72 Poems Of Man In Nature". Find him on twitter @PoetryForce.

Ernest A. Youhouse, Jr. was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He attended Kent Preparatory School before being awarded a Morehead Scholarship to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he graduated in 1981. He also received a Masters of Arts in English from the State University of New York in Binghamton in 1983. After returning to North Carolina , he worked in Advertising and Marketing. When Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana in 2005, Ernest decided to apply his communication skill-set and a heightened sense of urgency to the Disaster Recovery and Property Restoration Industry. In the next several years, Ernest is looking forward to retirement and the abundance of time to write fiction.

Evelyn Moriarty is a native of Co. Limerick in the West of Ireland. She holds an M.A. in Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies from University of Limerick, a B.A. in English Studies from Trinity College, Dublin, and has particular interdisciplinary research interests in 21st century poetry and music. Previously published in The Ogham Stone (2019) literary journal, Evelyn is an active member of the Killaloe Writers Group and draws inspiration from liminal spaces, boundaries within and without, and the poetics of silence.

Faith Allington (she/her) is a writer of the mysterious and speculative who resides in the Pacific Northwest. Her work has been published or is forthcoming in journals such as Hexagon MYRIAD, Flash Frontier, Pyre Magazine, Cease Cows, and Crow & Cross Keys. When not writing, she's drinking too much tea and reading many books.

Fija Callaghan is a storyteller who writes poetry, love letters, and fiction that can be found in venues like Gingerbread House, Mythic Magazine, Corvid Queen, and elsewhere. Her work has been featured in podcasts, recognised by international short story competitions, and nominated for Best of the Net. Originally from the Cascadia region, she now lives in Dublin, Ireland with her books.

Frances Boyle was shortlisted for our 1st Anniversary Short Story Contest. She is the author most recently of Openwork and Limestone (Frontenac House 2022). In addition to two earlier poetry collections, she has also written Tower, a novella (Fish Gotta Swim Editions 2018), Seeking Shade, an award-winning short story collection (The Porcupine’s Quill, 2020) and Skin Hunger, a novel (The Porcupine’s Quill, forthcoming 2024). Recent fiction publications include work in Paris Lit Up, Bandit Fiction and Echolocation. Originally from the prairies, Frances has long lived in Ottawa. For more, visit www.francesboyle.com or follow @francesboyle19.

GL is a 19 year old writer from Toronto, Ontario. He is currently an undergraduate humanities major in Nova Scotia, and hopes to complete an English or Philosophy degree. Prior to starting university, GL struggled with mental health and addiction before graduating high school. Prose became his form of choice, but he wants to expand his horizons as a writer and experiment with other forms of poetry.

Gale Acuff has had hundreds of poems published in a dozen countries and has authored three books of poetry. Her poems have appeared in Ascent, Reed, Journal of Black Mountain College Studies, The Font, Chiron Review, Poem, Adirondack Review, Florida Review, Slant, Arkansas Review, Maryland Literary Review, North Dakota Quarterly, South Dakota Review, Roanoke Review, War, Literature & the Arts, and many other journals.

Garry Engkent is a Chinese-Canadian. He has co-authored three texts: Groundwork: Writing Skills to Build On; Fiction/Non-Fiction: A Reader and Rhetoric; and Essay: Do's and Don'ts. His fictional stories have appeared in Exile, Many-Mouthed Birds, Emerge, and Ricepaper Magazine. Most stories have a Chinese immigrant slant: "Why My Mother Can't Speak English", "Eggroll", and “Rabbit". His recent published foray into horror is “I, Zombie: A Different Point of View.”

Gary Garafola currently resides on Long Island, New York. He has written some very dark fiction, A children's book and a play. His poems have appeared in Impossible Archetype, The World of Myth Magazine, and OH YEAH A Bear Poetry Anthology, edited by Raymond Luczak and published by Bearskin Lodge Press.

Gary Kuchar is Professor in the Department of English at the University of Victoria. A specialist in English Renaissance literature, he is the author of four academic monographs, including George Herbert and the Mystery of the Word: Poetry and Scripture in Seventeenth-Century England (2017) and Shakespeare and the World of Slings & Arrows: Poetic Faith in a Postmodern Age (2024). His poetry has appeared in Scintilla and Sky Island Journal.

Gary Porter likes to stay home and hang out with his beautiful family. He listens to all kinds of music, but the electric guitar makes his favorite sounds. He also loves vocal harmonies and handclaps. He works at a homeless shelter, and he's just trying to get a little better every day.

Geoffrey Heptonstall is the author of Heaven's Invention, a novel (Black Wolf 2017) and two poetry collections published by Cyberwit: The Rites of Paradise (2020) and Sappho’s Moon (2021). Recent fiction has appeared in Pennsylvania Literary Journal. Recent poetry has appeared in Fixing Earth, an anthology of eco-awareness from Zimbabwe. He lives in Cambridge, England.

George Freek's poem "Enigmatic Variations" was recently nominated for Best of the Net. His poem "Night Thoughts" was also nominated for a Pushcart Prize. His collection "Melancholia" is published by Red Wolf Editions.

Gina Carrillo, aka Black Widow is a Spoken Word Artist from Franklin,TN.
Also the Creator of The Prodigal Poets Poetry Collective, we perform all over Nashville & surrounding cities!
Also the Author of Kaleidoscope, which can be found on Amazon & Barnes and Noble Websites.
Peace, Love & Poetry
Instagram: @blackwidowpoet @prodigalpoets

Gina Manchego Zufall is a multi-medium artist and poet. She has been penning since childhood, and loves nothing more than painting beautiful scenes with the written word. Gina lives in the wild mountains of Colorado, USA.

Glen Armstrong (he/him) holds an MFA in English from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and edits a poetry journal called Cruel Garters. His poems have appeared in Conduit, Poetry Northwest, and Another Chicago Magazine.