Kevin McManus is a writer and poet from Western Ireland. He has published six novels so far and has also compiled a collection of poems and short stories that he plans to publish shortly.  He works as a secondary school teacher in County Leitrim. Bolted Doors Behind rusted, bolted and stiff iron locks, a day of no great consequence has emerged A bleak January hour travelling over a well-trodden path on wet and rushy ground, Upon a dusky black thorn branch a glass crystal water drop, that hangs and falls to earth Nothing to penetrate the silence, nature is still … Continue reading Kevin McManus

Susie Gharib is a graduate of the University of Strathclyde with aPh.D. on the work of D.H. Lawrence. Her poetry and fiction have appeared in multiple venues including Adelaide Literary Magazine, TheCurlew, The Ink Pantry, A New Ulster, Down in the Dirt, the PLJ, andMad Swirl. Covers In my bleakest hour, when I ponder over the status quo, and try to fathom what led to this vacuum, my eyes dissociate themselves from my thoughts and randomly roam in my one-existence-room. Vacant as my stare may be, it is gradually stimulated by the marine blue of my quilt cover whose nautical elements … Continue reading Susie Gharib

Margaret’s passion for poetry began in early childhood. Retirement brought the opportunity to pursue her writing, giving voice to acute experiences of loss, grief and chronic illness. Her first poetry collection “Fording The Stream” was self- published Sept 2017 as Jessica De Guyat. She has been shortlisted for Crowvus and Bangor Literary Journal poetry prizes  and her poems have appeared in journals, anthologies and webzines, amongst which Hedgehog Poetry Press, Crowvus, Mookychick, Word, Voices Poetry, The Blue Nib, Bonnies Crew and Pink Plastic House. Her short pamphlet “Singing the Earth Awake” has recently been published by Hedgehog Poetry Press. Forthcoming … Continue reading Margaret Royall

Mark J. Mitchell was born in Chicago and grew up in southern California. His latest poetry collection, Starting from Tu Fu  was just published by Encircle Publications. Another full-length collection, Mirror Games is due out in September from Cherry Grove press.He is very fond of baseball, Louis Aragon, Miles Davis, Kafka and Dante. He lives in San Francisco with his wife, the activist and documentarian, Joan Juster where he makes his meager living pointing out pretty things.He has published 2 novels and three chapbooks and two full length collections so far. Titles on request.A meager online presence can be found at https://www.facebook.com/MarkJMitchellwriter/ LANDLUBBER WITH AN EYE … Continue reading Mark J. Mitchell

Mir-Yashar Seyedbagheri is a graduate of Colorado State University’s MFA program in fiction.  A native of Boise, Idaho, his work is forthcoming or has been published in journals such as Unstamatic, Door Is A Jar Magazine, Maudlin House, and Ariel Chart. Mir-Yashar lives in Garden Valley, Idaho. Recess Dreams, 2001 once, at recess, eighth grade, I reprised the weight of swings feet pumping, higher, higher, while others took to fields soccer balls dreamed I was a mistake. Not a fourteen-year old  sun smiled, cerulean endlessness over rooftops, even though it was September. 2001 was the so-called realism instead, I dreamed … Continue reading Mir Yashar Seyedbagheri

John Tustin’s poetry has appeared in many literary journals, online and in print, in the last decade. fritzware.com/johntustinpoetry contains links to his published poetry online. AS I ESCAPE THE BURNING BUILDING As I escape the burning building From the middle floor Shimming down tied bedsheets Fastened to the iron bars on the window I finally chiseled away   I realize all my love letters to you Reside in there About to blacken and crumple And burn to dust   And I fall to the ground Lucky to only break my leg   And as I writhe there On the winter hardened yellowed … Continue reading John Tustin

Scott Thomas Outlar lives and writes in the suburbs outside of Atlanta, Georgia. His work has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net. He was a recipient of the 2017 Setu Mag Award for Excellence in the field of literature. Selections of his poetry have been translated into Afrikaans, Albanian, Dutch, Farsi, French, Italian, Kurdish, and Serbian. His podcast, Songs of Selah, airs weekly on 17Numa Radio. More about Outlar’s work can be found at 17Numa.com.  Casting Cards I wouldn’t dare call myself a poet or an artist/or a warrior or a fighter/or a servant/or a … Continue reading Scott Thomas Outlar

Andrew Scott is a native of Fredericton, NB. During his time as an active poet, Andrew Scott has taken the time to speak in front of a classrooms, judge poetry competitions as well as be published worldwide in such publications as The Art of Being Human, Battered Shadows and The Broken Ones. His books, Snake With A Flower, The Phoenix Has Risen, The Path, The Storm Is Coming and Through My Eyes  are available now.  Searching is his fifth poetry collection. Highway Of Tears There is a paved road in the Canadian Northwest that has asphalt soaked in the blood … Continue reading Andrew Scott

Ziaul Moid Khan grew-up in North India countryside named, Johri. He is the youngest among his six siblings. He is a speculative fiction writer and a romantic poet. His work has featured in Literary Orphans (Fall 2019), Pennsylvania Literary Journal (Spring, Summer, & Fall 2019), Smoky Blue Literary & Arts Magazine (Fall/Winter, 2019), Foliate Oak Literary Magazine (Feb 2019), Kairos Literary Magazine (Dec. 2018), The Blue Lake Review (Nov. 2018), and elsewhere. He teaches English at Gudha International School, Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan. Zia edits his school magazine Sunshine and resides under the foothills of Aravali Mountain Range in Rajasthan with … Continue reading Ziaul Moid Khan

Ruby Read is a New England writer that has only recently pursued her passions for literature. After a decade of working as a manufacturing engineer for a cytometry company, she is diving head first into the world of poetry. Ruby Read is a refreshing new voice, that speaks with a bluntness towards the realities of the status quo. One Night If I’ve done all I can do And I still can’t be with you Should suicide ensue?   No I’m far too dramatic In the emphatic words I say Its emblematic of static In the songs that we play Why … Continue reading Ruby Read