Christian Ward is a UK-based poet with recent poetry in Acumen, Dreich, Dream Catcher, Dodging the Rain and Canary. He was longlisted for the 2023 Aurora Prize for Writing, shortlisted for the 2023 Ironbridge Poetry Competition and 2023 Aesthetica Creative Writing Award, and won the 2023 Cathalbui Poetry Competition. Lymphoma As Minotaur  The disease built a mazefrom the overactive lymph nodes. Sent redblood cells, innocentas Athenians, to die.At the centre, a tumour on my spine: hornswhite like rage, breathhotter than the underworld.A creature struggling to reconcile its ledger:human or bull?Chemo, bold like Theseus,offered no parlay. The sting of the bladestill … Continue reading Christian Ward

Laura Stamps is a poet and novelist and the author of over 60 books. Most recently: THE GOOD DOG (Prolific Pulse Press, 2023), ADDICTED TO DOG MAGAZINES (Impspired, 2023), and MY FRIEND TELLS ME SHE WANTS A DOG (Kittyfeather Press, 2023). She is the recipient of a Pulitzer Prize nomination and 7 Pushcart Prize nominations.   Adult Supervision Haiku At Petco I see discount coupons for Hazel’s food. Grab some. Grab more. Bought Hazel a cute raincoat and hat. Pink. Does she like it? Of course not. That adorable dog figurine on Etsy. Vintage. Bought it. Score! Shopping is my … Continue reading Laura Stamps

Tobi Alfier is published nationally and internationally. Credits include War, Literature and the Arts, The American Journal of Poetry, KGB Bar Lit Mag, Washington Square Review, Cholla Needles, James Dickey Review, Gargoyle, Permafrost, Arkansas Review, Anti-Heroin Chic, and others.  She is co-editor of San Pedro River Review (www.bluehorsepress.com). Friday Night at The Executive Suite Bar Even in the long pauses between drinks she never spoke of home, just stared at her face in the mirror over the bar and wondered why this was called Happy Hour. Mostly full of businessmen exhausted from a week of selling nothing, so tired their … Continue reading Tobi Alfier

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 classrooms, judge poetry competitions, and have over 200 hundred writings published worldwide in such publications as The Art of Being Human, Battered Shadows and The Broken Ones. Andrew Scott has published multiple poetry books, Snake with A Flower, The Phoenix Has Risen, The Path, The Storm Is Coming, Whispers of the Calm, Searching and Letter To You, a novella, Redemption Avenue anda book of photography, Through My Eyes. A Walk Through Time is Andrew Scott’s second book of photography To contact Andrew, … Continue reading Andrew Scott

Paul Tristram is a widely published Welsh writer who’s currently up to his elbows in Magic, and long may it remain this way. When Gifts & Curses Collide Pablo Picasso was mistakenly thought a ‘Stillborn’ and left upon a side table. The first word to leave his lips was ‘Lapiz’ which is Spanish for ‘Pencil’. I feel that there is a Spiritual ‘Link’ between both of these incidents… the Artist NOT Finding, or [Accidently] Discovering his Pathway later in Life… but, in fact, ‘It’ being Birthed right alongside of the [Meat and Bone] ‘Body’. Neither ‘Look Down’ Nor ‘Pedestal’… The … Continue reading Paul Tristram

Connie Johnson is a Los Angeles, California-based writer who has twice been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Her poetry has appeared or will be forthcoming in Iconoclast, Haight-Ashbury Literary Journal, Jerry Jazz Musician, San Pedro River Review, Cholla Needles, Shot Glass Journal, Voicemail Poems, Misfit Magazine, Mudfish 23, Exit 13, Glint Literary Journal, The Rye Whiskey Review and Door Is a Jar.   Many of Connie’s poems are featured in Jerry Jazz Musician publications.   A Lovers’ Journey:  Haiku “Don’t go to strangers…”But this smoky dive is fullOf them; jazz awaits I walk continentsTo reach you; jazz in the airGuides … Continue reading Connie Johnson

Fhen M. became a staff member of the publication paper 𝘈𝘯𝘨𝘚𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘨(𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘓𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵) at Eastern Samar National Comprehensive High School – a public secondary school in the Philippines. He received his first poetry award while a sophomore student at Leyte Institute of Technology. Fhen M. was a member of 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘭, the official publication paper of LIT. Fhen M. studied the academic subjects Writing in the Discipline, 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘓𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴, and The Literature of the World at Eastern Visayas State University. The Waray poem “Uyasan” (“Toy” in English”) written by Fhen M. was published in a collection of literary works entitled 𝘗𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘭𝘪: 15 𝘠𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 … Continue reading Fhen M.

Laurie Kuntz’s  bio is as elusive as her estrogen levels. Sometimes, she  remembers she is  a poet and sometimes not. She lived and worked as a writer and teacher in the Philippines, Thailand and Japan for 35 years, but she is now in nomadic retirement mode. Her poetic themes are a result of working with Southeast Asian refugees, living as an expatriate, and being an empty nester. Her  books are: That Infinite Roar, Gyroscope Press, Talking Me Off The Roof, Kelsay Books, The Moon Over My Mother’s House, Finishing Line Press,  Simple Gestures, Texas Review Press, Women at the Onsen, Blue Light Press, and Somewhere in the Telling, Mellen Press. Simple Gestures, won Texas Review’s  Chapbook … Continue reading Laurie Kuntz

LB Sedlacek has had poems and stories appear in a variety of journals and zines. Her poetry has been nominated for Best of the Net. Her latest poetry book is “Unresponsive Sky” published by Purple Unicorn Media. Other poetry books include “Swim,” “The Poet Next Door,” “This Space Available,” and “Words and Bones.” Her latest short stories book is “The Renovator & Motor Addiction” published by Alien Buddha Press. Other fiction books include “The Jackalope Committee and Other Tales,” “The Mailbox of the Kindred Spirit,” and “Four Thieves of Vinegar & Other Short Stories.”  LB also enjoys swimming and reading. … Continue reading LB Sedlacek

Alex De-Gruchy is a writer, editor and narrative designer whose work has included comic books, videogames, prose, film, poetry, radio and other audio, and more. He currently works for the videogame development studio Hexworks as Lead Narrative Designer, the studio’s debut title, the dark-fantasy role-playing game Lords of the Fallen, having launched in 2023. You can find a full list of Alex’s credits to date at his website: https://alexdegruchy.wordpress.com/credits/ The Leafless Tree I won’t stand here and lie, make some sorry excuse One quick pull and then it’s off to Hell I’ll vamoose ‘Cause salvation don’t come in the shape … Continue reading Alex De-Gruchy