"Guerra Sucia (The Dirty War)"

My poem, "Guerra Sucia (The Dirty War)," appears in the recent issue of Cliterature. This is my first appearance in this exquisite journal.

 From their home page:

 Cliterature is an online magazine dedicated to expressions of women's sexuality in writing. We publish both creative and
critical works quarterly. Women's sexuality deserves a medium in the writing and publishing worlds, two arenas where interest in male sexuality has prevailed far too long.

Contagion

I'm thrilled to have a poem, "Contagion," in the final issue of Holly Rose Review on the theme of "worry." I'm sad that this will be the last issue, but delighted to have my work in two issues of this fine journal of poetry and tattoos.

100 Hacks to Help You Become A Better Writer

100 Hacks to Help You Become A Better Writer

Real writing, no matter its form or intended audience, honestly reflects the passions and ideologies of the author. Any nuggets of advice that flit about on the internet, in books and newspapers and magazines, through conferences and classrooms only help tighten technicalities. Students or aspiring professionals wanting to galvanize their writing abilities should certainly explore the follow hacks in order to gain a much broader knowledge of the craft’s mechanical elements. They cannot teach creativity or lessen its subjectivity, however.

Fiction

1. Prologues are not always necessary.

As the stellar Daily Writing Tips points out, prologues work for some stories while failing on others. Use their tips on figuring out when springing for one may be entirely unnecessary.

2. Suspension of disbelief only goes so far.

Though science fiction and fantasy require more suspension of disbelief than others, all writers need to understand its limitations in all genres.

3. Keep character sheets.

Short and longer fiction alike can benefit from keeping a detailed character sheet on hand in order to maintain consistency.

Anna sent along these tips from her blog. Read the rest of the list here.

2009 Bram Stoker Award Winners

2009 Bram Stoker Award Winners

Novel:	AUDREY'S DOOR by Sarah Langan This is a personal favorite of mine. Langan is a remarkable writer!
irst Novel:	DAMNABLE by Hank Schwaeble
Long Fiction:	THE LUCID DREAMING by Lisa Morton
Short Fiction:	“In the Porches of My Ears” by Norman Prentiss
Anthology:	HE IS LEGEND edited by Christopher Conlon
Fiction Collection:	A TASTE OF TENDERLOIN by Gene O’Neill
Nonfiction:	WRITERS WORKSHOP OF HORROR by Michael Knost
Poetry Collection:	CHIMERIC MACHINES by Lucy A. Snyder
Lifetime Achievement Award:	Brian Lumley, William F. Nolan
The Silver Hammer Award:	Kathryn Ptacek
Richard Laymon President's Award:	Vince A. Liaguno

LYING WITH THE DEAD

Dysfunction in Abundance

LYING WITH THE DEAD
By Michael Mewshaw
288 pp. Other Press $14.95

Reviewed by Jayne Pupek

All happy families resemble one another, each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. (Leo Tolstoy)

Tolstoy’s words are from his renowned classic, Anna Karenina, but they certainly fit the dysfunctional family that is at the center of Michael Mewshaw’s eleventh novel,Lying with the Dead.

In Lying with the Dead, a manipulative and dying matriarch gathers her three adult children at their Maryland childhood home so she may confess her sins. The narrative rotates among the three voices of the siblings. Maury, the firstborn, who currently lives in California, is afflicted with Asperger’s syndrome and reveals that he spent twelve years in a maximum-security prison for murdering his father with a butcher knife while trying to protect his mother. Candy, who had polio as a child, is the dutiful daughter/martyr who stayed behind to take care of her gravely ill mother, forfeiting her own happiness and the man she loves.

READ THE REST OF MY REVIEW AT THE INTERNET REVIEW OF BOOKS.

New poems at Press1

I am thrilled to have six poems included in the new issue of Press1. These six poems were written in response to the amazing doll photographs provided by Didi Wood (The photo above is titled Back to Work, Didi Wood). It's a delight to be in the company of other poets I admire.

 I'm looking forward to reading the entire issue tonight while the dolls whisper comments in my ear.

Zombie 2.0

Cordite's Zombie 2.0 is now online! I am delighted to have three poems included in this issue and to be in the company of such other fine poets!