Sunset in a cloudy sky, over a pine forest

A small update because life

So, the past couple of months have been challenging.

At the beginning of May, my father died. It was very quick and very sudden. I’m still processing what happened and going through his belongings. We’re currently mid-emptying my parents’ house, bringing stuff to our own, as well as rearranging and purchasing new furniture to accommodate the new arrivals. Overall, it feels as if I’m the one moving out. Needless to say, I’m not a fan.

On the writing front, my poetry is living the dream. My poem “Petrichor” is a Rhysling finalist and “Fifth tongue”, that appeared in the Spring Issue of Silver Blade, has been nominated for the Dwarf Stars. I feel very grateful and lucky to see my poems liked by people.

Last week, my flash story “Money Thirst” was published in the 4th Issue of Radon Journal. While you’re there, check out all the wonderful poems and stories published in the same issue.

And that’s it from me. I’m going back to packing stuff and writing in between stolen moments.

Have a nice day and tell your loved ones you love them.

🌺💜

A leafless tree against the blue sky

Rhysling Eligibility Post

I’m very late to the party, but since the nominations for the poetry Rhyslings awards end tomorrow, here are my eligible poems:

“Worlds Apart” appeared in Star*Line.

“First rule of time travel”, about losing yourself in wormholes, in Star*Line.

“Petrichor”, on the fragmentation of the self and the distributed consciousness in Utopia Science Fiction.

“Helianthus”, an anarchist poem about changing the meaning of work, in Solarpunk Magazine.

“An ode to the stone cold gaze”, about Medusa, in Daughter of Sarpedon: Tempered Tales, from Brigids Gate.

If you haven’t voted yet, it would mean the world to me if you considered my poems.

Short Stories I enjoyed in February and March

Hello! Summer is here!

I read 33 stories during these two months, so I thought I’d make a post about them together. So many stories, so little time.

As always, here we go in no particular order:

For sale: One Unicorn Saddle, Mostly Disenchanted by Aimee Picchi in Translunar Travelers Lounge: A short, fun and cute story over the sadness and disappointment for your run-away unicorn and how internet strangers can help you realize what really happened. ?

Gennesaret by Phoenix Alexander in Beneath Ceaseless Skies: What is escaping from what you know when you know nothing else? And who will pay the price? A short and sad story about taking the dangerous leap towards change and going in blind.

Metal like blood in the Black by T. Kingfisher in Uncanny: A unique story about two machines, their relationship with their father and how they managed to survive on their own against a villainous figure. I really enjoyed this one.

An Incomplete Account of the Case of the Bird-talker in Yaros by Eleanna Castroianni in Fireside: From 1967-1974, during the years of the Greek Junta, the island of Yaros in the Aegean was used as a prison for the political prisoners. This is a gentle story in the form of short interviews from the prisoners about the living conditions in prison as well as their personal experiences with the regime.

 

Poetry:

A Jar of Condensed Milk by Gretchen Tesshmer in Strange Horizons

The Prophet, to His Angel by Bogi Takàcs in Fantasy Magazine

Return to the Cities by Marie Vibbert in The Future Fire

Eosphosphorus by Avra Margariti in Eye to the Telescope

A Message From Her Feline Self, Unborn, to Her Cousin, Whose Ancestors Were Once Wolves by Jessica Cho in Fireside 

Shreds and Tatters by Jennifer Crow in Kaleidotrope

Short stories I enjoyed in January

A very late post considering, but my notes are frowning at me and I have to oblige. January was a great month reading wise and I read a lot and very good short stories. As always, here you’ll find both old and new pieces in no particular order. Just the way I put them down on my notes. (You can also see that when I like a magazine or an author I kind of … don’t let go.)

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Short Stories I enjoyed in December

On one hand, in December I only read 12 short stories but, on the other, I discovered Diabolical Plots and Nature Futures, and I had a blast reading stories from them. ^^

Practice on a Pulsefish by Steven Berger in Nature Futures: A flash that deals with the consequences of ignoring the natural environment in order to make some easy money. I’m always in for some petty revenge.

A Guide to Snack Foods After The Apocalypse by Rachel K. Jones in Diabolical Plots: Two kids trying to survive the apocalypse on their own. This story was weird and cute and weird!

The Art And Mystery of Thea Wells  by Alexandra Seidel in Diabolical Plots: I loved the descriptions of the paintings in this story. They felt like art pieces that existed and the feeling they evoked unsettled and intrigued me.

Audio Recording left by the CEO of the Ranvannian Colony to her daughter on the survival imperative of maximizing profits by Cassandra Khaw and Matt Dovey in Diabolical Plots: Ohhhh I loved this one. Unique descriptions of alien food, taste and ways to cook or serve it while at the same time describing the horror of making choices in the altar of profit. Also, mind the content notes on this one.

Grab a cup of coffee and enjoy!