Circling the Void published in Carmina Magazine on 9/16/23

My short story Circling the Void was published in Carmina Magazine on 9/16/23.

Photo by Samuel PASTEUR-FOSSE on Unsplash

I am very excited about this. It’s an example of finding a way back to a story and revising and expanding.

I really started to work on this story, which I only had a kernel for one of Molotov Cocktail’s awesome contests. And then significantly expanded it after getting a close but no cigar from them. So it’s all about revision and persistence and finding the right home and Carmina Magazine’s mission inspired and encouraged me.

This story is also an example of songwriting and fiction coming together since the character Fancy first appeared in MAKAR’s song Fancy Hercules.

I delve into the inspiration and creation of this story in fuller detail in my author note at the end of my story.

http://carminamagazine.com/sept-2023.html

My poem – Rape Kits – was published in Timeless Tales Magazine’s Pandora Box Issue 8/15/19

I am honored that my poem Rape Kits was published in the 3rd edition of Pandora’s Box in Timeless Tales Magazine.

This poem was inspired by the HBO documentary - I am evidence and the appalling reality of the rape kit backlog remaining untested in the hundreds of thousands. I was horrified by the idea of these boxes in a warehouse where birds were actually making nests of the evidence, of these women’s bodies and pain, evidence that could put the rapists behind bars. And who better to open the boxes than Pandora?

Pandora opening the box is frequently seen as cataclysmic but in this case, she’s a warrior, doing what is necessary for justice. All the emotions from the collective violations released giving the victims hope.

A word about the moths – in some versions of the myth, the “bad” things released are described as moths and I thought what if these moths were avenging goddesses and in my internet sleuthing came across Theodore D. Sargent’s invaluable Working Paper of Attributes - Goddesses – Moths. I have always thought that moths were underrated.

Downloadable PDF

About Timeless Tales Magazine
Timeless Tales is a digital magazine exclusively publishing retellings of fairy tales and classic myths since 2013. Please be sure follow them on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

My other stories published by Timeless Tales - Home is Where the Bone is and The World is Inside.

Goofing around in Queens Botanical Gardens