Black Mountain Blog
Questions to Ask When Writing Female Characters
Posted on August 26, 2020
In light of our upcoming literary magazine HerWords, we want to share with you some questions to ask yourself regarding your female characters. Writers (both male and female) sometimes approach female characters with the hopes of educating, shining light on the experiences of women, and crafting “strong” female characters. However, internalized misogyny and decades of […]
Read MoreBlind Man in the Corner Booth, by Karen Douglass
Posted on August 24, 2020
He fingers the napkin, the utensils, condiments, plays the table like an organ, wears dark glasses on top of his head like anyone would. Organized his closet so that he doesn’t go out in plaid and checks. Anything matches khaki pants. He uses an electric razor, keep toiletries in familiar places so that he never […]
Read MoreThe Caves of Chiang Rai, by Reed Venrick
Posted on August 14, 2020
Rice fields turn golden, if you squint your eyes— as the wind whistles through helmet visor though you are running no more than 70 KPH, golden fields of ripe pineapples-swishing by, spread out and beside coconut plantations falling with a thud into cassava plants planted under hanging fronds, and a canvas wide with rice fields, […]
Read MoreCelebrating the Woman Writers of The Black Mountain Press
Posted on August 13, 2020
In light of our upcoming literary magazine HerWords, we thought we would share some great work by our brilliant female writers. HerWords is our new and upcoming literary magazine for, by, and about women. The collection of poetry recognizes the feminine impact on the literary world and gives great writers the opportunity to be recognized […]
Read MoreRemembrance, by Andreea Iulia Scridon
Posted on August 12, 2020
, for these are those things nearly forgotten… Morning’s air so clean even the cigarette smoke billowing out of the magic lamp balcony above mirrors the mountain fire. Repeated tapping — do they make babies or mince meat? Afternoon, the kid who howled the Gregorian chant of goooooooaaaaaal, the dog that howled at the church […]
Read MoreTwenty Mules, by Ian Ganassi
Posted on August 11, 2020
Once broken halt, damaged lame.It’s your own resistance.The muse wants to make everything melodic,But there’s more than one way to skin a lion.The rain in New Haven falls mainly on the pavement.Getting away is a good place for you.She breathes for the ghost of us, sometimes in disguise.Your noise to spite his face (sic).I’ll have […]
Read MoreWe have been busy during Quarantine! New Books and Magazines.
Posted on June 11, 2020
Spring issue of Miletus and the Halcyone are out! Bill Henderson’s Family Bible is out: his first book of poetry by Henderson, the Pushcart Press Publisher! Ute von Funcke’s new book of poetry, Shadow of Shadows is out, translated from the German by Stuart Friebert!
Read MoreStreet Theater, by Karen Douglas
Posted on December 12, 2019
Parked at the curb, I am boxed in by an unmarked car. Plain-clothes cops emerge, detain and handcuff a sad man on the sidewalk, no conflict. Through my windshield a cop breaks the fourth wall, makes eye contact. I hold his gaze and nod as if applauding his performance. I am audience, he the lead […]
Read MoreTravel Fellowship of the Peacock, by Saba Kirer
Posted on December 10, 2019
. He climbed a high mountain that day. It was getting colder as he was climbing up. A sweater that his girlfriend knitted for him. A garter stitch, with knitting needles no. 9. He dressed warmly. Yet, he was still cold. He felt warmer as he was climbing up. But it was colder in the […]
Read MorePrometheus’s Regret, by M.B. McLatchey
Posted on December 10, 2019
I will always place the mission first. I will never accept defeat. I will never quit. I will never leave a fallen comrade. -Soldier’s Creed The Hand A harder man was what I meant to make, my print an atlas stitched to a boy’s soft side. His mind changed from the heat inside my palm […]
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