Happy All Souls’ Day, or Day of the Dead.
I did not plan to drop back in so soon. But, on October 30, I was delighted by some good news that appeared like magic in my inbox. Hence, I’m back in yours.
Fresh Words: An International Literary Magazine accepted two haiku I submitted on a whim for their Halloween anthology, Haiku After Dark.
How fun is that, especially considering haiku is something I write simply for pleasure. It’s my hobby-within-a-hobby, so I was thrilled that this editor wanted to include my pieces in his collection.
The anthology came out yesterday.
If, like me, you’re a lover of all things spooky and autumnal, and you’re a firm believer that decorating for Christmas on November 1st is absolute heresy, please accept this invitation:
Pull up your laptop, light a scented candle, and put on a little mood music via YouTube.
Then, let the eerie (and sometimes humorous) atmosphere of this collection sweep you away.
You can read the electronic version for free here.
From the editor, a quick note for e-readers: “For the best reading experience, please open the e-edition in Google Chrome on a laptop or desktop. Kindly avoid clicking advertisements displayed by the third-party flipbook platform; these are not associated with Fresh Words or the anthology.”
For an even better experience, refresh your coffee and unwrap a Snickers mini (or two or three). Your kids don’t really need all that candy.
And speaking of enjoying the collection, I am honored to be included in it. I’m only through authors A-G, but I’m already impressed with the haunting imagery, clever allusions, and sheer inventiveness of many of these verses.
Here are my favorites so far:
“Smitty” by Brennan Thomas–I love the poem’s allusion not only to a real-life serial killer but to the title of my *very favorite* short story, an often-anthologized one by the awe-inspiring Joyce Carol Oates
“T.P.ing a Tree” by Brian C. Billings–humorous
Haiku #1 by Danielle Sellers–wonderful imagery
Haiku #3 by dor–morbid imagery and humor
Haiku #2 by Eleanor Jones–great take on the classic witch-flying-through-the-sky
Haiku #2 by Eva Lontai-Kiss–wry ghost metaphor
Haiku #2 by Faith-Anne Bell–resentful and realistic
Haiku #1-3 by Greer Woodward–gorgeous folkloric imagery
Haiku #1 by Gretchen VanOstrand–resonant real-world imagery
And I have nineteen letters left!
Enjoy!
And, as always, thank you for being here.
XOXO,
Jenn
