Stonecrop 05
Contributors' Notes
Alexey Adonin. Alexey Adonin explores the point of convergence between abstraction and surrealism to create a channel of communication between his inner world and the viewers, not only to share his personal vision, but also and especially to invite viewers to elaborate their personal interpretations and narratives establishing deep involvement both in the emotional aspect and in the intellectual one.
Patty Bamtord. I am not only a parent, but an educator and a woman with long-term sobriety. My writing has appeared in Funny Pearls, Bandit Fiction, and Months to Years.
John Barrie. John Barrie is an emerging writer from Boise. His microfiction has been published in Stonecrop three other times-including once while it was still Basalt—as well as in The Cabin's anthology "Apple." His true crime piece "The Last Flight of Lynn Henneman" was featured as the cover story in two issues of the Boise Weekly. John lives with his wife, Jenny, their three cats, and their Corgi puppy. His children are in college, and John hopes that his impending status as an empty nester will give him the time to write something longer than 500 words.
Barry Biechner. Barry Biechner writes poetry and short fiction. His work has appeared in CIRQUE, Apeiron Review, The Bangalore Review and Burningword Literary Journal. He lives in Idaho.
Carl Boon. Carl Boon is the author of the full-length collection Places & Names: Poems (The Nasiona Press, 2019). His writing has appeared in many journals and magazines, including Prairie Schooner, Posit, and The Maine Review. He received his Ph.D. in Twentieth-Century American Literature from Ohio University in 2007, and currently lives in Izmir, Turkey, where he teaches courses in American culture and literature at Dokuz Eylül University.
Charles Booth. Charles Booth won the 2017 Alligator Juniper National Fiction Contest, and he earned second place in the 2014 Playboy College Fiction Contest. He received his MFA from Murray State University, and his fiction has appeared in Alligator Juniper, The Greensboro Review, The Southampton Review, The Pinch, The Roanoke Review, The Heartland Review, Booth, and SLAB. He lives in Clarksville, Tennessee, with his wife, Danica, and his son, Reynolds.
Sarah Bruenning. Sarah Bruenning is currently pursuing an MA at the University of Missouri in St. Louis. She also works as an editor/reader for Boulevard and has one previous poetry publication in Glassworks Magazine.
Chris Bullard. A native of Florida, lives in Philadelphia. He received his B.A. in English from the University of Pennsylvania and his M.F.A. from Wilkes University. Grey Book Press published Continued, a poetry chapbook, in 2020 and Moonstone Press recently published Going Peaceably to the Obsidian Knife, his chapbook of environmentally themed poetry. Main Street Rag expects to publish his poetry chapbook, Florida Man, early next year.
Samantha Carr. Samantha is based in Plymouth where she completed an MA in Creative Writing and won the 2018 Flash Fiction Prize. Her work has been published in Flash Fiction Magazine and 101 Words. In her spare time she enjoys wild swimming.
Joe Farley. My fiction has been published or is forthcoming in Bridge Eight, Brilliant Flash Fiction, The South Carolina Review, Weber: The Contemporary West, and more. I have a B.A. in Journalism and Literature from Ramapo College of New Jersey and was selected as a Denver literacy fellow.
Pablo Gonzalez Flores. Pablo enjoys to paint symbols based on duality of nature and connected strong y with zoomorphic art, the joining of human and nature. His fusion of vibrant colors, symbol meaning, and use of zoomorphism has blossomed into the artistic expression displayed by Pablo today.
Robin Gow. Robin Gow is a trans poet and young adult author from rural Pennsylvania. They are the author of Our Lady of Perpetual Degeneracy (Lolsun BOoKs 2020) and the chapbook Honeysuckle (Finishing Line Press 2019). Their first young adult novel, A Million Quiet Revolutions is forthcoming March 2022 with FSG Books for Young Readers. Gow's poetry has recently been published in POETRY, Southampton Review, and Yemassee. Gow received their MFA from Adelphi University where they were also an adjunct instructor. Gow is a managing editor at The Nasiona and the assistant editor at large at Doubleback Books. They live in Allentown Pennsylvania and work at Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center.
Lindsey Grant. Self-identifying as a neurodivergent, two-spirit, elder storyteller and contrarian, deeply rooted in the roar and lore that's become Portlandia of The Left Coast, The Artist attributes success and survival (if not salvation) to superlative supports, mindfulness practice, and daily creative expression in words, sounds, and images.
Maya Grubaugh. I am a recent graduate of Boise State University, where I studied Spanish and English. I also had the honor of being the first place winner of Storyfort's "The Before and the After" writing contest in 2020.
Sandra Hosking. Sandra Hosking is a professional editor, writer and playwright based in Spokane, WA, USA. Publishing credits include The Spokesman-Review, Journal of Business, Glass International, Inland NW Homes & Lifestyles, Down to Earth Northwest, Insight for Playwrights, Joey, 3 Elements Review, West Texas Review, and Edify Fiction. Her plays have been performed in New York City, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Canada, and elsewhere. She is a member of the Dramatists Guild of America. Hosking holds an M.F.A. in theatre! playwriting from the University of Idaho and an M.F.A. in creative writing from Eastern Washington University.
William Joel. All things are connected. That's the premise of everything William ). Joel does. Each of Mr. Joel's interests informs each other. Mr. Joel has been teaching computer science since 1983 and has been a writer even longer. His works have recently appeared in Common Ground Review, DASH Literary Journal, The Blend International, Liminality, and North Dakota Quarterly.
Emel Karakozak. Line and color components pass through the massive structure of the object, making intellectual, current and social contradictions visible in the background. He discusses resonance, the secret key that unlocks these secrets and lost meanings. Everything in the universe, from the smallest and simplest form to the most complex formation, is in an eternal and constant vibration. Thought is a vibration. Sound, word, light, the universe is a vibration. Karakozak opens the door to meaning with all metaphorical similes and symbols, and to unseen realities at the same time. Every object exists in a rhythm and the objects that resonate with it vibrate both with themselves and with each other. Karakozak wants to be reshaped as the puzzle itself, with an inner and spiritual journey deeper than the rational mind can reach, rather than being a piece in the puzzle.
Deidra Lovegren. Deidra Whitt Lovegren has been making up stories for as long as she can remember. She's taught scores of English and writing classes to students from preschool to college, both in elite private and rural public schools. Deidra also co-hosts the podcast "Read Lots Write Lots," interviewing burgeoning writers around the world about their craft.
Hayli McClain. Learned my BA from Susquehanna University and am pursuing my MA Lit from Stirling University in Scotland. I've been previously published in places such as Flash Fiction Magazine, White Wall Review, and The Molotov Cocktail.
Charlene Mosley. Charlene is a German-American, Oscar-nominated, independent artist, based in San Diego. She received her BA in studio arts from San Diego State University. Mosley's current work discusses the 2ist century media-driven society and its relationship to technology and nature. Her work depicts people surrounded by plants and animals with an interplay of expressive brushwork. Mosley has exhibited in both national and international exhibitions. She also works as a freelance artist on a multitude of projects, including: murals, commissions and book illustrations. Her large roster of public and private murals spans from San Diego to Los Angeles. In 2016, Mosley was one of the contributing artists of "Loving Vincent," the ist fully-painted Oscar-nominated teature film. This opportunity was the artist's first time working in animation. Creating 250+ frames for the film was life-changing and a motivation to keep pursuing her passion as an independent artist. She is represented by Sparks Gallery.
Will Neuenfeldt. Will Neuenfeldt studied English at Gustavus Adolphus College and his poems are published in Capsule Stories, Open, and Red Flag Poetry. He lives in Cottage Grove, MN, and when not writing he enjoys chilled bottles of Coke fresh out of the fridge.
Julie Noble. I write from Bethesda, MD, as a past news reporter and ad copywriter.
Sarah Orman. I am a writer and a lawyer in Austin, Texas. My essays and articles on school law topics have appeared in numerous industry publications, and I am the co-author, with my father, of the 10th edition of The Educator's Guide to Texas School Law, forthcoming from UT Press. My essay about converting to Judaism, "Shiksa Balls," is included in "Choosing Judaism: 36 Stories," available on Amazon.com and Kindle Books. I am currently working on a memoir about gender, religion, and my weird obsession with Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret. These days, when I am not reading or writing, I can be found watching movies with my tamily or taking long walks with Woody, our pandemic puppy. You can find other examples of my personal essays and poetry at Medium.com. I am irregularly available on Twitter at @ sarahsorman and on Instagram @sorman33. Thank you again for giving me this opportunity to share my writing.
Payton Polanco. Some of the highlights of my career: I nationally recognized poetry award; 22 regional creative writing awards; I self-published book; ı published short story. Interning at The Writer's Circle, an intensive that focuses on helping teen writers hone their craft and further develop their writing. Several in-person poetry readings in conjunction with local organizations. Working to obtain a B.A. in English with a Literature focus. Reading and revising peer essays and creative work alike. As for me as a person, my name is Payton Polanco (she/her). I love coffee, sunrises 1 always seem to miss, and traveling to places that I forever want to go back to. I am an emerging writer just trying to get her words into the world.
Jayanthi Rangan. My poetry is my activism and my fighting tool for social justice and feminism. I just love this format. My poems are published in various journals and magazines including Elevation Review, Rigorous, Poet's Choice, Wingless Dreamer and Indolent Books. My short stories are published in Twisted Vine Literary Publication, Corner Club Press and Bookend Review. I am involved with teaching varied groups, creating dishes and being a town meeting member.
Gerry Rodriguez. Gerry Rodriguez is an MFA candidate in the Creative Writing program at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Her areas of interest include poetry and playwriting. Her poetic influences are Rachel McKibbens and Francisco Aragon.
Suzanne Samples. In a past life, Suzanne Samples was definitely a calico cat. In this life, Suzanne is the author of two memoirs, Frontal Matter: Glue Gone Wild & Stargazing in Solitude (Running Wild Press). However, she's most proud to be the co-founder and fiction editor of Dead Skunk Mag, the only lit publication to openly brag about not stinking. You can find her on Instagram @never_ sold_a_thighmaster.
Meaghan Squire. Meaghan Squire is a poet from the small town of Belle River, Ontario, who has since made her home in Ottawa. When she's not personifying everyday items, you may find her sharing a bottle of wine with a loved one or cuddled up with her two cats, Oscar and Gilbert. Her poetry has recently appeared in the Scapegoat Review (Winter 2021) and Uppagus (2022). You can follow her poetry journey on Instagram at @m_squire poetry.
Alice Teeple. The figure in these images is a young woman who was going through immense trials in her life all at once: deaths, births, fertility issues, single motherhood, marriage, and even grad school. She embroidered her anxieties into cloth and, in these performances, either wrapped herself in it or unfurled it to the four winds.
Jacob Woelfel. J.J. Woelfel is a writer from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Cassandra Woodard. Cassie Woodard was born and raised in Cupertino, California, then moved to Idaho to major in Creative Writing at Boise State University. Outside of writing, they enjoy cooking and baking, though they are-by their own admission—not very good at either.
Robert Wright. Robert Wright spent 27 years in the United States Air Force. Early in his career as a meteorologist, he witnessed an event where a World War II combat veteran showed emotional, personal attachment to an aircraft from that era. Mr. Wright retired and is living in his hometown of Portland, Oregon. He has self-published three books, and continues to write.
Amy Young. Amy M. Young is a gardener, a painter, a poet, and one of those people who enthusiastically sings along with the car radio (even with the windows down). She teaches Global Cultures and English Composition at a college in Houston, Texas.
Robin Young. Based in Borrego Springs, California, artist Robin Young has been working in mixed media since her 20's, focusing mostly on collage and contemporary art making. Her focus on collage art using magazine clippings, masking tape, wallpaper, jewelry, feathers, foil. etc., allows her to develop deep into the whimsical and intuitive, repurposing these nostalgic images for lighthearted and sometimes disquieting messages; Robin's artistic universe is strange, funky, sometimes perverse and always alluring.