A new story from D.A. Hosek, “Place de Stalingrad”
"Place de Stalingrad" by D.A. Hosek asks is it better to make art that matters or art that makes money? If nobody wants art, what does the question matter? Find it in here in Ligeia Magazine, Spring 2022.
"Place de Stalingrad" by D.A. Hosek asks is it better to make art that matters or art that makes money? If nobody wants art, what does the question matter? Find it in here in Ligeia Magazine, Spring 2022.
“If I go back home and get a day job, well, you know what happens eventually: that energy you have at the end of the day begins to vanish because nobody wants art.”
Is it a quiz or a poem? Read the latest by Lori Barret
This fun quiz-in-poem-form kicks off with a question all writers and bakers can relate to, “Can you guess which of the statements below are from judges sampling baked goods and which are from editors sampling my writing?”
Check out CLW’s Lori Barrett’s new story, “Quiz: Is It a Critique from The Great British Baking Show or a Response from a Literary Magazine?,” in Brevity. This fun quiz-in-poem-form kicks off with a question all writers and bakers can relate to, “Can you guess which of the statements below are from judges sampling baked goods and which are from editors sampling my writing?”
“It’s sort of squidgy at the sides.”
“God Forgot”, a new flash from Diane D. Gillette
Check out Whale Road Review’s December issue featuring Diane’s new Ruby flash, “God Forgot.” The story drops the reader and little Ruby into a conflict between her father and her grandmother. Time stops for Ruby while she’s stuck between two forces out of her control.
Check out Whale Road Review’s December issue featuring Diane’s new Ruby flash, “God Forgot.” The story drops the reader and little Ruby into a conflict between her father and her grandmother. Time stops for Ruby while she’s stuck between two forces out of her control.
“Her father has the power to stride in and claim Ruby. She’s his, after all. But that would mean looking his mother in the eye, the price he has to pay for his daughter. He must drink his mother’s disappointment in a pot of strongly brewed black coffee.”
Check out a new flash chapbook and stories by Diane D. Gillette
Diane D. Gillette's "We're All Just Trying To Make It To January 2nd" is a collection that seeks to question the meaning of the holidays whilst expertly examining emotive aspects of life that often coincide with celebration. Gillette work adds sardonic flair to often overly scripted depictions of the holidays. Instead, Gillette takes the reader through a variety of experiences presented neatly in bite-sized writing.
Diane Gillette’s had quite a busy Fall. The most exciting news is the publication of her wonderful book of flash with the Fahmidian & Co. Publishing house. We highly encourage you to take a moment this year to give your friends and family this great collection of flash, a beautiful book of lived moments: images, emotions, and awakenings.
In addition to her book, Diane has also published a few stories. If you haven’t read Diane or if you already love the distinctive voice and vision of Diane’s fiction, please take an hour to catch up on these great additions to her work.
God Forgot - Whale Road Review
Move-In Day - Five Minutes
Yet Again the Reversed Fool, Upright Tower - Pithead Chapel
Bleeding Heart, Growing Up and Wild Turkey - Flash Boulevard
“She clicked the deadbolt into place and went to her bedroom where she undressed for a shower. She figured by the time she got out, George would have remembered that his sister had a perfectly good pull-out couch he could sleep on.”
Diane D. Gillette's "We're All Just Trying To Make It To January 2nd" is a collection that seeks to question the meaning of the holidays whilst expertly examining emotive aspects of life that often coincide with celebration. Gillette work adds sardonic flair to often overly scripted depictions of the holidays. Instead, Gillette takes the reader through a variety of experiences presented neatly in bite-sized writing.
“Did You Eat a Lot Of Paint Chips as a Child?”: A new story from Lori Barrett
Check out CLW’s Lori Barrett new story, “Did You Eat a Lot of Paint Chips as a Child,” in Bull magazine. This is a funny and heartbreaking tale of a mid-life man’s adventure working retail.
Check out CLW’s Lori Barrett new story, “Did You Eat a Lot of Paint Chips as a Child,” in Bull magazine. This is a funny and heartbreaking tale of a mid-life man’s adventure working retail.
“He glanced around. Tea wouldn’t appeal to a kid. Nor would candles. He thought about the fruity lip balm. His daughter had opened them one by one to smell them the day she came in. He walked the woman back toward the front, to the lip balms in a fishbowl next to another fishbowl with the coconut-bead keyrings. In between them a pink sign on an easel said $2.50 EACH.
The woman sniffed a kiwi scented one. Vaughn could smell the nondescript sweetness from where he stood.”
A new list story from D.A. Hosek, "The Norton Anthology of Self-Destructive Behaviors"
“The Norton Anthology of Self-Destructive Behaviors” by D.A. Hosek provides us list-lovers with a short story we can keep on our wall. Well, maybe a little dark for that, this well crafted story uses lists to build it’s drive and leave the reader lingering on the edge.
“The Norton Anthology of Self-Destructive Behaviors” by D.A. Hosek provides us list-lovers with a short story we can keep on our wall. Well, maybe a little dark for that, this well crafted story uses lists to build it’s drive and leave the reader lingering on the edge. Find it in here in Meniscus, 9.1, 2021.
“Self-loathing
This is not a lifestyle to be proud of. The only possible reaction is disgust. It’s like encountering the festering corpse of a rat covered with maggots.”
Check out new flash, Stingrays in Captivity by Diane D. Gillette
“Stingrays in Captivity” appeared in Lost Balloon, an online publication inspired by the ‘birthday balloon that slips from your fingers and floats into the horizon, or the dropped ice cream cone.
“Stingrays in Captivity” appeared in Lost Balloon, an online publication inspired by the “birthday balloon that slips from your fingers and floats into the horizon, or the dropped ice cream cone.”
“ I unwrap one of the sponge lollipops they gave me and dip it in the lukewarm cup. I pick up the TV remote with my free hand and flip through channels while I swab the inside of my mouth.”
CLW’s Diane D. Gillette placed a new flash piece with Middle House Review
“The walls were snug around us, five hard-luck girls sharing a two-bedroom apartment alone-together in a candy-bright city that made promises it couldn't keep.”
Diane’s story St. Nicolas was selected by Middle House Review to appear in Issue 6. Another great flash from Diane.
“The walls were snug around us, five hard-luck girls sharing a two-bedroom apartment alone-together in a candy-bright city that made promises it couldn’t keep.”
Dan Portincaso interviewed by Hair Trigger
In a recent interview with the online magazine Hair Trigger, CLW’s Dan Portincaso talks writing process and new projects. Great interview, Dan!
In a recent interview with the online magazine Hair Trigger, CLW’s Dan Portincaso talks writing process and new projects. Great interview, Dan!
Michigan Quarterly Review 60th Anniversary Issue reprints Kalisha Buckhanon’s “Card Parties”
Kalisha writes about “Card Parties,” this “little story gave me the boost at that hard time to push through to write more and that is what writers NEED. And it shows you never know where things we write will go or what it will impact.”
Michigan Quarterly Review reprinted Kalisha Buckhanon’s story “Card Parties” in their 60th Anniversary special issue to celebrate the milestone. In 2002, she sent this off to MQR after she worked it in her MFA program. She was 25 year old student in NYC and had never before published her fiction. Yet, in MQR’s look back to 60 years of the magazine, editors chose her story to be included with other stories deemed important to their legacy. This includes fiction by Joyce Carol Oates and essays by Toni Morrison and Margaret Atwood.
Kalisha writes about “Card Parties,” this “little story gave me the boost at that hard time to push through to write more and that is what writers NEED. And it shows you never know where things we write will go or what it will impact.”
Diane D. Gillette takes third place in the Reflex Fiction Quarterly international flash fiction competition
“Let’s say we grew up with parents who loved each other. Let’s say that we don’t both know that Mom should’ve packed you up and made her escape long before I was born.”
Congratulations to Diane D. Gillette taking third place in the international flash competition by Reflex Fiction! Check out her piece “An Apology, of Sorts, to My Brother at His Funeral” in the Autumn 2020 edition.
“Let’s say we grew up with parents who loved each other. Let’s say that we don’t both know that Mom should’ve packed you up and made her escape long before I was born.”
A new story “The Namesake” by a new CLW member
D.A. Hosek has joined us in our virtual Zoom world this strange year. Please check out his most recent publication in The Sandy River Review, “The Namesake”.
We are happy to welcome a new writer to our group. D.A. Hosek has joined us in our virtual Zoom world this strange year. We look forward to meeting him in corporeal form in 2021. Please check out his most recent publication in The Sandy River Review, “The Namesake”.
“It began as a joke. I share my name with a famous author. I’d known as much since his first book appeared on the best seller lists, but I hadn’t known that we also shared a birth date. ”
New flash by Diane, “Shiny, Pretty, Bright”
“Look, I’m married! I’m married!” she’d squealed to her brothers and sisters, showing off her shiny accessory. They shrieked and ran from her. “Gross! Gross!”
Another great flash released a couple weeks ago from Diane D. Gillette! Check out “Shiny, Pretty, Bright” in the cool new journal / French vending machine for literature Short Circuit.
“‘Look, I’m married! I’m married!’ she’d squealed to her brothers and sisters, showing off her shiny accessory. They shrieked and ran from her. ‘Gross! Gross!’”
Another flash by Diane, “Waiting in Line for a Picture with Santa, Late on Christmas Eve”
2020 has been a great year for Diane D. Gillette! Check out her most recent publication at Matter Press, “Waiting in line for a Picture with Santa, Late on Christmas Eve”.
2020 has been a great year for Diane D. Gillette! Check out her most recent publication at The Journal of Compressed Creative Arts, “Waiting in Line for a Picture with Santa, Late on Christmas Eve”.
“A damp warmth spreads under my hand as Lila’s diaper gives out. The dark stain conquers the red and green striped tights of the elf outfit my mother-in-law Geraldine gifted us: a contract for peace mere months after Lila’s arrival into this world. One I’ve ignored for too long.”
A new flash by Diane, “Glub”
A new flash “Glub” by Diane D. Gillette was published in September on Brilliant Flash Fiction.
A new flash “Glub” by Diane D. Gillette released in the September issue of Brilliant Flash Fiction. It’s a great read that went a couple rounds in the group. Take a look - it’s compiled with all the other fictions released in September.
“I stare at the bowl in Evan’s hands. Glub’s eyes are clouded over. I can’t for the life of me think of one anecdote I can share about him.”
A new flash from Lori, “Baby Chowder”
“Baby Chowder” by Lori Barrett published September 9 in JMWW. Congratulations, Lori!
“Her lack of employment made her defensive. She’d stepped aside when May was born. Stepping back in took herculean leaning. The pram in the hallway is a somber enemy of art, a photography professor had proclaimed to a class full of students when Beth was in college. She researched it. The person quoted would have been more than a hundred years old, if he were still alive. Virginia Woolf hated him. But the words were born again when she purchased her first stroller.”
A new story by Diane, “After the Fire Burns Out”
“After the Fire Burns Out” a new flash from our own Diane D. Gillette was published today on Spelk Fiction.
“After the Fire Burns Out” a new flash from our own Diane D. Gillette was published today on Spelk Fiction.
“I’m baffled by how much stuff I accumulated in just a year. After the fire, I was left only with what I’d worn to the ugly Christmas sweater party. The snowman lit up and blinked to the rhythm of Jingle Bells, a useless SOS raging against the flames of our house.”
Speaking of Summer nominated for a Legacy Award
Speaking of Summer was nominated for a Legacy Award through the Hurston/Wright Foundation
Speaking of Summer by our own Kalisha Buckhanon was nominated for a Legacy Award through the Hurston/Wright Foundation!
New interview with Diane just published
Diane D. Gillette, was interviewed by the Office of Modern Composition. Take a read and find out a little bit more about what makes Diane tick as a writer!
Our fearless leader, Diane D. Gillette, was interviewed by the Office of Modern Composition. Take a read and find out a little bit more about what makes Diane tick as a writer!
Speaking of Summer paperback release
The CLW’s long time member and friend Kalisha Buckhanon has announced the paperback release of her 4th novel, “Speaking of Summer"!
The CLW’s long time member and friend Kalisha Buckhanon has announced the paperback release of her 4th novel, “Speaking of Summer"!
“This mysterious novel is well worth the wait.”
“Buckhanon unravels a powerful story that examines violence, race and grief.”
“An absolutely riveting thriller.”