Meet the 2023 Yellow Arrow Publishing Pushcart Prize Nominees
The Pushcart Prize honors the incredible work of authors published by small presses and has since 1976. And since then, thousands of writers have been featured in its annual collections—most of whom are new to the series. The Pushcart Prize is a wonderful opportunity for writers of short stories, poetry, and essays to jump further into the literary world and see their work gain recognition and appreciation.
The Prize represents an incredible opportunity for Yellow Arrow to further showcase and support our authors. Our staff is committed to letting our authors shine. Every writer has a story to tell and every story is worth telling. We are so proud of everyone we publish at Yellow Arrow. Without further ado, let’s meet the 2023 Yellow Arrow Pushcart Prize Nominees!
AMANDA BAKER
“A coda: Your relationship between you and you is the most important.” What is Another Word for Intimacy?
~ Those words of poetry / you said to me / I think you need to turn them around and say them to yourself / and when you’re ready / when you actually believe them / when you love yourself enough / to be the poem / then you’ll be ready for me ~
Amanda Baker is a mental health therapist, 200-hour yoga instructor, and poet from Baltimore, Maryland. She attended the University of Maryland School of Social Work as well as James Madison University. She is also the mother of her four-year old son, Dylan. Her self-published poetry collection, ASK: A Collection of Poetry, Lyrics, and Words, features work from her early teens into her 30s. You can find her on Instagram @amandabakerwrites.
Amanda’s latest chapbook What is Another Word for Intimacy? was just released in October 2022 and can be found in the Yellow Arrow bookstore.
DIANN LEO-OMINE
“The Hawk,” Yellow Arrow Journal Vol. VII, No. 2 PEREGRINE
~ For once in my life, there was no need for language. I will see the place I am from. I will feel the place I am from. I will arrive. ~
Diann Leo-Omine was born and raised in San Francisco, California (Ramaytush Ohlone land), and the colorfully boisterous Toisanese diaspora. Residing now in California’s North Central Valley (Nisenan land), she was awarded a 2022 creative nonfiction fellowship with Rooted and Written at the San Francisco Writers Grotto. She also cocurated and edited the Asian American food zine Lunchbox Moments. Her writing can be found in The Six Fifty, The Universal Asian, Write Now! SF Bay’s Essential Truths, and the BIPOC Writing Party’s forthcoming anthology. You can find her on Instagram @sweetleoomine and Twitter @sweetleoomine, as well as on her website sweetleoomine.com.
Diann contributed her creative nonfiction piece “The Hawk” to Yellow Arrow Journal’s Vol. VII, No. 2 issue, PEREGRINE.
DARAH SCHILLINGER
“the daffodils die,” when the daffodils die
~ what a devastating way to fall in love. ~
Darah Schillinger has previously published poetry in the St. Mary’s College of Maryland’s literary journal, AVATAR, on the Spillwords Press website, in Maryland Bards Poetry Review 2022, and in the first edition of Solstice Magazine. Her first poetry chapbook, when the daffodils die, was released in July 2022 by Yellow Arrow Publishing. Darah is currently Editor-in-Chief of Grub Street Literary Magazine and is pursuing her professional writing graduate degree at Towson University. She lives in Perry Hall, Maryland, with her dog, Moby. You can find her on Facebook @darah.schillinger and Instagram @darahschillinger.
Darah’s chapbook when the daffodils die can be found in the Yellow Arrow bookstore. She also contributed a poem, “i walk home at 10:03 pm,” to Yellow Arrow Journal Vol. VII, No. 1, UpSpring. Darah was the Yellow Arrow 2021 summer publications intern.
NIKITA RIMAL SHARMA
“The most beautiful garden,” The most beautiful garden
~ Or maybe she has morphed into
a fragrant bush of roses—
enamored by beauty,
guarded by thorns. ~
Nikita Rimal Sharma currently resides in Baltimore, Maryland, and is originally from Kathmandu, Nepal. Professionally, she works at B’More Clubhouse, a mental health nonprofit that is all about working toward reintegration and finding community for adults living with mental illness. Nikita’s first published poem was in Yellow Arrow Journal (Re)Formation from fall 2020. Her first published chapbook, The most beautiful garden, came out in April 2022. She covers themes such as mental health, immigration, and personal growth with a touch of nostalgia. You can find her on Instagram @nikita.playwithwords.
Nikita’s chapbook The most beautiful garden can be found in the Yellow Arrow bookstore. Her poem, “Be You, Beautiful,” can be found in Yellow Arrow Journal’s Vol. V, No. 3 issue, (Re)Formation. She also contributed her work to EMERGE: Pandemic Stories and Poetry is Life. You can learn more about Nikita in her May 2021 Yellow Arrow Journal .W.o.W.
KAY SMITH-BLUM
“On Edge,” Yellow Arrow Journal Vol. VII, No. 1 UpSpring
~ A new foundation will be required. One that rests on individual needs rather than the whole. One that has space for new dreams. The sun casts its sinking spell. The breach shrinks in its glow. ~
Kay Smith-Blum, named Woman Business Owner (NWWA) of the Year 2013, is a recovering retailer writing in Seattle. She coauthored the “Every Man, Every Woman” series of cards and posters published by Schurman Fine Papers and Portal Publications. Kay is the author of two novels of historical fiction, currently out for agent review. Her humorous essay, “Targets,” was nominated by Heavy Feather Review for Best of the Net 2020. Other essays in her “Virus Days” humor series have been published by Pif Magazine, Quail Bell Magazine, and several other fine journals. Her short fiction can be found now or in the future at Fiction Southeast, Yellow Arrow Journal, Change Seven Magazine, and Minerva Rising, among many others. You can find Kay on Twitter @kaysmithblum, Instagram @discerningksb, and Facebook/Linkedin @kay.smithblum. You can also find her on her website kaysmith-blum.com.
Kay contributed her creative nonfiction piece, “On Edge,” to Yellow Arrow Journal’s Vol. VII, No. 1 issue, UpSpring.
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