Yellow Arrow Publishing Blog
The Woods 2018
In 2017, two literary groups in Baltimore—Ink Press Productions (specializing in handmade books, letterpress printing, and experimental events) and Writers & Words (a Baltimore monthly reading series) - joined their talents together to organize The Woods, an annual writing retreat. The event now draws writers from all over the east coast and beyond to Cacapon State Park, WV each December.
This collection features work from the 2018 participants of The Woods II. Each piece was either inspired by or written at the retreat.
Ink Press Productions and Writers & Words are thankful to MoonLit and Yellow Arrow Publishing for taking on this project and creating a time capsule of work inspired by the fantastic, creative weekend at The Woods.
Contributors: Rachel Cloud Adams, Nicki Avena, Tracy Dimond, Chelsea Fonden, Ana Hart, Mandy May, Tim Paggi, Sarah Smith, Gwen Van Velsor, Matilda Young
Cover by Mandy May
Ordering information can be found at https://yellowarrowpublishing.com/?product=the-woods-2018 or snag the printed version tomorrow night (3/12/19) at the Writers & Words reading at Charmingtons. See you there!
Writers in Real Life: Carol Clupny
We’re so happy to announce that Yellow Arrow contributor Carol Clupny, whose essay “Bus, Burros and Broken Beer Bottles” ran in Vol. 1, has a book coming out this month! Carol lives in Oregon, so we conducted an email interview with her.
What is your inspiration for writing?
Having Parkinson’s Disease is like having Robin Hood become part of your life. He steals from the rich part of you the things that make you alive; your ability to move, your facial expression, your tone of voice, your handwriting, your smell and taste and on and on. When your spirit has become poor, and there is not much left of you, he sees the poverty in you and brings you gifts. The gifts are quite unexpected. Some people with Parkinson’s can’t see their gift at all.
The three words “You have Parkinson’s” either shuts you down hard or opens you up softly. When you can see past those words, and they are only words, you become the definition.
The gifts help us define our new selves: a canvas and oils, a guitar, a sense of service, a potter’s wheel, poetry, compassion, or wisdom to share with the newly diagnosed.
The gift that came to me was a surprise. Writing! Up to this point in my life I had only written technical reports and a few brief articles for professional journals. I began to share my travels via social media. The more I wrote the more encouragement to publish came my way. When the subtle encouragement felt more like a hard push I gave in. I found someone to look at my short pieces of writing and she saw the much bigger story. To bring together hundreds of posts and blogs and letters into a cohesive memoir was a huge task, yet one I felt compelled to complete as Robin (aka Parkinson’s disease) kept sneaking in the back door to take away more and more of me.
I have to use this gift. I have to let people know they can laugh at their challenges. There is hope ahead in that tiny light at the end of the dark tunnel. There is adventure to be had, friendships to be made and hopefully a cure to be found. I want to tell the world about it.
Where do you write?
I have composed pieces from the stoker’s seat on our tandem bike and walking down a trail eating the dust of the person dragging their feet in front of me, visualizing typing and seeing the words on the screen so I can recall just how it happened when I can get to a word processor. I have plunked away with my stylus on my tiny phone keyboard in an albergue with 20 snoring pilgrims and in a tent in someone’s front yard in small town Iowa in rhythm with the splattering rain. I have edited late at night and in the early morning hours when I should have been sleeping like the rest of the pickers at a blue grass festival. Although most of the book was written as I traveled, it was put together in a spare bedroom turned office in our house. I sit at a dark wood computer desk with piles of papers and a window where I can look out at my two old horses. I type on my son’s gaming computer, with a fancy lit up keyboard and a mouse that accidentally gets set in motion by my trembling right hand. This computer is also a gift as I have lost the ability to hand-write anything legibly. It has to be absolutely quiet when I am at the computer. Even my husband’s breathing at his desk a few feet from mine distracts me.
Carol was kind enough to share an excerpt from her book, The Ribbon of Road Ahead: One Woman’s Remarkable Journey with Parkinson’s Disease
It started in the pit of my stomach as a queasy feeling and worked its way up to tighten my throat. I tried to ignore the sensation and keep hiking. The trekking pole on the end of my right arm clinked on the pavement. My left foot moved forward. I reached my arm out with the left pole. My right foot didn’t want to move. It was as if my foot had been inserted into a boot of quick-dry cement. Not only did my right foot not want to cooperate, but also the sweat on my face now turned into a running stream of sunscreen stinging my eyes. The sun heated up the surface of this black asphalt country lane out of the village of Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. The heat was stifling. A car approached from behind, and the groups of people with their colorful backpacks moved to the sides of the lane to let it pass. The vehicle lost its momentum on the steep incline as it slowed for the walkers, and it had to back down to take another run at it. My throat felt tight and very dry. Hot, steep, stinging eyes, leg won’t work … Oh … my … God. If the rest of this Camino is anything like this, I am in for it! There’s no way I am going to be able to walk the five hundred miles to Santiago de Compostela. “My men,” as I thought of them, were all ahead of me now. My scream was stifled before it got out of my mouth, but I still had some tears left. They rolled down my cheeks as I tried to catch up with the guys. “Charlie,” I squeaked out, then “Charlie,” a little louder. He turned around, and as I saw him look at me, I crumpled right there on the hot pavement: backpack, hiking sticks, and all. Nearby walkers rushed to me. By the time Charlie got there, I was a sobbing mess of panic.
How to purchase the book: Presale begins March 11
You can order directly from Carol at https://ultreiablog.org
The paperback and e-version will also be available on Amazon.
Writers in Real Life: Jessica Cappelluti and Edele Morgan
Student and Teacher Writers
Here at Yellow Arrow, we live for moments like these. Meet Jessica and Edele. Both of these poets were published in the latest issue of our literary journal. Edele's poem "Good," leads the journal as we explore the theme of Doubt. This talented high schooler informed us (well after the publication was under way) that her teacher and mentor Jessica Cappelluti also had a poem accepted in the same issue of our journal. Talk about serendipity.
Ms. Morgan shared these thoughts about her teacher:
"Ms. Cappelluti is my English teacher this year and she has had a great influence on me as a writer and a person. I'm lucky to not only have her as a teacher but as a caring and supportive role model in my life. I have her class last period every day so as soon as I get there I tell her all about what's going on, good or bad. She always listens and reassures me if anything has gone wrong and praises my achievements and celebrates with me when things go right. Every class we start with journaling. Ms. Cappelluti is the first teacher I've had to ever give her students time to write about ourselves or things we care about and give us the choice to share or just keep it to ourselves. She has also encouraged us to try to write poetry and actually gave me an extra journal that is now my poetry book. When Ms. Cappelluti first told me about Yellow Arrow Journal I was so excited at the thought of us doing this together and myself possibly getting published for the first time. I started to brainstorm right away and sent in three of my poems. I got the email saying that one of my poems was chosen during my sixth period U.S. history class and immediately called my mom. For the rest of the day I was bubbling with anticipation to tell Ms. Cappelluti and when I finally got to tell her I found out that she got chosen too. We talked about it almost everyday and couldn't wait to get our copies of the journal. I'm so grateful for Ms. Cappelluti and everything she has done for me because without her I would likely not have the passion for writing and for life that I have today."
Ms. Cappelluti shared these thoughts about her student:
"It was definitely synchronous that we were both accepted. It is funny how it worked out, because my mom has always been my support; she's the one who taught me how to write and helped me to cultivate my voice. When I was in high school, I wrote at least one poem a day, and my mother was the only person who I would allow to read it. I've been writing poetry my whole life, but I never thought to submit one for publication. My mom told me about the Yellow Arrow Journal, and urged me to send something. When I discovered that it was for women, I knew I had to tell Edele. Edele is a very special young woman. She is gifted and philosophical and deep. I begin all of my classes with 5 minutes of journaling, and Edele usually has trouble stopping at 5 minutes. Thankfully, she is in my last period class, so she will often stay late to continue writing, and then show me her journal. She comes in to school and tells me that she wrote multiple poems over the weekend, or over a school vacation. I knew she needed to submit a poem, and I'm so glad she did."
We are so grateful that these women shared this special story with us. We hope you keep writing forever and ever.
Highlandtown Writer-in-Residence Opportunity
Writer-in-Residence Opportunity with Highlandtown First Friday Art Walk and Yellow Arrow Publishing
What: Enjoy a three month daytime writing residency in Highlandtown. Get inspired by the First Friday Art Walk and work on your own writing at various venues in Highlandtown. Great opportunity and exposure for Baltimore writers who want to engage with and inspire a passion for the literary arts in the community. Residents will be featured in a reading event on August 2nd during the “Summer Reading” themed art walk as well as in social media promotions with both Yellow Arrow and Highlandtown marketing efforts. Yellow Arrow will also publish a zine featuring residents' work at the end of the 2019 art walk season.
When: We are looking for three writers each year. Each writer will be assigned to either the Spring (April, May, June), Summer (July, August, September), or Fall (October, November, December). During their season, each writer will attend all three Art Walks on the first Friday of each month, and will be provided a minimum of six days to work in various venues in Highlandtown. If more than six work days are desired during the assigned season, we will coordinate this with the venues and writer.
Where: The Highlandtown First Friday Art Walk consists of various art galleries, restaurants, retail locations and other businesses within the Highlandtown neighborhood. Writers-in-residence will become familiar with the venues during their orientation and will be assigned places in the neighborhood where they can work throughout their residency block.
How: Selected writers will create three blog posts in total (minimum 500 words) to be submitted one week after each Art Walk occuring in their designated season. The blog post must be related to the art walk, the participating venues, or Highlandtown in general and will be featured on ihearthighlandtown.com.
Why: Yellow Arrow Publishing is based in Highlandtown and loves supporting our neighborhood events. A large tenant of our mission is to support other writers by providing opportunities to gain visibility in the community. During this residency you will have the opportunity to meet and engage with writers and supportive community members in the arts. Our hope is that you will be inspired by the arts district here in Highlandtown as well as the diverse community we enjoy.
Who: We are looking for Baltimore writers interested in community building and growing their network in the arts. Emerging to career writers are invited to apply. All genres welcome. Perfect for writers needing a little extra time and inspiration for an ongoing project they are already working on, such as a manuscript. Also great for writers who are looking to get inspired and start working on something new.
Ready to apply?
Residency application due by March 8, 2019
Yellow Arrow Publishing seeks to support, nurture and inspire writers identifying as women. We provide writing related opportunities for writers in the Baltimore community and beyond through publication, workshops, and an interactive reading series.
Yellow Arrow Journal: Winter 2019
The Winter 2019 edition of the Yellow Arrow Journal is now available as a hard copy, PDF, or an ebook on your Kindle.
This season we explored the theme of "Doubt" through creative nonfiction and poetry by T.J. Butler, Jessica Cappelluti, Diane Finlayson, Jessica Gregg, Tami Lauteren, Edele C. Morgan, Ann Quinn, Mindy Stokes, and Roz Weaver.
Thank you to our hard working editorial staff, to the talented writers, and of course to you, our beloved readers.
Support independent publishing through an annual subscription to the journal. Our hard copy editions are printed in small batches and bound by hand.
Winter Writing Workshops
Unblocking the Muse 1/26/19
Whether you're a new writer, an off-and-on-again writer, or an old hat, sometimes it can be hard to get the creative juices flowing. So what exactly do you do when the only word you can think to write is "the"? Led by Gwen Van Velsor and Ariele Sieling, this workshop will run through a variety of strategies for getting in the groove of writing in both fiction and creative nonfiction. We will discuss short-term strategies to use when you're staring at a blank piece of paper, and long-term strategies for when writer's block just won't go away. We will also delve into creative problem solving, for when the story itself just isn't working.Come join us and your fellow writers for a fun, interactive workshop on unblocking the muse.
Finding Your Authentic Voice 2/23/19
They always say "write what you know," but what exactly does that mean? When crafting a story, whether fiction or nonfiction, honesty and authenticity in the writing practice is crucial to adding realism and credibility to your story. This workshop will address some of the challenges of staying authentic, and discuss strategies for incorporating integrity and authenticity Join Cija (pronounced "Kia") Jefferson and Ariele Sieling as they dive into different strategies for telling the truth, writing what you know, and adding realism and complexity to your story.
Finding Healing Through Writing 3/23/19
We all have a story inside of us, and finding a way to write about it can lead to self acceptance and healing. In this workshop, we explore our feelings and experiences in a safe place through writing, laughter and community. Reshape and explore real life experiences through fiction and creative nonfiction with author Dr. Diane Pomerantz, clinical psychologist. When we share our stories with each other, it creates a ripple effect of empathy, compassion and understanding. It’s about saying, yes, we belong here, too.
Submissions open
Submissions open OCTOBER 1st to NOVEMBER 30th 2018 for the winter 2019 issue of the Yellow Arrow JournalGuidelines:-The theme is "Doubt." We leave it up to authors to interpret the theme however they choose.-Submissions of creative nonfiction and poetry by women and identifying authors welcomed.-Submissions for cover art by women and identifying artists welcomed. Must supply a high resolution image. Cover art can be a painting, drawing, print, photo, graphic design or anything else you dream up.-Submissions of creative nonfiction must be no more than 5,000 words, however any piece between 500 and 5,000 words will be considered. You may submit up to 5 poems per author.-Please send your submissions in the body of an email to info(at)yellowarrowpublishing.com. Cover letters are not necessary unless you need to explain how your piece relates to the theme. Attachments are not accepted.-We are seeking pieces of writing with an optimistic or hopeful vibe.-Multiple submissions are fine, but please do let us know if your piece gets published elsewhere in the mean time.-Please no previously published work aside from blogs and personal websites. If you're not sure, just ask.-Accepted submissions may be edited for content and grammar. We will seek your permission before editing.-Submissions are $.99 per piece of creative nonfiction and $.99 for up to 5 poetry submissions. Payment accepted here. If you are unable to pay for your submission, please explain this in your submission email and we will permit scholarships on a case by case basis.-You will hear back from us by December 17th, 2018 regarding your submission.-If your piece is selected, you will receive payment of $10USD and one free hard copy of the journal.Send submissions to: info(at)yellowarrowpublishing.com
First Friday Reading Series, November 2 is Life Hack Night
Join us every First Friday for the
for live author readings by local writers and poets. Each month will feature a different genre, including Local Flavor, Science Fiction and more. Light beverages and snacks will be provided. Come out and explore the literature growing in your own back yard, and support your local authors, writers, and publishers.
When: November 2nd, 6 – 9PM (last reading of the season until April 2019!)Where: Dennis Moore’s Pottery Studio, corner of S. Conkling and Bank, 21224. Across from Rooftop Hot in Highlandtown.Enjoy local self-help authors share amazing Life Hacks. Stay for the Q&A at the end of the night. See more info on each writer below.
6:00pm
Meet and greet
6:45pm
Gina Andreone Strauss
7:00pm Lynda Satre
7:15pm
Tiffany Jean
7:30pm Shaunna Jackson
8:00pm Author Q&A
For over 25 years,
Gina Andreone Strauss
has worked as a teacher and advisor in a variety of educational settings. Her advanced degrees in counseling and healing arts add a unique dimension to her teaching style and interactions with students and their families. She is an advocate for conscious parenting and is mindful of how our children serve as mirrors to us. Gina believes that much can be learned from life's experiences and recognizes the wealth of positive thought that can be gleaned from small day-to-day moments. She lives in Baltimore with her husband, two daughters and two obstinate cats.
Lynda Satre
is the author of the book,
Parenting Sensibly: Turning messes into successes
. She is a mother to 10 children, former pediatric RN, and parenting coach who has had children in her 20’s, 30’s, and 40’s. Her mission is to help others by sharing wisdom acquired while navigating this imperfect, but wonderful parenting journey.
T. J. Butler
was crowned Miss Virginia Beach in a shopping mall pageant when she was three, and she began writing shortly thereafter. She has worked in a variety of jobs from dishwasher to magician’s assistant to corporate office drone. She was a cat person until she was a dog person, and she lives on a sailboat with her husband and dog. She is a lifestyle blogger and a regular contributor to Tiny House Magazine.
Shaunna Jackson
earned a B.A. degree in Psychology and Social Welfare Services, and is completing her second term of service in AmeriCorps. She served 5 years as Parish Pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, receiving the John Maxwell Million Leaders Mandate Certificate of Achievement in 2016, for exemplifying outstanding leadership by empowering, equipping and encouraging leaders. Shaunna is the author of two published books, and is the owner of the blog,
Occupy Purpose
. She is a graphic designer and personal development coach. Many hats, one purpose; encouraging people to pursue passions and live a life of faith and purpose.
First Friday Reading Series, October 5th is Horror Night
Join us every First Friday for the
for live author readings by local writers and poets. Each month will feature a different genre, including Local Flavor, Science Fiction and more. Light beverages and snacks will be provided. Come out and explore the literature growing in your own back yard, and support your local authors, writers, and publishers.
When: October 5th, 6 – 9PM and every first Friday of the month until NovemberWhere: Dennis Moore’s Pottery Studio, corner of S. Conkling and Bank, 21224. Across from Rooftop Hot in Highlandtown.Enjoy local horror and thriller authors share spooky stories. Stay for the Q&A at the end of the night. See more info on each writer below.
6:00pm
Meet and greet
6:30pm
RA Boyd
6:45pm
Carolyn Eichhorn
7:00pm break
7:15pm
Ariele Sieling7:30pm Rachael MacNeill Rawlings7:45pm
break
8:00pm
Annaliese Grey
8:15pm Author Q&A
R.A. Boyd
is a writer, and reader, of paranormal romance, horror and urban fantasy. She lives in Maryland with her husband, daughter and her massive collection of books. Seriously. Her books have their own room. She loves all things paranormal but dabbles in romantic comedies and hockey fights. When she’s not writing at three in the morning she’s binge-watching Netflix or plotting random scenes from her novels in the voice of her characters. It makes her daughter giggle but worries her husband.To find her on the web, please visit: raboyd.com, www.facebook.com/RABoydwriter, https://twitter.com/ra_boyd
Carolyn Eichhorn
fell in love with mystery and thriller fiction from her first Nancy Drew library book. Through careers spanning theme parks operations to higher education, Carolyn has no shortage of inspiration for twisty tales. She recently published a collection of short stories called Ten Dysfunctions of My Teams: Distressing Tales of the Cubicle-Bound and is currently at work on a mystery series featuring ghostwriter Gina Morrison. Carolyn teaches and writes in Baltimore, Maryland.
A lifetime writer and lover of books,
Ariele Sieling
delves into the exciting possibilities of science fiction from her home in Baltimore, MD, where she lives with three cats, a dog, and a husband. She is the author of the scifi series
The Sagittan Chronicles
and the children's book series,
Rutherford the Unicorn Sheep
, and the post-apocalyptic YA series
Land of Szornyek
.
Rachel Rawlings was born and raised in the Baltimore Metropolitan area. Her family, originally from Rhode Island, spent summers in New England sparking her fascination with Salem, MA. She has been writing fictional stories and poems since middle school, but it wasn't until 2009 that she found the inspiration to create her heroine Maurin Kincaide and complete her first full length novel, The Morrigna. When she isn't writing paranormal romance, psychic romance suspense or about her psychic detective, Rachel can often be found with her nose buried in a good book. An avid reader of Paranormal/Urban Fantasy, Horror and Steampunk herself, Rachel founded Hallowread- an interactive convention for both authors and fans of those genres. More information on Hallowread, its schedule of events and participating authors can be found at www.hallowread.com and www.facebook.com/Hallowread. Sign up for her newsletter https://mailchi.mp/rachelrawlings/newsletter-sign-up-form and be sure to check out Rachel's Facebook page www.facebook.com/rachelrawlingsauthor
Annalise Grey
is a Pennsylvania native, dreamer, explorer. "I write because I like talking to the voices in my head."
Yellow Arrow Journal, Vol. III, Courage
Dear Yellow Arrow Family,Volume III of the Yellow Arrow Journal is here and we couldn't be more excited and proud to share it with all of you. The theme this time around is "Courage." Inside you will find a collection of poetry and essays by writers who identify as women from all over the world.We hope you consider supporting independent publishing by subscribing to the journal, purchasing a single hard copy, downloading a PDF, or reading it on your Kindle.A very special thank you goes out to our volunteer staff Kapua, Leila and Maggie who spent hours and hours sifting through submissions, editing, formatting and looking over many revisions with a close eye. We so appreciate your dedication to this project.If you happen to get a copy of this journal in your hands you'll notice it is hand bound with string. That's right, we sat and stitched them with needle and thread, because we love you. Also because we wanted to produce a product that was entirely in-house. In the past we had printed copies made through Amazon because it was cheap and easy. Cheap and easy isn't a bad thing, but we just really wanted to give you a journal that was touched by our very own hands and made special for each of you.We hope you enjoy this volume,Gwen Van Velsor
First Friday Reading Series, YA Night is Sep. 7th
Join us every First Friday for the
for live author readings by local writers and poets. Each month will feature a different genre, including Local Flavor, Science Fiction and more. Light beverages and snacks will be provided. Come out and explore the literature growing in your own back yard, and support your local authors, writers, and publishers.
When: September 7th, 6 – 9PM and every first Friday of the month until NovemberWhere: Dennis Moore’s Pottery Studio, corner of S. Conkling and Bank, 21224. Across from Rooftop Hot in Highlandtown.Enjoy local YA authors and support our young emerging writers. Stay for the Q&A at the end of the night. See more info on each poet below.
6:00pm
Meet and greet
6:30pm
Girlfriends Book Club Baltimore
is a stree free social group for girls which encourages reading, vocabulary expansion, comprehension skills, and confidence in a fun environment. Yellow Arrow has been working with the club since 2017 to create an anthology of short fiction written by the girls, mostly 6th graders. They will be reading selections from their forthcoming book.
7:15pm
Veronica Bartles
author of TWELVE STEPS (YA), and THE PRINCESS AND THE FROGS (PB), loves to ask “What If?” She believes there are many sides to every story, and she’s determined to discover every single one! When not writing or reading, she likes to invent new cookie recipes and knit things from recycled plastic bags. She’s an incurable optimist who loves gray, drizzly days because that’s when rainbows come out to play. Veronica is the Published and Listed Coordinator for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), MD/DE/WV region, and the director of the MD/DE/VA/DC Read Local Challenge:
https://mddewv.scbwi.org/read-local/
. (Find out more about her at
)
7:30pm
Elissa Brent Weissman
is an award-winning author of novels for young readers. Best known for the popular Nerd Camp series, she and her books have been featured in Entertainment Weekly, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, The Huffington Post, NPR's “Here and Now,” and more. Named one of CBS Baltimore’s Best Authors in Maryland, Elissa lives in Baltimore City, where she teaches creative writing to children, college students, and adults. Learn more at
7:45pm
A. L. Kaplan’s
love of books started as a child and sparked a creative imagination. Born on a cold winter morning in scenic northern New Jersey, her stories and poems have been included in several anthologies and magazines. Her novel, Star-touched, released October 1, 2017. She is the Maryland Writers’ Association’s Vice President and served on the Howard County Chapter board for several years. A. L. is a member of Broad Universe and holds an MFA in sculpture from the Maryland Institute College of Art. When not writing or indulging in her fascination with wolves, A. L. is the props manager for a local theatre. This proud mother of two lives in Maryland with her husband and dog.
8:00pm
Author Q&A
First Friday Reading Series - Poetry Night, August 3rd
Join us every First Friday for the
for live author readings by local writers and poets. Each month will feature a different genre, including Local Flavor, Science Fiction and more. Light beverages and snacks will be provided. Come out and explore the literature growing in your own back yard, and support your local authors, writers, and publishers.
When: August 3rd, 6 – 9PM and every first Friday of the monthWhere: Dennis Moore’s Pottery Studio, corner of S. Conkling and Bank, 21224. Across from Rooftop Hot in Highlandtown.Come celebrate some of the best poetry in the area. Stay for the Q&A at the end of the night. See more info on each poet below.6:00pmMeet and greet6:45pmBorn and raised in Krakow, Poland behind the Iron Curtain of Communism until the age of 13, Ania Milo always felt a great divide between the luxurious, colorful and rich beauty of her native culture and the imposed “sameness” and dullness of the oppressive Communist Regime. She often escaped the dreariness of her every-day life to Krakow’s Old Town Art District where she wandered the halls of spectacular churches and galleries and looked upon works of famous Polish and international artists. Ms. Milo is an extremely prolific painter having created hundreds abstracts, pet portraits, and other paintings in various genres. Being a self-taught artist, she continually explores different painting styles, techniques and mediums. Ania holds a Bachelor Degree in Linguistics with a concentration in Russian. She has earned a Master of Art degree in Leadership in Teaching and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. She is a PhD candidate in Industrial and Organizational Psychology. 7:15pmMegan de Matteo is a writer with more than nine lives. Her first children's book was published in 2016 and integrated into a local fourth-grade class's music curriculum the following year. In 2017, pieces from her graduate thesis won the third place poetry prize in San Francisco's Litquake Writing Contest. She is from the Baltimore area. 7:30pmJulia Friedrich is a German-American poet, and currently resides in Baltimore, Maryland. She holds an MFA in Poetry from the Johns Hopkins University. 8:00pmAmy Saul-Zerby is the author of Paper Flowers Imaginary Birds (Be About It Press 2017) and Deep Camouflage (Civil Coping Mechanisms 2018). Her poetry has appeared in Painted Bride Quarterly, The Chicago Review of Books, The Rumpus, Maudlin House, and Peach Magazine. She is editor-in-chief of Voicemail Poems and author of the Notable Philadelphia column at The Rumpus. 8:15pmJessica Hudgins is a writer living in Athens, GA. Her work has appeared in Indiana Review, Pleiades, The Journal, and elsewhere. She was runner-up for New South's 2016 Poetry Prize, and she has attended residencies at the Albee Foundation and Virginia Center for the Arts. 8:30pm Author Q&A
First Friday Reading Series - July 6th, Women's Empowerment Night
Join us every First Friday for the
for live author readings by local writers and poets. Each month will feature a different genre, including Local Flavor, Science Fiction and more. Light beverages and snacks will be provided. Come out and explore the literature growing in your own back yard, and support your local authors, writers, and publishers.
When: July 6th, 5 – 9PM and every first Friday of the monthWhere: Dennis Moore’s Pottery Studio, corner of S. Conkling and Bank, 21224. Across from Rooftop Hot in Highlandtown.We are starting these hot summer nights off with Women's Empowerment Night. Come listen to a wide range of authors give their spin on all things lady. Stay for the Q&A at the end of the night. See more info on each author below.
6:30pm
Jean Pula
6:45pm
Laura Hazan
is a Librarian with the Enoch Pratt where she runs the bimonthly Light Street Writers Exchange. She completed her first novel
Little Boxes
and is still seeking representation for publication. She has a B.A. in communications from American University, a M.L.S. in Library Science from the University of Maryland and attended the “Your Novel Year” program at Arizona State University’s Piper Writing Center. In addition, her work has been published in
Natural Bridge, Kirkwood Patch
and
Sauce Magazine
. She is a resident of Canton and lives with her son, her husband and their one-eyed dog named, what else, Boh.
7:15pm
Jocelyn Broadwick
is a writer, editor, tutor, professor, and aspiring author, living and working in downtown Highlandtown. Her writing has been published locally, nationally, and internationally- in print and online. She earned her MFA in Creative Nonfiction writing from Goucher College and teaches introductory and developmental reading and writing, as well as college readiness courses, for the Community College of Baltimore County, University of Maryland University College, and the University of Baltimore. For the last 5 years, she's been hard at work on her first book- a memoir of her marriage. Currently, she's writing a collection of essays in which she desperately tries to grow up before turning 30.
7:30pm
Originally from Southern Louisiana (although no one believers her when they hear her lack-of-accent),
Michelle Junot
is a writer, graphic designer, and copy editor living in Baltimore and dreaming of southern California. She is the author of
a self-portrait in her twenties,
and of
, a collection of essays
exploring childhood and memory. Michelle earned her M.F.A in Creative Writing & Publishing Arts from University of Baltimore. You can read more about or from Michelle at
or follow her on
. or
.
8:00pm
Joyce Lombardi
is a non-fiction writer and non-profit lawyer based in Baltimore. Her work has been published in the Village Voice, Salon.com, Washington Post, Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Style and a bunch of legal journals you’ve never heard of. She thinks she’s funny, her kids beg to differ.
8:15pm
Mandy May
is a Baltimore MD based writer and designer from Fredericksburg VA. She earned her MFA in Creative Writing and Publishing Arts from the University of Baltimore in 2016 and is currently working toward her PhD in Interaction and Information Design from UB. Her work can be found in publications such as The Avenue, Baltimore Fishbowl, Welter, Whurk, MoonChild Mag, and more. She believes in ghosts, magic, and the splendor of a body failing. She is the co-queen/editor of Babe Press. She has three cats.
8:30pm
Author Q&A Panel
First Friday Reading Series - June 1st
Join us every First Friday for the
for live author readings by local writers and poets. Each month will feature a different genre, including Local Flavor, Science Fiction and more. Light beverages and snacks will be provided. Come out and explore the literature growing in your own back yard, and support your local authors, writers, and publishers.
When: June 1st, 5 – 9PM and every first Friday of the monthWhere: Dennis Moore’s Pottery Studio, corner of S. Conkling and Bank, 21224. Across from Rooftop Hot in Highlandtown.This month we celebrate the art of storytelling with Memoir Night. Sharing a little bit about lives makes us all stronger. See more info on each author below.6:15pmLeslie Kain has a B.A. in Psychology from Wellesley College and an MBA from Boston University. She has written much nonfiction throughout her various professions and began writing fiction in 2016. She draws from her careers in psychology, business, high tech, Intelligence and nonprofits to create stories steeped in psychological complexity with multilayered plots and typically dark character arcs. Although occasionally dabbling in memoir, she usually prefers to re-purpose those memories into works of fiction. She has had two short stories published, has completed her first novel (looking for an agent!), and has begun a new novel.6:30pmMaggie Epps began her career as a playwright at age 6. However, it reached its peak at age 8 after her class put on her World War II epic. She retired to focus on her education. After graduating from NYU with a degree in Passion Studies, Maggie explored Washington, DC. She worked on Capitol Hill, and in a variety of childcare and food service jobs. She earned a Masters in Social Work from Catholic University. Afterwards, she worked in community mental health, before venturing out to Mountain View, California to learn web development. These days, Maggie lives in Baltimore, Maryland and works for the Wikimedia Foundation, helping them fund projects like Wikipedia. In her abundant free time, she chases a toddler, and writes speculative fiction and occasionally non-fiction.7:00pmGwen Van Velsor writes creative nonfiction and pseudo-inspirational prose. She started Yellow Arrow Publishing, a project that publishes and supports writers who identify as women. Raised in Portland, Oregon, Gwen has moved many times, from sea to shining sea, now calling Highlandtown her forever home. Her major accomplishments include walking the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage in Spain, raising a toddler, and being ok with life exactly as it is. Her memoir, Follow That Arrow, was published in 2016.7:15pmCija (pronounced Kia) Jefferson is the author of Sonic Memories, a collection of personal essays. Her work has been featured in Yellow Arrow Journal, Baltimore STYLE, HelloGiggles, The Conversation with Amanda de Cadenet, and Baltimore Fishbowl. When she is not watching copious amounts of Bravo and HBO, she is reading and, of course, writing. 7:45pmDr. Diane Pomerantz is a clinical psychologist who has been in practice working with children, adolescents, and adults in the Baltimore, Maryland area for over thirty-five years. She has done extensive work in the area of trauma and child abuse and research in the area of personality development of abused children. She currently runs Healing Through Writing groups in her practice. She is a breast cancer survivor and has two wonderful grown children. She and her shaggy dog, Rug, live amidst tall trees on the outskirts of Baltimore, Maryland.8:00pmJeannie Vanasco is the author of The Glass Eye: A Memoir. Featured by Poets & Writers as one of the five best literary nonfiction debuts of 2017, The Glass Eye was also selected as a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers Pick, an Indies Introduce Pick, and an Indie Next Pick. Her nonfiction has appeared in the Believer, the New York Times, the Times Literary Supplement, Tin House, and on NewYorker.com. She is an assistant professor of English at Towson University and lives in Baltimore. She is working on her second book.8:30pmLisa M. Van Wormer is a memoirist who loves using the alluring poetry form to tell and enhance her stories. Along with Yellow Arrow, her writing has been included in xoJane, Huffington Post, AMVETS Magazine and Baltimore Fishbowl, among others. Her work has also been featured as a part of multiple shows on the Baltimore NPR station (WYPR). Lisa has an MFA in Creative Writing and Publishing Arts from University of Baltimore and is constantly seeking avenues to process and heal through her art. To find out more, see her website at www.lmvanwormer.com and follow her on twitter @lisavanmark.8:45pm
Cybele (rhymes with What The Hell) Pomeroy is an itinerant artist for hire, for the last it's none of your business, but graduated from Loyola College, before it had grown up and become Loyola University, where she studied writing, literature, education and drama. She never studied costuming, improv or physical comedy but does them anyway. She's written and produced various comedy murder mysteries, a 17-minute interactive limerick operetta called Don Juan The Iguana, the 3 1/2-hour Watergate! The Musical, and was lead writer on a conflict-resolution computer game called Harmony Island. Cybele’s poetry has appeared in Poets Ink, City Paper and Scribble Literary Magazine. She's 5'3", brown-eyed, moderately snarky and writes all her Facebook status in 17 syllables. None of her memoirs have yet been published, unless you count blogging, which she doesn’t.
First Friday Reading Series - May 4th
Join us every First Friday for the
for live author readings by local writers and poets. Each month will feature a different genre, including Local Flavor, Science Fiction, Memoir, and more. Light beverages and snacks will be provided. Come out and explore the literature growing in your own back yard, and support your local authors, writers, and publishers.
When: May 4th, 5 – 9PM and every first Friday of the monthWhere: Dennis Moore’s Pottery Studio, corner of S. Conkling and Bank, 21224. Across from Rooftop Hot in Highlandtown.May the Fourth be with you! This month we dive into sci-fi with the exception of our final author of the night, Rafael Alvarez. See more info on each author below.8:30pmRafael Alvarez is an author based in Baltimore and Los Angeles. Alvarez went to work for the Sunpapers of Baltimore as a teenager - first in the circulation department and then the horse racing desk in sports - before landing on the City Desk as a utility man and neighborhood folklorist. He was with The Sun from 1977 through 2001. After leaving the paper, Alvarez worked on ships as a laborer before joining the staff of the HBO drama The Wire. He also worked on the NBC crime dramas Life and The Black Donnellys.Among his many books are two short story collections - The Fountain of Highlandtown and Orlo & Leini; a history of the Archdiocese of Baltimore; two anthologies of journalism - Hometown Boy and Storyteller; and The Tuerk House, a history of Baltimore's pioneering drug and alcohol treatment center for the poor. In 2010, he was nominated for an Edgar Award for The Wire: Truth Be Told, an encyclopedic companion to the television series. His latest book,Basilio Boullosa Stars in the Fountain of Highlandtown, was released in 2017. 8:00pmGeetha Stachowiak is a science fiction writer from Baltimore, Maryland. Despite a lot of schooling and college, writing remained her real love, and out of it came two books: ‘The Srin Dominion: The Vahrean Iteration’ and ‘My Bitchy Boss’ (Amazon). Iteration is a space opera about a young woman formerly an alien queen, dealing with repercussions from a murderous past life; My Bitchy Boss is about a young woman trying to survive a boss far more evil than the everyday bitch. Geetha is very interested in film and serialized shows, and hopes to have her screenplays (two based on the books above) produced. She’s on Twitter @scifinutjob, and also has a film review column at reelmama.com.7:30pmA lifetime writer and lover of books, Ariele Sieling delves into the exciting possibilities of science fiction from her home in Baltimore, MD, where she lives with three cats, a dog, and a husband. She is the author of the scifi series TheSagittan Chronicles and the children's book series, Rutherford the Unicorn sheep, and will soon be releasing the first in the scifi YA series Land of Szornyek.7:00pmBorn in North Carolina and a Baltimore transplant, Dara Crawley is an avid writer and reader with a deep love for the magic of speculative fiction. Her passion is especially deep for centering those often on the sidelines. Currently she is attending the UMB School of Social Work while focusing on finishing a collection of southern gothic fiction set in North Carolina and two novels. 6:30pmMatt Galeone was raised in Seekonk, Massachusetts and currently resides in Baltimore, Maryland. He is the author of the sci-fi/adventure books The 15th Chair Book 1: The Journey, and The Champion of Clarendon Ditch Trilogy, as well as the children's books Oberst and Valentine Find Their Human, and A Very Oberst & Valentine Christmas . He is currently working on the next two books in The 15th Chair Trilogy.
First Friday Reading Series: April
Join us every
First Friday Art Walk in Highlandtown
for live author readings by local writers and poets. Each month will feature a different genre, including Local Flavor, Science Fiction, Memoir, and more. Light beverages and snacks will be provided. Come out and explore the literature growing in your own back yard, and support your local authors, writers, and publishers.
When: Every first Friday, starting April 6, 5 - 9PMWhere: Dennis Moore's Pottery Studio, corner of S. Conkling and Bank, 21224. Across from Rooftop Hot.In April we are keeping it local and hosting the following writers of books, essays and poetry about Baltimore.6:00pmJudy Colbert is an award-winning author and photographer who specializes in travel. Her most recent book is "100 Things to Do in Baltimore Before You Die." She’s also authored or co-authored "Peaceful Places Washington, DC", "Chesapeake Bay Crabs" cookbook, "It Happened in Maryland," "It Happened in Delaware," "Maryland and Delaware Off the Beaten Path", "Super Bowl Trivia," and "Virginia Off the Beaten Path". Her current interest is restaurants on the Chesapeake Bay where people can dock their boats.6:30pmAshley Elizabeth is a 20-something year old black poet from Baltimore who draws inspiration from her city, her people, her space, and her body. As a Hollins graduate, she hopes to inspire future generations of writers and literature lovers, but teaching is only one of her passions. She has been featured in online journals such as Rose Water, Passages North, Rat's Ass Review, and For the Sonorous among others. Ashley is also Assistant Editor at Sundress Publications. She habitually posts on Twitter and Instagram @ae_thepoet7:00pmHarford Hopson is a writer from Baltimore, Maryland. In his formative years, he was uprooted and displaced to Pennsylvania, where he was force-fed hog maw by Quakers and made to watch Steeler football. He is the author of the crime drama novel, Amusement Only and his poetry has been featured in End of 83. He describes his work, among many interpretations, as the pulpy romance between unlikely classes in the American race.7:30pmKristina Gaddy is a Baltimore-based writer who focuses on history, culture, and health. The piece "Labors" was a finalist for Proximity Magazine's 2017 Narrative Journalism Prize. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post, the Baltimore Sun, Ozy, Goucher Quarterly, and UMBC Magazine among others. Her nonfiction book about teenagers who fought the Nazis during the Third Reich will be published by Dutton in 2019.8:00pmEvan L. Balkan is the author of six books of nonfiction, including The Wrath of God: Lope de Aguirre; Revolutionary of the Americas (Univ. of New Mexico Press) as well as many essays and short stories in an array of publications. His novel Spitfire is forthcoming from Amphorae Publishing. His screenplay Spitfire, adapted from his novel of the same name, won both the 2016 Baltimore Screenwriters Competition and a Saul Zaentz Innovation Fund Fellowship; his screenplay Children of Disobedience won the 2017 Baltimore Screenwriting Competition. He is a co-writer for the television series, Wayward Girls. He coordinates the English Department at the Community College of Baltimore County, where he runs the creative writing program, and is an adjunct faculty member in the Johns Hopkins University's graduate Teaching Writing program. He holds degrees in the humanities from Towson, George Mason, and Johns Hopkins universities. The latter degree is in creative writing with a fiction concentration and his thesis project, the novel Root That Mountain Down, won an Individual Artist Award for Fiction from the Maryland State Arts Council and was subsequently excerpted in the Baltimore Review. He has served as a guest lecturer at Yale, Johns Hopkins, Bryn Mawr and many other institutions.8:30pmKaren Hattrup grew up in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. with her parents and brother, devouring books from an early age. At Loyola University Maryland, she studied journalism and spent a semester abroad in Thailand. She went on to become a newspaper reporter, first in Maryland and then in Indiana, writing features and serving as an award-winning arts critic. Karen later studied nonfiction writing at the Johns Hopkins University. She lives in Baltimore City with her husband, daughter, and son.Why:We love supporting local authors and writers. The idea for this series was born out of wanting to add a literary arts component to the art walk. And here we are!How:This series is powered by Yellow Arrow Publishing and Ariele Sieling, residents of Highlandtown.
Yellow Arrow Journal, Volume II, January 2018
We are proud to present the second volume of our biannual literary journal. The theme is Time.Thank you to all the courageous writers who offered their precious time to this edition.To read the journal as a PDF, please click the link or image below. To purchase a hard copy for $7.00 (including shipping), please email info@yellowarrowpublishing.com with your name, mailing address, and preferred payment method. Or, purchase on Amazon for $10.00. You may download the ebook version for $.99 on your Kindle or ereading device.
Cover art by Marie Hassell Doctorchik
First Friday Readings
Free Readings by Local Writers
Come take part in a new writers' series at Highlandtown's First Friday Artwalk. Enjoy live readings by local writers and poets. A variety of genres (including flash fiction and poetry) will be represented in 15 minute segments. Feel free to listen to one or all. Open mic sign-ups as time permits. Light beverages and snacks provided. Come out and support independent publishing. For the evening’s schedule and listing of writers visit YellowArrowPublishing.com.
When: Friday October 6, 2017, 6 - 8 pm
Where: basement of Breath of God Church at 141 S. Clinton St, at Pratt Street
Cost: Free but suggested church donation is appreciated.
Yellow Arrow Journal: Volume I, July 2017
We are proud to present the first volume of our biannual literary journal. The theme is Journey. Creating this compilation was a journey of its own, and we are very grateful for your support and readership.Thank you to all the talented and brave writers who submitted their hearts and souls to this enterprise.To read the journal as a PDF, please click the link or image below. To purchase a hard copy, please email info@yellowarrowpublishing.com
Book Review: Sonic Memories
It's happy hour on a Saturday. Cija Jefferson and I order fried chicken sandwiches and pile into a booth at a neighborhood bar in Baltimore. My one year old is diving under the table and over the seat in constant motion. Luckily it's only us and the bartender so she avoids getting trampled.We've come here to discuss writing and being a writer and her book, Sonic Memories. She is a generous conversationalist, always turning the talk back to ask about me and my writing. When I tell her I just want to get honest with my words, she nods furiously.That's because Jefferson's collection of essays is exactly that, a raw and honest account of selected stories from her life. As she takes the reader from childhood to present day, her ability to create scenes and dialog that feel real have me forgetting these were not memories from my own life. Each essay is relatable on such a basic, human level. She is able to tap into those emotions that form our collective experience effortlessly.I was particularly haunted by a chapter in her book about leaving her life behind on the East coast for greener pastures in California. This particular story really captured her experience of living in the moment, of enjoying life despite not knowing what lie ahead, and not really caring what lie behind. It brought me back to that glow of youth and less responsibilities. Cija captures this rare, fleeting feeling beautifully in this story.Another theme Cija handles well is the experience of being an outsider. She writes about attending all white schools and reflects on her identity as it crosses worlds and boundaries as she comes of age. It was refreshing to read a unique perspective on life's ordinary episodes.What I like most about Sonic Memories is the overall tone. This writer never says these are things that happened to me and they are really sad, or happy, or embarrassing. No, she just tells her stories. The reader gets the sense that this is just life, and it's no big deal and also the only deal at the same time. It's a heartbreaking, inspiring, and joyful read.Support independent publishing. Pick up a copy of Sonic Memories by Cija Jefferson here.This review was unsolicited by the author. We just liked her book.Yellow Arrow Publishing is happy to review works of creative nonfiction by female identifying authors. If you have a book that fits this description and would like us to review it, please send an inquiry to info@yellowarrowpublishing.com