THE EXHIBITION
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THE EXHIBITION •
‘Warring’
Michelo Isola is a gay man who has longed to write meaningful short stories, but fearful rejection because of age (76) and identity. His pen name came about as the result of significant criticism from conservative members of his family.
‘Ballelejuah’, ‘A Long Way To Go For A Turing Reference’, ‘27.99’ & ‘Molt’
Peter Cooke is a newish poet who works in a middle school library. Cooke also facilitates an after school poetry club for kids. He has been recently accepted for publication by Skrews Syndication and Rising Phoenix Review. He started seeking publication mainly as a way to "lead by example" for his middle school poets.
‘Out of the Woods’
Tabatha Franklin is a passionate 5th grade ELAR teacher. She has a love for words and literature, and this passion is what she uses to encourage her students. She loves to spend time with her two dogs, her husband, and a good cup of coffee. Previously published in October Hill Magazine and is currently a Non-Fiction Editor for Chaotic Merge Magazine.
‘Flipped’
Daniel Deisinger is alive and he dares you to prove otherwise. His work has appeared in more than thirty publications, including 'Havik,' 'Defenestration Magazine,' and 'Ripples in Space.' His serial “Voices in My Head” is available on Kindle Vella. His X account is @Danny_Deisinger, and his website is saturdaystory-Time.weebly.com.
‘TRAUMA BOND’
Ian Woollen has recent short fiction at Panorama, Millennial Pulp, OxMag, and forthcoming at Amarillo Bay.
‘Paris of the East’
Lucas Blake is a aspiring writer based in Malaysia, currently honing my craft as he approaches the end of high school. When he is not writing, he is studying for his IGCSE exams and enjoy reading, watching movies, and consuming other forms of storytelling
‘POMEGRANATE’ & Assorted Poems
Kathleen Pedraza is a graduate student of English Literature at Florida International University. Pedraza’s passion for poetry stems from a deep fascination with the complexities of the human experience—the interplay of beauty and discomfort that life often presents. In her writing, she explores the nuances of emotion, mental health, and the contradictions that define our identity. Pedraza is drawn to the moments that are both fleeting and profound, capturing the essence of what it means to be human.
‘A Letter to the Newly Chronically’
Aaron McDaniel (He/They) is a writer, reader, painter, nature lover, baker, seamstress, button collector, and much more. However he is also a young person learning to navigate the world while living with chronic pain and fatigue, mental illness and a physical disability.
‘Lap of Luxury’, ‘Selfie’ & ‘Silent Slang’
Megan Denese Mealor resides in Jacksonville, Florida with her husband and 11-year-old son, who was diagnosed with autism at age three. Nominated three times for the Pushcart Prize as well as the 2023 Best of the Net, her writing has been featured in literary journals worldwide, most recently Bar Bar, The GroundUp, and Down in the Dirt. She has also authored three full-length poetry collections: Bipolar Lexicon (Unsolicited Press, 2018); Blatherskite (Clare Songbirds Publishing House, 2019); and A Mourning Dove’s Wishbone (Cyberwit, 2022). A lifelong survivor of bipolar disorder, Megan’s main mission as a writer is to inspire others feeling stigmatized for their mental health.
‘The Lion’s Last Roar’
Jake Wright is a fourth year biology student at UBCO pursuing a minor in creative writing. When He's not writing, he's usually gaming, crying over university, or skiing.
‘SERVANT’
Richard Gregory
‘Trepidation’, ‘Surgical Notes’ & ‘Authenticity of Angels’
Richard Eric Johnson lives and writes poetry in Arlington, Virginia. He has authored five full-length poetry collections and his poetry has appeared in numerous online and print journals. Eric is also a Pushcart nominee. He most recently was honored to be archived at La Salle University’s Connelly Library. He is a graduate of Indiana University with a B.A. in Germanic Languages and an M.S. in Education. After a tour in Viet Nam and West Berlin, he embarked on a career as a public servant and is now very happily retired.
‘Remembrance’
Erick Rivers is a writer and artist from North Miami Beach, Florida. His work blends poetry, short stories, and fantasy, often exploring themes of memory, identity, and activism. Erick has served as editor-in-chief of SIX Magazine, a publication from the College of Fine Arts at Florida State University, showcasing student artists' diverse voices. When not writing, Erick enjoys time with his cat, Kit, and playing Magic: The Gathering.
‘The Moments I Catch Myself Catching You’, ‘Just Before the Boneyard’, ‘Bottled Negativity’, ‘Holding You in the Dark’ & ‘Pisces’
Devin Hartman currently resides in Michigan's Upper Peninsula with his wife and their three cats. He is a graduate of Northern Michigan University.
‘The Great Compromise’
David Larsen is a writer who lives in El Paso, Texas. His stories and poems have been published in more than forty literary journals and magazines including Cholla Needles, The Heartland Review, Floyd County Moonshine, Aethlon, Oakwood, Coneflower Cafe, Literary Heist, Change Seven, El Portal and The Raven Review.
‘TRAIN AND WINDOW’, ‘GAY AGENDA—WITH TRASH’ & ‘LASTS, DOESN’T LAST’
Kenneth Pobo (he/him) is the author of twenty-one chapbooks and nine full-length collections. Recent books include Bend of Quiet (Blue Light Press), Loplop in a Red City (Circling Rivers) and Lilac And Sawdust (Meadowlark Press). Forthcoming from Fernwood Press is a book of poems called At The Window, Silence. His work has appeared in North Dakota Quarterly, South Florida Poetry Journal, Amsterdam Quarterly, Nimrod, Mudfish, Hawaii Review, and elsewhere. @KenPobo