THE EXHIBITION
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THE EXHIBITION •
‘Brother Ariel’
Victoria (Vic) Brooks is a queer nonbinary writer living in London, and parent to an octopod (2-year-old identical twins). Their first queer sci-fi novel, Silicone God, was published by MOIST Books in the UK (December 2023) and House of Vlad Press in the US (February 2025). They have also published various essays, short fiction, and poetry. Find their work in Archer, W0rms, SAND, Discount Guillotine, and elsewhere.
‘Stuck’
Richard Weems is the author of three short story collections, one of which was a finalist for the Eric Hoffer Book Prize. His work has appeared in North American Review, The Gettysburg Review, Beloit Fiction Journal and elsewhere. He just recently retired from teaching.
‘My Freak Show Family of Origin’ & Other Works
Emma Goldman-Sherman's plays have been produced on 4 continents and include "Abraham's Daughters" based on their documentation of human rights abuses during the first Intifada available as a podcast at TheParsnipShip.com. Their poetry appears or is forthcoming in The Bellingham Review (finalist for the 49th Parallel Award), Eckleburg, Toyon (w/Arabic translation), Gigantic Sequins (1st prize), Exist Otherwise, Writers Resist and others. Emma's micro-chapbook, "Possible Paths for the Minotaur," is forthcoming as part of the Ghost City Press Summer Series. Their microfiction is anthologized in Best Microfiction 2025 and the Fish Anthology of 2023. They have received support from ATHE, Ragdale, Millay, WordBridge, LMCC, and others. They work as a neuroaffirming coach, teach for the Dramatists Guild Institute and PlayPenn, and support writers and artists at https://www.bravespace.online/
‘The Last Flight of Three’
Jack Cortez is a queer Spanish Canadian writer, history buff, and father of the dearest little kitten. He has graduated with a Bachelors of Arts degree in history and psychology from the University of Ottawa in 2024. He currently lives in the Ottawa Valley, just a heartbeat away from the Canadian capital city. He has recently published a poem in the Waymark Literary Magazine.
‘Where Should I let Go?’
Rumaisa Reza is a high school student from Bangladesh who loves to explore emotions through writing and reading.
‘The Hunted Body’ & ‘Fireworks’
Tanya Moldovan is an emerging writer who lives in her home country Moldova. She started writing after losing both her parents to cancer. Her poetry has been published in The Word’s Faire, Festival for Poetry, and the Beyond Words international magazine. Her work focuses on the subjects of death, grief and the experience after death.
‘NIGHTMARE WITHOUT A HORSE’ & ‘KICKING THE SHIT OUT OF MYSELF STEEL-TOED THREE A.M.’
Travis Stephens is a tugboat captain who lives and works with his family in California. His book of poetry, “skeeter bit & still drunk” was published by Finishing Line Press. Visit him at: zolothstephenswriters.com
‘Joe Kennedy’
Kris Green lives in Florida with his beautiful wife and two savage children. He’s been published over 80 times in the last few years by the wonderful people at Nifty Lit, The Haberdasher: Peddlers of Literary Art, In Parentheses Magazine, Route 7 Review, BarBar Magazine, and many more. He won the 2023 Barbe Best Short Story and Reader’s Choice Award for his short story, “Redemption”. He has regular nonfiction articles being published by Solid Food Press on fatherhood entitled “On Raising Savages”.
‘Clara Straight Turns 100’ & ‘Zoey Chen’s ceramic lilies on my wall’
Monica Barron is a poet and nonfiction writer. She published Prairie Architecture, a book of poems, with Golden Antelope Press in 2020. She produces literary programs for Lesbians WriteOn and is nonfiction editor at wordpeace, a social justice writing project. Her most recent magazine publications are Sinister Wisdom and Screendoor Review. She also works as a hospice volunteer in a variety of ways.
‘The Second Mother’
James Goddard
‘Night Terror’
Russell Chamberlain was born in Nashville, Tennessee, but currently lives in the Pacific Northwest with his family. He recently published an article in the Salt Weekly (issue 35) about the independent music scene in Nashville, Tennessee. He writes short stories, fiction, and poetry. He had two nonfiction pieces published this past winter, one with Waxing and Waning and one with Beyond Words Anthology.
‘Reverberation’, ‘Leo Season in the City’ & ‘Bright Angel’
Amanda Conover is a recent MFA alum based in Peoria, IL who often explores themes such as existentialism, spirituality, and social issues. She is the Poetry Editor for Carolina Muse Literary & Arts Magazine and works in scholarly publishing. Her poetry has been published in Atlanta Review, the lickety~split, Sad Girl Diaries, the Chaffin Journal, and elsewhere.
‘unknown’, ‘sunflowers’ & ‘reminisce’
Virginia Elizabeth Samuel writes poetry as a complement to her work as a professional violist and classical composer. She has been published in the Harvard publication, ‘The Advocate’, the British publication, ‘Tears in the Fence’, Denver Quarterly and The Mid-Atlantic Review, among others. She was born in the US, but currently resides in Britain.
‘Two Hands’, ‘Consistent Love’ & ‘Lust’
Ashley Groves is a Cincinnati-based writer. They have previously acted as the Coordinating Nonfiction Editor for the Short Vine Literary Journal.
‘The Woman I Was Before the Waiting’
Melba writes from the quiet places where grief and identity meet. Her work explores infertility, longing, and selfhood through raw, nature-infused poetry. She is the author of Unplanted Yet Flourishing and the creator of Poetic Nectar Collective.
‘Ice Storm’
Misty Van Staaveren is a California native now living in Texas. Misty received her undergraduate degree in Liberal Studies at California State University Fresno. She holds a teaching credential in California and Texas, where she teaches English Language Arts to fourth graders. When not writing, she is always up for a road trip. She recently had the opportunity to be a credited reader for Bluestem Magazine.