tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3897917806178926722024-03-14T11:52:06.290-05:00Lauren ScharhagWriter Lauren Scharhaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14627677132564154350noreply@blogger.comBlogger217125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-389791780617892672.post-38741838469380426702024-02-27T22:22:00.002-06:002024-02-27T22:22:25.836-06:00February News<p style="text-align: left;"></p><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>FORTHCOMING TITLE</b></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQbwOXOD8-sO1MvgaaS8jL-GfxLCG3doRjbGJO0fQs6rKWdYO7wGllRzEt9aSpqdyshun4YTGUS7IRodV3vvVO50qHYXgKoezeDT5yB1MERptHXBIUjBzFGEc2-BEEjxxj5eXpnZnjH42sB31Qq1LPYoMiXrW3IdpZBwmL7jVND1u_YHEv-Wq2MeriJ9sq/s1920/Roadside%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQbwOXOD8-sO1MvgaaS8jL-GfxLCG3doRjbGJO0fQs6rKWdYO7wGllRzEt9aSpqdyshun4YTGUS7IRodV3vvVO50qHYXgKoezeDT5yB1MERptHXBIUjBzFGEc2-BEEjxxj5eXpnZnjH42sB31Qq1LPYoMiXrW3IdpZBwmL7jVND1u_YHEv-Wq2MeriJ9sq/w225-h400/Roadside%202.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR3yrXOvgdkhgWfKI57-i5IM-U3uT6pjVgk833XiX1sgSp3_A3xAEgelHXRcNf6ODMRwWQRjqnkcV7iZfXL9yk8YtrimUvR5V6aMqEjVa1eN3dOroKnRheu2sLSOq6FC9DbsvumXYQUVMJ7AjdkZN1MX4g4ETzHl4BZNBdTpSZCrco1xQsOYce57FFDGie/s731/Roadside%201.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="443" data-original-width="731" height="389" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR3yrXOvgdkhgWfKI57-i5IM-U3uT6pjVgk833XiX1sgSp3_A3xAEgelHXRcNf6ODMRwWQRjqnkcV7iZfXL9yk8YtrimUvR5V6aMqEjVa1eN3dOroKnRheu2sLSOq6FC9DbsvumXYQUVMJ7AjdkZN1MX4g4ETzHl4BZNBdTpSZCrco1xQsOYce57FFDGie/w640-h389/Roadside%201.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">I am delighted to share that my latest poetry collection, <i>Ain’t These
Sorrows Sweet?, </i>will be released by Roadside Press later this year. The collection
is divided into two sections, Sorrows and Sweetness. The poems are very
personal and intimate, yet firmly grounded in the real world. They cover such
topics as Latine culture, family, feminism, home, memory, health, food, and
cats. Overall, this book is a celebration of life in both grief and joy. Many
thanks to editor Michele McDannold for giving my work a home.</div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p> <br /></o:p><o:p> <br /></o:p><b>PUBLICATION</b></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAJ1-BS3Oh5GbjCbpTn8uv5nrjrzwqCPnhKDj5DCHjr0nRo46i3ermu3PO6aRfzapK8Owyi-imUU2xRmvyruyLECgb4nUpSo467borAcf9WBXyswOMBSRIYgiES5Jw_Q0UqvWPh90W3KN9KsUPYCQIArSZli4DxkEJh6cCyp8guawg3wiYwbD6DYkVPHIf/s1138/Ghost%20City%20Review.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="508" data-original-width="1138" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAJ1-BS3Oh5GbjCbpTn8uv5nrjrzwqCPnhKDj5DCHjr0nRo46i3ermu3PO6aRfzapK8Owyi-imUU2xRmvyruyLECgb4nUpSo467borAcf9WBXyswOMBSRIYgiES5Jw_Q0UqvWPh90W3KN9KsUPYCQIArSZli4DxkEJh6cCyp8guawg3wiYwbD6DYkVPHIf/w400-h179/Ghost%20City%20Review.PNG" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">My prose-poem, “<a href="https://ghostcitypress.com/poetry-6/2024/2/19/lauren-scharhag?fbclid=IwAR39_9Nsqo1pU_atCttsXeBxb1yWG2uBwmxjxouP8GBovA0jmXLpaDAUgCE">A
Food Court in Hell</a>,” appeared in the latest issue of Ghost City Review.
Thank you to editor and all-around excellent human, John Compton.<br /><o:p> </o:p></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
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<br /><p></p>Lauren Scharhaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14627677132564154350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-389791780617892672.post-26546315768060566972024-01-30T15:24:00.005-06:002024-01-30T15:25:58.245-06:00January 2024<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Happy 2024, you
all!</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6EKttu6hrAaxIurfFh-Ogh_ipAqZXZ4VeTkur0c6dmAJJoHLeDt54S-74RogXVodESxXM5WLokBFs4RT3V6NkPtIMwD5aJ8xMjt0e9SoXwp4bTkLOXLcDlZD6eIRdp8c-qYrgbeiiJeNtiSXcb0c9iSyuesZLulDS7x5Dm8aKa_5esU4UcY4MLCyWIl6P/s824/The%20Argyle.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="824" data-original-width="794" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6EKttu6hrAaxIurfFh-Ogh_ipAqZXZ4VeTkur0c6dmAJJoHLeDt54S-74RogXVodESxXM5WLokBFs4RT3V6NkPtIMwD5aJ8xMjt0e9SoXwp4bTkLOXLcDlZD6eIRdp8c-qYrgbeiiJeNtiSXcb0c9iSyuesZLulDS7x5Dm8aKa_5esU4UcY4MLCyWIl6P/w385-h400/The%20Argyle.PNG" width="385" /></a></div></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am still trying
to find my way back into the writing life, but I did manage to get five poems
in the inaugural issue of <a href="https://www.theargylelitmag.com/poetry/laruenscharhag?fbclid=IwAR2tmaky84-cdHILSG5S5qxirvIrFiiINHqhcSaMUKumeNt56tybSGO1_BA">The
Argyle</a>, “Things My Uncles Made in Prison,” “Two Inches,” “Lucy’s Last
Days,” “Flores,” and “motley.” Big thanks to editor David Estringel.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>AWP 2024</b></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTtwH2m3aCqXvF9wXT7fmPsFZ0QuP7frKcz22e4-V6khWNXejEJsqn0GnDDBz0aQg6W1zROwsG8qo80qBRBWSemVDqTN9JMFXfSoztuWasYf3drPcXH19VCoCsSp0dLkiA9ci428_ySB7Pxz19ppbyJ_kkSnpmY3P0Q0V2RL-yJ3fqfA0V3q_N-zgUM8MS/s960/AWP.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTtwH2m3aCqXvF9wXT7fmPsFZ0QuP7frKcz22e4-V6khWNXejEJsqn0GnDDBz0aQg6W1zROwsG8qo80qBRBWSemVDqTN9JMFXfSoztuWasYf3drPcXH19VCoCsSp0dLkiA9ci428_ySB7Pxz19ppbyJ_kkSnpmY3P0Q0V2RL-yJ3fqfA0V3q_N-zgUM8MS/w320-h400/AWP.png" width="320" /></a></div></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The AWP Conference
is in Kansas City next month – come see me! I’ll be there on Saturday, Feb. 10,
noon-1 pm, at the Gnashing Teeth table, signing copies of <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Moonlight-Monsters-Lauren-Scharhag/dp/B0CB78VM2M/ref=sr_1_2?crid=29KJREKXH3EQU&keywords=lauren+scharhag&qid=1690395825&sprefix=lauren+scharha%2Caps%2C140&sr=8-2">Moonlight andMonsters</a>. </i>The event is being held at the KC Convention Center, 301 West 13th Street, KCMO 64105. <br /><i><o:p></o:p></i></span><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <br /></span></i><span style="font-family: inherit;">I will also bring some
of my other books – I still have copies of <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BVD5Q2TX?ref_=cm_sw_r_apin_dp_0QEMZY34BQY41XBWB080&fbclid=IwAR1fgLZe_r-NRX0NqdDDAefi40iJNKjWQBap1X9ZCo4pV29YldzS6TbdODY">Midnight Glossolalia</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Languages-First-Last-Lauren-Scharhag/dp/9389690587/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=lauren+scharhag&qid=1581703337&sr=8-5">LanguagesFirst and Last</a>, </i>and <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Requiem-Robot-Dog-Lauren-Scharhag/dp/1099369037/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=lauren+scharhag&qid=1558471237&s=gateway&sr=8-6">Requiem for a Robot Dog</a> </i>to sell or trade! <i> <br /></i></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div><p style="text-align: left;">
<br /></p>Lauren Scharhaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14627677132564154350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-389791780617892672.post-38476900725083199552023-12-27T19:47:00.007-06:002024-01-30T15:10:14.534-06:00December News and 2023 Roundup<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">NOMINATION </span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBvtaUtxbqnI4HW5WvdCMbRNbye0xpiKKxDCrCLrKNDpzT44zHe35jkqH8Vs_AoTFPoRBv6NCUMpJiLSnPWekQd6hHNI8PRk3IMb9lLJJfCuMP5rttVrUngQ34CbN_x58_HHhLs83ARFeZbsD-9O6C9bswc5tkfQgP3U6I1qW6XJfTctiNHuYt2VhiRkQr/s639/Pushcart%202023.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="639" data-original-width="637" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBvtaUtxbqnI4HW5WvdCMbRNbye0xpiKKxDCrCLrKNDpzT44zHe35jkqH8Vs_AoTFPoRBv6NCUMpJiLSnPWekQd6hHNI8PRk3IMb9lLJJfCuMP5rttVrUngQ34CbN_x58_HHhLs83ARFeZbsD-9O6C9bswc5tkfQgP3U6I1qW6XJfTctiNHuYt2VhiRkQr/w399-h400/Pushcart%202023.PNG" width="399" /></a></b></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am pleased to share that my poem, “Knowing You,” was
nominated for a Pushcart by Gnashing Teeth Publishing. Thank you to Karen Cline-Tardiff
for this honor. Not a bad way to close out the year!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="font-family: inherit;">2023 ROUNDUP</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhPC7h5DPDkUk4NHH1yxdp4la8HJ1oqsD0C-2M550881cbbnDiCkuVJByuKg8eQaQhg-Xd-wu-kGReVMN5JvNESrrK_rMtPmKG1i_sKUyW6KXTL2GzxZD34qKgbACRJQnvVbDub3sFNY5teeVcuoskYBZajyDXJUJj1HF_EJy31LDuacjYrHBrTPZ_pVAp/s950/2023%20Recap.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="697" data-original-width="950" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhPC7h5DPDkUk4NHH1yxdp4la8HJ1oqsD0C-2M550881cbbnDiCkuVJByuKg8eQaQhg-Xd-wu-kGReVMN5JvNESrrK_rMtPmKG1i_sKUyW6KXTL2GzxZD34qKgbACRJQnvVbDub3sFNY5teeVcuoskYBZajyDXJUJj1HF_EJy31LDuacjYrHBrTPZ_pVAp/w640-h470/2023%20Recap.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This year, 38 of my pieces appeared in 18 publications,
including short stories and poems. (A few of the covers are included in the above collage.) I was a featured storyteller for the May
2023 Truth in Comedy event in Kansas City, MO. Additionally, I published four
books, including:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BVD5Q2TX?ref_=cm_sw_r_apin_dp_0QEMZY34BQY41XBWB080&fbclid=IwAR1fgLZe_r-NRX0NqdDDAefi40iJNKjWQBap1X9ZCo4pV29YldzS6TbdODY">Midnight Glossolalia</a> (with Scott Ferry and Lillian Necakov),
Meat for Tea Press, February 2023</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.voiceluxpress.com/product-page/morels-by-lauren-scharhag?fbclid=IwAR3V3yFTyRZxXmjtcavA9LymRDE74gHln-c65FmEeaHvKM9TfO_prczgkl0">Morels</a>, Voice Lux Press, May 2023</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Moonlight-Monsters-Lauren-Scharhag/dp/B0CB78VM2M/ref=sr_1_2?crid=29KJREKXH3EQU&keywords=lauren+scharhag&qid=1690395825&sprefix=lauren+scharha%2Caps%2C140&sr=8-2">Moonlight and Monsters</a>, Gnashing Teeth Publishing, July 2023</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CD13DH1T?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860&fbclid=IwAR2VSgXx-CrVDt8ADZ3q5AQE8pToBeoDEjW5fog1UI2-6lbFaxs6K6nGh98">Points of Light: Poems to Express Gratitude for Nurses During the COVID-19 Pandemic</a>, July 2023, (editor and contributor)</span></li></ul><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I had work nominated for two Best of the Nets, a Pushcart, and a Rhysling Award. I continue to serve as an editor at <a href="http://gleampoets.org">Gleam</a>, and wrote blurbs for each imaginary arrow (Scott Ferry) and The Very Special Dead (Christian Livermore). If you haven't read those books, I can't recommend them enough. <br />
<br />
I’ve had years where I’ve had more publications, but then, this is the first
time I’ve published four books in a year, so sometimes success is kinda hard to
quantify. Publishing four books meant a pretty hard marketing push for readings,
podcasts, and events. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Otherwise, 2023 was a soft hiatus for me. For the first time
in recent memory, I did not write every day. In fact, I barely wrote at all. Besides
health problems, my husband and I purchased a house, which has needed a lot of
time and attention. But most of all, I was burned out. Submitting and publishing
can be an absolute grind, and I was just all out of spoons and all out fucks. I’m
just now trying to get back into a writing routine, and trying to find a better
work-life balance. To all who have supported me, this year and every other, you
have my sincerest gratitude.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">OTHER NEWS<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am now on Bluesky: </span><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/laurenscharhag.bsky.social" style="font-family: inherit;">https://bsky.app/profile/laurenscharhag.bsky.social</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I just got the invite code on
December 22, so I still haven't really figured it out yet, but I hope to get
proficient soon, and get off the sinking ship that is the platform formerly
known as Twitter. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hope you all had a safe and happy holiday season, and wishing you all the best for '24!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
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<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p><br />Lauren Scharhaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14627677132564154350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-389791780617892672.post-87501424114426812652023-11-29T20:05:00.003-06:002023-11-29T20:05:38.363-06:00November News<div style="text-align: left;">To all who celebrate, I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I don't have a lot of news to share for November. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifuKwXbJwMvG0tVTEgBrx3vmq5etTSQIViCsC0DbMfvCcQFMdl_GJviYmHU2EI7zaou85RTUDI9qo4lk96UqXEXTDlnln7vK9UgzCVCRBzUrC6lGFy5617LZ6i3IBj1Vvl02W1bTCyicqCTPrqXhwtwaWcpHzNBrKcKGeW_sSGr06dKaDPgYcY_GMMdCFo/s1200/SpoFest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifuKwXbJwMvG0tVTEgBrx3vmq5etTSQIViCsC0DbMfvCcQFMdl_GJviYmHU2EI7zaou85RTUDI9qo4lk96UqXEXTDlnln7vK9UgzCVCRBzUrC6lGFy5617LZ6i3IBj1Vvl02W1bTCyicqCTPrqXhwtwaWcpHzNBrKcKGeW_sSGr06dKaDPgYcY_GMMdCFo/w400-h209/SpoFest.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I was one of the featured readers on SpoFest on November 14, along with Hayley Mitchell Haugen and Madeline Artenburg. If you are unable to attend, the event was <a href="https://fb.watch/ok6FZCfB_d/">recorded</a>. Many thanks to hosts James Bryant and Rick Christiansen. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I haven't done a lot of writing this past year-- only a handful of poems, really, and I only have one or two publications tentatively lined up. I still have a lot of health issues I'm contending with. But I am currently reading submissions for Gleam, and in the next few weeks, I will be reading for the Jack Grapes Poetry Prize. So, in my own small way, I am still contributing to the literary community.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Thank you, as always, to my supportive readers. Prayers, good vibes, healing thoughts, positivity-- whatever you've got, please send 'em my way. As we head into December, I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season ahead of you.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Lauren Scharhaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14627677132564154350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-389791780617892672.post-88056097778242749522023-10-30T19:59:00.006-05:002023-10-30T19:59:57.903-05:00October News<p style="text-align: left;"></p><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>AWARD
NOMINATION</b></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3DOA0E6-pzWSHCsUOBHV2IBkIob2n0_uGkcO-uyiiO-NwK0zekf75D4F-fuoExgda8lw1RWQceJx3AIJKDBfCca-5YjU9RlxGVXQ342ob0DK7U2PNGywHYtWa_Ygff8mShci-3og0n1L6-pta_JLj7uGLwNq6PRoIKB_piMRP3V3knD4CO19tRxQ7JmfV/s395/Best%20of%20the%20Net.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="328" data-original-width="395" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3DOA0E6-pzWSHCsUOBHV2IBkIob2n0_uGkcO-uyiiO-NwK0zekf75D4F-fuoExgda8lw1RWQceJx3AIJKDBfCca-5YjU9RlxGVXQ342ob0DK7U2PNGywHYtWa_Ygff8mShci-3og0n1L6-pta_JLj7uGLwNq6PRoIKB_piMRP3V3knD4CO19tRxQ7JmfV/w400-h333/Best%20of%20the%20Net.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">I have received a second Best of the Net nomination this year. Marrow Magazine
nominated “<a href="https://marrowmagazine.com/electronic-voice-phenomenon/">Electronic
Voice Phenomenon</a>.” This poem was very personal and dear to me, so this
truly means a lot. My deepest thanks to editor Caitlin Woolley.</div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"> <o:p> <br /></o:p><b>APPEARANCE</b></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ179AOOnjXeqOTz4Km94JWYk4fsRH5M9_IF8FJHdMT5IberoLUNZKNEEmOlVC7GOpc1M1NM10UC-qwZlIBWfewTxuNNZozhz6tJN3olzOKp1dagPPGwlyhltQ4Bz6FK9Vmb15WHpcDW046fxIKj1kpDT3NJZuYTQiBefhlcX3EJYO-RiCpPmq1f2jJcry/s1200/SpoFest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ179AOOnjXeqOTz4Km94JWYk4fsRH5M9_IF8FJHdMT5IberoLUNZKNEEmOlVC7GOpc1M1NM10UC-qwZlIBWfewTxuNNZozhz6tJN3olzOKp1dagPPGwlyhltQ4Bz6FK9Vmb15WHpcDW046fxIKj1kpDT3NJZuYTQiBefhlcX3EJYO-RiCpPmq1f2jJcry/w400-h209/SpoFest.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><b><o:p> <br /></o:p></b>The SpoFest
show that was cancelled in September due to illness is back on – I’ll be one of
the featured poets on <a href="https://fb.me/e/5Q9amg6Iv">Tuesday, Nov. 14, at
6 pm CT, on Zoom</a>. Includes open mic and raffle. Hope to see some of you
there!</div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /><o:p> <br /></o:p><b>SUBMISSION
CALLS</b></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxVi2iYvIrutTRtVhjO3GebhFJKAJvtNeFKo-Gp8mMIq6WgBbXOoqrjJbYxfWQK-8Bwk0IgAJtekp5nmSbpl3FUvBCvW0hZ6w_RG-f0QVNaz_fYeF6d-HPSiSVt2FJhZQwwHoWlzZOeoSszV7GD-CYV5UierBuKVbinyL1bxgq-0JJb1RwdMkkC03bpjGV/s758/Jack%20Grapes.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="317" data-original-width="758" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxVi2iYvIrutTRtVhjO3GebhFJKAJvtNeFKo-Gp8mMIq6WgBbXOoqrjJbYxfWQK-8Bwk0IgAJtekp5nmSbpl3FUvBCvW0hZ6w_RG-f0QVNaz_fYeF6d-HPSiSVt2FJhZQwwHoWlzZOeoSszV7GD-CYV5UierBuKVbinyL1bxgq-0JJb1RwdMkkC03bpjGV/w400-h168/Jack%20Grapes.PNG" width="400" /></a></div><b><br /> </b>I am pleased to
share that I will be one of the readers for the <a href="https://culturaldaily.com/the-jack-grapes-poetry-prize/">2023 Jack Grapes
Poetry Prize</a>. I look forward to reading everyone’s work. Submissions are
open till Nov. 30.</div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjitgz6K0KQbd_Wut4zSJIMPkqppF3hEmM_Fo2FuioCHhAppXz65YLWZTPkIG8TeLWsH_nT6XsT9chQDK17PrmH2keAJPIUmZnu_pGa5aiyoDM8mGPpNod0DXuhGzgcw1Wp6fFDmw5PxAHT1dZPXYDCV6V6e5M9EQeGRUDEQQMkTH7cWKXTPVadl-yMfKr0/s512/Gleam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjitgz6K0KQbd_Wut4zSJIMPkqppF3hEmM_Fo2FuioCHhAppXz65YLWZTPkIG8TeLWsH_nT6XsT9chQDK17PrmH2keAJPIUmZnu_pGa5aiyoDM8mGPpNod0DXuhGzgcw1Wp6fFDmw5PxAHT1dZPXYDCV6V6e5M9EQeGRUDEQQMkTH7cWKXTPVadl-yMfKr0/s320/Gleam.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p> <br /></o:p>Gleam Journal
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<br /><p></p>Lauren Scharhaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14627677132564154350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-389791780617892672.post-79631949206033369432023-09-27T20:27:00.006-05:002023-09-27T20:27:53.121-05:00September News<p style="text-align: left;"></p><div><b>AWARD NOMINATION</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaJffBkhAfN_WqwIap2k22VP9U6fcWpN-HGmTcqUnEL6lZKcecrFEGTQAY0hqWYI5UVDLuDmZHQtok5eODe5HvhZqBCUCgM2xp734BDNGoDdpC1tT4T9jdjjkPG7nIOYQbZxxvx05xmrd6P7BXH2vmGi9wC-ruJSMkZgFB0qtcPz_t6akQOTm7qy0GOl9E/s669/Best%20of%20the%20Net.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="669" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaJffBkhAfN_WqwIap2k22VP9U6fcWpN-HGmTcqUnEL6lZKcecrFEGTQAY0hqWYI5UVDLuDmZHQtok5eODe5HvhZqBCUCgM2xp734BDNGoDdpC1tT4T9jdjjkPG7nIOYQbZxxvx05xmrd6P7BXH2vmGi9wC-ruJSMkZgFB0qtcPz_t6akQOTm7qy0GOl9E/w640-h296/Best%20of%20the%20Net.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div>I am thrilled to share that my poem, “Hallway,” has been
nominated for Best of the Net by Five Fleas Poetry. Many thanks to editor
Roberta Beach Jacobson, and congrats to my fellow nominees. <a href="https://fivefleas.blogspot.com/2022/09/evening-of-september-26-2022.html">Here
is the link</a> to the original publication.<br /> <o:p> </o:p></div><div><o:p><br /></o:p><b>PUBLICATION</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3YiPbjP03YiadkYnyKyZxqDd6XKBi8VYmxdS7MhczVbIMmrQLdpKoKB-FCTs5irGwCfBL_lmD27BoqdQPUJVOh_qu6iK2Lyi0CmKUySUJnVZHjU2v1cbaI_1kty2zomu1GchHSLZXZjfyf6ZLHoIjvP5WoQ4mFKeOQv3oE4se7OSrmGqhXWVVE8Oj16TF/s637/Border%20Beats.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="637" data-original-width="442" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3YiPbjP03YiadkYnyKyZxqDd6XKBi8VYmxdS7MhczVbIMmrQLdpKoKB-FCTs5irGwCfBL_lmD27BoqdQPUJVOh_qu6iK2Lyi0CmKUySUJnVZHjU2v1cbaI_1kty2zomu1GchHSLZXZjfyf6ZLHoIjvP5WoQ4mFKeOQv3oE4se7OSrmGqhXWVVE8Oj16TF/w278-h400/Border%20Beats.PNG" width="278" /></a></div><b><br /></b>The <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Border-Beats-Writing-Across-Boundaries/dp/B0CJ457764/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2KYJWVFGYJ9AP&keywords=Border%20Beats%3A%20Writing%20Across%20Boundaries&qid=1694960166&sprefix=border%20beats%20writing%20across%20boundaries%2Caps%2C196&sr=8-1&fbclid=IwAR2eRMMzfXq60VK_8E4mR5KavIGbWWbQIu7jOIvl9Lxsf_4Hhv-ttGD6ytk">Border
Beats: Writing Across Boundaries</a> anthology is now available for purchase.
It includes my poem, “Confiscated.” Thank you to editor Belinda Subraman.<br /><o:p> </o:p></div><div><o:p><br /></o:p><b>APPEARANCES</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4MAq-66YH1zxtuO8cAhYhIO9jzVSkXCHMtDDgxGphYjFOPIy55YSoqIYHgCtlosmGVDrqlEJZMqKQgsIsz_XxGHXWeaobBxyHeIc8r9wTFP7ucbxMQymRRnllb_sjTUtob8pU5iytzxFU9Gcwc5cTjLpkeaOTRYrYQFbmVt9k6mTWXihbq6ZyU32XYkfh/s2048/Swordfish%20Tom's%20Reading.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4MAq-66YH1zxtuO8cAhYhIO9jzVSkXCHMtDDgxGphYjFOPIy55YSoqIYHgCtlosmGVDrqlEJZMqKQgsIsz_XxGHXWeaobBxyHeIc8r9wTFP7ucbxMQymRRnllb_sjTUtob8pU5iytzxFU9Gcwc5cTjLpkeaOTRYrYQFbmVt9k6mTWXihbq6ZyU32XYkfh/w300-h400/Swordfish%20Tom's%20Reading.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><b><br /></b>I was one of the featured readers at the September Speakeasy
event at Swordfish Tom’s in Kansas City. Thank you to everyone who attended, to fellow feature Iris Appelquist, to host Brandon Whitehead and to the excellent people at Swordfish Tom's for providing such a great venue to poets.<br /> <o:p> <br /></o:p>The September SpoFest event was canceled due to one of the hosts
being ill. We are planning to reschedule – I will keep everyone posted when we
have a new date set.</div><div><br /></div><div>This Saturday, September 30, is the Poetry Jam event in Independence, MO. There will be open mics in the evening. I will be attending, so looking forward to connecting with regional writers! </div><div><br /> <o:p> <br /></o:p> <br /><o:p> </o:p></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
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<br /><p></p>Lauren Scharhaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14627677132564154350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-389791780617892672.post-57529670117247503192023-08-28T09:44:00.008-05:002023-09-06T11:02:21.844-05:00August News<b>NEW RELEASE</b><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIL3R7eEo_WeyFYD_7SaHVsY76AQwWvv3QHknGCXet6sJW_cmeknmN7_Uoc9bfu-RqRfr5ccljEKifwWEnEbRIrp8kbazEiUTg2seEwu0FQB3aY_kFOuaOB4fMTtVrdnpm6v1tdAO-NN7eIqOxm1z3T-NDhr5Vj0m3VmBRqZg-NQ5uwJ3SF3ThyKYih7k9/s962/Points%20of%20Light.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="962" data-original-width="657" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIL3R7eEo_WeyFYD_7SaHVsY76AQwWvv3QHknGCXet6sJW_cmeknmN7_Uoc9bfu-RqRfr5ccljEKifwWEnEbRIrp8kbazEiUTg2seEwu0FQB3aY_kFOuaOB4fMTtVrdnpm6v1tdAO-NN7eIqOxm1z3T-NDhr5Vj0m3VmBRqZg-NQ5uwJ3SF3ThyKYih7k9/w274-h400/Points%20of%20Light.PNG" width="274" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Points of Light: Poems to Express Gratitude for Nurses During the COVID-19 Pandemic</i> is now available on <a href="mailto:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CD13DH1T?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860&fbclid=IwAR2VSgXx-CrVDt8ADZ3q5AQE8pToBeoDEjW5fog1UI2-6lbFaxs6K6nGh98">Amazon</a>. I am an editor as well as a contributor to this collection. Proceeds benefit the KU School of Nursing. Since the book went live at the end of July, we have raised $95. Help us raise more! It makes an excellent gift for the nurse in your life. <br /><br /> <br /><b>PUBLICATION </b><br /><br /></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmYk8gnMPRCIH3sXwlB8LP_ZSOk4gPeWC0-QK_nw-t-6OkcIYNoy0qeKXpPDex6hy6eke3G0_1q9U0hAub0y1jhq6HhH65_vWYZryXD-yucZzL0CX3W7FzRg4nEjf35D7TUJrTzEHeTqlMBzajvorTCeapNdkZkXkxph7wyFjVMkJaK3g_IHbWX8w_MHHK/s800/Rye%20Whiskey.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmYk8gnMPRCIH3sXwlB8LP_ZSOk4gPeWC0-QK_nw-t-6OkcIYNoy0qeKXpPDex6hy6eke3G0_1q9U0hAub0y1jhq6HhH65_vWYZryXD-yucZzL0CX3W7FzRg4nEjf35D7TUJrTzEHeTqlMBzajvorTCeapNdkZkXkxph7wyFjVMkJaK3g_IHbWX8w_MHHK/s320/Rye%20Whiskey.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div></div><div><div><br />My poem, “Skinny Dipping," is up at the <a href="https://ryethewhiskeyreview.blogspot.com/2023/08/skinny-dipping-by-lauren-scharhag.html?fbclid=IwAR14Qv2wPMtHhH5dDrSrPBfihrxgPoTUqyGa09KBfnjjte0629Nak9AzzZg">Rye Whiskey Review</a>. Thank you to John and Scott.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>REVIEWS </b><br /><br />I have received 5-star reviews and positive feedback on my collection, <i>Moonlight and Monsters. </i>(Available on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Moonlight-Monsters-Lauren-Scharhag/dp/B0CB78VM2M/ref=sr_1_2?crid=29KJREKXH3EQU&keywords=lauren+scharhag&qid=1690395825&sprefix=lauren+scharha%2Caps%2C140&sr=8-2">Amazon </a>and <a href="https://gnashingteethpublishing.com/product/moonlight-and-monsters-by-lauren-scharhag-2/">Gnashing Teeth Publishing</a>). Thank you so much to these readers for their kind words.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJA1Z5rOwRdMQT1t4x1Di3RePIS8P4sUkHvnJicA2BFwoveNKOs-Fm_0PlP2EwKMUxLfoHHU4BMRtHebta-F3ucUrgzQVklbWxMG1jx8yXoWwZnjNrIO6UO6V12_kWh4JRmQ4-uMY1kPhaKe-kTIaW1gbjsSFFP0rmYPFzBPbkcRfWpH6ktu9EHPExUHfw/s864/Review%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="732" data-original-width="864" height="339" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJA1Z5rOwRdMQT1t4x1Di3RePIS8P4sUkHvnJicA2BFwoveNKOs-Fm_0PlP2EwKMUxLfoHHU4BMRtHebta-F3ucUrgzQVklbWxMG1jx8yXoWwZnjNrIO6UO6V12_kWh4JRmQ4-uMY1kPhaKe-kTIaW1gbjsSFFP0rmYPFzBPbkcRfWpH6ktu9EHPExUHfw/w400-h339/Review%201.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiwzuOo-nwKPGwi-eFOWQI6kn-sVx7v_h1Qz_jl0_IrgunB_dNGy3ZGUzjNQ2AJHuMV5gfjaHCnSLXlErvqyf24ge64JtuZkKhBeMDxUHO8nCE_GJ_RluC23OvFxsk0qXDnNUPOikONmwSNKd2zYpOR-MjBeSZO-r_tU8JllizbLSq_v8IXmJkWN0W_rwL/s1273/Review%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1273" height="542" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiwzuOo-nwKPGwi-eFOWQI6kn-sVx7v_h1Qz_jl0_IrgunB_dNGy3ZGUzjNQ2AJHuMV5gfjaHCnSLXlErvqyf24ge64JtuZkKhBeMDxUHO8nCE_GJ_RluC23OvFxsk0qXDnNUPOikONmwSNKd2zYpOR-MjBeSZO-r_tU8JllizbLSq_v8IXmJkWN0W_rwL/w640-h542/Review%202.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEzEGupl2JTzHrRW6w7efm_lIQeNKIr8y3Mno49P4_C3Vh4_oGhoTzh53Rojjzh2ShYkeya6Frjr508tNMOHEYThyccGWurIryWZI2TkGKqvQwxGCR5mD-yLZbwuCfWjSgHyt-R26dB31AVefluIL58mI1i8Wy4C5DDrICGm_3zUJHO0hmWBq4WsM45ksJ/s1273/M&M%20Message.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1273" height="339" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEzEGupl2JTzHrRW6w7efm_lIQeNKIr8y3Mno49P4_C3Vh4_oGhoTzh53Rojjzh2ShYkeya6Frjr508tNMOHEYThyccGWurIryWZI2TkGKqvQwxGCR5mD-yLZbwuCfWjSgHyt-R26dB31AVefluIL58mI1i8Wy4C5DDrICGm_3zUJHO0hmWBq4WsM45ksJ/w400-h339/M&M%20Message.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> <br /><br /><b>APPEARANCES </b><br /><br /><a href="https://fb.me/e/7FY77KEDc">The Speakeasy</a>, Swordfish Tom's, Kansas City, MO, Sunday, September 3, 7 pm CT (in person); fellow feature is Iris Appelquist. <br /><br /><a href="https://fb.me/e/3S0fuENZ5">SpoFest</a> Featured Reader, Tuesday, September 5, 6 pm CT (virtual); fellow features are Hayley Mitchell Haugen and Madeline Artenberg. Open mic and book raffle included. Take a look at the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/100000344932418/videos/676405197710844/">preview</a> we recorded for this event. **THIS EVENT WAS CANCELLED DUE ILLNESS. IT WILL BE RESCHEDULED. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kansas-city-poetry-jam-tickets-666502205037?aff=eemailordconf&ref=eemailordconf&utm_campaign=order_confirm&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eventbrite&utm_term=viewevent">Kansas City Poetry Jam</a>, Sept. 30, 11 am-5 pm, CT (in person); Englewood Arts Center, 10901 East Winner Road, Independence, MO 64052; open mics 7:30-9:30 pm <br /><br />Hope to see some of you there! <br /><br /> <br /><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>Lauren Scharhaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14627677132564154350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-389791780617892672.post-91768256909952496582023-07-28T14:48:00.009-05:002023-07-28T14:57:05.118-05:00New Release: Points of Light<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL6UYh59Ut5Zx-qfmd2nQBnuioc_3-O3cwx6drhVHS1RUZSUC46Od0HnzcRqXseXWA9OKpN0NEbGJKTPcw61T5gVxflYj4sBagI1rcRvyPLaBzPAi0GGxEsdivsO1hXnJpDWxFfBRO4dAcsxFDzoLwZtCFzhT_fzgMuZ9gg_ovxiHtjhq23vumUDKQDNWH/s962/Points%20of%20Light.PNG"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL6UYh59Ut5Zx-qfmd2nQBnuioc_3-O3cwx6drhVHS1RUZSUC46Od0HnzcRqXseXWA9OKpN0NEbGJKTPcw61T5gVxflYj4sBagI1rcRvyPLaBzPAi0GGxEsdivsO1hXnJpDWxFfBRO4dAcsxFDzoLwZtCFzhT_fzgMuZ9gg_ovxiHtjhq23vumUDKQDNWH/w274-h400/Points%20of%20Light.PNG" /></a></div><br />I am pleased to share that Points of Light: Poems to Express Gratitude for Nurses During the COVID-19 Pandemic, is now available to purchase from <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CD13DH1T?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860">Amazon</a>.<div><br /></div><div><b>Proceeds from this book will benefit the KU School of Nursing, whose mission is to educate nursing students for diverse and changing roles in dynamic careers as researchers, leaders, and educators.</b> <br /><br /> <br /><b>SYNOPSIS </b><br />In September 2021, when the Delta variant was surging, the KU School of Nursing staff decided we wanted to do something for the nurses at the University of Kansas Health System to thank them for their essential service. We were and are sincerely grateful to them for all they do to preserve life and wellness. To express our appreciation, we put out a call on social media, asking poets to contribute poems or messages. The post was up only a few days, yet we received work from 37 contributors across the US, as well as work from 12 other countries.<br /> <br /> We shared these poems with our health system nursing colleagues, and now, we would like to share them with nurses everywhere, as well as the world at large. Not only do they express our shared respect for the nursing profession, they capture an historical event, the repercussions of which will continue to be felt for years to come.<br /> <br /><br /><b>ADVANCE PRAISE </b><br />“Poetry is so much more than a form of expression. Nursing is so much more than a series of well-organized tasks, embedded in a plan of care. These poets from around the world and across the span of emotion, give clarity and gratitude to those who provide the art and science of the profession of nursing. This publication is a treasure.” <br /><br />-Barbara Gill MacArthur, RN, MN, FAAN <br />Volunteer Faculty, University of Kansas School of Nursing <br /><br /><br /><div>“This collection of prose and poems is a tremendous reminder of why nurses do what we do. Our work is never for naught but for anyone who needs us.” <br /><br />-Kevin Floyd, RN, BSN, CCRN <br />Travel Covid Nurse 2020-2023 <br />Critical Care Float Pool Nurse <br />Oregon Health and Science University <br />Portland, OR <br /><br /> <br />“This series of thoughtful and heartfelt poems reinforces the profound impact nurses have on caring for people. Two of the most important ‘acts of medical care’ are touch and the human interaction of a nurse. Those transcend borders and cultures.” <br /><br />-Fred Neis, MS, RN, CEN, FACHE, FAEN <br />Vice President, Lumeris Inc. <br />2023 President, KU School of Nursing Alumni Board <br /><br /> <br /><b>SAMPLE POEMS </b><br /><br /><b>The Distant Constellation of Beauty <br /></b><br />Like motherhood, nursing means long hours, thankless work, an outpouring of self <br />in the interest of others, <br />often with no apparent end in sight. <br />But be sure you understand this clearly: <br />your work and the love you do it with <br />is appreciated and necessary, <br />now more than ever, <br />and you are all points of light <br />in our dark times. <br /><br />-Jim Landwehr <br /><br /> <br />To all those strong enough to lift us <br />from our beds and help us walk, <br />but gentle enough to bathe and soothe, <br /><br /></div><div>strong enough to lift us <br />from our pain and into wellness, <br />but gentle enough to handle <br />the frailest of old bones and <br />the tiniest of micro preemies; <br /><br />strong enough to carry on <br />in the face of terrible odds, <br />but gentle enough to cry with us, <br />not allowing us to shoulder <br />even that burden alone. <br /><br />We have all known you. <br />We have all been touched by you. <br />We have all followed your light <br />out of the valley of the shadow. <br /><br />Now we stand by you <br />as you have stood by us. <br />I carry no lamp, only this poem. <br />I hope it’s enough to help you <br />keep to the path. <br /><br />-Lauren Scharhag <br /><br /> </div></div>Lauren Scharhaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14627677132564154350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-389791780617892672.post-70368613242272556912023-07-26T13:27:00.004-05:002023-07-26T13:27:25.681-05:00July News<div style="text-align: left;"><b>NEW RELEASE</b><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqX6QZsSxlXgcsCP-wCg-nW2D3312IXCw7IrgywdmyW7O47-Q9vDpeP-9hvgynMr5YrSmKAXf6PjuXBHgISvuskrpYM4QavjeqcRkSDYX6Mns2g1f2hefchGlxEfTn0nCTvZBfsOKE36_3yxX3cPryORnymrVHkGAhlIMgtkPo_cP5woWm0eLkR6IgI1dz/s2048/Moonlight%20and%20Monsters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqX6QZsSxlXgcsCP-wCg-nW2D3312IXCw7IrgywdmyW7O47-Q9vDpeP-9hvgynMr5YrSmKAXf6PjuXBHgISvuskrpYM4QavjeqcRkSDYX6Mns2g1f2hefchGlxEfTn0nCTvZBfsOKE36_3yxX3cPryORnymrVHkGAhlIMgtkPo_cP5woWm0eLkR6IgI1dz/w400-h300/Moonlight%20and%20Monsters.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">My latest poetry collection, <i>Moonlight and Monsters, </i>is now available from <a href="https://gnashingteethpublishing.com/books/moonlight-and-monsters-by-lauren-scharhag/">Gnashing Teeth Press</a> and on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Moonlight-Monsters-Lauren-Scharhag/dp/B0CB78VM2M/ref=sr_1_2?crid=29KJREKXH3EQU&keywords=lauren+scharhag&qid=1690395825&sprefix=lauren+scharha%2Caps%2C140&sr=8-2">Amazon</a>. If you'd like a signed copy from me, <a href="mailto:laurenscharhag@gmail.com">email me</a>. It's $15 on Venmo or PayPal. I've already sent out the first batch of signed copies-- copies are going coast to coast in the US from Delaware to Washington, and to Canada and Australia! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>APPEARANCES</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvORexA4gHge-6u7fD4G31z-TGZAeY3DRhWejZ1BHzbZQPvmpSHXI3BL-Zge47DQzWA9hxWCeynwS4OpLtjQdUcz1vDfcLGYIuyyifi3Uew3okFeGpse3-WDTSzvMqFwBchZQK6_9tlKsuD9vESuIZIHByU9s6XdFJbEJOSu7Khru200Gy-z5t2XLwDmU6/s1161/M&M%20YouTube.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="1161" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvORexA4gHge-6u7fD4G31z-TGZAeY3DRhWejZ1BHzbZQPvmpSHXI3BL-Zge47DQzWA9hxWCeynwS4OpLtjQdUcz1vDfcLGYIuyyifi3Uew3okFeGpse3-WDTSzvMqFwBchZQK6_9tlKsuD9vESuIZIHByU9s6XdFJbEJOSu7Khru200Gy-z5t2XLwDmU6/w400-h224/M&M%20YouTube.PNG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Earlier this month, Gnashing Teeth hosted a virtual book launch for <i>Moonlight and Monsters. </i>Scott Ferry and Lillian Necakov also appeared as guest readers. If you were unable to attend, the video is now available to watch on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuO1hVDNz20&t=9s&ab_channel=GnashingTeethPublishing">YouTube</a>. It was a darn good reading, if I do say so myself, so don't miss it!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>UPCOMING APPEARANCES</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdjkX6aOsCV55mxqIXC-3CidsRfD39aIRX-tW5Iy6I-1DyiVogRHY1irB5xRacmFORK2V7Y8c_I7GGMwBl_JWCo-KUQ73PJJobm_oXVWpxG1xHb5mb7cNUAei7moeEzvFnZKA4TymO0VAoSTcgml2sfmM5cpd7sc3SvnvzgJ4dVSmKI1JCfMs9VMCak9JS/s1000/Banner+Royce+Scharhag.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdjkX6aOsCV55mxqIXC-3CidsRfD39aIRX-tW5Iy6I-1DyiVogRHY1irB5xRacmFORK2V7Y8c_I7GGMwBl_JWCo-KUQ73PJJobm_oXVWpxG1xHb5mb7cNUAei7moeEzvFnZKA4TymO0VAoSTcgml2sfmM5cpd7sc3SvnvzgJ4dVSmKI1JCfMs9VMCak9JS/w400-h400/Banner+Royce+Scharhag.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div><div>A Reading and Conversation with Lindsey Royce and Lauren Scharhag, hosted by Press 53, Thursday, August 10, 6:30 pm CT. <a href="https://www.press53.com/online">Please register to attend</a>. (virtual)</div><div><br /></div>The Speakeasy, Swordfish Tom's, Kansas City, MO, Sunday, September 3, 7 pm CT (in person)</div><div><br /><div>SpoFest Featured Reader, Tuesday, September 5, 6 pm CT (virtual) </div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Lauren Scharhaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14627677132564154350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-389791780617892672.post-8375866530459706982023-07-08T16:58:00.005-05:002023-07-26T13:28:18.999-05:00New Release: Moonlight and Monsters<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4eGKhpGddr_wlCyNvgHFGqqvDA6KbfNVzYzEZxjGaJrt_H23GfLcA48qnJTaxygnvT07uh4AXgMWDJhvCMe3elQ7TM_Me2mdx3uQODEryS2lDxQTLwYThj7c8FJ-fHaYxrhk7QDhTGk23MmNm65kwN23q4x-vyX7z1vYkUXIYrwmQ_cuDDAr5VOpU3ttM/s3000/Moonlight%20and%20Monsters.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4eGKhpGddr_wlCyNvgHFGqqvDA6KbfNVzYzEZxjGaJrt_H23GfLcA48qnJTaxygnvT07uh4AXgMWDJhvCMe3elQ7TM_Me2mdx3uQODEryS2lDxQTLwYThj7c8FJ-fHaYxrhk7QDhTGk23MmNm65kwN23q4x-vyX7z1vYkUXIYrwmQ_cuDDAr5VOpU3ttM/w640-h512/Moonlight%20and%20Monsters.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I’m thrilled to share that Moonlight and Monsters is now available for purchase from <a href="https://gnashingteethpublishing.com/product/moonlight-and-monsters-by-lauren-scharhag-2/">Gnashing Teeth Publishing</a> and from <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Moonlight-Monsters-Lauren-Scharhag/dp/B0CB78VM2M/ref=sr_1_2?crid=29KJREKXH3EQU&keywords=lauren+scharhag&qid=1690395825&sprefix=lauren+scharha%2Caps%2C140&sr=8-2">Amazon</a>. <div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Description</b>: In Moonlight and Monsters, the poems move between wonder and fairy-tale, earth and sky, fire and things that go bump in the night. Scharhag has given birth to wondrous monsters and dances with fearful delight in the moonlight. These poems entrance and wrap you up. Open the pages and enter a world of Lauren’s creation. You will want to stay awhile. </div><div><br /></div><div>Hope you grab a copy and enjoy!</div><div><br /></div><div>The book launch reading, which included guest readings from Scott Ferry and Lillian Necakov, was recorded. It’s available for viewing on <a href="https://fb.watch/lFBgptp-VN/">Facebook</a> and on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuO1hVDNz20&t=9s&ab_channel=GnashingTeethPublishing">YouTube</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>Thank you so much to everyone who attended the book launch this afternoon, and thank you to my poetry family Scott Ferry and Lillian Necakov for reading with me! I am deeply touched by everyone’s kind words and support. Thank you, also, to Karen Tardiff at Gnashing Teeth Press for believing in my work and getting it out in the world. I appreciate you all. Shout-out, also, to artist Sara Dell for the glorious cover art. <br /></div>Lauren Scharhaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14627677132564154350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-389791780617892672.post-92137954020404937262023-06-28T12:29:00.000-05:002023-06-28T12:29:18.005-05:00June News<b>BOOK LAUNCH</b><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNqZX8YS32CWxaEZiYs140NCbkzs5sl0Aqm9maxLs6WFFExHCR-ZJ_Eql7xMIzMIX2NsaaPW63D7vODd08Hzbgl2D1BP_DnTfmQggD0MraidADXkoCAfmlW4B29-10pLMoZPb9Urng-Jg1zfqb2-80XiZUIR8OroJj5qGN15M5gB9UulcK1bCnvRu_u9Qv/s1200/Book%20Launch%20Ad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNqZX8YS32CWxaEZiYs140NCbkzs5sl0Aqm9maxLs6WFFExHCR-ZJ_Eql7xMIzMIX2NsaaPW63D7vODd08Hzbgl2D1BP_DnTfmQggD0MraidADXkoCAfmlW4B29-10pLMoZPb9Urng-Jg1zfqb2-80XiZUIR8OroJj5qGN15M5gB9UulcK1bCnvRu_u9Qv/w400-h209/Book%20Launch%20Ad.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><div><br /></div><div><i>Moonlight and Monsters</i> will be dropping any day now! On Saturday, July 8, 2-4 pm CT, Gnashing Teeth Press is hosting a virtual book launch. My poetry siblings Scott Ferry and Lillian Necakov will be joining us as guest readers. Hope to see some of you there! To attend, there is a <a href="https://fb.me/e/12MSX4iGX">Facebook event</a> with Zoom info.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh43fDifEG9qj1oNGGLXsYX2hWn-ooKQX28yT9JieEnyARIQ9FJ5VSV1CMJti8IAeeDLhRbO9GFF2xGIZrIc-mdAMiYnB7h-YoaE5hyKNRwYEnUUoZNGjEqwCjHJ10wjl9mQxSQT5xIOEava9C5IDiW2R-wH1fbqLe2f-Jj-AtOeNyH3FolRSoIQ_CS1zg8/s3000/Moonlight%20and%20Monsters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh43fDifEG9qj1oNGGLXsYX2hWn-ooKQX28yT9JieEnyARIQ9FJ5VSV1CMJti8IAeeDLhRbO9GFF2xGIZrIc-mdAMiYnB7h-YoaE5hyKNRwYEnUUoZNGjEqwCjHJ10wjl9mQxSQT5xIOEava9C5IDiW2R-wH1fbqLe2f-Jj-AtOeNyH3FolRSoIQ_CS1zg8/w400-h320/Moonlight%20and%20Monsters.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I’m pleased to share the gorgeous cover art with a painting by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/sararuthdell/sets/72177720307169314/">Sara Dell</a> (above). <br /><br /> <br /><b>AWARD </b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikyGvtx06qSjD0XoSZjcnOd-XYGS5ilofEnDRFLnIrQ-CLvPQojQ-OghevPiTJGN33ZtjANhN0b9zzjH0NfGnqx-M-V0FtfOGG_k1tp2YkESEicipOFcZN_MO4ml2TaItiTIKVuZ-2frCimOWZg5lbqilrSFcQmVsA_llsUUsF8j9dlk51xT7xjV6K1W7h/s782/Rhysling%202023.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="782" data-original-width="535" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikyGvtx06qSjD0XoSZjcnOd-XYGS5ilofEnDRFLnIrQ-CLvPQojQ-OghevPiTJGN33ZtjANhN0b9zzjH0NfGnqx-M-V0FtfOGG_k1tp2YkESEicipOFcZN_MO4ml2TaItiTIKVuZ-2frCimOWZg5lbqilrSFcQmVsA_llsUUsF8j9dlk51xT7xjV6K1W7h/w274-h400/Rhysling%202023.PNG" width="274" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"></div><br />My poem, “Interdimensional Border Town,” is one of the 25 finalists for the 2023 Rhysling Awards. The poem was published last year by <a href="https://www.unlikelystories.org/content/portrait-of-an-amateur-roadkill-artist-interdimensional-border-town-and-contradiction">Unlikely Stories</a>. Many thanks to the Rhysling judges and congrats to my fellow nominees.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>BOOK REVIEW</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Sai3B0DUbQ5ce8fZ5dmtMAMNaRTgdSG0fVsAcDPYCh_yJfO1lhRavm9u8r7HzDUIWVYMYlM6ZF1HiPa0S74r6y_n0Xb0AoDrqaHSwVY0ZzCG8FoDyuwKtuQn9weMWiLKUv0BlSB1JJXOb_CPnZVOFOZtxRWq7jsAPfVYBJOWRBP3UGqtcfRUvM-tCdi4/s953/MG%20Review.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="953" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Sai3B0DUbQ5ce8fZ5dmtMAMNaRTgdSG0fVsAcDPYCh_yJfO1lhRavm9u8r7HzDUIWVYMYlM6ZF1HiPa0S74r6y_n0Xb0AoDrqaHSwVY0ZzCG8FoDyuwKtuQn9weMWiLKUv0BlSB1JJXOb_CPnZVOFOZtxRWq7jsAPfVYBJOWRBP3UGqtcfRUvM-tCdi4/w640-h400/MG%20Review.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thank you to Richard Wayne for his kind review of <i>Midnight Glossolalia</i> on Goodreads and Amazon. <br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>PUBLICATION</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><br /></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMerzOk4nyVHK0LC6nPtlxKw0LT2-uUs6hSJo3JlXz03ud0S-SeJLRO5-U0Koc_fdw0GCRy3ql9mWPIaTf4bdQoVggDNX7RBkUq8IpPvxJbyCsaqg-LI97iL2kMHzqdXSdtcuHYuh_4aWKakUjr9KLwQr6FTSaH4vXpKzVKtzd_ubPitIMacDnGjQV6vDO/s786/Aji%20Mag.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="786" data-original-width="608" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMerzOk4nyVHK0LC6nPtlxKw0LT2-uUs6hSJo3JlXz03ud0S-SeJLRO5-U0Koc_fdw0GCRy3ql9mWPIaTf4bdQoVggDNX7RBkUq8IpPvxJbyCsaqg-LI97iL2kMHzqdXSdtcuHYuh_4aWKakUjr9KLwQr6FTSaH4vXpKzVKtzd_ubPitIMacDnGjQV6vDO/s320/Aji%20Mag.PNG" width="248" /></a></div><div><br /><a href="http://www.ajimagazine.com/uploads/2/2/2/8/22289112/s23-aji-18-final.pdf">The Moon Issue</a> of Aji Magazine is out. It has my villanelle, “Raspberries and Rum,” on page 74. Many thanks to EiC Erin O'Neill Armendarez. <br /><br /> <br /><b>UPCOMING APPEARANCES</b></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdjkX6aOsCV55mxqIXC-3CidsRfD39aIRX-tW5Iy6I-1DyiVogRHY1irB5xRacmFORK2V7Y8c_I7GGMwBl_JWCo-KUQ73PJJobm_oXVWpxG1xHb5mb7cNUAei7moeEzvFnZKA4TymO0VAoSTcgml2sfmM5cpd7sc3SvnvzgJ4dVSmKI1JCfMs9VMCak9JS/s1000/Banner+Royce+Scharhag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdjkX6aOsCV55mxqIXC-3CidsRfD39aIRX-tW5Iy6I-1DyiVogRHY1irB5xRacmFORK2V7Y8c_I7GGMwBl_JWCo-KUQ73PJJobm_oXVWpxG1xHb5mb7cNUAei7moeEzvFnZKA4TymO0VAoSTcgml2sfmM5cpd7sc3SvnvzgJ4dVSmKI1JCfMs9VMCak9JS/w400-h400/Banner+Royce+Scharhag.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"> </div>A Reading and Conversation with Lindsey Royce and Lauren Scharhag, hosted by Press 53, Thursday, August 10, 6:30 pm CT. <a href="https://www.press53.com/online">Please register to attend</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>SpoFest Featured Reader, Tuesday, September 5, 6 pm CT <br /><br /> <br /><b>OTHER NEWS </b><br /><br />I am honored to say that I have been asked to serve as a judge for a new poetry contest – I will share more details as they come available.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhx6f6V728RNEjI6gF-E20gxNaT3A1aXBVJhTqAOR8xUXagnskzxHeSwIhojVzRT2IFuJb9yg3l_8D4cEi1dZMnK92fkex9IhCNdIxY6RrmaJqjxzcqpOUATfxmYCaZAeodRETXxJYyL09glAHp1aPNYAuwsUiRNpaXWuxylUI_ywJFfOhiQBseHl8hUtc/s512/Gleam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhx6f6V728RNEjI6gF-E20gxNaT3A1aXBVJhTqAOR8xUXagnskzxHeSwIhojVzRT2IFuJb9yg3l_8D4cEi1dZMnK92fkex9IhCNdIxY6RrmaJqjxzcqpOUATfxmYCaZAeodRETXxJYyL09glAHp1aPNYAuwsUiRNpaXWuxylUI_ywJFfOhiQBseHl8hUtc/s320/Gleam.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Issue 6 of <i>Gleam: A Journal of the Cadralor</i> is now live. I hope you get a chance to swing by and read these excellent poets.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><br /></div></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>Lauren Scharhaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14627677132564154350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-389791780617892672.post-18334280937294524702023-05-30T21:33:00.000-05:002023-05-30T21:33:02.433-05:00May News<b>BOOK REVIEW</b><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVmwX7Q1B9KW35-zxfJx449s_ZNVNA0UOdojyLw8jczADR_iO0XbvLAdN1wJJD800es-JLMibexK1iPsq_3HFzloz_oOa30ardXa68DWBNSxAdj8Dt4GJoMGOTr4u2Dh1EdqZQ-NYi8rX02wKX0svEKT8g-wDVFwGeovbQT8tABBGvaSbW_-Lg6gbfJw/s2551/Midnight%20Gloss%20Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2551" data-original-width="1652" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVmwX7Q1B9KW35-zxfJx449s_ZNVNA0UOdojyLw8jczADR_iO0XbvLAdN1wJJD800es-JLMibexK1iPsq_3HFzloz_oOa30ardXa68DWBNSxAdj8Dt4GJoMGOTr4u2Dh1EdqZQ-NYi8rX02wKX0svEKT8g-wDVFwGeovbQT8tABBGvaSbW_-Lg6gbfJw/w259-h400/Midnight%20Gloss%20Cover.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><br />We received our first review on <i>Midnight Glossolalia</i>. Poet Jerome Berglund writes, “…it’s absolutely one of the most interesting, provocative, entertaining works of poetry (and collaboration) I’ve had the enormous privilege and good luck of discovering.” Thank you so much, Jerome! Read his full review on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BVD5Q2TX?ref_=cm_sw_r_apin_dp_0QEMZY34BQY41XBWB080&fbclid=IwAR1fgLZe_r-NRX0NqdDDAefi40iJNKjWQBap1X9ZCo4pV29YldzS6TbdODY">Amazon</a> or <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/123213672-midnight-glossolalia">Goodreads</a>.<br /><br /><br /></div><div><b>FORTHCOMING PUBLICATIONS</b><br /><i>Moonlight and Monsters</i>, my latest poetry collection, will be releasing in June from <a href="https://gnashingteethpublishing.com/books/moonlight-and-monsters-by-lauren-scharhag/">Gnashing Teeth Press</a>. <br /><br /><i>Screaming Intensifies</i>, a collection of short horror stories, will be releasing later this year from Whiskey City Press – date TBD. I will keep you all posted. <br /><br /> <br /><b>PUBLICATIONS</b></div><div><b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUk-dJUpS_iCE-quGYWlPEP4auHey9sGO65lbLfVq6LJy5292TprDm9wiKvaD4HzTSGIMA_QXWYpSr8R3TbngjJNNEjCIdSGnHAEx4lWv_3-XL7R_JEonqFOKA70m08f_5Iizk02_uDDJofW6uL2gBngMu8gobDe7Jt11jiynLvNoRtzgz_Ae6TPwoUA/s3508/morels-ver7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3508" data-original-width="2480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUk-dJUpS_iCE-quGYWlPEP4auHey9sGO65lbLfVq6LJy5292TprDm9wiKvaD4HzTSGIMA_QXWYpSr8R3TbngjJNNEjCIdSGnHAEx4lWv_3-XL7R_JEonqFOKA70m08f_5Iizk02_uDDJofW6uL2gBngMu8gobDe7Jt11jiynLvNoRtzgz_Ae6TPwoUA/w283-h400/morels-ver7.jpg" width="283" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div></b><br /><i>Morels</i> was released earlier this month from Voice Lux Press as part of their chapbook series. Download a copy for $3 on their <a href="https://www.voiceluxpress.com/product-page/morels-by-lauren-scharhag?fbclid=IwAR0XVCQh5lcZpJiCWYB9XxRA74M3I1jdQPSHHrXdNi3DydLsz14QevHFLVI">website</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl8d-aRI7ympliKWe0Un9QyeafJBccWT91dEZZZj80Wpbg4-E62MGbgMyDpHjhKFiHK1QYuY_lMQurDj02I9YwihLCh-cqDxhnG_XtDOd8Sw8b4pWLg_-dN345tXRaRqx_B0UAaPP4bPoKYgxmLTkLg0N7_bSOOMnW7EHFt6ct_-tG-oN3AanEfKTrwA/s781/Thanatos.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="781" data-original-width="587" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl8d-aRI7ympliKWe0Un9QyeafJBccWT91dEZZZj80Wpbg4-E62MGbgMyDpHjhKFiHK1QYuY_lMQurDj02I9YwihLCh-cqDxhnG_XtDOd8Sw8b4pWLg_-dN345tXRaRqx_B0UAaPP4bPoKYgxmLTkLg0N7_bSOOMnW7EHFt6ct_-tG-oN3AanEfKTrwA/w301-h400/Thanatos.PNG" width="301" /></a></div><br />My prose-poem, “<a href="https://www.thanatosreview.com/items-1/below-the-bible-belt">Below the Bible Belt</a>,” appeared in Thanatos. Thank you to editors Rebecca Kilroy and Arden Delphine Young. This piece is also in my latest collection, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BVD5Q2TX?ref_=cm_sw_r_apin_dp_0QEMZY34BQY41XBWB080&fbclid=IwAR1fgLZe_r-NRX0NqdDDAefi40iJNKjWQBap1X9ZCo4pV29YldzS6TbdODY">Midnight Glossolalia</a> (co-authored with Scott Ferry and Lillian Necakov).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWINLTl7ZbB08rGm0kigf3zs2vScQZ_ojWHIldHp8okDwAdIZfc7noNW1f3_waRi98VswiqmuDaXGauR_d1MA5coz05PdwOkAItuq2c2J5apR-O0Fvtib_CUS-VAJcmxKze1o8Twg7fbwrh5YD8nX3l0l2o_FRLTI_UUL4obsOuETbWs_x35aatJEx4A/s880/Aphelion%20May%2023.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="880" data-original-width="643" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWINLTl7ZbB08rGm0kigf3zs2vScQZ_ojWHIldHp8okDwAdIZfc7noNW1f3_waRi98VswiqmuDaXGauR_d1MA5coz05PdwOkAItuq2c2J5apR-O0Fvtib_CUS-VAJcmxKze1o8Twg7fbwrh5YD8nX3l0l2o_FRLTI_UUL4obsOuETbWs_x35aatJEx4A/w293-h400/Aphelion%20May%2023.PNG" width="293" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>“<a href="https://www.aphelion-webzine.com/poetry/2023/05/LittleBrownChangeling.html">Little Brown Changeling</a>” appeared in the May issue of Aphelion. It’s a poem about our dearly departed Otter, who we miss so much. Thank you to editor Dan Hollifield and the rest of the Aphelion team.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQtjif3J1LbCaJlzmrP2DU3La0VOs2h_O94eaFNdleZGHYNY3iq6TVAJQjjJxfyHQfugJKFLHq873BDuo5iRn5Rl6g_miIGKdGsU5gdnhMIk2lWSSj2ltvw90-tcxvpkqdbK6Ms072dByUPn6-odMsMKf5qb1y88mybeumZmktkz_IE0ErPUmqFB-Jg/s800/Rye%20Whiskey.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQtjif3J1LbCaJlzmrP2DU3La0VOs2h_O94eaFNdleZGHYNY3iq6TVAJQjjJxfyHQfugJKFLHq873BDuo5iRn5Rl6g_miIGKdGsU5gdnhMIk2lWSSj2ltvw90-tcxvpkqdbK6Ms072dByUPn6-odMsMKf5qb1y88mybeumZmktkz_IE0ErPUmqFB-Jg/w400-h400/Rye%20Whiskey.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>“<a href="https://ryethewhiskeyreview.blogspot.com/2023/05/mimesis-by-lauren-scharhag.html">Mimesis</a>,” is up at the Rye Whiskey Review. Thank you, as always, to editor John Patrick Robbins.<br /><br /> <br /><b>APPEARANCES</b><br />On May 13, I attended the Dark and Stormy Night open mic at <a href="https://www.darkwoodhouse.com/">Darkwood House Gallery</a> in Independence, MO. Darkwood House Gallery is a fabulous venue for dark art and events, as well as an oddities and curiosities shop, and a fashion boutique for designer Ezra October. If you’re ever in Independence and love strange/occult stuff, stop in! I look forward to visiting again.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmmQLPn6Xx8aEGqqv7ybAlXgDGK_VAlOQT3qh8GBO5VT6DL1CFmOf17TrPncWAOEJeLLHxNYgXCasdQvZiXxD8Eu7erGUXfciVQW87Gqxr9anJ2MZ9m-lmrTZ59sB6Oy9CdUMI8jsqpTSroFIPBA8WRnyFxKtCgWKsTTWZ3-ljeG0GsnVQDZ90oI6jbQ/s1655/Me%20and%20my%20painting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1655" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmmQLPn6Xx8aEGqqv7ybAlXgDGK_VAlOQT3qh8GBO5VT6DL1CFmOf17TrPncWAOEJeLLHxNYgXCasdQvZiXxD8Eu7erGUXfciVQW87Gqxr9anJ2MZ9m-lmrTZ59sB6Oy9CdUMI8jsqpTSroFIPBA8WRnyFxKtCgWKsTTWZ3-ljeG0GsnVQDZ90oI6jbQ/w348-h400/Me%20and%20my%20painting.jpg" width="348" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>My portrait by Beth Barnett and me! My portrait depicts me with a nightingale, to symbolize my voice as a poet</i> </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLC8yhHMI76-ZoNcW_rx-PcDJJds1X8s_0ApT7ukGVjEjDvedrzAZb2IkCjwISBVdBXWoFrlZv2hKbAiFsDe1d3NGBL1LraWsLSxlnou-Bdd_X5WfcPl5mAn8yQ_JbwIQ0IQnon2ZZow_2oON2VXeGIiJhKUxg1OkFW44VhOWadFsk_Bb1fUJjOigq6w/s1440/3%20Paintings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="766" data-original-width="1440" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLC8yhHMI76-ZoNcW_rx-PcDJJds1X8s_0ApT7ukGVjEjDvedrzAZb2IkCjwISBVdBXWoFrlZv2hKbAiFsDe1d3NGBL1LraWsLSxlnou-Bdd_X5WfcPl5mAn8yQ_JbwIQ0IQnon2ZZow_2oON2VXeGIiJhKUxg1OkFW44VhOWadFsk_Bb1fUJjOigq6w/w400-h213/3%20Paintings.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The three portraits by Beth Barnett - Kyra Wiggins (left), mine (center) and Jennifer White (right)</i> </div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>On May 20, I was one of the featured storytellers for Truth in Comedy. The event was held at the Bunker Center for the Arts. Thank you to everyone who came out and supported us—it was a fantastic evening! My fellow storytellers, Kyra Wiggins and Jennifer White, were compelling, the comedians were hilarious, and featured artist Beth Barnett painted three amazing pieces. Thank you especially to Byron Stamps for organizing the event. Truth in Comedy regularly does shows in KC, Topeka, Lawrence, and Dallas. If you ever get a chance to attend, I highly recommend it!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>UPCOMING APPEARANCES<br /></b><br /><i>Moonlight and Monsters</i> Book Release, hosted by Gnashing Teeth Press, Saturday, July 8, 2 pm CT; Scott Ferry will be joining us emcee and reader!<br /><br />A Reading and Conversation with Lindsey Royce and Lauren Scharhag, hosted by Press 53, Thursday, August 10, 6:30 pm CT <br /><br />SpoFest Featured Reader, Tuesday, September 5, 6 pm CT<br /><br /> <br /><b>OTHER NEWS</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoklZ6fuSEKNJsUz-6-v-4vVem8V-RcmWgGGgHj6pk0zVz6gS6UDXalkGSpbhUWY7GsniL8lzwHuQv7yfkiN-uc40zn9nA5RD6WvTgWNRB3JpPmprh001DnhKhwgv8Pbn52Rtp_-_YZ5_CWz8EZg3iOMzKuye_ApMQr7UDcJ_yAzRQieS3ViZ52OqzDw/s1427/Darkwood.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1427" data-original-width="858" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoklZ6fuSEKNJsUz-6-v-4vVem8V-RcmWgGGgHj6pk0zVz6gS6UDXalkGSpbhUWY7GsniL8lzwHuQv7yfkiN-uc40zn9nA5RD6WvTgWNRB3JpPmprh001DnhKhwgv8Pbn52Rtp_-_YZ5_CWz8EZg3iOMzKuye_ApMQr7UDcJ_yAzRQieS3ViZ52OqzDw/w240-h400/Darkwood.png" width="240" /></a></div><div><br />Some of my books are now available for purchase at the <a href="https://www.darkwoodhouse.com/">Darkwood House Gallery</a>, 10918 E Winner Road, Lower Level, Independence, MO 64052. Thank you to Darren Hineslety for agreeing to peddle my wares! I think I’ve found my people at Darkwood House.<br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /> <p></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Lauren Scharhaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14627677132564154350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-389791780617892672.post-11424868543952388252023-05-01T12:26:00.004-05:002023-05-01T13:27:22.287-05:00New Release: Morels<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDCgkc2KCxwTMR6BYMt0p9vmjIbNXZrj1P5_rPUgscRPpf_XNLuEI8lHjAdHFTajt1Hm7wNQ3QXD_F_OEdkT61clv2TQ1HJWN3Bpep-3v4ENN7tU0YWZktG_QVqTMJFw24Z2kQAhwNC9JSqAFXcetVW1T2J4VI6uJoshkVKR9KiLIDHUFAFwaxSpJe5g/s3508/morels-ver7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3508" data-original-width="2480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDCgkc2KCxwTMR6BYMt0p9vmjIbNXZrj1P5_rPUgscRPpf_XNLuEI8lHjAdHFTajt1Hm7wNQ3QXD_F_OEdkT61clv2TQ1HJWN3Bpep-3v4ENN7tU0YWZktG_QVqTMJFw24Z2kQAhwNC9JSqAFXcetVW1T2J4VI6uJoshkVKR9KiLIDHUFAFwaxSpJe5g/w283-h400/morels-ver7.jpg" width="283" /></a></p><p>I'm pleased to share that <i>Morels, </i>a chapbook of nature and environmentalist poems, is now available as an e-book from <a href="https://www.voiceluxpress.com/product-page/morels-by-lauren-scharhag?fbclid=IwAR0XVCQh5lcZpJiCWYB9XxRA74M3I1jdQPSHHrXdNi3DydLsz14QevHFLVI">Voice Lux Press</a>, $3. </p><p>Many thanks to John Compton, Joe Nasta and Tommy Sheffield at Voice Lux Press. They were a joy to work with. Thank you also to Katriina Purra, who did the beautiful cover art. </p><p>To promote this work, I have some upcoming readings scheduled. Please keep an eye on my social media channels for details. </p><p><br /></p>Lauren Scharhaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14627677132564154350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-389791780617892672.post-10545385965686624262023-04-27T18:23:00.003-05:002023-05-06T14:28:23.637-05:00April News<b>FORTHCOMING </b><div><br /></div><div>Big news! I have two more books that will be released this year!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih43JlfBsQqM1HMrvPyD1ywuvmq8fwABLfoDu6a2ImGFRb-s0Xi0wobeX5_teL6t4AnErMxThU1WfsHULQdSuKywGUTTSrXUrpteflSx68qNUFseChcCtESmNUpM2yC8b-T85VkNEp-3fqBzC2peQbHU1jpxEnX6HE8K6EIs3fQ-SnzZhado-1RsgZZA/s3508/morels-ver7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3508" data-original-width="2480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih43JlfBsQqM1HMrvPyD1ywuvmq8fwABLfoDu6a2ImGFRb-s0Xi0wobeX5_teL6t4AnErMxThU1WfsHULQdSuKywGUTTSrXUrpteflSx68qNUFseChcCtESmNUpM2yC8b-T85VkNEp-3fqBzC2peQbHU1jpxEnX6HE8K6EIs3fQ-SnzZhado-1RsgZZA/w283-h400/morels-ver7.jpg" width="283" /></a></div><br /><i>Morels</i>, a poetry chapbook, will be released in May by Voice Lux Press. How gorgeous is this cover art by Katriina Purru.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5pxiXrxYTutAJ5gRj2AxIRaluQzN-e0neRcmzwfx_ya8tg0-35sKiyxM48_IXpl53q47fui0cwq7Tlwlki3S2e7ILv8NPQpcdRut3bAXk1XHCefRE4YqnR_hb9H4ZZTBMmQIVAKhlt5d_gvcQTu0wQpnCXaFm8u7ECExnhZo7U9c612QmbemkpvJgrA/s630/Whiskey%20City.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="627" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5pxiXrxYTutAJ5gRj2AxIRaluQzN-e0neRcmzwfx_ya8tg0-35sKiyxM48_IXpl53q47fui0cwq7Tlwlki3S2e7ILv8NPQpcdRut3bAXk1XHCefRE4YqnR_hb9H4ZZTBMmQIVAKhlt5d_gvcQTu0wQpnCXaFm8u7ECExnhZo7U9c612QmbemkpvJgrA/w398-h400/Whiskey%20City.jpg" width="398" /></a></div><div><br /></div><i>Screaming Intensifies</i>, a collection of horror stories, will be released from Whiskey City Press – date TBD. I will keep you all posted!</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>PUBLICATIONS</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnoCsUT940JlgngbL9QnqdRuBgPuueWccKrwz2iqsrl5RX8xLysbFGjypqoBmswy4_zjzQp_2jXFsxnikGGGEDZf-tzo35ZgXUmt47SoU61sQeAUc6siodW41GD34bRdeEscXMqSr-1B6XSJ_3UWVcVIJQ63bUQaykyLAmsAtixZoONAz0WirEZ6Y4EQ/s863/Aphelion%20April.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="863" data-original-width="647" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnoCsUT940JlgngbL9QnqdRuBgPuueWccKrwz2iqsrl5RX8xLysbFGjypqoBmswy4_zjzQp_2jXFsxnikGGGEDZf-tzo35ZgXUmt47SoU61sQeAUc6siodW41GD34bRdeEscXMqSr-1B6XSJ_3UWVcVIJQ63bUQaykyLAmsAtixZoONAz0WirEZ6Y4EQ/w300-h400/Aphelion%20April.PNG" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div>“When the Honeymoon is Over,” appeared in <a href="https://www.aphelion-webzine.com/poetry/2023/04/WhenTheHoneymoonIsOver.html">Aphelion: The Webzine of Science Fiction and Fantasy</a>. Many thanks to publisher Dan Hollifield and the rest of the Aphelion team.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKP_zwD0n9FNRBLZPPYY0EzkXtWzG3R4ouwUGcEO0rbP5OJf_6ScFMdEc2iFhCV31QDDxyov3JDtr4bHJ3A4iSgkXxzktT4AnJvK0_A_RsQkd4n8x7R6WfFR2ap2kyRSyU2Okht-8W4rLFmm5liDTTZ99FUfb9VKwWTY6OaezlsNqbTje104-yMpNepg/s615/Anvil%20Tongue.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="615" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKP_zwD0n9FNRBLZPPYY0EzkXtWzG3R4ouwUGcEO0rbP5OJf_6ScFMdEc2iFhCV31QDDxyov3JDtr4bHJ3A4iSgkXxzktT4AnJvK0_A_RsQkd4n8x7R6WfFR2ap2kyRSyU2Okht-8W4rLFmm5liDTTZ99FUfb9VKwWTY6OaezlsNqbTje104-yMpNepg/w400-h199/Anvil%20Tongue.PNG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br />“Skinwalker,” appeared in <a href="https://anviltonguebooks.blogspot.com/2023/04/skinwalker-lauren-scharhag.html">Anvil Tongue Books</a>. (It was previously published at Mitchell Pluto’s Artzine.) Many thanks to editor Daniel Cyran.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwz5YL8spEXgiB6dDAazbXMlBQpSvSoE-AinJVHCs61BCYsvBAI27fSwyyL08spXlpbJk4pi4_oqpRfRUFWc9Vilue8Vrpi5ZotyROdpKcqb_fyWf-603zGuRQ77VG0ecw_gdJVccpr4aG2ZHlrGTuppQE5YSj0vjNYuCiZDWQl1KbDsI_2kkXac9J1Q/s800/Rye%20Whiskey.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwz5YL8spEXgiB6dDAazbXMlBQpSvSoE-AinJVHCs61BCYsvBAI27fSwyyL08spXlpbJk4pi4_oqpRfRUFWc9Vilue8Vrpi5ZotyROdpKcqb_fyWf-603zGuRQ77VG0ecw_gdJVccpr4aG2ZHlrGTuppQE5YSj0vjNYuCiZDWQl1KbDsI_2kkXac9J1Q/w400-h400/Rye%20Whiskey.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />“Another Poem About the Moon,” is up at the <a href="https://ryethewhiskeyreview.blogspot.com/2023/04/another-poem-about-moon-by-lauren.html">Rye Whiskey</a>. I am so grateful to John Patrick Robbins for his continuous support of my work.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxh3I3sAmlbE5hdFiV4dvV-kZlCdHyRDSMVdrglnuTbkXWYJUDOxZ68Ccf3RgO9PcuvL78PVuFYu_ATuw_VcnsqYbOwSvVhEfVlikrBQibAYKmfcA9th1StUDMh8HnFpYXTjXj7kW7FrD_Vy3WGfQg6a2kGVhRLL8fnQToHGoC2nRNFbzNiPTJeEYurg/s714/Dead%20Pets%20Poetry%20Anthology.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="714" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxh3I3sAmlbE5hdFiV4dvV-kZlCdHyRDSMVdrglnuTbkXWYJUDOxZ68Ccf3RgO9PcuvL78PVuFYu_ATuw_VcnsqYbOwSvVhEfVlikrBQibAYKmfcA9th1StUDMh8HnFpYXTjXj7kW7FrD_Vy3WGfQg6a2kGVhRLL8fnQToHGoC2nRNFbzNiPTJeEYurg/w269-h400/Dead%20Pets%20Poetry%20Anthology.PNG" width="269" /></a></div> <br />“The Ledger” and “Jack and Lucy” appear in The Dead Pets Poetry Anthology (Transcendent Zero Press). It is available to purchase on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1946460435/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1">Amazon</a>. Proceeds from this book go to the ASPCA. Many thanks to editors Damian Ward Hey and Rick C. Christiansen. <br /><br /> <br /><b>APPEARANCES</b><br /><br />I was the featured reader at the Spoken Word Club on April 25. Thank you to Robbi Nester for hosting.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQ4vZxvqjwO7G4K9wpyqI8VlyFNOV20B7Sdp_Xm5kRLFk9sslrTm0UvEnr3WrGxvH1gjqudGgmuwFwnC0dQtFtmrGi6ARltDk4d72tQARs5piKVr3NnvEwytWdiz8CkZBbb142Jr9oK9t8Ggb5c-WltJOx9pEIyUOD6qqZ3ocd7LJ1aWtz59LoDwRbA/s625/Truth%20in%20Comedy.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="353" data-original-width="625" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQ4vZxvqjwO7G4K9wpyqI8VlyFNOV20B7Sdp_Xm5kRLFk9sslrTm0UvEnr3WrGxvH1gjqudGgmuwFwnC0dQtFtmrGi6ARltDk4d72tQARs5piKVr3NnvEwytWdiz8CkZBbb142Jr9oK9t8Ggb5c-WltJOx9pEIyUOD6qqZ3ocd7LJ1aWtz59LoDwRbA/w400-h226/Truth%20in%20Comedy.PNG" width="400" /></a></div><div> <br />Saturday, May 20, 8 pm, I will be one of the storytellers at Truth in Comedy at the Bunker Center for the Arts, 1014 E 19th Street, KCMO 64108. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Please visit <a href="http://www.truthincomedy.com/">www.truthincomedy.com</a> for more details. **Update - tickets available for purchase at <a href="https://www.prekindle.com/event/77679-truth-in-comedy-kansas-city?fbclid=IwAR0Bsy1G5zORgLo_Qv276e34yY3HH7vkGQlKmp9czofBAZHd4-avUyFMEh8">Prekindle</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I am also planning a poetry reading in late May with poet Lindsey Royce – watch my social media channels for details. <br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Lauren Scharhaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14627677132564154350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-389791780617892672.post-53648417820312564522023-04-06T15:05:00.003-05:002023-04-08T00:27:54.393-05:00Poetry Review: The Book of John by Lindsey Royce<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQaYni5Jcy1xz9poU428Xg6Q7lGsyO0gZSJb0Fb6Iaqacr4IO5KtwNviJXaSdnqi5Us5J9T99oshQYcH1gEMh8Z7Azlu8DHr1RF44Eak8JG_Axiw99XYKKa3lHQ_tAQTvyh3bI_NbivqzF5AA_KUL_sh5jC17gIayqqjNjtV96bfVcW1u8E1Bd4y0DaQ/s1125/The+Book+of+John+cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQaYni5Jcy1xz9poU428Xg6Q7lGsyO0gZSJb0Fb6Iaqacr4IO5KtwNviJXaSdnqi5Us5J9T99oshQYcH1gEMh8Z7Azlu8DHr1RF44Eak8JG_Axiw99XYKKa3lHQ_tAQTvyh3bI_NbivqzF5AA_KUL_sh5jC17gIayqqjNjtV96bfVcW1u8E1Bd4y0DaQ/w266-h400/The+Book+of+John+cover.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>I’m having trouble coming up with descriptors for Lindsey Royce’s poetry collection, <i>The Book of John</i>. “Searing” and “devastating” are the words that come immediately to mind, but they feel inadequate in the face of such a clear and comprehensive catalog of grief. I also want to call this collection “raw,” “unflinching,” and “courageous,” but those words, too, seem to fall short of what Royce has accomplished here. <div><br /></div><div>I don’t think I’ve ever read a collection of poetry that made me cry before, but this one did. As someone who has been a caregiver to a terminally ill spouse, as someone who had to confront mortality in such a way, this book struck a deep, painful chord in me. In my case, my husband went into renal failure at age 29 and was on dialysis for three years. He received a transplant and is doing fine now—it’s an odd status to be terminal and then not-terminal; to venture so far into the Valley of Death and then come back out again. People don’t often connect dialysis with life support, but that’s what it is. Without dialysis, renal failure will kill you in about eight days. </div><div><br /></div><div>John was not so lucky; his life was claimed by cancer at age 56. The opening poem feels like an old invocation of the muse—or, in this case, like a necromancer’s spell conjuring back the spirit of the departed. It’s the most abstract piece in the collection. Otherwise, these poems are relatively straightforward narratives. Through them, Royce takes us along with her on a breathtakingly intimate journey through memory. She admits us into John’s final, agonizing days, and her subsequent bereavement. </div><div><br /></div><div>These pieces don’t engage in any poetic flourishes or sleight-of-hand. They are stripped naked and bare as only death can make us. Here, there can be no pretending. Royce does not idealize a dead man nor their relationship as she mentions their personality clashes, (the outdoorsman and the city girl, the right-leaning marine and the left-leaning academic, etc.), their disagreements, their squabbles over the last cookie. But she also shares with us, very generously, all the things that made John a warm, magnetic personality; a glimpse of their tender moments—their lovemaking, John’s cooking, their shared love of animals. For a subject that could so easily slip into the maudlin, Royce keeps it solidly unsentimental. She speaks in concrete images: mushrooms, snow, deer, trout, olive oil, strings of Christmas lights. Even the spiritual poems speak of tangible things, like altars and locks of hair. She does not shy away from broaching unpleasant subjects, like leaking feeding tubes and the way illness turns skin into crepe.</div><div><br /></div><div>Rage is one of the key themes. Anger gets mentioned as one of the five stages of grief, but it always seems to get glossed over. Here, we get lines like, “I am the hellion banshee of keening.” It is a rational response to being robbed of years. The unfairness of it all, watching someone succumb, someone so young, someone who was once so strong and is now unable to open a yogurt container. To watch John, a chef, die of stomach cancer. It’s all simply infuriating.</div><div><br /></div><div>Royce describes ways in which she tries to cope with these feelings, turning to substances to escape for a while, to spirituality, and even to the supernatural-- consulting psychics as a way to reconnect. Royce writes, "My grief has grown to feel like schtick." There comes a point when the grieving becomes your personality. This is who you are now: the widow. Grief is a lonely territory. No one can carry it for you. No one can experience it quite the way you do. Also, you want to let go of all the pain, but you don’t want to forget the person whose passing is the source of it.</div><div><br /></div><div>In “Never Mine,” Royce writes, “He never belonged to me, and I should drop/my make-believe grasp of his hand…” No, he didn’t belong to you, but both of you belonged to something, together. A country of Lindsey and John, from which you've now been exiled. To speak of our lost loves is to speak a dead language. We should all be so lucky to have someone like Lindsey Royce at our side when it's our time.</div><div><br /></div><div>I didn't know John, but through these poems, Royce summons him, a presence so real I expected to see him when I looked up from the book. So, in a sense, she has brought him back. They say that as long as we remember a person, they aren’t really gone. Anyone who reads this book is unlikely to forget John. In the end, Royce doesn’t give us a portrait of her healed—that hasn’t happened yet, and it probably never will. But she gives us the hope that one day, she will be able to carry her grief a little more easily. If she can, maybe we can too.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>The Book of John is available for purchase from <a href="https://www.press53.com/poetry-collections/the-book-of-john-by-lindsey-royce">Press 53</a>. </b><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>Lauren Scharhaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14627677132564154350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-389791780617892672.post-6138773617339449542023-03-28T16:54:00.002-05:002023-03-28T17:58:56.628-05:00March News<div><b>MIDNIGHT GLOSSOLALIA COPIES AVAILABLE!</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHf71KqDm22bi6d2G2GlTvyW8TUJ_hklFFwIZI6QMSfATNYAdGKcsP_bSyrwtdpND8MJuO6KeLzhBOIK3KstjGVwVwO9rl5NoJpG01Vbza6XcaL2akbx1LYz7VXHK1kebVGzMMAozLonUgg2mPYIrY62nIcsNvFbyhnNm5yjQ1KQyk65G-_dFgLCILiQ/s2551/Midnight%20Gloss%20Cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2551" data-original-width="1652" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHf71KqDm22bi6d2G2GlTvyW8TUJ_hklFFwIZI6QMSfATNYAdGKcsP_bSyrwtdpND8MJuO6KeLzhBOIK3KstjGVwVwO9rl5NoJpG01Vbza6XcaL2akbx1LYz7VXHK1kebVGzMMAozLonUgg2mPYIrY62nIcsNvFbyhnNm5yjQ1KQyk65G-_dFgLCILiQ/w259-h400/Midnight%20Gloss%20Cover.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I still have copies of <i>Midnight Glossolalia. </i>If you'd like a copy, it's $17. Please email or message me, and I'll be happy to send you one! It's also available on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BVD5Q2TX?ref_=cm_sw_r_apin_dp_0QEMZY34BQY41XBWB080&fbclid=IwAR1fgLZe_r-NRX0NqdDDAefi40iJNKjWQBap1X9ZCo4pV29YldzS6TbdODY">Amazon</a> and <a href="https://meatfortea.com/chapbooks.htm">Meat for Tea</a>. <br /><div><br /></div><b><div><b><br /></b></div>PUBLICATIONS</b><div><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje13GVKZoHf6NogJ2BYKXVhDTv-irsrbZQgSbQFm1uH92OlUsjJurpLpW-YB5vuHH5cx7CmzgLM9uRh2H69tdf83fNVP5BXa-OACiS13b7Dpas_te8G8OZh60vib7cyxPf9db3QcSW6LW71pwUFu7RDaINQapE5yZUMNtSr5rcAo14IAq9-j2L9CmnPQ/s575/Mitchell%20Pluto.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="114" data-original-width="575" height="79" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje13GVKZoHf6NogJ2BYKXVhDTv-irsrbZQgSbQFm1uH92OlUsjJurpLpW-YB5vuHH5cx7CmzgLM9uRh2H69tdf83fNVP5BXa-OACiS13b7Dpas_te8G8OZh60vib7cyxPf9db3QcSW6LW71pwUFu7RDaINQapE5yZUMNtSr5rcAo14IAq9-j2L9CmnPQ/w400-h79/Mitchell%20Pluto.PNG" width="400" /></a></div><br />“<a href="https://mitchellpluto.com/2023/02/27/skinwalker-by-lauren-scharhag/?fbclid=IwAR0Ggh_mo849m2D5QuvlCeJuBM6L0w59wa_wOOxnMClk-J6AHaEodH1rH7g">Skinwalker</a>” appeared in the Mitchell Pluto Artzine. Thank you to Mitchell for publishing this piece.</div><div> <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ28u4Dih5uFVF4d05tyLzUwzl9c9pSZ_6jqSikhBmiRYoe1P86L8sbE6ASL1leYX2M9AE9BALPfybdXhCPErhaZX_iu8mInfxSYobOxcZCsR9zVw_9koeJNzZJdug58tDh7X654954Sb8SowBL8RCA73kExlq8JBNE48dobeHkLCQu_-kWWr9vnj6NA/s2000/Black%20Shamrock.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1333" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ28u4Dih5uFVF4d05tyLzUwzl9c9pSZ_6jqSikhBmiRYoe1P86L8sbE6ASL1leYX2M9AE9BALPfybdXhCPErhaZX_iu8mInfxSYobOxcZCsR9zVw_9koeJNzZJdug58tDh7X654954Sb8SowBL8RCA73kExlq8JBNE48dobeHkLCQu_-kWWr9vnj6NA/w266-h400/Black%20Shamrock.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div> <br />“Light Studies,” “Heaven Spelled Backwards,” and “The Pottery Shard Graveyard” are in <a href="https://archive.org/details/the-black-shamrock-4">Issue 4 of The Black Shamrock</a>. My deepest gratitude, as always, to editor John Patrick Robbins.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhYBNMalB6I9nn6W2ERpAPx-A8dQN0DFaoZPPGpciZ4r-CvwRkLqjG9Q_K7QoyBTu6LQhy7AAvqWgfDCP7SOHz2-8bYFEKs8cacYZIV0GMPShCAvcthOHMMU7-j0uYL8IwSCCN7-14tAPZI32Wea450tJQuXi8gaG01Fmv71tgVZfG01IMCgu_AMk57w/s1154/Setu%20Magazine.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="1154" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhYBNMalB6I9nn6W2ERpAPx-A8dQN0DFaoZPPGpciZ4r-CvwRkLqjG9Q_K7QoyBTu6LQhy7AAvqWgfDCP7SOHz2-8bYFEKs8cacYZIV0GMPShCAvcthOHMMU7-j0uYL8IwSCCN7-14tAPZI32Wea450tJQuXi8gaG01Fmv71tgVZfG01IMCgu_AMk57w/w400-h156/Setu%20Magazine.PNG" width="400" /></a></div><br />“Curandera,” “Overlook” and “Lambent” appeared in Setu Magazine’s annual <a href="https://www.setumag.com/2023/02/lauren-scharhag-western-voices-2023.html">Western Voices Edition</a>. Thank you to guest editor Thomas Scott Outlar and to EiC Anurag Sharma.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIVtieaiXFoZrd00aFe7H4cOBVEbQoh2XiOX956pASsiTQKqn0K7GGx4ot9iYk-YbQpcdJ4j8ZDac5xKqL1AkEZyr6SYHyuwupY_r7I6ysKkJdnhhD8w3rJuFROYCIPkQkAhL2usEdbmM3glEu4R2dHozVr_GjlmDPDB7VHzwl_ytJ8hGQFDPRgdfyhA/s1264/Medusa.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="829" data-original-width="1264" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIVtieaiXFoZrd00aFe7H4cOBVEbQoh2XiOX956pASsiTQKqn0K7GGx4ot9iYk-YbQpcdJ4j8ZDac5xKqL1AkEZyr6SYHyuwupY_r7I6ysKkJdnhhD8w3rJuFROYCIPkQkAhL2usEdbmM3glEu4R2dHozVr_GjlmDPDB7VHzwl_ytJ8hGQFDPRgdfyhA/w400-h263/Medusa.PNG" width="400" /></a></div><br />“<a href="https://icefloepress.net/medusa-browses-the-beauty-aisle-lauren-scharhag/">Medusa Browses the Beauty Aisle</a>,” is up at Ice Floe Press as part of their Cassandra/Chorale Mythology Project. Many thanks to editor Robert Frede Kenter. The poem is paired with art by Robert, “Display Case – Medusa Goes Shopping.” This poem will appear in my poetry collection, Moonlight and Monsters, forthcoming from Gnashing Teeth Press.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGN1bohazFruXYZ91ZvnTE3AcgSWTZ8fNTuaRMlQ9leU-CpUGBQ_x6Ox6aKuAHfZEiC30w5FjxJcAPDJjVSf-MZCcQRM1HEHF7xLFgVkIQH6WAH9aJDeschv5PI1urN36N6_Vn6-BjLtg27DDcLnRagxxAoUErtgErdwpXHBu1q5sKey5oquBpaleAKQ/s1036/Lothlorien%2020.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="1036" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGN1bohazFruXYZ91ZvnTE3AcgSWTZ8fNTuaRMlQ9leU-CpUGBQ_x6Ox6aKuAHfZEiC30w5FjxJcAPDJjVSf-MZCcQRM1HEHF7xLFgVkIQH6WAH9aJDeschv5PI1urN36N6_Vn6-BjLtg27DDcLnRagxxAoUErtgErdwpXHBu1q5sKey5oquBpaleAKQ/w640-h400/Lothlorien%2020.png" width="640" /></a></div><br />“Medusa Browses the Beauty Aisle,” “The Ghost Forest,” “Curse of the Spider Woman,” “Snakes and Boxes” and “Root” appear in Lothlorien Journal, Vol. 20: Masks of Many Colours, which is now available to purchase on <a href="https://www.lulu.com/shop/strider-marcus-jones/lothlorien-poetry-journal-volume-20/paperback/product-52e7p9.html?q=&page=1&pageSize=4">Lulu</a>. You can also read these poems for free at <a href="https://lothlorienpoetryjournal.blogspot.com/2023/01/five-poems-by-lauren-scharhag.html">Lothlorien online</a>. Many thanks to editor Strider Marcus Jones. <br /><br /> <br /><b>APPEARANCES</b><br /><br />My brilliant co-authors, Scott Ferry and Lillian Necakov, and I did two more readings this month to promote our new release, Midnight Glossolalia (Meat for Tea Press). They’re both available to watch on video.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrsr-poII1pzS7iui1rWRnNYum77i-cg8GESFQG-zFyI2Nt84zRa5mvX4mO6aA276XLXWfR2XnsKhG66lY-L7Vc394u0zMyc-02qqIZF8y7CXIz3zRNEiX0EUBhI85YDzfVn3g2YNVZ62DmmoStTldsyxwfNVCu3GjOV2UVCNKd8QnX_3K40VM5DDKyQ/s1200/SpoFest.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="1200" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrsr-poII1pzS7iui1rWRnNYum77i-cg8GESFQG-zFyI2Nt84zRa5mvX4mO6aA276XLXWfR2XnsKhG66lY-L7Vc394u0zMyc-02qqIZF8y7CXIz3zRNEiX0EUBhI85YDzfVn3g2YNVZ62DmmoStTldsyxwfNVCu3GjOV2UVCNKd8QnX_3K40VM5DDKyQ/w400-h209/SpoFest.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div> <br />The first was at <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpwkjpMCuzE&t=1s&ab_channel=SpoFestOpenMicPoetryandProse">SpoFest</a>. Thank you to fabulous hosts, James Bryant and Rick Christiansen.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5meqLwktK-ghg4ocgSw7AzAUI39_PIaPMwH2tRfU3e0j0NgS1NyAK_Oxuyd9LQgvR7xSZlHz2FC714fCe33i6jlTGDN2g_mzNrIwiscz1sNLgCbjCTzjh-C8KtNoKAIq030afXLgv8POH-RKDcb_k27BjyBMGFcyHqCWQR236ZUhzP_mOfIlzadO5wQ/s1024/Midnight%20Glossolalia%20Event.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="791" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5meqLwktK-ghg4ocgSw7AzAUI39_PIaPMwH2tRfU3e0j0NgS1NyAK_Oxuyd9LQgvR7xSZlHz2FC714fCe33i6jlTGDN2g_mzNrIwiscz1sNLgCbjCTzjh-C8KtNoKAIq030afXLgv8POH-RKDcb_k27BjyBMGFcyHqCWQR236ZUhzP_mOfIlzadO5wQ/w309-h400/Midnight%20Glossolalia%20Event.jpg" width="309" /></a></div><br />The second was hosted by Tina Marie Johnson of <a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/XcqWB0xZ9Akdpysmkd2mX0S_jwUybz93DFe17vRKopNYG8n9Plv-BJ7yXbg8PY1NMkPOAjcNkLItVG2B.-nTJ2OXCvnbLOxvp?continueMode=true&_x_zm_rtaid=S-7aU9TDT0Wxo2obunxvBA.1679625258840.0c7c1d96aa2504145d6c65d9bc25d8b8&_x_zm_rhtaid=415">Blue Mountain Creative Consulting</a>. To access, input passcode &uN2d&7C.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>OTHER NEWS</b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJK0zmYz3GuqsvGFoDy44lhK71krbVZZIwznkfJgB-v2YscsT19qvOQ3g6SAbBt3HFZME89IA0Xw0OhXBsnLbWikMANu1tIWha8xO_KOjvP9eA2YdwbQeFN3MNaw8iAz_vUEXtkXyyFUTFqkBAwJ-66hlx9hhepMsrMD_ppvy7L52co-w3Y1CW-XH7iQ/s900/QWWT.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJK0zmYz3GuqsvGFoDy44lhK71krbVZZIwznkfJgB-v2YscsT19qvOQ3g6SAbBt3HFZME89IA0Xw0OhXBsnLbWikMANu1tIWha8xO_KOjvP9eA2YdwbQeFN3MNaw8iAz_vUEXtkXyyFUTFqkBAwJ-66hlx9hhepMsrMD_ppvy7L52co-w3Y1CW-XH7iQ/w266-h400/QWWT.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><div><i>The Queer Weird West Tales Anthology</i> has been shortlisted for a <a href="https://aurealisawards.org/2023/03/09/2022-aurealis-awards-shortlist-announcement/?fbclid=IwAR07dy7YodLi9sGxkJt3PpR6Bvvh4lyKHOctDZ7bfhvi0eUo6_gmOVDSjxY">2022 Aurealis Award</a>. Congrats to editor Julie Bozza and to my fellow contributors. Copies are available on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Queer-Weird-Tales-Julie-Bozza-ebook/dp/B09W5YK8XH/ref=sr_1_2?qid=1680040341&refinements=p_27%3ALauren+Scharhag&s=books&sr=1-2&text=Lauren+Scharhag">Amazon</a>, <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1138789">Smashwords</a>, and other retailers. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7qi8Rw3sskTwom_VftSYZ9My9u4MQcm6y4WrwQoCigEIvmsNvWfKzUT6KFEIwerC7_7z4Bdw7G5bcsfyaxFV13M1H9cS2nNG908qVBbkzTdFOGQ3k83jQUrI9uKbiLVe6n8GcCuwHMNqXuU7niXXDMlNJnlEtdmIoNCADYiaAnNzyFdfv_QMsLtO1Mg/s512/Gleam.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7qi8Rw3sskTwom_VftSYZ9My9u4MQcm6y4WrwQoCigEIvmsNvWfKzUT6KFEIwerC7_7z4Bdw7G5bcsfyaxFV13M1H9cS2nNG908qVBbkzTdFOGQ3k83jQUrI9uKbiLVe6n8GcCuwHMNqXuU7niXXDMlNJnlEtdmIoNCADYiaAnNzyFdfv_QMsLtO1Mg/w400-h400/Gleam.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><a href="https://gleampoets.org/submit/">Gleam</a> is now open for submissions through April 30! Get those cadralore in!<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Lauren Scharhaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14627677132564154350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-389791780617892672.post-46181435033321563162023-02-26T15:27:00.003-06:002023-03-07T21:38:09.973-06:00February News<b>AWARD NOMINATION</b><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlQEO3n2pfA7aa2ocWxlaP23YxapDpnvmk5LKkLYKCWDPynPXgo7kRpr0hDFIOS3q7QAXYn1kT3iQdTGzUAWmV4dvgPxQv3DU0b1qXI2lHLaYzinC8DAon-cWT2F8DuWp205cUl6voJuvtfBOWkWUVNyVMhleGpwhhTcpff-lB5uaXfZ9mpVvewnWqiw/s851/SFPA.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="851" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlQEO3n2pfA7aa2ocWxlaP23YxapDpnvmk5LKkLYKCWDPynPXgo7kRpr0hDFIOS3q7QAXYn1kT3iQdTGzUAWmV4dvgPxQv3DU0b1qXI2lHLaYzinC8DAon-cWT2F8DuWp205cUl6voJuvtfBOWkWUVNyVMhleGpwhhTcpff-lB5uaXfZ9mpVvewnWqiw/w400-h148/SFPA.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />My prose-poem, "Interdimensional Border Town," has made the long list for the <a href="http://sfpoetry.com/ra/rhyscand.html">2022 Rhysling Awards</a>. The poem was originally published in <a href="https://www.unlikelystories.org/content/portrait-of-an-amateur-roadkill-artist-interdimensional-border-town-and-contradiction">Unlikely Stories</a>, and appears in my new collection, <i>Midnight Glossolalia</i>. Many thanks to the SFPA and congrats to my fellow nominees. <br /><br /><br /><b>NEW RELEASE</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMTDXsQiBz-vjPPJtE8KzwlcMX_EB6Gkl9zRvbB2y9WPnLwnnUbO-4f6xUr0muAKoXjGNRQiSts3ULduabE-QuNtFLLn08eN2ZT7_TyDSGEZPDhL5UX-Pwc1AefI3BU-QfJbo1MAarZhkqJu1Yfs19e5i4RZ9IirqxBiysGcDYdsSU_boAzYYZTenwQ/s2551/Midnight%20Gloss%20Cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2551" data-original-width="1652" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMTDXsQiBz-vjPPJtE8KzwlcMX_EB6Gkl9zRvbB2y9WPnLwnnUbO-4f6xUr0muAKoXjGNRQiSts3ULduabE-QuNtFLLn08eN2ZT7_TyDSGEZPDhL5UX-Pwc1AefI3BU-QfJbo1MAarZhkqJu1Yfs19e5i4RZ9IirqxBiysGcDYdsSU_boAzYYZTenwQ/w259-h400/Midnight%20Gloss%20Cover.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><br />In case you missed it, my latest poetry collection, <i>Midnight Glossolalia</i>, written in collaboration with Scott Ferry and Lillian Necakov, is now available. Purchase directly from either publisher <a href="https://meatfortea.com/chapbooks.htm">Meat for Tea Press</a> or from <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BVD5Q2TX?ref_=cm_sw_r_apin_dp_0QEMZY34BQY41XBWB080&fbclid=IwAR1fgLZe_r-NRX0NqdDDAefi40iJNKjWQBap1X9ZCo4pV29YldzS6TbdODY">Amazon</a>. <br /><br /><b>About the Book</b><br />In <i>Midnight Glossolalia</i>, three poets braid their voices into a kingdom of dark matter, speaking in tongues on subjects both modern and mystical. These 63 poems are an alchemical brew composed of gods, ghosts, UFOs, alternate dimensions, ancestors, science, technology, math, music, nature, and Fruit Loops. They are the chemtrails of lost songs, a muffled heart piano swelling with the mystery of existence.<br /><br /> <br /><b>APPEARANCES</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdKJY4AVl7CknirjKKEIhzSJKuNpX5DbVpPPRojYkwiepSDNIkndd_dXV-PpSMagurlXOKSlCO_eXNnitX5Ii8MsPyC0RBqKPSg0g68G3N_W3UZ7B4DehqKQu9cJKDs65BUIkVKNZtBxhYkInU2TxVOPN3zjzkfPkW_ve62RUn5efCRkwI1B4TVOefdg/s1951/Meat%20for%20Tea%20Podcast.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1951" data-original-width="1076" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdKJY4AVl7CknirjKKEIhzSJKuNpX5DbVpPPRojYkwiepSDNIkndd_dXV-PpSMagurlXOKSlCO_eXNnitX5Ii8MsPyC0RBqKPSg0g68G3N_W3UZ7B4DehqKQu9cJKDs65BUIkVKNZtBxhYkInU2TxVOPN3zjzkfPkW_ve62RUn5efCRkwI1B4TVOefdg/w220-h400/Meat%20for%20Tea%20Podcast.png" width="220" /></a></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Scott Ferry, Lillian Necakov and I were on the <a href="https://anchor.fm/meatforteacast/episodes/S4-E17-Scott-Ferry--Lillian-Necakov--Lauren-Scharhag-e1uj038?fbclid=IwAR0P7j73lDTcggQE-wUNHROL0gErhVLdT9LiE3wiU56lKFCOAz6UAErn8lw&%24web_only=true&_branch_match_id=1008093950682462825&utm_source=web&utm_campaign=web-share&utm_medium=sharing&_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAAwXB0Q6CIBQA0C9S3CytttaY0XSxNCe9CyjcYsiQRfX1naNDcOsBodUtAebvaIVefBInno7OpQbsC01o071xI2orP%2Fw0c2FAHpuI%2B6wrn2VuzoNQ6k6SyG5139JMEa8fVA57CiSPwLaFuV6qFv8Khom3OxP%2Fr%2FhxcnUAAAA%3D">Meat for Tea Podcast</a>! Thank you to Elizabeth MacDuffie for inviting us to talk about our work. The Meat for Tea Podcast is available on Goodpods, Apple, and other podcast channels.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvQfr7dqkiBv16hghjfxFKd9owf1lSURW9kBA7Y3DK0SG1TQy_4eASkr1OVNBnjtvonsdNq9oxBwMXCB6Sl72eyCDDha6mn_n4WAeYzjLbiWRcLAaBuN-f5AF3Hc-royj0ZLcHEX65c538v8pCyXEcKywwCjuzeKCdiF5G-5MAOM6tMT0fpHn2DKiWKw/s500/Moore%20Poetry.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvQfr7dqkiBv16hghjfxFKd9owf1lSURW9kBA7Y3DK0SG1TQy_4eASkr1OVNBnjtvonsdNq9oxBwMXCB6Sl72eyCDDha6mn_n4WAeYzjLbiWRcLAaBuN-f5AF3Hc-royj0ZLcHEX65c538v8pCyXEcKywwCjuzeKCdiF5G-5MAOM6tMT0fpHn2DKiWKw/s320/Moore%20Poetry.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />We were also the featured readers on <a href="https://fb.watch/iTu7SgAbPn/">Moore Poetry</a> this month. Thank you to Christopher Moore for hosting. <br /><br /> <br /><b>PUBLICATIONS</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTP5EMHLii41i39KHWPd4z_GftuLYVQszUm_3Omuk9rHaMlcPyTDieEYH59ncmSA4D2cqNs_GLxpk8QA2qLAAe2QfkKsiSnHsFrwabTt5-Pw4Fvk4TeyJlO4_JAlaMA01YW3VoqT_upOHgQg0Vymv2fNjv3_k8u44nURt5w5UOewzi3TdFXWMzdgnkmQ/s562/Death%20Nail.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="375" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTP5EMHLii41i39KHWPd4z_GftuLYVQszUm_3Omuk9rHaMlcPyTDieEYH59ncmSA4D2cqNs_GLxpk8QA2qLAAe2QfkKsiSnHsFrwabTt5-Pw4Fvk4TeyJlO4_JAlaMA01YW3VoqT_upOHgQg0Vymv2fNjv3_k8u44nURt5w5UOewzi3TdFXWMzdgnkmQ/w268-h400/Death%20Nail.PNG" width="268" /></a></div><br />The inaugural issue of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BRLY3376?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details">Death Nail Magazine</a> is out! It includes my short horror story, “Those We Serve,” along with two flash fiction pieces, “Gastromancy” and “The Wishing Hole.” Thank you so much to editor and fellow horror geek John Patrick Robbins for this!<br /><br />“Those We Serve” is the story of a Midwestern family whose seemingly idyllic farm is on the edge of a forest where strange creatures dwell, and the creatures demand offerings.<br /><br /><b>Excerpt</b><br />I’d brought the last offering a week ago. They always seemed hungrier this time of year and, indeed, the dishes I’d left were empty save for some bones and an apple core. I cleared them away and set out clean plates, arranged everything neatly, including the flowers. I poured the beer into mugs.<br /><br />I’d only entered the clearing itself maybe a handful of times. Now, I paused to watch the first glimmers of pale sun coming through the trees. The clearing was maybe five acres, its western border defined by a quick-running stream. </div><div><br />We never take the cattle to graze in there. Not that we could get them to set one hoof in that field. Horses and dogs won’t go there, either. The clearing is lined with mounds of earth, all of them neat and round, more or less uniform in size…</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtdTOa3nLatmJRgRUKKIrMhv3lW7IaxXWJ3ZqvwFeE8ZukKRWUwvt8hBv1lNLYlf4Xiyin54TLQEdIUh4J5s8mzxdpNbMzssWbK73FsNaKR1p1ao3uauSOVtCX_gpz8Kz9UQt3gm-tyd0lrIWhP6tdILMn7nqldKWnIKHj1NMLvAI7A9AsmrzC0LJFiw/s902/The%20Rumen.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="649" data-original-width="902" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtdTOa3nLatmJRgRUKKIrMhv3lW7IaxXWJ3ZqvwFeE8ZukKRWUwvt8hBv1lNLYlf4Xiyin54TLQEdIUh4J5s8mzxdpNbMzssWbK73FsNaKR1p1ao3uauSOVtCX_gpz8Kz9UQt3gm-tyd0lrIWhP6tdILMn7nqldKWnIKHj1NMLvAI7A9AsmrzC0LJFiw/w400-h288/The%20Rumen.PNG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>My short story, “The Beast’s Bayou,” appeared in <a bayou="" href="https://www.therumen.com/publications/fiction/The%20Beast's%20Bayou" s="">The Rumen Magazine</a>. Many thanks to editor James Cole.<br /> <br /><b>Excerpt</b><br />When Daddy came home and told us what he’d done, I thought for sure he’d been in his own stash.<br /><br />The ensuing argument was conducted in whispers. Mama was in bed and we didn’t want to bother her. Daddy set the cuttings down on the table so I could see for myself what he’d sold me for. The Orchidaceae family has thousands of species, forty-four of which are native to Louisiana. While I don’t have every single one of them neatly catalogued in my brain, I couldn’t exactly argue his point—these flowers were unique. Their colors and shapes almost defied description. Collectors will pay thousands of dollars for a rare specimen, and here, Daddy had six. With that kind of money, there could be braces for Lark, doctors for Mama, comfort for Granddaddy in his golden years. <br /><br />And speaking of Granddaddy, when he heard about the whole business, he hit the roof, but though he cussed and hollered, and the little ones cried, there seemed to be no way around it. If Daddy didn’t hold up his end of the bargain, the whole family would suffer. The orchids Daddy had gathered would wither and die, as would any green and growing thing he touched. Even crabgrass would wilt beneath his feet. How would Daddy support us then? <br /><br />So, early the next morning, I was shipped off to live with the Beast… <br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Thank you for reading! If you happen to purchase a copy of any of these publications, reviews are always appreciated.</div>Lauren Scharhaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14627677132564154350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-389791780617892672.post-82745042365304742442023-02-15T17:15:00.014-06:002023-02-16T12:38:17.847-06:00New Release: Midnight Glossolalia<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS15d7pGaCndly8quwwEGWZpCZMUkWE2_44D62INmaUazyGxkLVYTC2dCm0-nb2RVKUdzH9hOR56GmPL0cJJFfQbzE08AkBx6xar5pJfbjUrmG-2uoknV_bIPjkrXEcLisnU29CMKK4A-eU0vzbd9X33exLAQhi7JhXwj0WnNN4AaTCLNdDIduc55SDA/s594/Midnight%20Glossolalia.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS15d7pGaCndly8quwwEGWZpCZMUkWE2_44D62INmaUazyGxkLVYTC2dCm0-nb2RVKUdzH9hOR56GmPL0cJJFfQbzE08AkBx6xar5pJfbjUrmG-2uoknV_bIPjkrXEcLisnU29CMKK4A-eU0vzbd9X33exLAQhi7JhXwj0WnNN4AaTCLNdDIduc55SDA/s594/Midnight%20Glossolalia.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="594" data-original-width="385" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS15d7pGaCndly8quwwEGWZpCZMUkWE2_44D62INmaUazyGxkLVYTC2dCm0-nb2RVKUdzH9hOR56GmPL0cJJFfQbzE08AkBx6xar5pJfbjUrmG-2uoknV_bIPjkrXEcLisnU29CMKK4A-eU0vzbd9X33exLAQhi7JhXwj0WnNN4AaTCLNdDIduc55SDA/w259-h400/Midnight%20Glossolalia.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"></blockquote><div><br /></div>I’m thrilled to share that my latest poetry collection, <i>Midnight Glossolalia</i>, written in collaboration with Scott Ferry and Lillian Nećakov, is now available in paperback from <a href="https://meatfortea.com/chapbooks.htm">Meat for Tea Press</a> and on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BVD5Q2TX?ref_=cm_sw_r_apin_dp_0QEMZY34BQY41XBWB080&fbclid=IwAR1fgLZe_r-NRX0NqdDDAefi40iJNKjWQBap1X9ZCo4pV29YldzS6TbdODY">Amazon</a>.<div><br /></div><div>To promote the book, we have some upcoming readings scheduled: <br /><br />Next Wednesday, Feb. 22, 7:30-9:00pm US ET, we will be the featured readers on Moore Poetry. Open mic to follow. Check out the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/WIWMoorePoetry">Moore Poetry FB page</a> for more info about the show. Many thanks to Christopher Moore for hosting. Please join us via <a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86992247778?fbclid=IwAR3IeJbPGlsquGOSM9F_eRQZu80HVcr_nYdDM60Y1led5mz33Ol_DQmMnxk#success">Zoom</a>.<br /> <br /> We'll be hosting our own virtual reading with Tina Marie Johnson emceeing on Sunday, March 19, at 4 pm ET. <br /><br />There will be at least one other reading that we’re working on scheduling. Hope some of you are able to tune in! And ICYMI, we did an interview on the <a href="https://anchor.fm/meatforteacast/episodes/S4-E17-Scott-Ferry--Lillian-Necakov--Lauren-Scharhag-e1uj038?fbclid=IwAR0P7j73lDTcggQE-wUNHROL0gErhVLdT9LiE3wiU56lKFCOAz6UAErn8lw&%24web_only=true&_branch_match_id=1008093950682462825&utm_source=web&utm_campaign=web-share&utm_medium=sharing&_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAAwXB0Q6CIBQA0C9S3CytttaY0XSxNCe9CyjcYsiQRfX1naNDcOsBodUtAebvaIVefBInno7OpQbsC01o071xI2orP%2Fw0c2FAHpuI%2B6wrn2VuzoNQ6k6SyG5139JMEa8fVA57CiSPwLaFuV6qFv8Khom3OxP%2Fr%2FhxcnUAAAA%3D">Meat for Tea Podcast</a> earlier this month. It’s also available on Goodpods, Spotify, and other podcast stations.<br /> <br /><b>About the Book</b><br /> In Midnight Glossolalia, three poets braid their voices into a kingdom of dark matter, speaking in tongues on subjects both modern and mystical. These 63 poems are an alchemical brew composed of gods, ghosts, UFOs, alternate dimensions, ancestors, science, technology, math, music, nature, and Fruit Loops. They are the chemtrails of lost songs, a muffled heart piano swelling with the mystery of existence.<br /> <br /><b> About Scott and Lillian</b><br /><b> Scott Ferry</b> helps our Veterans heal as a RN in the Seattle area. His seventh book of poetry, <i>The Long Blade of Days Ahead</i>, is now available from Impspired Press. More of his work can be found at <a href="http://ferrypoetry.com">ferrypoetry.com</a>.<br /> <br /><b> Lillian Nećakov</b> is the author many chapbooks, as well as the full-length collections <i>il virus </i>(Anvil Press, Hooligans (Mansfield Press), <i>The Bone Broker</i> (Mansfield Press), <i>Hat Trick</i> (Exile Editions), <i>Polaroids</i> (Coach House Books) and <i>The Sickbed of Dogs</i> (Wolsak and Wynn). Her new book, <i>duck eats yeast, quacks, explodes; man loses eye</i>, a collaborative poem with Gary Barwin, is forthcoming in May 2023 from Guernica Editions. Lillian lives in Toronto, Canada.<br /> <br /> <br /><div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><br /></div></div>Lauren Scharhaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14627677132564154350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-389791780617892672.post-87866562110604348512023-01-28T16:57:00.002-06:002023-01-30T23:45:06.797-06:00January NewsHappy New Year, all! My 2023 is off to something of a frantic start-- in addition to SIX publications this month, my husband and I are closing on a house, I'm working with two publishers on forthcoming poetry collections, and I'm working with my supervisor at the University of Kansas to publish a collection of poems to thank nurses for their work during the pandemic! So if I collapse sometime between now and March, you'll know why. Still, I am filled with hope and optimism for the coming year. I hope you are too.<div><br /><div><br /></div><div><b>Publications</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjarP64ucWADhrv42ktcAzIfTB-TUyiCtXBq_N71cYXXU7Xpnw0Uy7RK8iK5jcz1cqcEDpJsZ7ALXSbNS2DFM8NV-4fPFOnFr3uP7d4fZXMVg5f5tYNRgJpE9v2cRL5lFVgZRLnCHG1knka4RJlGp0q2kWi_LG8ChaVpFYQShd6SUc7T6vBpUpJRJwyCw/s537/Stone%20Poetry%20Quarterly_2.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="324" data-original-width="537" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjarP64ucWADhrv42ktcAzIfTB-TUyiCtXBq_N71cYXXU7Xpnw0Uy7RK8iK5jcz1cqcEDpJsZ7ALXSbNS2DFM8NV-4fPFOnFr3uP7d4fZXMVg5f5tYNRgJpE9v2cRL5lFVgZRLnCHG1knka4RJlGp0q2kWi_LG8ChaVpFYQShd6SUc7T6vBpUpJRJwyCw/w400-h241/Stone%20Poetry%20Quarterly_2.PNG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br />I missed a publication from 2022 - <a href="https://stonepoetryjournal.com/lauren-scharhag/">Stone Poetry Quarterly’s November issue</a> included three of my poems, “Endlings,” “Faded Ink,” and “Night Shades.” Many thanks to editor D. Ward Hey.</div><div><br /></div><div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA7Evts2N6cp2O21g9xO_BK_DzKAO6eXpLXVVMnpXsa4OHZiude55pqEDVCgS8_1rwLmJxroGGDIQPjslIhO47c2jjwc43aHRmTOP9MUHwExxNMAdDUZw3E5QUYmYAKOjcETxgMzxqVhF1dXns6fvJKBthD0UISCd-YooHNvvjw8NnAhz5VT3UJh_L8A/s2048/323279850_1532842380569467_8981962475459706804_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA7Evts2N6cp2O21g9xO_BK_DzKAO6eXpLXVVMnpXsa4OHZiude55pqEDVCgS8_1rwLmJxroGGDIQPjslIhO47c2jjwc43aHRmTOP9MUHwExxNMAdDUZw3E5QUYmYAKOjcETxgMzxqVhF1dXns6fvJKBthD0UISCd-YooHNvvjw8NnAhz5VT3UJh_L8A/w300-h400/323279850_1532842380569467_8981962475459706804_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />Illumen Magazine, edited by Tyree Campbell, published two of my speculative poems, “Backwards and in Glass Heels,” and “Haunted Algorithm” (the latter received an Honorable Mention in the 2022 SFFP Speculative Poetry Awards, long form.) The Winter 2023 issue is available in print or e-copy from <a href="https://www.hiraethsffh.com/product-page/illumen-winter-2023-edited-by-tyree-campbell">Hiraeth Publishing</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCVTrpUOsBpe6thUDUwkNf06SJFDKVBJ_kDPw2nQDvuTtsOHirTU9hCA7d-VRRlVQO5bxNwIas2ByyiIPwJVL2n5FyY-_eM1QJyo8ZTQRSI7iTA4TPoEcQmoUERSwjuSHXwhMHxAmH_NsMPsLPzQQSaXfWY7BtWOJM18zJCgMeLTzcGHlnlcK9d5ua8g/s1200/Voices%20from%20the%20Writers%20Place.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCVTrpUOsBpe6thUDUwkNf06SJFDKVBJ_kDPw2nQDvuTtsOHirTU9hCA7d-VRRlVQO5bxNwIas2ByyiIPwJVL2n5FyY-_eM1QJyo8ZTQRSI7iTA4TPoEcQmoUERSwjuSHXwhMHxAmH_NsMPsLPzQQSaXfWY7BtWOJM18zJCgMeLTzcGHlnlcK9d5ua8g/w400-h400/Voices%20from%20the%20Writers%20Place.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />The Writers Place of Kansas City released <a href="https://thewritersplace.bandcamp.com/album/voices-from-the-writers-place-vol-2">Voices from the Writers Place, Volume 2</a>, an audiobook of local poets. It’s available for purchase on Bandcamp. My poem, “Alligator Tooth,” is included. Many thanks to James Benger.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNvy5mdm_hkqmpUMLI0DZqjNsyp38FZunj8f_gU_WmMYViAEDLYp-zohlJn0BzDPnAE9TjrA2_s3fLkUJSGOEKkJm0Sp-7TvoCMd-I8uPxzd1LgkCkT6DDBrgJV1ks2Ry864iHPbJD1ZD-sVrv2O4rrSEctxmPmVVfM5bfDu3xNrXCT3MsUNhc8y3vlw/s1338/Lothlorien.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="748" data-original-width="1338" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNvy5mdm_hkqmpUMLI0DZqjNsyp38FZunj8f_gU_WmMYViAEDLYp-zohlJn0BzDPnAE9TjrA2_s3fLkUJSGOEKkJm0Sp-7TvoCMd-I8uPxzd1LgkCkT6DDBrgJV1ks2Ry864iHPbJD1ZD-sVrv2O4rrSEctxmPmVVfM5bfDu3xNrXCT3MsUNhc8y3vlw/w400-h224/Lothlorien.PNG" width="400" /></a></div><br />Lothlorien Poetry Journal, one of my favorite literary spaces, published five of my poems, “<a href="https://lothlorienpoetryjournal.blogspot.com/2023/01/five-poems-by-lauren-scharhag.html">Medusa Browses the Beauty Aisle,” “The Ghost Forest,” “Curse of the Spider Woman,” “Snakes and Boxes,” and “Root</a>.” Many thanks to editor Strider Marcus Jones for giving my work a home again.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhlCNM0OMv5MBYDENnnj4qgB2RNcdbKSvjwsqM1PvP2hM_7-m__ga4UGswru8iM1BfWIMlc87uUfa9aCDbk9zPzeXWRIr7nzU742Fmf4JzNA1nU4uJ_h2pA1SE4eO8cv40ACeCq2T7BFcziF0PVEhNm5TEbrMjQIbSxeRKxZJ_OBz-7hJQ3hRfIg2B_Q/s886/Dope%20Fiend.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="886" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhlCNM0OMv5MBYDENnnj4qgB2RNcdbKSvjwsqM1PvP2hM_7-m__ga4UGswru8iM1BfWIMlc87uUfa9aCDbk9zPzeXWRIr7nzU742Fmf4JzNA1nU4uJ_h2pA1SE4eO8cv40ACeCq2T7BFcziF0PVEhNm5TEbrMjQIbSxeRKxZJ_OBz-7hJQ3hRfIg2B_Q/w400-h243/Dope%20Fiend.PNG" width="400" /></a></div><br />The Dope Fiend Daily published “<a href="https://thedopefienddaily.blogspot.com/2023/01/earth-and-sky-by-lauren-scharhag.html?fbclid=IwAR0JikzMUZ_n5z8eph_TBPuO59_LEal7U2-vyGF46J5-xjvjL4fw5I6wh-0">Earth and Sky</a>.” I am eternally grateful to editor Scott Simmons for giving my words a home on the regular.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJy-DqW2uwfHXoGv3XS3NgEbuY_nAdgFLyBrAidDK60FQDtSlunt7RZYbCc41lRV3I_t0DbYby_ilQlG5j4Zi8do6X9J_vfG3XPBvbWpGk7WPgGAH9bHqzXduuCbl0YJGHqzCcigwrEnYoL_GJS4bw8-b-qw9saFfcRi8OExsKnco7xJbcd9ai-8FW9A/s800/Rye%20Whiskey.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJy-DqW2uwfHXoGv3XS3NgEbuY_nAdgFLyBrAidDK60FQDtSlunt7RZYbCc41lRV3I_t0DbYby_ilQlG5j4Zi8do6X9J_vfG3XPBvbWpGk7WPgGAH9bHqzXduuCbl0YJGHqzCcigwrEnYoL_GJS4bw8-b-qw9saFfcRi8OExsKnco7xJbcd9ai-8FW9A/w400-h400/Rye%20Whiskey.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />The Rye Whiskey Review published "<a href="https://ryethewhiskeyreview.blogspot.com/2023/01/birdsong-by-lauren-scharhag.html?fbclid=IwAR3Ya29yHmNkGiDku3fN_8vd_xlFkj1o9AiZokK0ZIXtpPUCOPkP_KtblG4">Birdsong</a>." Thank you, as always, to editor John Patrick Robbins.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOpkZWQsJb2brvWw7v5koYhB4HopDX6Tafk5zUqHya-n2Sa9f14U0YokqFLBO8orx8gwU7Gb1oHC9KeNmuSlGuxh1RUFOu1MRuZ6HZQ2poP5ILkz3e5AJbOmrTx_Z9v9PRm6bJpQiy49GAMiEgWY2_Sg_P7GrpArE7ad8ZSCzV28cnyCjEMtx_pRmawQ/s988/Written%20Tales_2.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="622" data-original-width="988" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOpkZWQsJb2brvWw7v5koYhB4HopDX6Tafk5zUqHya-n2Sa9f14U0YokqFLBO8orx8gwU7Gb1oHC9KeNmuSlGuxh1RUFOu1MRuZ6HZQ2poP5ILkz3e5AJbOmrTx_Z9v9PRm6bJpQiy49GAMiEgWY2_Sg_P7GrpArE7ad8ZSCzV28cnyCjEMtx_pRmawQ/w400-h251/Written%20Tales_2.PNG" width="400" /></a></div><br />Written Tales published my poem, “<a href="https://writtentales.substack.com/p/home-for-christmas">Home for Christmas</a>.” It’s a subscription magazine, but they offer a free 7-day trial to view content. Many thanks to Kevin for accepting this piece.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA8YHsN2VVnc3wSiN6FP5Se8ufaMGxcMwMoNQXxKwk6puWv-B6e4jcjE0L0Dqfrlgb0f4PaXjKzuNa_YWiMPVoIkiM5r_nl6WAoh-ORNK8zKZQkY6CHYFu2QEpZeMmQbWEQud-dzbecOVMZH8oZnKgK7WkFG7hunr6NeGqaGU1SPrQRE9-6_CPl6QCpw/s680/Decomp.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="680" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA8YHsN2VVnc3wSiN6FP5Se8ufaMGxcMwMoNQXxKwk6puWv-B6e4jcjE0L0Dqfrlgb0f4PaXjKzuNa_YWiMPVoIkiM5r_nl6WAoh-ORNK8zKZQkY6CHYFu2QEpZeMmQbWEQud-dzbecOVMZH8oZnKgK7WkFG7hunr6NeGqaGU1SPrQRE9-6_CPl6QCpw/s320/Decomp.png" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>And finally, my prose-poem, “<a href="https://decompjournal.com/scharhag-the-two-of-coins">The Two of Coins</a>,” appeared in Decomp Journal’s Issue 6: Refugee Futurities. It includes an audio version of the piece. This poem will also appear in Midnight Glossolalia, the poetry collaboration I did with Scott Ferry and Lillian Necakov, forthcoming from Meat for Tea Press.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Appearance</b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDFDb69XZJleXwjvAhNsIydXg1jbigsGI_jos1zvKbajYoIOXSQVFjk0tcgFB43nbSO0Ph0lvJBm7U0IdmxZ6tcgb5RKeStYf97dN-2KN4aSXNn0CY3mdNSCiVVE9tKOXIAZmODZFGMHX3hkdjWjblrN-LOpn3ord9mlzaWOtmz8GTbNJz-zdKkB0pkg/s2048/304919217_484136927052312_7999831988714012319_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDFDb69XZJleXwjvAhNsIydXg1jbigsGI_jos1zvKbajYoIOXSQVFjk0tcgFB43nbSO0Ph0lvJBm7U0IdmxZ6tcgb5RKeStYf97dN-2KN4aSXNn0CY3mdNSCiVVE9tKOXIAZmODZFGMHX3hkdjWjblrN-LOpn3ord9mlzaWOtmz8GTbNJz-zdKkB0pkg/s320/304919217_484136927052312_7999831988714012319_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Scott Ferry, Lillian Necakov and I will be on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/meatforteacast">Meat for Teacast</a> this coming Thursday, Feb. 2, at 7 pm. The Meat for Tea Podcast is on Goodpods, Apple and Spotify. Many thanks to Elizabeth MacDuffie for not only publishing us, but for inviting us to talk about our work. If you can’t tune in live, it will be available to listen later.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Forthcoming Publications</b><br />Midnight Glossolalia, the poetry collaboration by Scott Ferry, Lillian Necakov and myself, will be released by Meat for Tea Press in March. </div><div><br /></div><div>Synopsis: In Midnight Glossolalia, three poets braid their voices into a kingdom of dark matter, speaking in tongues on subjects both modern and mystical. These 63 poems are an alchemical brew composed of gods, ghosts, UFOs, alternate dimensions, ancestors, science, technology, math, music, nature, and Fruit Loops. They are the chemtrails of lost songs, a muffled heart piano swelling with the mystery of existence. <br /><br />My latest solo poetry collection, Moonlight and Monsters, will be released by Gnashing Teeth Press in June. </div><div><br /></div><div>Synopsis: The poems are divided into three sections, Moonlight, Monsters, and General Weirdness. They are poems that find a home in the fantastical, in the celestial, in magic and mysticism, in indigenous beliefs, in mythology, and in folklore. In examining things that are considered strange, other, or even monstrous, they strive for something relatable and universal. They look for the human stories beneath the sideshow, a way into and back out of the labyrinth.<br /><br /><br /><b>Don’t forget to check out my other works! </b><br />Poetry collections: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/West-Side-Girl-Other-Poems-ebook/dp/B00HK3PKBO/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1388257716&sr=8-7&keywords=lauren+scharhag">West Side Girl & Other Poems</a>,* <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Requiem-Robot-Dog-Lauren-Scharhag/dp/1099369037/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=lauren+scharhag&qid=1558471237&s=gateway&sr=8-6">Requiem for a Robot Dog</a> (Cajun Mutt Press), <a href="https://prolificpress.com/bookstore/chapbook-series-c-14/high-water-lines-by-lauren-scharhag-p-313.html?fbclid=IwAR2cFBEA6cZrdHWfw2LCC7jSjSU2io7xaEoxJIq460gHVSfCQXlR6S5TZiA">High Water Lines</a> (Prolific Press), and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Languages-First-Last-Lauren-Scharhag/dp/9389690587/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=lauren+scharhag&qid=1581703337&sr=8-5">Languages, First and Last</a> (Cyberwit Press)</div><div><br /></div><div>Fiction: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Our-Miss-Engel-Vampire-Story-ebook/dp/B0769XV7Z5/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1540560344&sr=8-1&keywords=lauren+scharhag">Our Miss Engel</a>* (a vampire novella), <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074CF2R5Y/?ie=UTF8&redirect=true&ref_=series_rw_dp_sw">The Order of the Four Sons series</a>* (a six-book series) <br /><br />*Available on Kindle Unlimited <br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>Lauren Scharhaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14627677132564154350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-389791780617892672.post-73577228474451273782023-01-05T10:42:00.008-06:002023-01-06T23:06:05.624-06:00New poetry collection from Gnashing Teeth Press<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9F0hkhZIv8K5RwVDlmscxDerBe69Be-JhcbRoavAGxEUGWjcvIkT-lbR0cbie4GczlVOVV7LiS8nSLdI5OiE8U16k7bXmQGU4lquinSMYGomAATQyjPO8pjDppmtXakMRSGmfWm19MeNP6LjgYYL1Vwg9HlRZ-T9ZNjg5KLWC_E5yxsVxL8vHch3Lsg/s1080/My%20project-1%20(20).jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9F0hkhZIv8K5RwVDlmscxDerBe69Be-JhcbRoavAGxEUGWjcvIkT-lbR0cbie4GczlVOVV7LiS8nSLdI5OiE8U16k7bXmQGU4lquinSMYGomAATQyjPO8pjDppmtXakMRSGmfWm19MeNP6LjgYYL1Vwg9HlRZ-T9ZNjg5KLWC_E5yxsVxL8vHch3Lsg/w640-h640/My%20project-1%20(20).jpg" /></a><br /><br />I am thrilled to share the official news - my latest poetry collection, Moonlight and Monsters, will be published this year by Gnashing Teeth Press. Many thanks to editor Karen Cline-Tardiff and congrats to my fellow writers.<br /><br /><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Synopsis</b><br />These poems are divided into three sections, Moonlight, Monsters, and General Weirdness. They are poems that find a home in the fantastical, in the celestial, in magic and mysticism, in indigenous beliefs, in mythology, and in folklore. In examining things that are considered strange, other, or even monstrous, they strive for something relatable and universal. They look for the human stories beneath the sideshow, a way into and back out of the labyrinth. <br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Here is a sample poem from the collection:<div><div><br /></div><div>Acheiropoieta (a cadralor) </div><div><br />1. Catechism <br /><br />I discovered masturbation when I was three. My mother caught me and slapped my hand, <br />told me I mustn’t ever do that again. When I was five, I spied on an older cousin <br />in the shower. When I was seven, my catechism teacher told me that touching myself <br />was dirty and displeasing to the Lord. Well, Lord, I remember thinking, this is where you and I <br />part ways. The nuns, also, were quick to rap the knuckles of a budding sinner. <br />But I wanted to feel everything. Sometimes, I’m afraid of just how much. <br />There were times when I abstained, when the guilt and the shame wore me down. Now, <br />I can make myself come without touching. Look, Ma, no hands. It’s like a loophole. <br />It’s like tantra, fantasizing so vividly that I achieve cerebral climax, pleasure <br />radiating outwards from the mind, third eye unlocked. My cup runneth over. <br /><br />2. Cancun <br /><br />We wear the jungle air like wet silk, drink spiced honey tequila and mezcal, <br />agua fresca and chaya juice. Even a plunge into Ik Kil’s subterranean depths does nothing <br />to cool our ardor. In the open-air lobby, birds rustle in the rafters, clay-colored thrushes <br />and doves pecking at crystals from a spilled sugar packet. A slaughter of iguanas basks <br />in the rock garden. In the breezeways and cafes, the waiters bring us bowls of ceviche. <br />We pick out bits of shrimp to share with feral cats, gorged fat as tourists on resort food. <br />We hop a bus to Chichen Itza. In the Mayan village, they feed us the tenderest pibil pork, <br />roasted in pit ovens in the Yucatan soil. The 16th century cathedral is built from pillaged stones <br />of former indigenous strongholds. Kulkulkan itself obscured by vendors hawking souvenirs. <br />My mind rings with an afterimage of a black skull wall, the clap, the nine-times echoes. <br /><br />3. The Condemned <br /><br />He's lived more than half his life on death row. <br />Now he makes delicate origami cranes, threads them with filaments plucked <br />from his own meditation cushion. He sends them to me by the envelopeful. <br />They spill forth, scatter the table like stars, upcycled scrap paper, brightly-colored pages <br />torn from books on Buddhism. I take them out into the world and photograph them. <br />I leave one on a Dia de los Muertos altar, among the hundreds of other notes left for the dead. <br />Others I save to hang on a little white Easter tree. <br />They dangle like hanged men, southern trees still bearing strange fruit, a resurrection. <br />For he so loved the world, that he still wished for it to know peace. <br />One hundred down. Only nine hundred more to go. <br /><br />4. Epitaph <br /><br />I don't know where any of my people are buried. I am a poor santera. <br />Instead, I go with you to your family plots. Sometimes, we pack a picnic, <br />eating pears and cheese, chocolate and almonds, in the shade of a sycamore. <br />We pour one out for the ancestors. Sometimes, we sweep graves, pull weeds. <br />The mowers have been through, and they're careless about running over plastic floral <br />arrangements, toppling mementos. We pick up the debris, right what was desecrated. <br />The dead are like God. Maybe they’re here; maybe they're not. Maybe they can hear us; <br />maybe they can't. Maybe they turn a deaf ear. We do shrooms to try and see them. <br />They appear, but never like you expect. I don’t think they tell us anything <br />we don't already know: What you are, I have been. What I am now, you will be. <br /><br />5. Soil <br /><br />My grandfather was an artist. I used to play in his studio, where two mirrors <br />faced each other. I liked to see myself, caught in this silver crosshatch of infinity. <br />It's the same feeling that I get standing under a pure blue sky, looking up <br />into the branches of a birch, searching for nests. I eat and drink the earth. <br />I ask the same questions everyone has: “Can you hear me? Do you love me?” <br />All I hear is my own voice, echoing back, Hear me. Love me. <br />The hand and the speaker do not reveal themselves. My grandfather’s hands, <br />like the farmer’s and the pit cook’s, were soiled and chapped from his labors. <br />You learn to read the brushstrokes and furrows. <br />I take up clay and begin. <br /><br /> <p></p></div></div></div>Lauren Scharhaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14627677132564154350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-389791780617892672.post-13362402060226860272022-12-28T13:46:00.007-06:002023-02-26T15:01:40.947-06:00December News and 2022 Roundup<b>2022 Roundup</b><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixiqcbi3hy9I-Hj4s55_b0BixxbQgvU8URybNk84C8D2SL-qBiZkj0g5w7ONIAtB77XgWCfMmfpDw5TJbPXiNFCBA4-StCaVVcZd5cFNR8qT7qTuAPN8_mfOQvVMyRwLdCbWB866gZcFvWdnQO_IEJcdBR8L5jfmx7lcAePWz5XYkGptJyASxQsYMrvQ/s924/2022%20Year%20in%20Review%20Pic.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="706" data-original-width="924" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixiqcbi3hy9I-Hj4s55_b0BixxbQgvU8URybNk84C8D2SL-qBiZkj0g5w7ONIAtB77XgWCfMmfpDw5TJbPXiNFCBA4-StCaVVcZd5cFNR8qT7qTuAPN8_mfOQvVMyRwLdCbWB866gZcFvWdnQO_IEJcdBR8L5jfmx7lcAePWz5XYkGptJyASxQsYMrvQ/w640-h490/2022%20Year%20in%20Review%20Pic.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Well, friends, another year draws to a close. It hasn’t been my most productive year, but 44 pieces published in 26 venues sure ain’t nothing to sneeze at. In this mix were 6 pieces of fiction and 1 article. I am always thrilled to place work internationally, and this year, my work appeared in publications from England, Ireland, Canada, Mauritius, and Australia.<div><br /></div><div>It was also my honor to blurb the following poetry collections: <br /><br />In Ghostly Onehead, by JD Nelson <br />skinless in the cereal aisle, by Scott Ferry <br />The Eternals by Ryan Quinn Flanagan <br />Sojourns, by John Drudge <br /><br />Please consider giving these excellent poets a read. <br /><br />I co-authored a poetry collection with Scott Ferry and Lillian Necakov called <i>Midnight Glossolalia</i>. It will be published by Meat for Tea Press, with a target release date of March 2023. <br /><br />I also placed a solo collection, <i>Moonlight and Monsters</i>, with a publisher—details forthcoming on that. Target release date for that is June 2023. <br /><br />2022 honors included: <br /><br />Shortlist, 2022 Bag of Bones Short Story Competition – “Merchandise” <br />Longlist, 2022 Laureate Prize, Harbor Editions – Moonlight and Monsters <br />Finalist, 2022 Stephen A. DiBiase Poetry Prize - “Priestess” <br />SFPA 2022 Speculative Poetry Contest, Honorable Mention, September 2022 - “Haunted Algorithm”</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2CufnoRidMO6EUhXrvkSO6ExCOfNDkDYTHCmunooENhjrvs7EunMghroNRfYOgCke54eejp0VJjgm9e-6YpNoXRKrSc8vogxLCFbwnOCeoMq_MqmPCiTpu3uNB6ez3sfythPpTIwZnNSsowK3hwtEFpcTCCmOE7sF_fLYuMqDjBGYkiykfgzXXsqfAA/s1080/Pushcart%20Nov%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2CufnoRidMO6EUhXrvkSO6ExCOfNDkDYTHCmunooENhjrvs7EunMghroNRfYOgCke54eejp0VJjgm9e-6YpNoXRKrSc8vogxLCFbwnOCeoMq_MqmPCiTpu3uNB6ez3sfythPpTIwZnNSsowK3hwtEFpcTCCmOE7sF_fLYuMqDjBGYkiykfgzXXsqfAA/w400-h400/Pushcart%20Nov%202022.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I also just got word this month that I received a Pushcart Prize nomination from the Dope Fiend Daily for my poem, “<a href="https://thedopefienddaily.blogspot.com/2021/01/confection-by-lauren-scharhag.html">Confection</a>.” Many thanks to editor Scott Simmons, and congrats to my fellow nominees. <br /><br /><br /><b>Publications for December</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVMtRwjnoO38ltkr0dQOAOwINbJOiP7ePDE94h_3f7qP_roXgRiRRTC5vooB_VPvw6r21_P6EzOy0ri9t1zZ2PNoo3xVE1NtkrPhjO-QP5Ya8vGWDzljiJe_1yHEtHbGD6UyNS4gja7IOn08XrupG9L4rslDm10I4FzGX4IjKdDauB5Uce6eEd4sXjHQ/s1592/Screenshot_20221228-134344_2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1592" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVMtRwjnoO38ltkr0dQOAOwINbJOiP7ePDE94h_3f7qP_roXgRiRRTC5vooB_VPvw6r21_P6EzOy0ri9t1zZ2PNoo3xVE1NtkrPhjO-QP5Ya8vGWDzljiJe_1yHEtHbGD6UyNS4gja7IOn08XrupG9L4rslDm10I4FzGX4IjKdDauB5Uce6eEd4sXjHQ/w434-h640/Screenshot_20221228-134344_2.png" width="434" /></a></div></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div> My prose-poem, “<a href="https://marrowmagazine.com/electronic-voice-phenomenon/">Electronic Voice Phenomenon</a>,” appeared in Marrow Magazine. Many thanks to editors Caitlin Woolley and Kori Hensell. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqpbLMwHjE2Ll73E7rgxTH4vrr2hZ59yALB5NSMBbvdrddnXDGIAy1BWp5rQNEBO0uGsMMaLVN1JamVnbaAfkll0E4lPPpBifH-ppxPkQCOBUP7bX1jr5TpFezUL8DDHEC0Qgpes6A8Df8xaWdVQx8PazsYKt4NTmhdvOxZFjSl1vyEv5ert_N1Cm9cg/s1650/Screenshot_20221227-123545_2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1650" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqpbLMwHjE2Ll73E7rgxTH4vrr2hZ59yALB5NSMBbvdrddnXDGIAy1BWp5rQNEBO0uGsMMaLVN1JamVnbaAfkll0E4lPPpBifH-ppxPkQCOBUP7bX1jr5TpFezUL8DDHEC0Qgpes6A8Df8xaWdVQx8PazsYKt4NTmhdvOxZFjSl1vyEv5ert_N1Cm9cg/w418-h640/Screenshot_20221227-123545_2.png" width="418" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Kori also gave me the opportunity to talk about the poem in an <a href="https://marrowmagazine.com/ghosts-as-embodiments-of-memoryan-interview-with-lauren-scharhag/">interview</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglzXSEICRIJTPrYIQ7Wk0xzhsVJe3vidXDLw88BzQkPrA07jbp4bBNjcfKY-_NNg_TQ-CRrC-Hfrt0k3OjVvxhhxqAQE3VgIVsmGIBjarZY-l4xAbuU4uZQmM_8dd0piGbfRbkwvVCckq2KJWBLcCuEu6cAFH0TQfedD0msLMTCYKKsDKsX7YaNUzl0Q/s884/Devil's%20Trap%20Art%202.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="626" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglzXSEICRIJTPrYIQ7Wk0xzhsVJe3vidXDLw88BzQkPrA07jbp4bBNjcfKY-_NNg_TQ-CRrC-Hfrt0k3OjVvxhhxqAQE3VgIVsmGIBjarZY-l4xAbuU4uZQmM_8dd0piGbfRbkwvVCckq2KJWBLcCuEu6cAFH0TQfedD0msLMTCYKKsDKsX7YaNUzl0Q/w454-h640/Devil's%20Trap%20Art%202.PNG" width="454" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> <i>Art by John Donald Carlucci</i></span></div> <br /> My Gothic Christmas tale, “<a href="https://shoggoth.net/fiction/the-devils-trap/">The Devil’s Trap</a>,” is up at Shoggoth.net as part of their horror Advent Calendar. It was paired with art by John Donald Carlucci.<br /> <br /> “The Devil’s Trap” is the story of a young woman named Mila Grunwald who awakens with no memory, in the care of her well-to-do family. Strange occurrences plague Mila as she struggles to piece together who she is, including seeing a mysterious man skulking around the Grunwald home. Hope you get a chance to read and enjoy it.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Thank you to everyone for reading and supporting my work. Happy New Year to all. I hope 2023 brings you peace, joy, and inspiration. <br /><br /> <br /> </div></div></div>Lauren Scharhaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14627677132564154350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-389791780617892672.post-47690397200563722012022-11-28T14:16:00.001-06:002022-11-28T14:16:14.364-06:00November News<b>Forthcoming Publications</b><br />I am thrilled to share I have two books coming out in 2023. The first, <i>Midnight Glossolalia</i>, is a collection of poems I co-authored last summer with two of my favorite poets, the brilliant Scott Ferry and Lillian Necakov. It will be released by Meat for Tea Press. Scott, Lillian, and I wrote the book as call and response – one of us would write a poem, and the other two would respond. All of the poems are concerned with the strange and surreal, including but not limited to: ghosts, UFOs, alternate dimensions, ancestors, science, technology, math, music, nature, and Fruit Loops. <br /><br />The other book is a solo collection I wrote called <i>Moonlight and Monsters</i>. The publisher hasn’t made an official announcement yet, so I can’t share too many publication details. The book is divided into three sections: Moonlight, Monsters, and General Weirdness. They are poems that find a home in the fantastical, in the celestial, in magic and mysticism, in indigenous beliefs, in mythology, and in folklore. In examining things that are considered strange, other, or even monstrous, they strive for something relatable and universal. They look for the human stories beneath the sideshow, a way into and back out of the labyrinth. <br /><br />More to come!<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Appearance</b><br /><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOakHGSrAcR5co7a1im5aSGBeF3U0CPXOmWpb1AiG_fx1LqsjSHvqhYCaX-gHMlZ3pAnHVOJ3wBlaHvM7drp7Lq4MflazIGpO_oAfeUmyPv_3PNVlo7AuwqKDHFrzyWLUtZ4zPJrySL25SlxyPmbRWhtjvRBtx8WPuqYr0X-37KGiTy2alsKpvw80QUQ/s500/Uncloistered.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOakHGSrAcR5co7a1im5aSGBeF3U0CPXOmWpb1AiG_fx1LqsjSHvqhYCaX-gHMlZ3pAnHVOJ3wBlaHvM7drp7Lq4MflazIGpO_oAfeUmyPv_3PNVlo7AuwqKDHFrzyWLUtZ4zPJrySL25SlxyPmbRWhtjvRBtx8WPuqYr0X-37KGiTy2alsKpvw80QUQ/w400-h400/Uncloistered.png" width="400" /></a></div><div><br />This month, I was a featured reader at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Uncloisteredpoetrytoledo">Uncloistered Poetry Online</a>. Unfortunately, they don’t record the show, so I don’t have a video to share, but if you enjoy reading/listening to poetry, I recommend this event out of Toledo, OH. They do readings/open mics at least once a month. Jonie McIntire, poet laureate of Lucas County, OH, is a great host. Many thanks to her for inviting me.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><b>Other News</b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqB8dntUbucGFe37dcTgu5GZ2Af2aZBLB5ysaKnjJLROEZAnm3pNbBcy6fjs8sZozWBMJfgpYGXbjfCypMB6hjDfJ2FZQ_qe8o92xe0l9R4-E792FJEZVoSzmJzohN2ozwn7IkUAqB4uWbI8z2ZekHIiOekQW4hOSp45m85gdf0LHD13i6bEwR0c7tzw/s326/Hummingbird.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="322" data-original-width="326" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqB8dntUbucGFe37dcTgu5GZ2Af2aZBLB5ysaKnjJLROEZAnm3pNbBcy6fjs8sZozWBMJfgpYGXbjfCypMB6hjDfJ2FZQ_qe8o92xe0l9R4-E792FJEZVoSzmJzohN2ozwn7IkUAqB4uWbI8z2ZekHIiOekQW4hOSp45m85gdf0LHD13i6bEwR0c7tzw/w400-h395/Hummingbird.PNG" width="400" /></a></div><b><br /></b>Poet Lynn Long read my piece, “White Noise,” on an episode of the podcast <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/3xKLrLDawrtlbgsTOo1tEN?si=_UkbSj6qSoKkBRUWAAtNJQ">Hummingbird Blink: Nectar Poetry</a>. Lynn is one of my favorite poets – her work is sensitive, romantic, and beautiful. I am so honored that she thought my work is worth reading, and if you’ve never heard Lynn read, you’re in for a treat. <br /><br /><br /><b>Happy Holidays</b></div><div>For all who celebrate, I hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving. As we go into the gift-giving season, don’t forget I have many books available on Amazon. Any one of them would make a great present to the book lovers in your life!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgiyah2NUumrNLajZhKcpntiF1UnwcJQKZ9vYghhdyWdfvxWKS8ysnhzpSyoQYoOYoGcMXhi6veQoCKuTGLeGhnwi1vA4yEbLNvLpo3oo6ALWBcR7DytHbJnKxbllH096nZ5cMi4O8SRaVcdxYFUHabWlKeif22mprRk9B4j32yiL6crXBZFNiXPEeoA/s1600/Book%20I%20for%20Twitter.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgiyah2NUumrNLajZhKcpntiF1UnwcJQKZ9vYghhdyWdfvxWKS8ysnhzpSyoQYoOYoGcMXhi6veQoCKuTGLeGhnwi1vA4yEbLNvLpo3oo6ALWBcR7DytHbJnKxbllH096nZ5cMi4O8SRaVcdxYFUHabWlKeif22mprRk9B4j32yiL6crXBZFNiXPEeoA/w640-h360/Book%20I%20for%20Twitter.png" width="640" /></a></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>The complete <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074CF2R5Y/?ie=UTF8&redirect=true&ref_=series_rw_dp_sw">Order of the Four Sons series</a> (Books 1-6) is available in paperback and on Kindle Unlimited.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Flxp9CpaqEvIujkADBt8LuJlH2h9I6bExhUDmFwDFK2V73ltGGZf3Vqy_kpvSiT6DQYQUW8ot7-xyaxtflOjuGwzV7WM8p85v50QYuTMSK8KkRgMQK1tVoReDlvAXG3QOoemTsckjeB1cb5kDY6v1EGo1-hSJOt0-OzeSAQN1ZCG9vmKrb1twgUang/s2250/OUR%20MISS%20ENGEL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="1410" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Flxp9CpaqEvIujkADBt8LuJlH2h9I6bExhUDmFwDFK2V73ltGGZf3Vqy_kpvSiT6DQYQUW8ot7-xyaxtflOjuGwzV7WM8p85v50QYuTMSK8KkRgMQK1tVoReDlvAXG3QOoemTsckjeB1cb5kDY6v1EGo1-hSJOt0-OzeSAQN1ZCG9vmKrb1twgUang/w251-h400/OUR%20MISS%20ENGEL.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><br /><div>My horror novella, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Our-Miss-Engel-Vampire-Story-ebook/dp/B0769XV7Z5/ref=sr_1_13?crid=1W1T9010DKQO&keywords=lauren+scharhag&qid=1649087349&sprefix=lauren+scharhag%2Caps%2C106&sr=8-13">Our Miss Engel</a>, is available on Kindle Unlimited.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9KVcAOVQxDAOSfi5x1SQ8SdMlzyPwMcizdXdb7OAvOhFGAUMLnx2UosS6pgBcGYD4P_8zu2EeJ4X3mbTkCJeNT_LtqQNOqz64bHLvRsoNeBYw_8_9qeyx67HJ7xBcoIOZllOGsw4Dlz0V8EvlpC2erU05h1m2eOsUNODcG2Ng4Z9DHmHjGv4VCyqHYA/s2071/West%20Side%20Girl%20Resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2071" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9KVcAOVQxDAOSfi5x1SQ8SdMlzyPwMcizdXdb7OAvOhFGAUMLnx2UosS6pgBcGYD4P_8zu2EeJ4X3mbTkCJeNT_LtqQNOqz64bHLvRsoNeBYw_8_9qeyx67HJ7xBcoIOZllOGsw4Dlz0V8EvlpC2erU05h1m2eOsUNODcG2Ng4Z9DHmHjGv4VCyqHYA/w309-h400/West%20Side%20Girl%20Resized.jpg" width="309" /></a></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>My first poetry collection, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/West-Side-Girl-Other-Poems-ebook/dp/B00HK3PKBO/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1388257716&sr=8-7&keywords=lauren+scharhag">West Side Girl & Other Poems</a>, is available in paperback and on Kindle Unlimited.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8tV2M9TsvIaDQolIhubynSNsCqWfOWU8tJ2jQEcgIyVJpZK9Bjr51pXEhbQDI2J7_ntxUQMswR08eyBHejgJ1MLSs8Tuakr8_uMArNJUCCoDo2kNvIRBXky4bDzXYvaH-3Ooi9u2tGekd-VwPB2sVTu6gcjD_yk_FmaiSd7cSj_3O77w7IJ-MtpDACQ/s2250/Languages%20First%20and%20Last.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="1410" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8tV2M9TsvIaDQolIhubynSNsCqWfOWU8tJ2jQEcgIyVJpZK9Bjr51pXEhbQDI2J7_ntxUQMswR08eyBHejgJ1MLSs8Tuakr8_uMArNJUCCoDo2kNvIRBXky4bDzXYvaH-3Ooi9u2tGekd-VwPB2sVTu6gcjD_yk_FmaiSd7cSj_3O77w7IJ-MtpDACQ/w251-h400/Languages%20First%20and%20Last.png" width="251" /></a></div><br />My poetry collections, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Languages-First-Last-Lauren-Scharhag/dp/9389690587/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=lauren+scharhag&qid=1581703337&sr=8-5">Languages, First and Last</a> (Cyberwit Press) and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Requiem-Robot-Dog-Lauren-Scharhag/dp/1099369037/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=lauren+scharhag&qid=1558471237&s=gateway&sr=8-6">Requiem for a Robot Dog</a> (Cajun Mutt Press), are available in paperback. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdhSnoSNbbQkwbxHAXHv6G8sEDHhi-2ier5xC3cvXZ_84B3ygP4UuCEc9sXHQ4XDDM4Pz7L1ep7pI3Rs0zIbarvegwKw5lReWEss4fzs0MPknf3rrgQD3DYq5hYfWGBZr72EqHzLlFPf7cLinZCmCSZ9B0CVgCLjcbzsyqyuFMP7VeowcyKna6B5e3vA/s500/Requiem.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdhSnoSNbbQkwbxHAXHv6G8sEDHhi-2ier5xC3cvXZ_84B3ygP4UuCEc9sXHQ4XDDM4Pz7L1ep7pI3Rs0zIbarvegwKw5lReWEss4fzs0MPknf3rrgQD3DYq5hYfWGBZr72EqHzLlFPf7cLinZCmCSZ9B0CVgCLjcbzsyqyuFMP7VeowcyKna6B5e3vA/w266-h400/Requiem.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I have hard copies of Languages and Requiem, so if you would like a signed copy, please contact me, <a href="mailto:laurenscharhag@gmail.com">laurenscharhag@gmail.com</a>. </div></div></div>Lauren Scharhaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14627677132564154350noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-389791780617892672.post-72407935301118257482022-11-12T14:44:00.001-06:002022-11-15T23:54:01.136-06:00Guest Post: Stephen Cole Reviews The Long Blade of Days Ahead<p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i>I am a big
admirer of Scott Ferry's poetry. I've read many of his books and even blurbed a couple. Scott and I, along with Lillian Necakov, have
recently finished a poetry collaboration together, so I am pleased to share
this review of Scott's latest book, The Long Blade of Days Ahead, by
poet Stephen Cole. </i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><br /></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjguP2GyERUgXGyODupF20oYdQXGNtzcoxKZ9RuSWSa-5EUFozm8KGcq0YVWpYUbNHazI_P8TEalimGT7Rl0JfUz-RwcarBjjTCWhwz6jI-vhLXYWkJ7yrxuavnUa_ryjrVVQ3LtbqaW_gegpSswvnIS21iLNwpt0Xg6XSE4ao_YjB_Gw6joES_WZet9w/s564/Long%20Blade%20of%20Days%20Ahead.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="368" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjguP2GyERUgXGyODupF20oYdQXGNtzcoxKZ9RuSWSa-5EUFozm8KGcq0YVWpYUbNHazI_P8TEalimGT7Rl0JfUz-RwcarBjjTCWhwz6jI-vhLXYWkJ7yrxuavnUa_ryjrVVQ3LtbqaW_gegpSswvnIS21iLNwpt0Xg6XSE4ao_YjB_Gw6joES_WZet9w/w261-h400/Long%20Blade%20of%20Days%20Ahead.PNG" width="261" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i>The Long Blade of Days Ahead </i>is available to
purchase on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Long-Blade-Days-Ahead/dp/1914130693/ref=sr_1_1?crid=83WZMU3LUINT&keywords=the+long+blade+of+days+ahead+scott+ferry&qid=1668285462&sprefix=the+long+blade+of+days+ahead+scott+ferry%2Caps%2C103&sr=8-1">Amazon</a>.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Scott Ferry and
the Connectivity of Poetry by Stephen Cole</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
In so many ways poetry is the unintended consequence of someone’s compulsion—of
human consciousness making its way into a connection. It is always through
consciousness realizing it is in the presence of other consciousnesses that we
become aware of ourselves and poetry is the linguistic mechanism for this
awesome human achievement.<br />
<br />
So poetry is primarily the language act of connectivity. This is how it exerts
its pressure on us and confronts the things that may be dangerously separated
from us and too easily overlooked in that separation. Poetry at its best
overcomes this too often unnoticed isolation and is the antidote that indeed
presents us the unity and autonomy that is so deeply required for the healing
of this too human experience. <br />
<br />
This is what I want to praise the poetry of Scott Ferry and his book of poems,
“The Long Blade of Days Ahead” (Impspired Press, 2022). When you come in to
contact with poetry and it propels itself deeply into an awareness itself, it
becomes a way that could at first be very disturbing but it leaves you
connected to something you have always suspected but could not otherwise make
the connection.<br />
<br />
Poetry is the medicine which, at its best, may completely take you within its
embrace and, like the hug of a lover, heal you. Afterwards, you do not forget
the experience and of course it never leaves you completely or goes away. It
can be picked up and read again. Reading poetry to yourself and others is how
we reinforce and connect with the gift of poetry.<br />
<br />
We owe the poet thanks and of course some monetary support. Nickel for the poet
and you give thanks because you will come to understand why you can breathe again
— and in thankfulness, you may not even hear your own self give up a sigh at
each poem but you know it has been accomplished.<br />
<br />
Here is an example:<br />
<br />
ants<br />
<br />
have streamed into our <br />
kitchen in silent queues<br />
<br />
finding sticky midjool dates <br />
a box of honey nut cheerios<br />
<br />
a tiny fist of rice surrounded<br />
by morning in jaws and bodies<br />
<br />
until i place a canoe of<br />
liquid poison behind the fridge<br />
<br />
where my sons fingers can’t <br />
reach and the next morning <br />
<br />
no itching script on floors <br />
or counters so i knew <br />
<br />
where they were i knew <br />
I would find a clumped <br />
<br />
paragraph a slowly <br />
dying hunger congealing <br />
<br />
in the dark<br />
<br />
••••••</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
(Not in the book)<br />
<br />
my hands are huge<br />
<br />
and i can’t button my mouth on<br />
my fabric is smeared with <br />
faith <br />
<br />
(mostly i lie in these poems—<br />
mirrored miraged<br />
mismanaged)<br />
<br />
i have made a poison cake<br />
with all of this<br />
blight<br />
<br />
still some people love me<br />
i still love god<br />
somehow<br />
<br />
as the light wrapped in fire<br />
touches my fingers they<br />
blister<br />
<br />
yes the sky is the same as<br />
the mouth the wind<br />
treacherous<br />
<br />
i will try to open into it<br />
less pain than <br />
flaying<br />
<br />
i will wear the extra <br />
serotonin like a<br />
badge<br />
<br />
look i can laugh again<br />
look i can <br />
laugh<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">About Stephen</span></b></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I was born in Los Angeles California near the end of the Second World War. I
honestly believe that only rocks and redwood trees are older.<br />
<br />
I was raised in the Hill Country of Northeast Mississippi and the San Fernando
Valley in Southern California, which allows me to conflate opposites at a great
distance. I went to many different schools in my country and overseas. I was
raised with four older sisters and no brothers so this led me to believe that
if there was a God, it was certainly female.<br />
<br />
My education was in philosophy. I was raised in the political tradition that
believes that all people are created equal and that it is the point of every
Nation to form a more perfect union within itself to realize these goals of
equality. Privilege is the ultimate evil in any society.<o:p></o:p></p><p><br /></p>Lauren Scharhaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14627677132564154350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-389791780617892672.post-2727579596737605092022-10-30T13:48:00.006-05:002022-10-30T13:48:40.783-05:00October News<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Publications</span></b></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqAnnNHHQsSA7bXWY4Wx_EePUeQLn24zrRfs4bBQUmmTdzbH3FIxvjEVDDwsfUGzxVZnzbw4i2fv03wLu9KocIunhS2-XV62_4xzFGO61jJGimmzXcP2p17i66x099p_KyNmZGp2Yc-bAFiUj1GWDWYq-eB7UqYB0tTma1BFY_x14ox_a5aDnXsNqxnA/s700/ym_94_figwasp_okeefe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="541" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqAnnNHHQsSA7bXWY4Wx_EePUeQLn24zrRfs4bBQUmmTdzbH3FIxvjEVDDwsfUGzxVZnzbw4i2fv03wLu9KocIunhS2-XV62_4xzFGO61jJGimmzXcP2p17i66x099p_KyNmZGp2Yc-bAFiUj1GWDWYq-eB7UqYB0tTma1BFY_x14ox_a5aDnXsNqxnA/w309-h400/ym_94_figwasp_okeefe.jpg" width="309" /></a></div></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <br /></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Halloween
issue of Yellow Mama is out! It has my short horror story, “<a href="https://blackpetalsks.tripod.com/yellowmama/id2814.html">The Wasp and the
Fig</a>.” Can you believe it– as with the Queer Weird West Tales anthology, my
story is first in the lineup! It is paired with art by Sean O’Keefe (above). Many
thanks to editor Cindy Rosmus.<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <br /></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><b>Excerpt</b><br /></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <br /></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i>The patient, Mia,
was already in her pajamas when Karim went to her room with sensors, tape and
adhesive. Snapping on a pair of rubber gloves, he explained, “I have to attach
all these sensors to you. During the sleep study, we record your brain waves,
the oxygen level in your blood, breathing, heart rate, and eye and leg
movements. Okay?”</i></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNL1VhQF03QQFYfMktVAgYZucIiNBc9_f9dZnfHyOYTUWCvdoGA2CsHTMMMMasUaNuLFRk1EsTjntffVhLbX_569pZmaANMsdC8-IlQS0cDu9DezO2Yw8eXMvwCBTlIEV5fhs91cnMlcGYdJ1OjzEu0Na0VAu24IDwJVTE54C6sPSpiM5Nboj2yaMVYg/s800/Rye%20Whiskey.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNL1VhQF03QQFYfMktVAgYZucIiNBc9_f9dZnfHyOYTUWCvdoGA2CsHTMMMMasUaNuLFRk1EsTjntffVhLbX_569pZmaANMsdC8-IlQS0cDu9DezO2Yw8eXMvwCBTlIEV5fhs91cnMlcGYdJ1OjzEu0Na0VAu24IDwJVTE54C6sPSpiM5Nboj2yaMVYg/w400-h400/Rye%20Whiskey.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">My poem, “<a href="https://ryethewhiskeyreview.blogspot.com/2022/10/emotional-labor-by-lauren-scharhag.html?fbclid=IwAR37SzWHhsDRpPU2SL4vhwqyz8EG1WwEz3_a_EtggEchzRyJL4XoXvH84YI">Emotional
Labor</a>,” is up at the Rye Whiskey Review. Thank you to John and Scott!<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <br /></span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <br /></span></b><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Appearance</span></b></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid1yvvC-qMJ7BYytr-CmeWWVFowYpQPZWywt18-vklyTJbZwar1_kX1K5Gz2VAUWB_X9jhi-lXIZ9mM8I05q5kKujsvbZNK_zM1mRjM2o4wIUl65EldCkSW3AIOXgPsSx42UH0WvOuC1YZfY0w2HtkTtqYgSo-AvDln7GSubLTcU5S7kcADK5M3M_wZQ/s1110/Dr%20Andy%20Podcast.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="644" data-original-width="1110" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid1yvvC-qMJ7BYytr-CmeWWVFowYpQPZWywt18-vklyTJbZwar1_kX1K5Gz2VAUWB_X9jhi-lXIZ9mM8I05q5kKujsvbZNK_zM1mRjM2o4wIUl65EldCkSW3AIOXgPsSx42UH0WvOuC1YZfY0w2HtkTtqYgSo-AvDln7GSubLTcU5S7kcADK5M3M_wZQ/w640-h373/Dr%20Andy%20Podcast.PNG" width="640" /></a></div></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <br /></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I did a fun
interview on Dr. Andy’s Poetry & Technology Hour on KDVS 90.3. If you were
unable to tune in to the live show, the interview is now available as a <a href="https://poetrytechnology.buzzsprout.com/1912726/11577802-lauren-scharhag-and-patrick-grizzell">podcast</a>.
Many thanks to host Andy Jones and producer Katerina Hanks!<br /></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> <br /></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span></div><p>
</p><p></p>Lauren Scharhaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14627677132564154350noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-389791780617892672.post-14419279576569517572022-09-29T16:42:00.003-05:002022-10-30T13:38:27.961-05:00September News<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: inherit;">Honors</b></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRYR_hMfN-ZcReOJKZFzRvxtGJjQszIKF2qSiis3gDbziethGsZQHSDVgiVC-H-1hyrhjIVZkENh4NwqwynCpqFRcQ0mfdzskikOx4COg5greWp8M9HunNOKxWD7YGDaU6cl8arAqVrz_S5U5AiaJaZwXyxttxMCeSkg6mUuMuion-5tMNPR8ZiV1yw/s610/SFPA%20Honorable%20Mention.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="187" data-original-width="610" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRYR_hMfN-ZcReOJKZFzRvxtGJjQszIKF2qSiis3gDbziethGsZQHSDVgiVC-H-1hyrhjIVZkENh4NwqwynCpqFRcQ0mfdzskikOx4COg5greWp8M9HunNOKxWD7YGDaU6cl8arAqVrz_S5U5AiaJaZwXyxttxMCeSkg6mUuMuion-5tMNPR8ZiV1yw/w400-h122/SFPA%20Honorable%20Mention.PNG" width="400" /></a></div><b> <br /></b>I’m delighted
to share that my cadralor poem, “Haunted Algorithm,” received an honorable
mention in the <a href="http://sfpoetry.com/contests/22contest.html">SFPA’s
2022 Speculative Poetry Contest</a>, Long Form category. Many thanks to the
judges and congrats to the winners! I’m afraid the poem isn’t available on the
SFPA’s website, so it stays unpublished and I can still submit it to magazines.
Hopefully, you will be able to read it soon!</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><o:p><br /></o:p><b>New Release<br /></b><b><br /></b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCV1xJ5itxa-9cqkxyTEpHlueqXx-mB23y7zJg51NlY6-rO1BTXX3XUj56R_qQFOlbUJeruNBdps8hCNVFIYa8xtGEz-nvYmxQ5dFJoYLWx78teBHIBNf8g2sc63oMNNY9NsaiRETIXAF053RJBYqPH_1VHVrnbh1tFG5GHLI1HegRx53L9S3CYlKx6Q/s900/QWWT.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCV1xJ5itxa-9cqkxyTEpHlueqXx-mB23y7zJg51NlY6-rO1BTXX3XUj56R_qQFOlbUJeruNBdps8hCNVFIYa8xtGEz-nvYmxQ5dFJoYLWx78teBHIBNf8g2sc63oMNNY9NsaiRETIXAF053RJBYqPH_1VHVrnbh1tFG5GHLI1HegRx53L9S3CYlKx6Q/w266-h400/QWWT.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />The Queer Weird
West Tales anthology has launched! The book is available from <a href="https://smile.amazon.com/Queer-Weird-Tales-Julie-Bozza-ebook/dp/B09W5YK8XH/ref=sr_1_1?crid=35PP50PF9Y3C5&keywords=queer+weird+west+tales&qid=1667155047&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjg1IiwicXNhIjoiMC42NSIsInFzcCI6IjAuODEifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=queer+weird+west+tale%2Caps%2C106&sr=8-1">Amazon</a>, <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1138789">Smashwords</a>, and other retailer. Many thanks to Julie and congrats to my fellow weird westerners!<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>Synopsis: Frontiers
have always attracted the Other - where they find that the Other is always
already there. These 22 stories explore what happens when queer characters
encounter weirdness on the edge of the worlds they know.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>My tale, “No
Mercy Down in the Mine,” is included. In it, Sally “Bootheel” Doyle, an outlaw
on the run from the Sturges gang, gets lost in the desert and stumbles into the
mining town of Mobley. There, she finds the population has been decimated by a
terrifying alien threat, the remaining survivors holed up in a saloon. She has
no choice but to join the people of Mobley as they make their last stand
against a pack of man-eating monsters. But then, Emmett Sturges and his boys
catch up to her. Among the citizens of Mobley, Sally finds unlikely allies and
even admirers. If she can help them survive, maybe they’ll return the favor.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><o:p> <br /></o:p><b>Publications<br /></b><o:p><br /></o:p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmQR3r7qLXdpsG5ab_0xGGyqmiTemhyuYdDqYH75sOkADqaRA3jRtqLRZrIBHhxL84HQ99FN8F7vx-USkEhZvdGSkw0REtZ3VKQCOnEBJWpaX1mTW-YpBocEfaI2V-J-ABhyY_em0qn8zcBrVF-nJP5TtX3Huw4tfLZ75iMRYLWEegdIQMKbx9iW7TXg/s1030/Meat%20for%20Tea.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1030" data-original-width="893" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmQR3r7qLXdpsG5ab_0xGGyqmiTemhyuYdDqYH75sOkADqaRA3jRtqLRZrIBHhxL84HQ99FN8F7vx-USkEhZvdGSkw0REtZ3VKQCOnEBJWpaX1mTW-YpBocEfaI2V-J-ABhyY_em0qn8zcBrVF-nJP5TtX3Huw4tfLZ75iMRYLWEegdIQMKbx9iW7TXg/w346-h400/Meat%20for%20Tea.jpg" width="346" /></a></div><br />The “Dahlia”
issue of Meat for Tea has my short horror story, “Feather and Scale,” as well
as three poems, “Sacrum,” “Heart,” and “Crown.” Many thanks to editor Elizabeth
MacDuffie. “Feather and Scale” is about a man stranded on one of the US's
Outlying Islands who is visited by a mermaid. He’s already mired in a pretty
serious man vs. nature situation, and the mermaid is not there to make things better
for him.<br /> <br />Link to
purchase paperback or ebook:<br /><a href="https://meatfortea.com/buy.htm">https://meatfortea.com/buy.htm</a></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1O7Foc0HSoz6H10j-UAsR45L5cNZbSoiGYvrHSI6EUGxSdPz1IZlyD62D_7R-grtYUHUBhk5Pj0R7ibmDDrnbCPzz06xddH94aWvyO-F3emcWmYnBtTaMVk0kZE82wXCUWn4dTX5AaNdGAD1YrRf-C8z8FQeoUscVAFE5vgsQoVdc3Y88MvTIoUnmNA/s1228/Unlikely%20Stories.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="259" data-original-width="1228" height="84" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1O7Foc0HSoz6H10j-UAsR45L5cNZbSoiGYvrHSI6EUGxSdPz1IZlyD62D_7R-grtYUHUBhk5Pj0R7ibmDDrnbCPzz06xddH94aWvyO-F3emcWmYnBtTaMVk0kZE82wXCUWn4dTX5AaNdGAD1YrRf-C8z8FQeoUscVAFE5vgsQoVdc3Y88MvTIoUnmNA/w400-h84/Unlikely%20Stories.PNG" width="400" /></a></div><o:p> <br /></o:p>Three poems appeared
in <a href="https://www.unlikelystories.org/content/portrait-of-an-amateur-roadkill-artist-interdimensional-border-town-and-contradiction">Unlikely
Stories</a>: “Portrait of an Amateur Roadkill Artist,” “Interdimensional Border
Town,” and “Contradiction.” Many thanks to editor Jonathan Penton. </span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD--vkUl-dAxaoSgB4zoJ-g5n1MrHHJjTGf11iXqFmOKQIacKUxoDZBXQIO5bqSdVHNk9DHFzBU_3Mp0kh85sGh6xExXBjFI0JCUYIEeyuKljwZW2O3mzcJXNPI_3QaKucaA6IGRGBTq2ShvFk8pL1YYzmsA12cwtUW9GITVs5mlvVHf6KntRhuFERUw/s824/It%20Takes%20All%20Kinds.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="824" data-original-width="630" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD--vkUl-dAxaoSgB4zoJ-g5n1MrHHJjTGf11iXqFmOKQIacKUxoDZBXQIO5bqSdVHNk9DHFzBU_3Mp0kh85sGh6xExXBjFI0JCUYIEeyuKljwZW2O3mzcJXNPI_3QaKucaA6IGRGBTq2ShvFk8pL1YYzmsA12cwtUW9GITVs5mlvVHf6KntRhuFERUw/w306-h400/It%20Takes%20All%20Kinds.PNG" width="306" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><o:p> <br /></o:p>Issue 8 of <a href="https://archive.org/details/it-takes-all-kinds-issue-8">It Takes All
Kinds</a> includes my poems, “Cherry” and “Ghosts of the Great Plains.” Thank
you to editor Skaja Evens.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKhvMn6MVc_tjJ1UslmxQOM-dRC8lKGXQRh4RVF1e_CayaIJGVu7Et6zjD4Rg_gsJUp7u-Y-BTcY8feB44LaXOG8y9AR5K0yN0OUFYC0yo27nXzAqVFFDhtD48akEWo86tZ28rX-PfJ7QNUyI_4aTkZr-8m6TCya58y0MNwMWU5-Jj_5-YZHcBkiRO7A/s800/Rye%20Whiskey.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKhvMn6MVc_tjJ1UslmxQOM-dRC8lKGXQRh4RVF1e_CayaIJGVu7Et6zjD4Rg_gsJUp7u-Y-BTcY8feB44LaXOG8y9AR5K0yN0OUFYC0yo27nXzAqVFFDhtD48akEWo86tZ28rX-PfJ7QNUyI_4aTkZr-8m6TCya58y0MNwMWU5-Jj_5-YZHcBkiRO7A/w400-h400/Rye%20Whiskey.png" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />“<a href="https://ryethewhiskeyreview.blogspot.com/2022/09/prayer-for-excommunicated-by-lauren.html?fbclid=IwAR3-XjhQeiD-sCjePyTPVEdu-pBg3635_0bEs5DYhwa-w1Imq7n6LdLFL4A">Prayer
for the Excommunicated</a>,” appeared in my literary home-away-from-home, the
Rye Whiskey Review. Thank you, as always, to John and Scott.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvckLGD1td-95f-3l5Og1F5F5rkRhbaa7EDR6qL2Yq9woC3H8TL63OyT7d4h0-j3Od7E76CF1c4sLZg-DwLB3PVC0PGhaLaUJnop2wCEG1IZ3kPBQT5qIVQqFPAJkv2_q9PiOp4HJcNcWzlKkgCCFTNdkHf8v0ecIaa4TXVGUmyvizVAD737LHjpHbbw/s777/Five%20Fleas.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="777" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvckLGD1td-95f-3l5Og1F5F5rkRhbaa7EDR6qL2Yq9woC3H8TL63OyT7d4h0-j3Od7E76CF1c4sLZg-DwLB3PVC0PGhaLaUJnop2wCEG1IZ3kPBQT5qIVQqFPAJkv2_q9PiOp4HJcNcWzlKkgCCFTNdkHf8v0ecIaa4TXVGUmyvizVAD737LHjpHbbw/w400-h151/Five%20Fleas.PNG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p> <br /></o:p>Three short
poems were published at Five Fleas (Itchy Poetry), “<a href="https://fivefleas.blogspot.com/2022/09/evening-of-september-26-2022.html">Hallway”
and “The Moon Doesn’t Ask</a>,” and “<a href="https://fivefleas.blogspot.com/2022/09/afternoon-of-september-29-2022.html">Fourth
of July</a>.” Many thanks to editor and fleakeeper Robin/Roberta Beach Johnson.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Happy Halloween!</b></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In honor of the season, just a friendly reminder that I have lots of good, spooky stories out there for you to peruse. My listing of short horror stories is <a href="http://laurenscharhag.blogspot.com/p/free-short-stories.html">here</a>. Several of the stories are free to read here on this blog. </span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My vampire novella, Our Miss Engel, is available on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Our-Miss-Engel-Vampire-Story-ebook/dp/B0769XV7Z5/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1540560344&sr=8-1&keywords=lauren+scharhag">Amazon</a>, <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/331619">Smashwords</a>, <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/our-miss-engel-lauren-scharhag/1116058472?ean=2940044624818">Barnes & Noble</a>, and other ebook retailers for only 99 cents.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://laurenscharhag.blogspot.com/p/the-order-of-four-sons.html">The Order of the Four Sons series</a>, while mostly fantasy, has a lot of horror elements - monsters, undead serial killers, and dark magic. </span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p> <br /></o:p><o:p> <br /></o:p><o:p> </o:p></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
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</p><div data-block="true" data-editor="qr68" data-offset-key="13it0-0-0" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); color: #333333; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Fira Sans", "Droid Sans", "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, "ヒラギノ角ゴ Pro W3", "Hiragino Kaku Gothic Pro", メイリオ, Meiryo, "MS Pゴシック", Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"></div>Lauren Scharhaghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14627677132564154350noreply@blogger.com0