“Julia Child Joins the Witness Protection Program” by Allison Thorpe in Literary Juice
I would love to get into the mind of Allison Thorpe. Humor is not easy for a lot of writers, but Thorpe’s words flow onto the page just like melted butter. The title alone made me immediately click on this piece, and her story of Julia Child as a paralegal is masterful, whetting my appetite for more. ~Laurel Dowswell, Features Editor
“Waiting at Aveda” by Susan Budig in Silver Birch Press
Susan Budig plays with soft language, creating a whispering, confident feel. It is reminiscent of sitting with one’s mother or sister and having them brush your hair as the sun sets just before bed while you’re struggling to keep your eyes open because it feels so good. Her poem echoes with loss in a heartbreaking manner, setting in the pit of your stomach as you read. It is a beautiful, haunting piece.~Emily Ramser, Editorial Assistant
“Pretty” by Hannah Baggott in PDXX Collective
Poet Hannah Baggott gives you a glimpse into her personal journey with the word pretty – but not just the word, but the idea, and the reality of image and how it affects her as she moves through the world. Baggott also recites her poem for PDXX’s SoundCloud account.
I found it poignant, but not overly sentimental. Direct, yet leaving space to fill in the blanks not only in the context of her experiences but in your own. ~Laurel Dowswell, Features Editor
“Leopard Sisters” by Sarah Davis in Yellow Chair Review
Sarah Davis’s imagery is astounding. Beautiful is too simple of a word to describe it. The images she creates in the mind of the reader are striking and lifelike, almost touchable. You can feel her sister’s hand in yours as if you are the speaker. I can’t wait to read another of Sarah’s poems; this one left me wanting more. ~Emily Ramser, Editorial Assistant
“Cost of Living” by Jennifer Christie in Memorious
Full of surprises, this short story filled with cats, an awkward date, and musings on motherhood hooked me from the beginning. Her sharp wit tends to throw arrows, pushing the reader’s comfort with dark comedy, but I, for one, enjoyed the challenge of sitting in my discomfort at times throughout the story. I love reading pieces that push my feelings into new places. Jennifer is excellent at her craft of descriptions and dialogue that propels the story forward. Primo read.~Laurel Dowswell, Features Editor
“Two Hours, Forty-Six Minutes to Houston” by Marva Hinton in Corvus
The story opens up with the striking line, “David is dying.” It hits readers in the chest all the while intriguing them into reading. The story is filled with odd twists and turns, keeping you guessing about the true intentions of each of the characters. ~Emily Ramser, Editorial Assistant
“Ice Breaker” by Lisa Laughlin in Hippocampus Magazine
This creative nonfiction piece is a story about stories. The kind of stories families tell for generations. Grabbing the reader through her father’s voice, Lisa allows you to experience an ice-fishing outing gone wrong, over a couple of bottles of beer and the passage of time. Each time, bringing a new sense of wonder and empathy that is in juxtaposition to the frozen river surface, bitterly cold and fragile.~Laurel Dowswell, Features Editor
Laurel Dowswell is the Features Editor at Change Seven. Her short story “I Am theEggman” was nominated for the 2016 Pushcart Prize. She was a copy editor for an independent feminist newspaper in Santa Fe, NM, after being raised and educated in Florida. She lives and writes in Georgia, just outside of Atlanta with her son. She is currently working on a novel filled with oil paintings, family drama, and the spectrum of sexuality. Follow her on twitter @laurels_idea.
Emily Ramser is an undergraduate studying English, Creative Writing, and Religion at Salem College in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Arts in English and Creative Writing, and is expected to graduate in May of 2017. Some of her inspirations include Thornton Wilder, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Bhanu Kapil, Andrea Gibson, Gabriel Gudding, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Gail Simone, and Alfred Lord Tennyson. Check out her black out poetry collection I Forgot How to Write When They Diagnosed Me. You can find more of her work at her blog.
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