🦉 Submissions next open from June 1 to August 31 2024
September 1, 2024

Pins and Needles

As I pulled out the GPS, memories surfaced of Nat navigating the streets of New York decades earlier. Navigating the streets of every country we’d travelled in. He always used to say he carried maps in his head and if he needed to find the right direction, he simply lifted his mind above the car, looked down on the streets and visualised the right route.
August 30, 2024

The Tao of Tea, Black Mango Review

Popping off the lid of the tea tin versus smelling a freshly brewed cup of Tao of Tea Black Mango offers two varied aromas. The tea leaves offer a rich, dark, almost indescribable aroma tinged with something fruity. The brewed tea, however, instantly transports you to the tropics where you might pluck a mango for enjoyment right off the tree.
August 15, 2024

The MockingOwl Roost: Sci-Fi Edition 2024

Come one, come all, Sci-Fi lovers! We've got a great short new issue with our sci-fi fiction and poetry for 2024 right here. Check out the stories from authors around the globe, relating tales of outer space aliens, military experimentation, space travel, and much more.
July 29, 2024

Caught Between Sunset and Moonrise

Arrival at night was what I was dreading. Night sailing was bad enough, but I had no desire to get into the dinghy after nightfall. The familiar coastline of northern Kangaroo Island came into view, but the sun was setting, and by the time we arrived the coastline would be obscured.
July 25, 2024

When Things Are Not As They Seem

We had been digging with our hands, trying to free our trapped family members from beneath the collapsed building. But, finally, it seemed, help had arrived. We all cheered. I jumped to my feet, despair transformed into hope, as pickup trucks and limos came into view…
July 19, 2024

Good Versus Evil

Melting snow dripped from the leaves like tiny ice daggers onto the disgruntled trainee evil witches below. As soon as they were born, these little girls were dispatched to the camp before any chance of feeling love or appreciation of comfort or joy could tarnish them. The spells that they were taught in dank and chilly clearings were bitter with evil: how to cause pain, how to fill hearts with hatred and revenge, and how to cause sorrow through foul wickedness.
July 15, 2024

Beauty – the MockingOwl Roost

Come play in the Lonely Maple Wood, dance in the Winter Wonderland, dream of of things to come at Love's Open Door. Within the pages of the MockingOwl Roost issue "Beauty" you'll find the wonders of nature, humanity, animals, and more, inviting us each in to delight in creation and each other.
July 12, 2024

Last Night, I Walked on the Moon

He frowned and thought for a moment. “Maybe when Neil winked, told me to take a deep breath an’ hold it. I looked at Buzz. He smiled an’ gave me a thumbs up. Michael were busy wi’ summat.” His mother tutted and shrugged, glanced at the clock on the wall by the window and peered into the bubbling pan.
July 9, 2024

Casting Whimsy Vito Tea Review

The dark richness of the black tea hits first but quickly becomes overpowered by the amaretto flavors that rise from organic almonds, chocolate paillettes, and amaretto extract. Each of the key ingredients dance across the aroma arc over the tin, vividly painting the visual of the perfect evening cup as you watch the sunset and delight in good things.
July 6, 2024

Even Rainbows Have Problems

Indigo, the most compassionate of the group, noticed her friend’s glum face and his detachment from the conversation bubbling around him. “What’s up, Blue?” she said. “I feel your heart isn’t with us today.” Blue shimmered. An envious green glowed around his edges for a moment as he watched Orange and Yellow joyously chattering away, vibrant and glowing under the sun beaming in from the window.
July 2, 2024

Sunday Arvo Waltz with the Long, Dark Teatime of the Soul

My soul resonates with Douglas Adams’ quote, yet stubbornly butts up against it, as my usual week, my usual time, my rest-seeking soul fights the dullness of the nine-to-five “assurance” of the world which calls me “wrong” for creating, “right” for stressing, and “weird” for seeking more than assurance that paychecks come and exhaustion reigns.