Calls from Behind a Door
Ignore my calls to stay hidden. Drag me out from behind this cobweb-scribbled door. I’ll pretend to be surprised when you scream in elation, when you hold your trophy close to your heart. Find me.
Lost For Words
should speak to you my long lost love
Prized Myths and Fairy Tales of the MockingOwl Roost
Welcome to the first prize winners issue of the MockingOwl Roost – the Prized Myths and Fairy Tales of the MockingOwl Roost. This beautiful collection of fairy tale and mythology-based flash fiction, micro-essays, and haiku/tanka sequence pieces come from authors around the world.
Borderline (Shepley Woods)
In the woods we are borders of our own creation, a witness to a different scene translations from black to white…
Loyalty
Sometimes he shows me off, making friends for us wherever we go. When I have to be without him, he will look at me, as if asking: “Must you really?”
Quarterly & Special Issues
Submissions next open from June 1 to August 31 2024
February 19, 2022
February 17, 2022
Not much is more important in the creative realms than representation. There’s something about seeing yourself in a character, on a screen, on a page.
February 12, 2022
“No crime you’ve committed against yourself first, others later, demands erasure.”
February 10, 2022
As I began my walk, I immediately noticed one thing: dandelions. I don't know how they do it every year, but they come in droves. Seriously, there were a lot of dandelions.
February 9, 2022
Extasia lived up to its name, ecstasy. I absolutely enjoyed every minute of this dizzying rollercoaster ride. My emotions ran rampant as I read. I worked through every single emotion from laughter, squeamishness, anger, to victory fist pumps.
February 7, 2022
Being a global nomad and spending most of my life outdoors in Africa, I’ve seen and experienced things people wouldn’t believe.
February 6, 2022
When I was young, I was always in trouble at school and home for asking silly questions. I never seemed to ask the right question to […]
February 5, 2022
when nobody calls, I pick up
the days go down the alleyways
I rise
brush my teeth
like they’re all not already rotten
and wonder
January 31, 2022
It was a difficult read for me because I wanted to cheat so badly and skip to the end to find out what happened. Don’t judge me too harshly. I never do that with a book I am reviewing, so I kept to the path. I didn’t skip ahead and was very glad I allowed the book to unfold the mystery. It was almost as if I was uncovering Tess’s reaction to God’s love, voice, and grace throughout the book.
January 29, 2022
In 1992 Los Angeles erupted into riots
Latasha Harlins was murdered by a Korean shopkeeper.
January 24, 2022
"Whatever goals you have created for yourself for the new year, and no matter whether those goals have been reached or already broken, it is never too late to turn a new leaf and begin again."
January 22, 2022
January 21, 2022
Reading this book was like climbing onto a rollercoaster that cascaded to its end in a dark mountain. You never knew where the next thrilling twist would take you. I devoured the pages in one day, as if I was starving and the book was my only meal.
January 20, 2022
“As a writer, I believe that even though I am new to the world of publishing short stories, I have the passion, love, dedication, and desire to bring out the best writing that I have to the world and touch the lives of people through my writing.”
January 17, 2022
First off, I have to express to you that Beth knows what she’s talking about. The book is laced with stories from her personal experiences and those as a therapist, dealing with these deep, emotionally challenging topics of loss, death, and suffering. The stories are crisp, moving, and interconnecting in a way that readers can relate and dig deep if they’re willing to do the work.
January 15, 2022
It's official! The MockingOwl Roost is now one year old! We've got a brand new quarterly PDF issue for you to enjoy on the topic of exploration. New contributors and old, plus staff, share their views on exploration through poetry, fiction, essays, interviews, and more. Please enjoy!
January 13, 2022
At my library study carrel, I conjured scenes of children playing on rocky Andalusian shores and fishermen arranging their bountiful Mediterranean harvests. Vicente Aleixandre’s poem “Ciudad del paraíso”, translated as “City of Paradise” in English, transported me to Málaga, Spain where time stands as still as the mountains overlooking the sea below.
January 12, 2022
Many herbal teas by numerous brands cover the shelves of local grocery stores and fill out the aisles at little tea shops in cities like Chicago. Finding the right tea choice can be difficult, especially for newbies. However, seasoned tea-drinkers can struggle with finding new options when favorite blends stop circulating, too. I present Loyd Herbal Tea Mint with Cranberry and Herbs for anyone looking for good-quality, affordable herbal tea.
January 9, 2022
It turned into more than diving into the delicious queso dip we had to order every time we sat down. It became a time when we could sit across the table from each other and leave the day behind.
January 8, 2022
Almost time, always time to go somewhere, do whatever,
though I’d rather wait here longer,