🦉 Submissions next open from June 1 to August 31 2024
November 25, 2023

Epiphany

She liked fruit, especially peaches, but this one unnerved her, the sinister-looking stem seemed to be searching her out. She stared back at the periscopic pedicle of the soft, rounded fruit expecting a salvo of gunfire, but with a distinct crack, the peach exploded in a messy, fleshy burst of light. Silence.
November 20, 2023

How an Irreverent Comedy, a Stack of Books, and One Woman Helped Save My Christian Sanity

Scroll through the Britbox streaming service. I dare you. For therein you may come across one of the most ridiculous, offensive, delightful, uplifting, confusing religious comedies ever made. To call Dawn French, et. al, genius is an understatement I won’t be guilty of. Rather, I like to refer to the show as what helped save my Christian sanity.
November 19, 2023

Book Review: Claus, the Legend of the Fat Man

The legend evolves, like the swirling snow of the Pole, telling a wonderful story of intrigue, loyalty and love. Brilliantly crafted, it drew from the many stories of Santa, weaving science and politics into the mix.
November 19, 2023

The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip by Sara Brunsvold, a Review

Sara Brunsvold is establishing herself as a skilled storyteller in her debut novel. Her book pays tribute to an underappreciated group of people who altered the cultural course of America during the difficult post-Vietnam War-era while also being a call-to-arms for Christians; reminding Christians there are opportunities to share God’s love through every moment and every meeting.
November 18, 2023

Worldbuilding 101: Characters, the Story Foundation

Your characters are worldbuilding tools, but they are also much more. Use them correctly, interact with them as if they were real, and you’ll see them come to life. They’ll become the guides to your storyline and world.
November 17, 2023

Selling Books

After Maa passed away from sudden heart failure six months ago, I found respite in the only place that has comforted me since childhood. I spent days and nights weeping and hugging every book she left me. I went over every single page of every single hand-me-down and wet them with my heartbroken tears...
November 15, 2023

Short Film Review: Gì Cũng Sửa (“Fix Anything”)

Director Le Lam Vien, winner of the Best Director Award in the Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF), displayed his and his team’s skillful mastery in finding and attempting to grasp at the slippery and elusive meanings of being human in his film Gì Cũng Sửa (Fix Anything).
November 12, 2023

Joy

Ever since we moved into the new apartment, I fervently desired to know - just once at least - what it felt like to be her son. Every morning sharp at 6 AM, Mummy would walk me down to the corner of the road to wait for the school bus to pick me up. It was at this corner that she would sit on the pavement with a basket selling vegetables.
November 4, 2023

The Outcasts

After three hours of what seemed like a never ending journey, I reached my destination and alighted from the bus. I collected my change and noticed four children beckoning to me and greeted me warmly, beaming with smiles. I had a gut feeling that I should get them some snacks, so I did that with the money left with me.
November 1, 2023

Cherry Lovers Rejoice! – “Cherry Blossom” Tea from Apothecary Teas is Here

I had never had the tea before, but I’ve been looking for a good cherry black tea for years. I pulled the cork from the scent jar on the table and knew I’d found what I’ve been looking for all this time. And now you can find it, too, my fellow cherry lovers!
October 31, 2023

Beware the Hungry Child and Its Mother

In small village towns, villagers must beware the hungry child and its mother. Kind families, appalled at seeing a hungry child, have been known to invite the child and mother in and offer them a place to stay. They all eat their initial meal, and with much gratitude repeated to their host, they retire to sleep.
October 26, 2023

Worldbuilding 101: Maps, the Story Blueprint

Your map represents the world your characters live in. It might be as small as a doll’s house or as large as a multi-galaxy supercluster, and that’s fine…provided you can keep it all straight.