2020 spotlights:fiction

A collection of prose vignettes from Marc Vincenz titled “East of Eden” appears in WTP Vol. XI #2.

A typo alters the course of the narrator’s family history in an excerpt from Claude Clayton Smith’s novel Anatomy of Circumstance.

A game night with friends in the wake of a break-up leaves a professor contemplative in Sharon Wahl’s short story from WTP Vol. X #3.

Stranger Love, a series of short vignettes written by Sidney Lea, is featured in The Woven Tale Press Vol. X #2.

Told from the perspective of a young child, Ann S. Epstein’s short story “Housewidow” narrates a family’s post-WWII housing tribulations.

A short story from Megan Staffel explores the relationship between formative experiences, and how we try to fight long-time impulses as adults.

A young boy grows up in the Virginia Piedmont in an excerpt from Claude Clayton Smith’s novel Anatomy of Circumstance.

Jim Meirose’s piece, “Cold Calling,” from WTP Vol. IX #4, narrates a moment in the life of a private detective.

Richard Wertime’s short story “Soccer,” from WTP Vol. IX #3, narrates a father-son soccer game with more at stake than the score.

Karen Strumpolis’s short piece from WTP Vol. IX #2 encapsulates a Thanksgiving holiday in the time of COVID.

Kelly Ann Jacobson’s short story from Vol. VIII #9 tells, in short vignettes, the story of an odd summer in a small town.

A short, tragic snapshot of a winter day in Ellen Wilbur’s breathtaking piece from WTP Vol. VIII #7.

From WTP Vol. VIII #6, Joseph Hurka’s short story follows a man whose wintry morning drive takes an unexpected turn.

Richard Ive’s work in WTP Vol. VII #5 is a series of vignettes told from the perspective of bugs. Read the booklouse’s story today.

“When Warren strolled into the office at a quarter till nine, he had no notion that he’d shortly be dead…” Condolences by Allan Spencer appears in WTP Vol. VII #7.

David Wheldon’s short stories have been published regularly by WTP. Read his latest, “Strait-Jacket and Padded-Cell,” appearing in WTP Vol. VII #6.

“At the age of eleven I was briefly inspired to devote my life to God. I would be a nun.” Beth Adelman’s “Scenes from my Childhood: 1965,” from the summer issue of the Woven Tale Press magazine.

Eric Maroney’s short fiction piece, “Devoted” appears in June’s WTP Vol. VII #5.

“If you’re a woman and you want to join the U.S. Army, the first thing the recruiter at the Army Recruiting Office in Dallas will tell you is to drive across the city to talk with the Air Force guys.”

In this piece of short fiction from Salvatore Difalco, the actor who plays Big Bird (or someone who thinks he is) navigates the dreary world of a nursing home. From WTP Vol. VII #3.

Read a selection from Heidi Stauff’s short story, “Bird’s Nest Soup.”

Robert Klose’s “Sisters,” following an estranged pair of siblings, appears in this month’s magazine. Read an excerpt here.

Robin van Eck’s “Nicky Nicky Nine Doors,” from September’s WTP magazine.

Lynn Casteel Harper’s essay on reticence, “The Shut Door,” from WTP Vol. VI #6.

A.C. Koch’s short story “Dark as a Dungeon in the Heart,” from June’s WTP.

A childhood memory explored by Lynne Viti’s narrator in the short story “It’s the Real Thing,” from June’s WTP.

Eric J. Smith’s “Jesus in the Form of a Goat” appears in this month’s WTP, Vol. VI #4.

Vincent Mannings’s short story “Jedediah Arkansaugh,” from WTP Vol. VI #4.

In JS Khan’s “O.G.” Olivia Goldblatt rules a drug dynasty from the comfort of her nursing home.

Two Midwestern wives witness the demise of their marriages in Elle Napolitano’s honorary mention-winning story.

Mike Stewart’s “Pinky Swear” explores science, a boy and his dog, philosophy, and bees.

Lynn Lipinski’s short fiction, awarded a 2017 honorable mention from WTP, follows a hospice care worker mystified with death.

A “story that wants to be a story,” from January contributor Cal Setar.

A dysfunctional family funeral in Tanya Perkins’s short story, from WTP Vol. VI #1.

Henry Plunkett’s prize-winning story follows an Irishman in Australia, displaced in the country as well as in his own family.

Read Kris Faatz’s prize-winning story about immigration, family, and art. From this month’s special winners edition.

Jacqueline Kolosov’s first-prize story, “Exit, Pursued by Bear,” appears in the 2017 Special Edition issue.

Nick Sweeney’s short story documents the struggle for freedom in a totalitarian, Eastern European regime. From WTP Vol. V #8.

How far would you go in desperate times? Bob Beach’s narrator contemplates his life and the necessity of desperate measures.

Sari Friedman’s narrator tries to leave her demons behind with a drastic move in her piece of short fiction, “The Woman at the Window.”

Gwen Grace’s prose piece “Boots and the Infinite Struggle of Attachment” appears in WTP Vol. V #2.

Heidi Turner’s work has appeared in Linden Avenue Literary Journal and Gravel Magazine. Read her flash fiction in WTP Vol. V #6.

California writer Christian Holt explores a biology student who finds herself “dating” a dead man after meeting him online.

Award-winning writer Vic Sizemore’s haunting story follows Delmas, a man who must change his life after the death of his wife.

Two sisters handle the aftermath of their mother’s death in Lynne Viti’s short story, appearing in WTP Vol. V #5.

An ailing couple visits the community pool, where fissures are revealed in Elizabeth Stott’s short story.

“He could not fail because you could not fail.” David Arthur Kay’s hero and his morning at the local bodega.

Susan Tepper’s series of short prose pieces, set in 1800s Russia, document the psychology of being left behind during wartime.

An old couple plays hooky on a Fourth of July party and spends the day reminiscing in Frances Park’s WTP Vol. V #4 essay.

“The two children wanted. They wanted what they weren’t yet allotted, or were never to claim.” Kayla Miller in WTP Vol. V #3

“The Museum is a treasury of doors ajar, windows to the woods, empty gutters and silent solar panels at work.” Tricia Knoll in WTP Vol. V #3

“Yeah, so? That ain’t nothin’. I been in Sing-Sing and Dannemora.” Steve Young’s tale about two men and a carjacking.

” A quick word on Harpies: They are vain, cruel, and self-involved creatures. It’s best if you can manage to avoid them entirely.” The Harpy, by Jennifer G. Peper.

“That You”: Flash fiction from WTP Vol. V #2.

David Wheldon’s “The Vigil” follows an English doctor and the mysterious young daughter of his ailing friend. Featured in The Woven Tale Press Vol. V #1.

What is a Jerk?

Press Spotlight: Dewitt Henry. See his work in Vol. IV #7

J. G. McClure’s flash fiction story, The Deer, spotlight’s this very cool writer’s work. A car, a deer, a road… Read 2 more of his stories in our May issue!

by Laura Shovan [dropcap]O[/dropcap]des are all about tone. Show enough enthusiasm for even a simple object like a shoe, and a poet can convince the reader of the object’s value, that it’s worthy of attention. That is what Chilean poet Pablo Neruda did with his Odes to Common Things, a book which still influences poets …