Listen for the Stories, Then Write Them Down by Kat Magendie

I sit in my rocking chair, on my porch, in the cool morning air, a handmade throw over my knees as if I’m an old, old woman, rock gently, and drink strong black coffee. It is here in this state of serenity and beauty that I open up and let in the universe, ready my ear to any voice who calls out to be heard. There below me in the valley are stories I’d love to tell, stories from the very life lived of people here in Haywood County. I strain my attention, thinking if perhaps I am still enough, I will hear bits of conversation ride upon the wind and through the trees and up to me, where I will write them down for eternity’s sake.

Soon and sudden, a thickening fog rises, obliterating what I seek. Mists come and go like ocean waves, recede and arrive, recede and arrive, breathing in and out, out and in. I am alone in the cloud, and my thoughts turn inward to the word worlds I will craft from my own experience and observation. The shadows of trees waver as ghosts, their outlines barely visible, and I squint my eyes to find the mystery. The mountains are spirit-like, also hidden beneath the mists, but I am reassured by their faint outline, by their constancy—they are always there as they been since great upheavals set them there.

Just as suddenly and just as silently, morning sun warms the air and the mist evaporates away. Once again I can see what was hidden revealed. And there, blue-gray-blue in the distance, those Great Smoky Mountains, as old and important as we can conceive of times before us and then more, rise up before me and give evidence to their legends; I listen, and then I will write it down. But what of your story? What do you long to say so your words are scattered to the winds of the universe, finding root and then growing thick and strong and even unruly, roots digging deep, growth reaching up and reaching out?

Know this: It is the ancient quality of the mountain that pulls my words from me this morning. I imagine the footsteps of some long-ago mountaineer treading right where I place my own foot. When I stand upon a rock, it may be the same rock someone’s great-great-great-grandfather stood upon, looking out to the mountains without any idea of what would become of him and his family, and his family after that. Without any knowledge of me. He stood with arms outstretched and called to his kin before him, who had no knowledge of him, or of his footsteps, or of his needs, or his wants, or his future. Perhaps these ghosts are the ones who urge me to tell their stories.

And this Western North Carolina earth—the lichen clinging to the bark, the moss covering the rock, the wildlife snuffling the air, the soil that holds the print of my step, and your step, and the hidden steps of North Carolina ancestors both known and unknown, the footprints of those both here to stay and those who were forced to leave—constant changing earth where no man or woman could ever tread upon every living surface, and no caring man or woman would wish to, there remain secrets. Secrets to hold fast and secrets to let loose. Will I find the voice I am searching for? Thornton Wilder says, “. . . the work is not a thing that we make, but an already-made thing which we discover.”

Each of us is born with a purpose, even if that purpose is only to live to tell a story. Our voices matter; we all have experiences to set down on the page, or lives to sing in a song, or secrets to whisper in the dark, or ideals to shout that facilitate change. These mountains matter, and our rivers matter, and the earth and rock and animals—all matter, all opportunities for others to hear our voices as we write down the imperishable word. There is the purpose for which we live: we must reveal the stories. I listen, and then I write from that revealing. And you? Will you open up the inked vein?

This is how you begin: You Begin.

Write. That's it. All the rest will follow as it will.

Kathryn Magendie is co-managing editor of the Rose & Thorn. Her debut novel, Tender Graces, was released April 2009.

The Rose & Thorn June 2009 Newsletter

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THE ROSE & THORN NEWSLETTER ________________________________________________

From: The Rose & Thorn Literary E-zine

http://www.theroseandthornezine.com/

June 2009
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"Develop an interest in life as you see it; the people, things, literature, music-the world is so rich, simply throbbing with rich treasures, beautiful souls and interesting people. Forget yourself." Henry Miller
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SPONSOR SPOT
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MARGARET REID POETRY CONTEST FOR TRADITIONAL VERSE – LAST CALL!

6th year. Fifteen cash prizes totaling $5,350. Top prize $2,000. Submit poems in traditional verse forms, such as sonnets. Winning entries published online. Both published and unpublished work accepted. Entry fee is $7 for every 25 lines, payable to Winning Writers. Postmark deadline: June 30. Judges: J.H. Reid, D.C. Konrad. Submit online or mail to Winning Writers, Attn: Margaret Reid Poetry Contest, 351 Pleasant Street, PMB 222, Northampton, MA 01060. Winning Writers is proud to be one of "101 Best Websites for Writers" (Writer's Digest, 2005-2009). More information: www.winningwriters.com/margaret
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NEWSLETTER CONTENTS
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* From the Newsletter Editor's Pen
* From the Co-Managing Editor’s Pen
* Of Literary Note
* The Buzz
* Markets & Contests
* Book Reviews
* The Readers' Mailbag
* What We Are Up To
* Masthead
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FROM THE NEWSLETTER EDITOR'S PEN
Kathryn Magendie
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Dear Readers,

Summer is almost here. At last I can rock on my porch with the critters and trees and breeze and the creek singing loud, my laptop perched on my lap, and write. Where do you write? Do you find summer a time for sitting outdoors and finding a place of contemplation that brings on fresh material? Or does the warmth and nature distract you and call you to more physical endeavors?

I find taking walks along the Muse Trails of my mountain cove allows my characters, scene, and setting to come to me without force. It is just as when you wash dishes, take a shower, paint a wall, or some other “mindless” activity that gives your brain free reign to explore, those thoughts can come unbidden. Haven’t you been doing some repetitive task and suddenly are struck with an idea or thought that causes you to say, “Oh! Hey! That’s it!” Sleep can bring on these same Aha! moments. One wakes in the middle of the night and the question is answered, or the dilemma resolved. The workings of our brains amazes me.

How do you find inspiration, or answers to your questions; where do your sudden inspirations come from? I’d love to hear from you; email me any time! And, have a wonderful summer; I will next see you in August!

Kat
Co-Managing Editor/Senior Newsletter Editor
http://www.kathrynmagendie.com/
email me: kmtrain@hotmail.com
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FROM THE CO-MANAGING EDITOR’S PEN
Angie Ledbetter
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Dear Readers,

Before summer’s sweltering heat rolls in, it’s a good time to have one last stroll through nature’s beauty for a dose of writing inspiration. When the weather isn’t cooperating, what are our options for communing with the muse? Cruising the museum? Attending a lecture or writers conference? Escaping the routine for a retreat or getaway? Switching from keyboard to longhand? Reading great poetry and prose?

If none of the above is working for you, the Internet is open 24-7 to serve our needs. Great blogs, writing exercises/story starters, writer resources and lovely writing and artistic sites call us to visit. Art.com http://www.art.com/ generously lets The Rose & Thorn browse its goodies for story graphics, and is a wonderful place in which to get lost for a few hours. Be sure to visit if you want a wide array of artistic renderings from the masters to the moderns to refresh your perspective.

May nature, art, music and life in general take your writing to new heights this summer, and we hope you consider us a regular pit stop on your path to great reading and writing. I’d really like to know how you jumpstart your creativity, so email me at AngieDLed@aol.com and tell me what inspires you.

Lemonade and writing supplies beneath shady trees to you this season,

Angie
Co-managing Editor
http://www.angie-ledbetter.blogspot.com/
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THE ROSE & THORN SUPPORTS OUR TROOPSSend a free printed postcard to U.S. military personnel overseas:
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CHECK OUT OUR MASTHEAD
Look upon the roses & thorns of your favorite online publication.
Check out our masthead page at: http://pratt.edu/~cgarza/
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WHY NOT DONATE?

The award-winning Rose & Thorn Literary E-zine welcomes YOUR donations. No amount is too small and all funds are used to keep this site going.Did you know that we've been listed as one of Writer's Digest's Top 30 Short Story Markets, as one of their 101 Best Places for Writers, and as an "Internet Envy" Site too? Or that we've been a Preditors & Editors Truly Useful site? (Visit our awards page to see more.)

Please donate by clicking http://tinyurl.com/2zxn63

Make a $10 or more donation to The Rose & Thorn and receive a gift copy of Adnan Mahmutovic’s starkly moving collection of prose and poetry entitled REFUGE[E]. A review of REFUGE[E] can be read at The Roses & Thorns: http://tinyurl.com/aqquq2
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OF LITERARY NOTE
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BOOK TOUR: WHERE AUTHORS & AUDIENCES MEET

As the world's largest, 100% free directory of author events, BookTour.com makes finding when a favorite author is coming to your town as easy as checking the weather.

In just a few minutes any author can create a page showcasing their biography, books, and upcoming engagements. Listing new events is as easy as answering a few questions. Publishers, booksellers, events managers, and even just well-informed readers can add tour dates by simply filling in a few blanks.

http://www.booktour.com/

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THE READ ON WNC

Your online source for informed talk and book-related media created by Rob Neufeld and CITIZEN-TIMES.com

http://thereadonwnc.ning.com/
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THE BUZZ
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CLAYTON BYE

Clayton Bye, under the imprint Chase Enterprises, has been writing and publishing since 1994. The author of several books as well as internet short stories, poems, articles and reviews, he's also known as an accomplished speaker, trainer and small business consultant who has delivered countless keynote addresses, seminars and workshops on a wide variety of topics. Mr. Bye's current projects include increasing his internet presence and writing a sequel to his novel, The Sorcerer's Key.

Check out this well-received online short story: The Speed of Dark. He welcomes and posts comments/reviews. Email the author at ccbye@shaw.ca

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WIFE GOES ON: LESLIE LEHR

Wife Goes On is the story of four women with nothing in common but divorce, who learn that it's more than enough to become friends – and spend one life-changing summer helping each other live happier ever after. A modern cross between Sex & the City and First Wives Club, Wife Goes On celebrates the second acts of today's women with humor, heartbreak, and hope. Husbands may come and go, but friends are forever.

"Leslie Lehr is a truth teller - a rare writer who untangles the realities of women's lives without flinching, while making you laugh, cry, and nod in understanding with every word."
--Leslie Morgan Steiner, Washington Post columnist

"A celebration of second acts wrapped up in a humorous, heartfelt homage to the power of friendship." - Arianna Huffington. For more: http://www.wife-goes-on.com/
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MARKETS AND CONTESTS
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Readers should make sure to check sources carefully and to inquire about references when appropriate. The Rose & Thorn cannot assume responsibility for the sites and services mentioned below.
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ART FROM ART ANTHOLOGY

Deadline for submissions: 7/31/09

This collection of short fiction by literary writers aims to feature stories that are connected directly to—or inspired by—a work of art. It could be a song, a painting, a museum, an architectural monument, a blueprint, a piece of writing—a play, novel, poem, letter, etc. The art in question needs to be a major component of the story—a character—within the fabric of the story. Perhaps the idea will be inspired by an event from life or maybe it will be something completely fabricated.

All genres welcome. ART from ART will bring new and established voices and ideas to a fine collection of fiction. I aim to have the art featured on a page either at the beginning or the end of each story—a visual correlative that will enhance the experience. Submit your story and a brief bio via email to Stephen Soucy at shsoucy@modernistpress.com. Please follow standard submission guidelines (Microsoft Word Document with 12-point font). Please go to the site for special instructions: http://www.modernistpress.com/

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FLASH FICTION ONLINE

We publish stories from 500 to 1,000 words in length. We look for previously unpublished material, with the exception of our Classic Flash selections. (Classic Flash stories are old: the copyright must have expired on them).

Pays $50 per story. No reprints or simultaneous submissions. http://www.flashfictiononline.com/submit.html

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DISCOVERING NEW MYSTERIES COMPETITION

NO ENTRY FEE
Discovering New Mysteries is now accepting submissions of original plays, screenplays, teleplays, and short stories for both adult and youth audiences. Deadline for submissions is August 30, 2009. A panel of professional readers will blindly review the submissions and narrow the field to the final mysteries, who- dunnits, cops-n-robbers, courtroom dramas, thrillers, suspense or adventures. The festival finalists will be personally notified by January 2010 with national press coverage of the finalists’ performances to be released shortly thereafter.

BEST NEW WORK, $10,000 prize
MOST PROMISING NEW WRITER, $5,000 prize
OUTSTANDING SCREENPLAY or TELEPLAY, $2,500 prize
BEST WORK FOR YOUNG ADULTS (ages 12-18), $1,000
BEST SHORT MYSTERY PLAY (1-Act plays, short screenplay,
short story), $1,000
http://www.newmysteries.org/submission_guidelines/

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MEMOIR AND . . .

Literary journal’s call for submissions for reading period May 1 through August 15. Will award 3 Prizes for Memoir in Prose or Poetry ($500, $250, $100) and one Prize for Graphic Memoir ($100). No entry fee. Online submissions preferred. Guidelines at http://www.memoirjournal.com/ or by mail: P.O. Box 1398, Sausalito, CA 94966.
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BOOK REVIEWS
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HAVANA TOP SECRET: DAVID PEREDA
Published by Eternal Press
Reviewed by Wil Hough

From the moment Pepe tells his good old long-lost Cuban-American buddy, Dr. Raymond Peters, a Miami-based plastic surgeon, “… believe me… I’m here because you have a problem, and I want to help you solve it,” we know the main protagonist is in for a world of trouble. Despite his natural suspicions, Dr. Peters, still grieving over the recent loss of his wife, finds himself agreeing to assume a fake identity and sneak into Cuba, ostensibly at the behest of a son he never before realized existed—a son now apparently dying and wishing for his last request to meet with his biological father. But, as any consumer of mystery would suspect, until the final chapter is written, things are never what they seem to be. For the rest of the review, go to: http://tinyurl.com/ob97en

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ILLEGITIMATE: ADNAN MAHMUTOVIC

Cantarabooks April 2009
Reviewed by Kathryn Magendie

A woman’s bones go out of joint in labor, my Mom used to say. On New Year’s Eve 2000, in Munich, a Polish girl, Bozena, is coming apart in her basement. Down here, in this cold concrete box in Dachau, the sounds from the street life and the festivities are weak. The happy screams and cracking fireworks, drunken voices and barking of German shepherds come to my ears as if through water. […] I straddle Bozena’s left leg and slowly press her stomach. […] I slap her across the mouth but she will not stop screaming. […] I hit the concrete to unhinge my fingers and try to shove the ball into Bozena’s mouth. It’s too big, but I press it harder and her nostrils widen like eyes in the dark…
For the rest of the review, go to: http://tinyurl.com/px3zhp

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NO ROOM FOR DOUBT: ANGELA DOVE

Berkley Books trade paperback, 2009
Reviewed by: Kathryn Magendie

Angela Dove’s debut book No Room for Doubt is a true story of how “one violent moment can changes lives—forever.” If one expected Dove’s first book to be a humorous jaunt, one would be mistaken, even though Dove has been writing humor columns for six years. Yet when Jacque MacDonald asked Dove to write the story of her daughter’s murder and the hunt for her murderer, Dove took on this task knowing that what she may find could forever alter the relationship she has with her family, most particularly with her father, Harold Whitlock. For the rest of the review, go to: http://tinyurl.com/pfys7c

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More reviews by your favorite staffers are available http://www.roseandthornreviews.blogspot.com/
(Under the label: Book Reviews/Author Interviews)
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THE READER'S MAIL BAG
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Your feedback is welcome. Letters to the editor should be sent by clicking "Reply" to this newsletter.
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WHAT WE'RE UP TO
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When the staff of The Rose & Thorn isn't slaving away over prose and poetry, or at their day jobs, they're scribbling their own musings and submitting to other worthy publications.

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Peter Kirchikov has a poignant and strongly written essay in KNOW, Magazine for Paralegals http://www.knowparalegal.com/

From Editors at KNOW: “Peter immigrated from what was then the USSR. A guide and interpreter, he and his family were blacklisted, an ominous signal for people who had different beliefs than the mainstream. Added to serious hardships including death threats, the KGB and Chernobyl, Peter struggled for years to immigrate to the U.S. with his wife and 20 month-old toddler. After enduring a life without freedom of speech or religion, few luxuries (including enough water to just shower), he managed to get to the U.S. where he found a new career, an entire new life and freedom unlike anything he ever experienced. Kudos to him and his sponsors for taking a huge risk to reach our country. Kudos also to him for choosing the paralegal profession as his new career! Please read more about this amazing story in the next issue of KNOW. It's important to know the people who make up this terrific career. I'm sure you will be as truly moved as I was.”

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NEW DISCUSSION FORUM LINK

The former home domain for our Community Forum has been sold and replaced. The new URL is http://forum.bigperspective.com/.

Join Wil, our own social heretic coyote, as he pokes and prods under a multitude of scabs in search of unique subject matter. Any subject, whether of finances, religion, politics, or even the very meaning of life, is fair game for debate and postulation.

As always, folders are available for the various genres of writing. However, a forum for serious discussion on whatever threatens to “capsize your boat” is now available to one and all. Do NOT let such an opportunity to "speak out” slip by.

Wil Hough
Senior Editor & Community Forum Manager
http://forum.bigperspective.com/

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TWITTER—WHAT ARE WE DOING?

Want to know when submissions reopen or a new issue is posted? Follow us on Twitter. Want to know when we are looking for essays or flash or a particular genre? Follow us on Twitter. Want to know who we are nominating for the Pushcart or other awards? Yep…Follow us on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/RoseandThorn

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YOUR AD CAN BE HERE
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DREAM QUEST ONE WRITING COMPETITION NOW OPEN!

Write a poem, thirty lines or fewer on any subject or write a short story, five pages maximum, single or double line spacing, on any subject or theme, fiction or non-fiction. Multiple entries are accepted. Postmark Deadline: July 31, 2009. Awards: Writing Contest First Prize is $500; Second: $250; Third: $100. Poetry Contest First Prize: $250; Second: $125; Third: $50. All contest winners will be published online in the Dare to Dream pages, on August 31, 2009. Entry fees: Writing Contest: $10 per short story. Poetry Contest: $5 per poem. Info: Include title of poem or story, name, address, phone#, email, brief biographical info. (Tell us a little about yourself) on the coversheet. Entry fees payable to: “DREAMQUESTONE.COM”- Mail to: Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest, P.O. Box 3141, Chicago, IL 60654. Visit http://www.dreamquestone.com/ for details and to enter!

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Do you have a writing service, contest, publication, or product you'd like to share with our sophisticated and talented readers? Why not take an ad out in The Rose & Thorn? Our ads are most reasonable and start at $20.

Advertise with The Rose & Thorn.
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FEEDBACK AND WORD OF MOUSE WELCOME---------------------------------------
If you like the e-zine and its contents, feel free to forward the link to your associates and friends who might enjoy the same.
As always, thanks! Comments or questions? Email us. We love to hear your feedback so drop us a line at rose-andthorn@live.com

Until next time. Happy Reading!The Staff of The Rose & Thorn.
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STAFF
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B.A. Quinn, Publishing Editor
Angie Ledbetter, Co-Managing Editor/Newsletter Editor
Kathryn Magendie, Co-Managing Editor/Senior Newsletter Editor
Cesar Garza, Senior Editor, Blog Administrator
W. Hough, Poetry Editor, Senior Graphics Manager, Community Forum Chief Administrator
Eric Giere, Chief Webmaster
Liam Wilkinson, Cover Commentator
Dallas D’Angelo-Gary, Editor, Announcement Newsletter, Procedure Manual
Nora Capocy, Prose Editor
Karen Reiser, Prose Editor
Cathy Biribauer, Assistant Prose Editor
Cynthia Toups, Assistant Poetry Editor, Assistant Prose Editor, Assistant Newsletter Editor
Patresa Hartman, Assistant Prose Editor
Megan Roth, Book Reviews, Facebook Manager
Samella McClary Brown, Community Forum, Award Staff
Sheri Whitlock, MySpace Manager, Awards Staff
Deborah Laws, Blog Manager
Yu-Han Chao, Asst. Poetry Editor, Asst. Blog Manager
Adnan Mahmutovic, Asst Blog Manager, Podcast Manager
Maggie Grinnell, Awards Staff
Peter Kirchikov, Community Forum

Summer 2009 Poetry: A Sneak Peek, A Farewell by Cesar Garza

The six poems slated to appear in the Summer 2009 issue of The Rose & Thorn boil down to three interconnected themes: earth, death, flora. Here's how the themes connect in my mind: Death is buried in earth, the life-bed of flora, the ultimate metaphor for living and dying, the prime mover of poets and poetry the world over, the world turning, the circling, the endless, the end. All good things, dear reader.

So here I write, on the occasion of my last issue as Senior Poetry Editor of The Rose & Thorn. After nine years I am stepping out into pastures just as green as the one that nurtured my enjoyment of poetry with fine memories (the poems) and even finer company (the poets, the zine's staff). Do I know where I'm going? Not exactly. But I move on with a sure foot and, every now and then, a backward glance.

Though they won't be published until July, the poems being featured in Summer 2009 have, to me, already receded into the past. This is not a strike against them. Far from it. As you'll see, Summer's poetry is imbued with a sense of repose and, more importantly, a sense of renewal. That's why it's easy for me to talk about the poems at the same time as I talk about departing. In the cycle of things, the end is a kind of beginning. You've heard this before, I'm sure. But not poems like these:

Gale Acuff's "Wake" is a comic-ironic lament for a lost father by a lost son: "He comes to the door but he's / younger than I am. Or we're the same age, / that is, dead. You can't get much older than / dead."

Alexandria Ashford's "Peach Tree" transforms said peach tree into a chilling symbol for someone who never quite reaches the full bloom of potential. The tree is named Eliza, a "name that / means my God is a vow, // but only because it grew in your / back yard, crooked and narrow."

The poet kj gives us "Scattered Seeds," a poem in the shape of a flower and with lines as rich, dense, and dark as soil: "The deceitful summer tricks the trees, roots, and animals into momentary prosperity."

Bobby Bradshaw's "Butterfly Weed" is a moment of shining respite from the gloom waiting for us on the fringes: "The geraniums on the fire escape / lean out with their bright faces / like children along a parade route."

Lana M. Wiggins' "Nickel and Dime" kicks into gear the wry, bitter observations of a lover unrequited, jilted, or something in between: "If I had a nickel for the men / who loved me / I’d have a nickel instead of this / sapphire reminder of tea rooms / broken glass / small bank / and big ass."

Finally, there is Gerald Gordinier's "Coins," an intelligent meditation on the turnstile passage between living and dying, beginnings and ends. The cost is great and the way uncertain: "The coins on our eyes / are one-way tickets, // placed so even the sky / is hidden upon arrival. "

The rewards of this journey? Priceless.

Cesar Garza makes a living as a librarian in South Texas -- and a literate, loving living it is.