INDIANA VOICE JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 2015 ISSUE #14

The stories and poems in this issue of Indiana Voice Journal are a powerful witness to the lives we live.  There is an underlying sense of urgency as we move from one poem or story to the next observing and exploring the landscapes of our past, the possibilities of our future, and the places where we are standing right now. A true eclectic mix that sings together in one big breath! I hope September brings you many blessings...Janine Pickett, Editor

~IN THIS ISSUE~

POETRY

THREE POEMS BY LANA BELLA:  "CONSENT TO NOTHING, AND YOURSELF UNSEEING", "SMALL AND SMALLER", "THE BENT AIR"

A POEM BY R. SEBASTIAN BENNETT: "BHOUN"

POETRY BY JOSEPH BUEHLER: "FOR JERRY", "OUTER BANKS AFTER THE HURRICANE", " 'FIFTY THREE J.W. CONVENTION; 'FIFTY SEVEN HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION TRIP"

THREE POEMS BY MARCUS CLAYTON: "A BLUE PICASSO", FLEAS ON SCISSORS", "GHOST"

THREE POEMS BY PIJUSH KANTI DEB: "THE CHOICE-MAKING", THREE USELESS SAINTS AND A TIGER", "A BIG QUESTION"

TWO POEMS BY DANIEL GIOVINAZZO:  "READING ROOM", "BLINDED BY TELEVISION"

THREE POEMS BY JOHN GREY: "MORNING WITH THE OBITS", "COFFIN HOUSE", "LIES AT 9.00, FILM AT 11.00"

THREE POEMS BY MILTON MONTAGUE: "1300 BC", "EITAN'S BAR MITZVAH", "GOLEM

THREE POEMS BY KEITH MOUL: "CROWN OF THE OBTUSE", "FLATTOP", "LOVERS"

THREE POEMS BY M. SAKRAN: "UPON THE GROUND", "BEHIND THE KEY PAD", "THE DOG"

TWO POEMS BY LISA ZOU: "PROLOGUE OF EULOGY", "NAMES FORGOTTEN THIS SUMMER"


CREATIVE NONFICTION

CNF/ESSAY BY CALEB WARD: "7 AWKWARD THINGS"


FICTION

 FICTION BY TIM BEMIS: "OLD RACCOON EYES"

 FICTION BY JOCELYN CULLITY: "THE SHAWS"

 FICTION BY MATT GILLICK: "GODSPELL JESUS"

FLASH FICTION BY JOAN LEOTTA: "A GLIMPSE OF GLORY"

FLASH FICTION BY DONAL MAHONEY: "GOOSE EGGS"

FICTION BY JERRY MULLINS: "THE BRIDE"

FICTION BY JOHN RICHMOND: "THE FUTURE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES" 

FICTION BY ROBERT WEXELBLATT: "BEEN EVERYWHERE" 

THREE POEMS BY LANA BELLA: "CONSENT TO NOTHING, AND YOURSELF UNSEEING", "SMALL AND SMALLER", "THE BENT AIR"

Lana Bella has a diverse work of poetry and flash fiction anthologized, published and forthcoming with more than ninety journals, including a chapbook with Crisis Chronicles Press (2015), Aurorean Poetry, Chiron Review, Poetry Quarterly, QLSR (Singapore), elsewhere and Featured Artist with Quail Bell Magazine, among others. She resides in the coastal town of Nha Trang, Vietnam with her novelist husband and two frolicsome imps.

https://www.facebook.com/niaallanpoe

A POEM BY R. SEBASTIAN BENNETT: "BHOUN"

R. Sebastian Bennett's writing has been nominated for two Pushcart Prizes and appeared in Indiana Review, Texas Review, George Washington Review, Los Angeles Review, The Southwestern Review, Connecticut Review, and American Book Review.

He taught Creative Writing at U.C.L.A. and the University of Louisiana, and directed the Creative Writing program at Muskingum University in Ohio.  Presently, he teaches Writing at Broward College in Florida. 

POETRY BY JOSEPH BUEHLER: "FOR JERRY", "OUTER BANKS AFTER THE HURRICANE", " 'FIFTY THREE J.W. CONVENTION; 'FIFTY SEVEN HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION TRIP"

Joseph Buehler lives with his wife Trish  between the cities of Atlanta and Athens in Georgia.  He has published poems in Bumble Jacket Miscellany, Defenestration, Common Ground Review, The Write Room, The Tower Journal, Turk's Head Review, Two Cities Review The Stray  Branch, Mad Swirl, Burningword Literary Journal and Theodate and has upcoming poems in Common Ground Review, East End Elements and Unbroken. 

THREE POEMS BY MARCUS CLAYTON: "A BLUE PICASSO", FLEAS ON SCISSORS", "GHOST"

"Marcus grew up in South Gate, CA, and holds an M.F.A. in Poetry from CSU Long Beach. He coordinates poetry-reading events in Long Beach, is an editor for American Mustard, and a poetry reader for The Offing. Some of his published work can be seen in Tahoma Literary Review, San Pedro River Review, RipRap Journal, Mason’s Road, Bird’s Thumb, and Canyon Voices Literary Magazine among others."

(http://americanmustard.weebly.com/
 https://twitter.com/marcussomething

THREE POEMS BY PIJUSH KANTI DEB: "THE CHOICE-MAKING", THREE USELESS SAINTS AND A TIGER", "A BIG QUESTION"

Pijush Kanti Deb is a new Indian poet with more than 234 published or accepted poems and haiku in more than 75 national and international magazines and journals,[print and online] including Down in the dirt, Tajmahal Review, Pennine Ink, Hollow Publishing, Creativica Magazine, Muse India, Teeth Dream Magazine, Hermes Poetry Journal, Madusa’s Kitchen,Grey Borders, Dead Snakes, Dagda Publishing, Blognostic and many more.
His best achievement so far is the publication of his first poetry collection,’’Beneath The Shadow Of A White Pigeon’’ published by Hollow Publishing. It is available on AMAZON and BARNES AND NOBLE.

TWO POEMS BY DANIEL GIOVINAZZO: "READING ROOM", "BLINDED BY TELEVISION"

Daniel Giovinazzo is a graduate of Hartwick College.  In addition, he received an MFA from Lesley University in Creative Writing.  An emerging voice, Daniel has supported his writing by working as a house-painter, landscaper, mason-tender, line-cook, greenhouse keeper, and public educator.  LOW culminated from thirteen years of getting up early, staying up late, and reading The Philosophical Review…

THREE POEMS BY JOHN GREY: "MORNING WITH THE OBITS", "COFFIN HOUSE", "LIES AT 9.00, FILM AT 11.00"

John Grey is an Australian poet, US resident. Recently published in New Plains Review, Big Muddy and Sanskrit with work upcoming in South Carolina Review, Gargoyle, Owen Wister Review and Louisiana Literature.  

THREE POEMS BY MILTON MONTAGUE: "1300 BC", "EITAN'S BAR MITZVAH", "GOLEM

milt montague, born in new york in 1924, survived Great Depression, school, world war 2.  fell in love, married, raised three wonderful daughters, retired.  back at college poetry was his new love.  in just over 2 years, 46 of his poems were published by 14 different magazines.     

THREE POEMS BY KEITH MOUL: "CROWN OF THE OBTUSE", "FLATTOP", "LOVERS"

Keith Moul's poems and photos are widely published.  Finishing Line Press will release his latest poetry chap, The Future as a Picnic Lunch, September 2015

THREE POEMS BY M. SAKRAN: "UPON THE GROUND", "BEHIND THE KEY PAD", "THE DOG"

M. Sakran has had forty eight items published before.  They include a collection of poetry (First Try, eLectio Publishing, 2014), individual poems, short stories, articles, blog posts, essays, and other items.

Additionally, a poetry related blog can be found at msakran.wordpress.com and a website that can be found at msakran.com.

TWO POEMS BY LISA ZOU: "PROLOGUE OF EULOGY", "NAMES FORGOTTEN THIS SUMMER"

Lisa Zou is a Mesa Community College student interested in creative writing. She has previously been published in the Paha Review. 

CNF/ESSAY BY CALEB WARD: "7 AWKWARD THINGS"

Caleb Ward is a senior majoring in Spanish at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida. He likes to write and has taken several creative writing courses at his school. He has volunteered on a service learning trip to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas in Ukiah, California. Caleb has also taken a Spanish language intensive course in Salamanca, Spain.

FICTION BY TIM BEMIS: "OLD RACCOON EYES"

 

Tim Bemis has a BA in creative writing from New England College, and an MFA in fiction from Southern New Hampshire University's low-residency MFA program. His work has appeared in the Henniker Review, Tacenda literary magazine, Lost on Route 66: Tales From the Mother Road, Black Heart Magazine, and Wilderness House Literary Review. He lives in New Hampshire.

FICTION BY JOCELYN CULLITY: "THE SHAWS"

 

Jocelyn Cullity's work has most recently been published in the award-winning Everywhere Stories: Short Fiction from a Small Planet  (Press 53), TWJ Magazine, The Writer’s Chronicle, and Blackbird. She teaches Creative Writing in the BFA program at Truman State University in Missouri.

FICTION BY MATT GILLICK: "GODSPELL JESUS"

Matt Gillick is from Reston, Virginia. He is a graduate of Providence College with a degree in English. In spring 2015 he was named the head editor of the Wish Dish.com. His writings have appeared in Aaduna Magazine, The Wish Dish.com, the Alembic, and inconnu magazine. 

FLASH FICTION BY JOAN LEOTTA: "A GLIMPSE OF GLORY"

Joan Leotta has been playing with words on page and stage since childhood. In addition to her work as an award-winning journalist, short story writer, author, poet and essayist, Joan performs folklore and one-woman shows on historic figures, including the Aunt of Civil War spy, Belle Boyd. She can be reached at joanleotta@tmc.net for performance bookings or appearances on writing.

Her four books of historical fiction (Legacy of Honor series) are available from Desert Breeze Publishing and on Amazon.com along with her newly released collection of short stories, Simply a Smile. Her first picture book, Whoosh! (about a father and young daughter's day out sledding), released  August 2015, can be ordered from theaqpublishing.com . After a lifetime in snowier climes, Joan now lives in Calabash, NC where she walks the beach with husband Joe. She collects shells, pressed pennies and memories. www.joanleotta.wordpress.com and https://www.facebook.com/pages/Joan-Leotta-Author-and-Story-Performer/188479350973

FLASH FICTION BY DONAL MAHONEY: "GOOSE EGGS"

Nominated for Best of the Net and the Pushcart Prize, Donal Mahoney has had work published in the United States, Europe, Asia and Africa. Some of his earliest work can be found at http://booksonblog12.blogspot.com/.

FICTION BY JERRY MULLINS: "THE BRIDE"

 

“Jerry Mullins grew up in central West Virginia, and has lived in the Washington, DC suburbs in recent years. His work has recently been published in or is forthcoming from Columbia University Journal-Catch and Release, Wilderness House Literary Review, The Broadkill Review, Tower Journal, Indiana Voice Journal, Newfound Journal, Literary Yard, Foliate Oak, Homestead Review, Literary Nest, and internationally in Nazar-Look (Romania) and Southern Cross Review (Argentina).” 

FICTION BY JOHN RICHMOND: "THE FUTURE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES"

John Richmond has “wandered” parts of North America for a good portion of his life.
            These “wanderings” have taken him from a city on the Great Lakes to a small fishing village (population 400) and then on to a bigger city on the Great Lakes- Chicago- then, eventually, New York City.
            Since then, John Richmond has made his way to a small upstate New York town and has sequestered himself in his office where he divides his time between writing and discussing the state of the world with his coonhound buddy- Roma.
            Recently, he has appeared in the The Corner Club Press, The Tower Journal, Stone Path Review, Meat for Tea: The Valley Review, Rogue Particles Magazine, From the Depths, Flash Frontier (N. Z.), The Birmingham Arts Journal, Riverbabble (2), The Writing Disorder, Lalitamba, Poetic Diversity, Marco Polo Arts Magazine, Embodied Effigies, ken*again, Black & White, SNReview, The Round, The Potomac, Syndic Literary Journal, Ygdrasil (Canada), Slow Trains, Forge Journal, and is forthcoming in The Corner Club Press, and The Greensilk Journal.

FICTION BY ROBERT WEXELBLATT: "BEEN EVERYWHERE"

 Robert Wexelblatt is professor of humanities at Boston University’s College of General Studies. He has published the story collections Life in the Temperate Zone and The Decline of Our Neighborhood; a book of essays, Professors at Play; two short novels, Losses and The Derangement of Jules Torquemal, and essays, stories, and poems in a variety of journals. His novel Zublinka Among Women won the Indie Book Awards first-place prize for fiction. His most recent book is The Artist Wears Rough Clothing.  Another, Heiberg’s Twitch, is forthcoming.
 http://www.bu.edu/cgs/faculty/humanities-faculty/wexelblatt/

INDIANA VOICE JOURNAL AUGUST 2015 "THE NATURE ISSUE" #13

"Friends of Mother Nature" © Jim Warren

Welcome to our Nature Issue! I am deeply grateful to all the talented folks who've poured their art, wisdom, words, and wonder into this special themed edition of IVJ.  A warm thank you to the legendary artist Jim Warren for gracing our cover page with his beautiful painting "Friends of Mother Nature", and to the multi-talented editor Stacy Savage for honoring us with an interview and a poetry contest for a really great cause.

Indiana author Gene Stratton Porter once said, "Nature can be trusted to work her own miracle in the heart of any man whose daily task keeps him alone among her sights, sounds and silences." I believe that's true. Enjoy the wonder, and thank you to everyone who supports Indiana Voice Journal in one way or another. ~Janine Pickett

IN THIS ISSUE

ABOUT COVER ARTIST JIM WARREN

INTERVIEW

POETRY,  A CONVERSATION, AND A CONTEST WITH POETRY EDITOR STACY SAVAGE 

POETRY

ELIZABETH BROOKS: "INDESCRIBABLE PLEASURE", "QUICK DIP", "THE LURE OF THE MOON"

PIJUSH KANTI DEB: "A RURAL LOVE STORY", "BITING ON ASS", "AN ENCHANTING PAMPAS"

MICHAEL ENEVOLDSEN: "SHADOWS OF MOUNTAINS", "WINTER’S SLEEPY EYE" 

CINDY BOUSQUET HARRIS: "SERENGETI TANGENT", "FLAMINGOS OF GRUISSAN"

STEVE KLEPETAR: "LI BO'S GARDEN", "MINNESOTA", "ENTERING THE OLD WOOD" 

JOAN LEOTTA: "RED HAWK"

HAMEETA KAUR MALHOTRA: "CONFINED PARAKEET", "LONESOME TREE", "AND A POET WAS BORN"

DIKE OKORO: "CONFIRMATION", "DON'T FORGET", "LAGOS, NIGHT" 

SCOTT THOMAS OUTLAR: "RUSH HOUR", "YAWNING STARS", "FILL IN THE BLANKS"

SUNIL KUMAR POUDYAL: "EARTHQUAKE"

CECILIA SOPRANO: "OLD STRUCTURES", "ON THE MOUNTAIN"

VISUAL ART 

JEFFREY Z ROTHSTEIN: VISUAL ART "CORNFIELD" AND "ENCHANTED KINGDOM"

CREATIVE NONFICTION/ESSAY

FAITH BRITT: "SECRETS OF A MOREL HUNTER"

JENISE ERICKSON: "GETTING WET WITH BIRDERS" ESSAY AND PHOTOGRAPHY

RAYMOND GREINER: "A PLACE TO LOVE"

K.R. RIORDAN: "WHERE IS THE THICKET? WHERE IS THE EAGLE?"

FICTION

TIMOTHY A. CLEMENTS: "PETTY IS DEAD"

JEFF FLEISCHER: "DOVE"

BELINDA HUBERT: "WONDER"

JOSHUA STEELE: "THE CLEARING"

A TRIBUTE TO "CECIL THE LION" 

ABOUT COVER ARTIST JIM WARREN

Signed Limited-Edition

 JIM'S STORY

Jim Warren began painting and selling his art in high school over 40 years ago. Now considered a “Living Legend of the Art World”, Jim continues to create his unique style of art seen the world over.

His talents won him a first place award at his first art show in 1975. Soon after Jim began painting illustrations for books, movies and record album covers, most notably the Grammy Award winning cover for Bob Seger’s “Against the Wind” in 1981.

POETRY, A CONVERSATION, AND A CONTEST WITH POETRY EDITOR STACY SAVAGE

Available on Amazon

Mrs. Stacy Savage is a poet from Anderson, Indiana. She has published eight poetry books, seven of which the royalties benefited charities. Her work has also appeared in Birds and Blooms magazine, Ideals magazine, Asian Geographic magazine, The Heron’s Nest haiku journal, and various publications. In May 2010, she won second place in Spring Mill State Park’s nature poetry contest for her poem, “In Southern Indiana“.  Her poem, “Whispers of Poets Past”, was published on board 20 to 30 city buses in Lafayette as part of an arts project called Words on the Go. Last October, one of her poems was published in a wildlife calendar in Africa. She was a judge twice for the Best Books of Indiana competition in the poetry category.  Recently, she read some of her work on "The Smiley Morning Show" on WZPL radio. Most of Savage's work has been published under her former name of Smith. Stacy agreed to talk with IVJ about her charity work.

ELIZABETH BROOKS: "INDESCRIBABLE PLEASURE", "QUICK DIP", "THE LURE OF THE MOON"

Elizabeth Brooks Manatee River

Elizabeth Brooks resides in Tampa, Florida. She is originally from Trinidad and Tobago.  A lover of life, family, friends, a good book,  lots of laughter and continues to grow and accept many challenges.  She is a librarian by profession and a part-time reference librarian at Saint Leo University, St. Leo Florida. 

PIJUSH KANTI DEB: "A RURAL LOVE STORY", "BITING ON ASS", "AN ENCHANTING PAMPAS"

Pijush Kanti Deb is a new Indian poet with more than 234 published or accepted poems and haiku in more than 75 national and international magazines and journals,[print and online] including Down in the dirt, Tajmahal Review, Pennine Ink, Hollow Publishing, Creativica Magazine, Muse India, Teeth Dream Magazine, Hermes Poetry Journal, Madusa’s Kitchen,Grey Borders, Dead Snakes, Dagda Publishing, Blognostic and many more.
His best achievement so far is the publication of his first poetry collection,’’Beneath The Shadow Of A White Pigeon’’ published by Hollow Publishing. It is available on AMAZON and BARNES AND NOBLE.

MICHAEL ENEVOLDSEN: "SHADOWS OF MOUNTAINS", "WINTER’S SLEEPY EYE"

Michael Enevoldsen is a poet and photographer, who lives in Denmark, just outside the capital of Copenhagen. He has education as both a gardener and preschool teacher. The latter he finished at the University College of the city of Roskilde in 2015. His interests include literature, metaphysics, philosophy, meditation and nature – particularly bird watching and hiking. His poems have appeared in some international magazines, including Lummox Poetry Anthology 4 (USA)  Calliope: Literary and Visual Arts Magazine (USA) Yellow Chair Review (USA), The Commonline Journal (USA), Time of Singing, (USA), Aquillrelle Anthology (Belgium) and Section 8 Magazine (one micropoem combined with two of his photos) (USA). Also he has works in the forthcoming issue of  Madison's Lake Anthology.

CINDY BOUSQUET HARRIS: "SERENGETI TANGENT", "FLAMINGOS OF GRUISSAN"

Cindy Bousquet Harris is a poet and a licensed marriage and family therapist. Her poetry has appeared online and in print journals including The San Diego Poetry Annual, In the Mist, and Spectrum Magazine. Born and raised in the Midwest, she now lives in southern California with her husband and their children.  <cmbharris@netzero.net

STEVE KLEPETAR: "LI BO'S GARDEN", "MINNESOTA", "ENTERING THE OLD WOOD"

Steve Klepetar’s work has appeared in nine countries, in such journals as Boston Literary Magazine, Deep Water, Antiphon, Red River Review, Snakeskin, Ygdrasil, and many others.  Several of his poems have been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net.  Recent collections include Speaking to the Field Mice (Sweatshoppe Publications, 2013), My Son Writes a Report on the Warsaw Ghetto (Flutter Press, 2013) and Return of the Bride of Frankenstein (Kind of a Hurricane Press).

JOAN LEOTTA: "RED HAWK"

Joan Leotta has been playing with words by writing and performing since childhood Joan recently completed a month as a Tupelo Press' 30/30 poet and has work  the Spring in Knox Literary Magazine, Eastern Iowa Review and forthcoming in Silver Birch Review. In addition to work as journalist, short story writer, author, poet and essayist, Joan performs folklore and "women-in history" stage shows. She often walks the beach in Calabash , NC with husband Joe. Her four books of historical fiction (Legacy of Honor series) are available from Desert Breeze Publishing and on Amazon along with her newly released collection of short stories, Simply a Smile. Her first picture book, Whoosh! (about a father and young daughter's day out sledding) can be pre-ordered from TheaQ and will be released August 2015.

Find her at www.joanleotta.wordpress.com and on FACEBOOK

HAMEETA KAUR MALHOTRA: "CONFINED PARAKEET", "LONESOME TREE", 'AND A POET WAS BORN"

 

Hameeta Kaur Malhotra is a student of M.A. English at Panjab University campus, Chandigarh, India

 

DIKE OKORO: "CONFIRMATION", "DON'T FORGET", "LAGOS, NIGHT"

Dike Okoro, a poet and short story writer, teaches at Concordia University Wisconsin, Mequon. He was a finalist the Iliad Poetry Award and a recipient of a Sam Walton Fellowship. His poetry, stories, and nonfiction have appeared in Witness Magazine, World Literature Today, Yellow Medicine Review, The Caribbean Writer, Reverie and elsewhere. He is the author of the poetry volume, Dance of the Heart. He received his PhD in English from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. 

SCOTT THOMAS OUTLAR: "RUSH HOUR", "YAWNING STARS", "FILL IN THE BLANKS"

 Scott Thomas Outlar survived the chaos of both the fire and the flood...barely. Now he spends the hours flowing and fluxing with the ever changing tide of the Tao River while laughing at and/or weeping over life's existential nature. His words have appeared recently in venues such as Yellow Chair Review, Dissident Voice, Poems-for-All, Tuck Magazine, and Clockwise Cat. Links to his published material can be found at 17numa.wordpress.com.

SUNIL KUMAR POUDYAL: "EARTHQUAKE"

 Sunil Kumar Poudyal is a poet, writer and journalist from Nepal (Country of Mt. Everest-South Asia). His poem, Earthquake, was written under stress while the quakes were still happening in Nepal.

CECILIA SOPRANO: "OLD STRUCTURES", "ON THE MOUNTAIN"

Cecilia Soprano lives in Westchester County and makes her living as an organic gardener and artist.   Her poems and artwork have been published in La Joie magazine and UC at Santa Barbara among others.  Her artwork is often featured on the covers of Inner Directions magazine. 

She is a member of the Greenwich Art Society and the Katonah Museum Art Association.  She has published three small books and has had several one woman art exhibits.  Her love of nature and gardening provides the space for uninterrupted inspiration.  Her intention is to make images and words that describe beauty and uplift the human spirit.   My art is about making the simple sacred and the ordinary extra-ordinary.

"The reason why we exist is to remember why we exist and to realize our interconnectedness with all things."    WEBSITE:  www.Amichiart.com or CeciliaSoprano.com

JEFFREY Z ROTHSTEIN: VISUAL ART "CORNFIELD" AND "ENCHANTED KINGDOM"

Jeffrey Z Rothstein is a free lance writer and artist, whose work has appeared most recently in Fallen City Writers Anthology, Red Fez, Mud Season Review, Kitchen Sink and The Newer York Press. He has also appeared in numerous shows and live readings.  JZRothstein presently lives just outside of Madison Wisconsin, a town which is extremely tolerant towards artists and their eccentric work habits. Visit PhlegmTurtlePalace

FAITH BRITT: "SECRETS OF A MOREL HUNTER"

Although I am a graphic designer, I live for the outdoors. Besides writing and designing, some of my greatest pleasures include hunting for mushrooms and spending summer afternoons in my family's backyard swimming pool. I recently finished my education at Clarke University and am eager to enter the workforce!

JENISE ERICKSON: "GETTING WET WITH BIRDERS" ESSAY AND PHOTOGRAPHY

Jenise Erikson is a Louisiana native, but currently lives in the mountains of Arkansas. She has an M.A. in English and a B.A. in Criminal Justice and worked in the construction industry for many years as well as being reared in a cabinet shop. She likes being outdoors whether hiking, mountain biking, painting or writing.
We live in a grand world and can’t experience it all personally, but we can learn from one another. That’s the beauty of words. Please visit her website at: Mama's Madness

RAYMOND GREINER: "A PLACE TO LOVE"

Raymond Greiner's writings include short stories and essays published frequently in various literary journals and magazines:  Branches magazine, La Joie Journal, Literary Yard Journal, Nib Magazine, Canary Literary Journal, Bellesprit Magazine, Freedom Journal, Grace Notes Literary Magazine. His latest book, a collection of fiction, nonfiction, and two novella's titled Hinterland Narrative is available on Amazon. Raymond lives in a remote area of southern Indiana in a cabin far off a lightly traveled road with his two dogs Orion and Venus. He is a frequent contributor to Indiana Voice Journal.

 

K.R. RIORDAN: "WHERE IS THE THICKET? WHERE IS THE EAGLE?"

I am currently a student at Seattle University, diligently working towards my Bachelor of Arts in English Literature & Creative Writing.  My works have appeared in the Percival Review, a literary journal out of Olympia, Washington. 

My goal in life is to transfer the passion of literature and writing which I possess onto younger generations. 

TIMOTHY A. CLEMENTS: "PETTY IS DEAD"

Timothy A. Clements holds an MFA in writing from Lindenwood University and lives nearby in St. Charles, MO with his wife and two children. 

JEFF FLEISCHER: "DOVE"

Jeff Fleischer is a Chicago-based author, journalist and editor. His fiction is most recently published in the Chicago Tribune's Printers Row literary journal and Steam Ticket Third Coast Review. He is also the author of non-fiction books including "The Latest Craze: A Short History of Mass Hysterias" (Fall River Press, 2011), "Rockin' the Boat: 50 Iconic Revolutionaries" (Zest Books, 2015), and a civics book coming in spring 2016. He is a veteran journalist published in Mother Jones, the New Republic, the Sydney Morning Herald, the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Magazine, Mental_Floss, National Geographic Traveler and dozens of other local, national and international publications.

Website: www.JeffFleischer.com (blog is www.JeffFleischer.com/blog)
Twitter:@jefffleischer
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Jeff-Fleischer/e/B00PIXRK52/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1

BELINDA HUBERT: "WONDER"

In addition to writing fiction and poetry, Belinda Hubert is currently working on a novel, titled Shrink Wrapped and a collection of short stories about life in the Midwest. She works as a clinical psychologist in a private practice in Lowell, Indiana.

 http://buelasprairiepractice.blogspot.com/

JOSHUA STEELE: "THE CLEARING"

Father. Husband. Writer. 

https://www.facebook.com/jsteele1

"A TRIBUTE TO CECIL THE LION" BY ANNA MARIE

REST IN PEACE, CECIL

His mane blew back in gold majestic blends
His face running  through deep African winds
Champion among wilds, swift King among beasts
A dirty man's snare, he was taken from his peace

INDIANA VOICE JOURNAL JULY 2015 ISSUE #12

"Detroit" Photo courtesy of David J. Thompson

The stories, poems, and visual art in this issue of IVJ are diverse, important and powerful.  In Disappearing Search, a poem by Deonte Osayande, we learn what it's like to grow up in a community where black girls go missing without so much as a nod from the rest of the world. Allison Whittenberg tackles the tough issues of rape, pregnancy, and "choice" in Ride The Peter Pan. Nicole Murphy Bagwell's poem, From Mouths to Hands, shows us the horrifying results of intolerance and bullying, which often lead to teen suicide among the LGBT community.

All the works in this issue bear witness to a greater beauty, a greater truth which lives in the world. In us. We are all connected. Not by race or environment, not by works or social class, not by religion or politics, but by our common human experiences. By the passion, love, and compassion written in our spirits which gives rise to hope, and voice to unity.

Wishing you all a happy, safe Independance Day this month.  And a happy one-year anniversary to Indiana Voice Journal! ~Janine Pickett, editor

IN THIS ISSUE:

 VISUAL ART

"Detroit" by David J. Thompson


POETRY

Poetry By Nicole Murphy Bagwell: "From Mouths To Hands"
 
Three Poems By Darren C. Demaree: "Nude Male With Echo #61", "Nude Male With Echo #62", "Nude Male With Echo #63"
  
Poetry By Woodrow Hightower: "Twin Revolutions"

Three Poems By Andrew Hubbard: "Big John's Liquors", "Joy Starke", "The Veteran"

Two Poems By Dan Jacoby: "Wisdom of Solomon", "On Returning To St. Louis"
 
Three Poems By Peycho Kanev: "Against", "An Odd Occurrence", "Calculations" 
 
Three Poems By Donal Mahoney: "After Burying A Wife", "There's a Cliff Ahead", "Nearing the Finish Line"

Six Poems By Milt Montague: "A Grandfathers Reverie", "Eitan My Love", "Maya", "Michaela My Heart", " My Grands", "Parting"

Three Poems By Deonte Osayande: "Twisted Origins", "Raven",  "Disappearing Search"

Three Poems By Arthur Powers:  "1903", "Tax Day",  "From Starks to Mount Carroll"
 
Three Poems By Cindy Rinne:  "Womb-Door I,II,III," "Memory Pockets,"  "Curls Dyed Gray"

Three Poems By Scott Sherman: "They Used to Talk About Burning Cities," " Riding Into Sunsets," " #85"
 
Two Poems And Visual Art By Cecilia Soprano: "Bokie",  "The Buddha's Garden"



NONFICTION

Flash Essay By G David Schwartz:  "July Shards: Darkness Is Not Only For Night, Its Also For A Drink"
 
CNF By Tom Sheehan: "I Now Burn Pellets In My Stove"



FLASH/FICTION

Fiction By DB Cox: "Paint It Black"
 
Flash Fiction By Mitchell Grabois:  "Beautiful Suit"

Fiction By Raymond Greiner: "The Blues"

Flash Fiction By CN Hueston: "They Called Her Detroit"
 
Fiction By Adam Matson: "The Witch Of Malibu"
 
Fiction By Matt McGowan: "Saint John's"
 
Fiction By Alan Semrow: "Hard Chairs"
 
Flash Fiction By Phil Temples: "Cat Nipped"

Fiction By Allison Whittenberg: "Ride the Peter Pan"