Unfortunately, the cancellation of publication of my debut novel really knocked me for a loop. I was unable to get this post written for March, April, or on-time May’s short story recs. So, here we are. All the stories and poetry I recommended in March, April, and May.
Vicky Cooper by Dylan Kwok was published at Wyldblood Press in 2022.
A story about hard choices and the perceptiveness of children.
The Deadlands published:
The Self-Made Women’s Circle by Marisca Pichette in January.
Women made to be taken apart and put back together.
The Breeze & the Black Door by Mack W. Mani in March.
I could hear the song in this poem, and the story hurts.
Dream Feast by Jarune Uwujaren was published by Flash Fiction Magazine published in January.
There is always a catch.
Small Wonders published:
Half of a green fall by Eva Papasoulioti in January.
When you fall.
Straw Gold by Mari Ness in February.
I love retellings of fairy tales. A poem of Rumpelstilskin.
Stop Thinking, the Kid Can Hear by Lucy Eller in February.
This one hits close to home.
Mary’s Bag by Marisca Pichette in February.
A poem about the contents of a bag, and what it says about the person who owns it.
I Once Fell in Love With a Jackalope by Chase Anderson in March.
This one is the perfect, small stories, big feelings story that Small Wonders does so well.
The Things You’ll Wish You’d Known by Kristen Koopman in April.
A story of loss, of choice, and loss again.
Words Without Borders published:
The Fish by Ahmad Shamlou
Translated from the Persian by Zara Houshmand
A poem of the body.
Appendix by Yu Hua
Translated from the Chinese by Allan H. Barr
What good are sons, except for the hero-worship of their father?
Crepuscular published:
[deadname] Clone Blues by Jarune Uwujaren in January.
This is pertinent after the recent bill of story bans.
The Drowned Know Your Name by A.A. Takabe in February.
What happens below the surface of the lake? And how does it change you?
Moondust Angels by Adia Reynolds in February.
An ode to obsession
Condo Landlord Seeking Spirit Exorcist by Lixin Foo in February.
Fun little ad looking for a spirit exorcist for an apartment building.
“Cyanotype of a Burning World” and “Weeds” by Shantell Powell was published at Alocasia in April.
Shantell’s poetry is always so layered and beautiful.
Apex Magazine published:
One by One by Lindz McLeod in 2025
A story of high school students, and people going missing, and the world continuing without care.
Halfway Alive, Halfway Living by Colton Kekoa Neves in 2025
Stories are in conversation with each other and this one feels in conversation with The Self-Made Women’s Club by Marisca Pichette at The Deadlands
The Bathhouse for Long Life by Claire Jia-Wen in May
A story of mothers and daughters, life and death, and choices
Shrinkage! by Ashlee Lhamon in February.
I love how poetic this story is.
Inner Worlds published in March:
My Battery Is Low and It’s Getting Dark by Andy Boyle
I knew I would post this story just from the title, and then there’s a Nebraska reference, and the format and story itself are so good!
The Clearing by Miah O’Malley
A story of memory and a lifeform.
Microfiction by V Astor Solomon was published at Patreon in January.
V writes the most amazing microfic. Every single one of these is gold.
Otherside published in March:
Vitrification by Ishmael Grey
A story of giving everything you have to the one you loved.
Eat It Out by Cypher
A poem of claiming shame of our youth.
Situationship by Seoung Kim
All the ways it ends. The exploration of power differential. A story of self-awareness.
Your First Days Back in the Court of Arthur by Abigail Eliza
“And he asked.”
What is it Arthur asks?
Overall, over the course of March, April, and May, I recommended 28 stories amidst the chaos of my life. I hope you have a chance to check them out!