‘The Ozarks are full of all-cap CHARACTERS. I never tire of listening in on people’s conversations …’
On her website, L Mari Harris describes herself simply as a “Writer, Reader, Ozarks Dweller.” But like the tales she spins, the simple description is sneakily deceptive. It belies a more complex and nuanced character. As I continue to feature outstanding literary women in this month’s Women’s History Month Friday Five series, I’m delighted to introduce this brilliant creator of short fiction and creative nonfiction to readers.
L Mari Harris
I first got hooked on L Mari’s prose after reading “Baby,” a tiny piece that packs a wallop — one of those stories that sticks with you for a long time. She’s written many other great pieces before and since; find them here.
L Mari is also the managing editor of trampset, a literary magazine you should have on your reading list. Read what she has to say about her writing life, editing trampset, and life in the Ozarks.
“… the more honest I am about myself and others … the more my work resonates with people.”
In today’s Women’s History Month Friday Five, I’m happy to feature Rebecca Tiger, a writer and sociologist known for her work in both creative and academic spheres. As an associate professor of sociology at Middlebury College in Vermont, she teaches courses on topics like punishment, deviance, drugs, and celebrity, often blending sociology with creative nonfiction. As a creative writer, she has published fiction and nonfiction in various literary journals, including an award-winning essay recognized in a 2024 creative nonfiction contest(“Where’s Charlie,” published by Roi Fainéant Press). Rebecca also teaches creative writing in jails.
I first discovered Rebecca’s writing via her flash fiction piece “Dissection,” a powerful story about life, death, and family published in Trampset. I’ve since read other pieces by her — fiction as well as nonfiction — and have always been moved by the power of her stories and the way she puts the words together. Read on to learn more about her writing and academic work, her advice to other writers, and teaching creative writing to the incarcerated.
Where “knockoff Wes Anderson meets snarky pinup girl”
In recognition of Women’s History Month, I’m devoting each Friday Five this March to shine the spotlight on women who are doing cool stuff in literature these days. This celebration begins with Tiffany M. Storrs, the editor-in-chief and co-founder of Roi Fainéant Press (RF for short). This online literary magazine, established in 2021, publishes a diverse range of voices in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, and it is one of the most enjoyable online litmags I’ve discovered over the past year.
Tiffany M. Storrs, co-founder and editor-in-chief of Roi Fainéant Press
If you’re curious about the litmag’s name, Roi Fainéant is French for “lazy king” or “do-nothing king.” It refers to the seventh- and eighth-century kings of France’s Merovignian Dynasty — kings who didn’t have much power given the way things were going in that country at that time, according to Wikipedia. On the RF website’s about page, Tiffany refers to herself and co-founders Kellie Scott-Reed and Marianne Baretsky Peterson as “3 lazy kings living the best of their worst lives.” Judging from the quality of their litmag and the works they publish, however, I would not take that description seriously. No doubt the three of them sift through scores of submissions to find just the right pieces for their publication. But as the name, the site design, the accompanying artwork, and overall vibe suggest, RF is a platform where irreverence, playfulness, and a broad range of literary voices and styles can thrive. (I’m honored to have two pieces published in RF: “Narcissus on the Deck” and “No Point.” If you’re looking for a home for your work, quirky, irreverent, or otherwise, I suggest you give RF a try.)
Read on for Tiffany’s take on RF, her suggestions for writers, her sources of inspiration, and more.
Cover of Syncopation Literary Journal, Volume 4, Issue 1
I’m proud to have my creative nonfiction essay “Not Fade Away” included in the latest edition of Syncopation Literary Journal (Volume 4, Issue 1). The theme of this issue is “Must Love Music,” and in my essay I try to connect to that theme by weaving together thoughts about a rock concert in the early 1980s, a band that was popular then and is still kicking, and the importance of keeping the power of creativity flowing throughout our years. I hope you’ll give it a read. And while you’re there, check out some of the other terrific writing in this and previous issues.
‘I write one word at a time, focusing on the lyrical potential of a sentence and how that aligns with a character’s voice’
Multi-genre author Allison Field Bell
I first discovered Allison Field Bell‘s writing via the literary magazine Fractured Lit, which published her stunning flash fiction piece “Vermillion Cliffs” last March. I started following her on Twitter (X) and soon was astounded by how frequently she would post about new pieces being accepted — not only short stories and flash fiction, but creative nonfiction and poetry as well. (This X/Twitter thread of a few of her favorites from 2024 should give you some idea of her range and diverse styles.) I consider her a writer’s writer and highly recommend her work.
Later this year, a chapbook of her creative nonfiction, Edge of the Sea, will be published by CutBank Books, and her poetry chapbook, Without Woman or Body, will be published by Finishing Line Press. Her current projects-in-progress include a book of short fiction, a collection of flash nonfiction, and a full-length collection of poetry. She is also finishing up her first novel, wrapping up a Ph.D. in Creative Writing and English Literature at the University of Utah, and offering editorial services to aid other writers.
In today’s Friday Five, Allison shares her thoughts on multi-genre writing, her writing routine, and some excellent advice for the rest of us.
