Author / J.L. Smith

Unknown's avatar

Posts by J.L. Smith

I am a writer/political scientist based in Eagle River, Alaska. I hold a BA degree in English/Creative Writing and a MA in International Relations. Best of both worlds, I write everything from naturalistic poetry to Russia and the former Soviet Republics. Recent publications: Academic Nonfiction: The Syrian Dilemma: Moscow's Motives in the Syrian Uprising (2013). ISBN: 9781304283931 Creative Nonfiction: "The Important Things" - Alaska Women Speak - Winter 2015 issue Fiction: How to Eat a Bagel - 50-word Stories - Sept 15, 2015 The Devil and the White Room - Down in the Dirt - July/August 2016 Poetry: "Sara" - Grassroots - Fall 1999 "Femininity" - Cirque - Summer 2015 "Sitting in the Bathroom" - Yellow Chair Review - July 2015 "A Happy Poem" - Eunoia Review - August 2015 "Willow Rebuilds" "Spectators" "Fire Angels" - Alaska Women Speak- Fall 2015 "Dark Clouds Descend Low" - Three Line Poetry - Issue 33 - Sept 2015 "Da!" - Peeking Cat Poetry - 8th issue - Oct 2015 "Three times my baby's stroller passes by" - Eunoia Review - Oct 2015 "Babushka's Samovar", "If I May Speak", and "High Tea and Fancy Things" - Alaska Women Speak - Winter 2015 Issue "Joanna's Child" - Cirque - Winter Solstice issue 2015. "Away with the Bitterness!" - Peeking Cat Poetry - 9th Issue - Dec 2015 "Away with the Bitterness!" - Alaska Shorts (49 Writers blog) - December 22, 2015 "The Reflex", "The Drop Off", and "Crossed Eyes" - Eskimo Pie - Feb 2016 "The Fragments You Carry", "The Fireweed Dies", and "Crabapples" - 13 Chairs - Spring 2016
by J.L. Smith

Play Along – Alaska Women Speak

Thank you, Alaska Women Speak, for accepting my poem “Play Along” for the Winter Social Media issue. As always, I appreciate AWS’ support. Check out this great Alaskan magazine at alaskawomenspeak.org.

by J.L. Smith

Poetry Boot Camp Participants

Hey! Did you complete the challenge? Did you finish 30 poems? If so, email me at jennsmithak at gmail.com to collect your win. This is an honor system. If you completed the challenge your name will be put in for consideration (if I get more than 3 participants) for a chapbook prize.

You have until the 10th to email me. Congratulations to all who participated!

by J.L. Smith

Excerpt: Medusa – The Lost Daughter

From “The Birth of the Gorgon”

For every monster, a hero is born
to end its tyranny, and to bring forth
its demise. Medusa saw hers born in
a flash of lightning in the sky, as she
was cast down from Athena’s eyes to the
scorching desert of Sarpedon

Medusa is available for purchase at Politics and Prose at http://www.politics-prose.com/book/9781624291272

by J.L. Smith

Medusa Holiday Sale –>Special Offer

***Get Medusa – The Lost Daughter –signed and shipped–for $14!***
To celebrate the final installments of the Medusa excerpts (and Black Friday too!), I am announcing a special off for my book, Medusa – The Lost Daughter:

$14 for a signed and shipped copy right to your door! How sweet is that!

That is almost a $1 off the list price and free shipping! Hurry! This deal will last only to the 30th! Email jennsmithak @ gmail.com for more details.

Thank you, everyone, for joining in on my journey! Part two is being written now!