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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

NaPoWriMo Day 31 (Yes, extended)

Extended is NaPoWriMo because I still need some poems excerpts to post.  I have gone back 30, LOL.

Excerpt from “Motherless, Here I Cry.”

*This excerpt has been removed as another day’s post has been posted. Keep checking back daily to get the most up-to-date Napowrimo posts:)

 

Tanka Publication!

Hi everyone,

I am pleased to announced that the Tanka Journal has accepted one of my tanka poems for their third issue.  Check them out.  Free issues are available on the site.  Not familiar with tanka? Check out the web site and find out more about this brief form.

Enjoy!

J.L

 

Alaska Women Speak

Hey my Alaskan folks!  Alaska Women Speak has just released their Spring 2016 issue: Adventures in Foreign Lands. I have four pieces in this issue.  My three poems and nonfiction piece center on my stay in South Korea in 2002-2003.    Locally the magazine is available at Barnes and Noble in Anchorage and Fireside Books in Palmer, as well as other stores throughout the state.

Check it out!

Poems: A Greeting at Imjingak, Chaos and Conformity, and Bibimbap.

Prose: A Forgotten War.

 

Throwback Thursday: Earthquake Shakes

This one was published by Three Line Poetry in February.  Short and sweet, each line is less than 40 characters.  Enjoy.  It is about my first earthquake in Alaska.

 

earthquake shake book shelves
café patrons lock eyes
a brief sip paused