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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

Throwback Thursday – Three Line Poetry

Throwback work:  This one was published in Three Line Poetry‘s 33rd issue back in September.  Enjoy!  Brief, haiku-inspired.

Dark clouds descend low
Mountains like whipped topping
The July morning cools

13 Chairs Publication: 3 Poems

I’m pleased to announce that 3 of my poems have been accepted for publication in 13 Chairs‘ first issue, due out in Spring of 2016, published straight out of JBER.  I am excited to be a part of this new journal.  Accepted poems include The Fragments You Carry, Crabapples, and  The Fireweed Dies.

More details to come as I receive them!

Jennifer

Throwback Thursday: How to Eat a Bagel

Last post of the day, seriously.  When do I make all of these posts, lol.

This one was published by 50-Word Stories back in September.  Enjoy!

And, Happy Holidays, everyone!

How to Eat a Bagel

Eat like this, mama demands, nibbling the bagel like a caged gerbil with a toilet paper roll.

The boy giggles, taking his like a harmonica, raises it like a singer reaches for that final high note. Cream cheese squirts out for the audience’s enjoyment.

She rubs her expectant belly. “Kids.”

Cirque is out! Winter Solstice Issue!

Hey Everyone!

Cirque‘s winter solstice issue is up!  My poem “Joanna’s Child” is on page 63.  Check it out!  Issues are available via subscription, as well as Barnes & Noble here in Anchorage, as well as other stores.  Take a look!

Alaska Women Speak’s Winter Issue: Publication

Hi everyone!

Just got my copy of Alaska Women Speak yesterday.  I was so excited to see my four (yes 4!) works in their latest issue, which centers around drinking coffee or tea.  Alaskans, you can get your copy via subscription (of course) or at Barnes & Noble in Anchorage, or in my other fine retailers listed on the website.

Works included:

Nonfiction:  The Important Things

Poems: Babushka’s Samovar, If I May Speak, and High Tea and Fancy Things.

Check it out!

Jennifer, who adores drinking tea, loves writing about her favorite beverage!

 

 

49 Writers: Away with the Bitterness

On December 22nd, the 49 Writers‘ blog is going to feature my poem “Away with the Bitterness” as an Alaska Shorts feature!  A Christmas theme poem, it was originally published in Peeking Cat Poetry‘s 9th issue! I am so excited to see it reprinted on our local writers’ blog.

Will post when it goes live!

 

 

Throwback Thursday – Alaska Women Speak

This one was published in Alaska Women Speak‘s 2015 Fall Issue:  Fireweed theme.

Fire Angels

Girl with corn silk curls twirls

in the meringue sundress into

a field of fireweed.

Her hands slap the magenta petals

like a propeller, spinning the fluffy

cotton until she collapses,

but does not stop,

making fire angels in the weeds.

 

Throwback Thursday – Alaska Women Speak

This one was published in Alaska Women Speak‘s 2015 Fall Issue:  Fireweed theme.

Spectators

The cracked windshield, blotted with rain,

streaked with each wiper blade pass, as

we wasted time with a drive past the Chugach

Mountains, thick with gray cloud afros,

adorning each peak.

 

Miles of guard rail sheltered

our route from the swollen Eagle River just feet away

until the gray broke for a brief patch of fireweed

and a moose cow and calf,

their red-brown fur

nestled against the magenta petals

as they waited along the roadside:

spectators to our rainy day parade.