<%@ Language=VBScript %> Winter Solstice 2015 - Contributors - Mused - the BellaOnline Literary Review Magazine
MUSED
BellaOnline Literary Review
Gentle Face by Christine Catalano

Table of Contents

Contributors
Shawn Aveningo Shawn Aveningo

Shawn Aveningo is an award-winning, globally published poet whose work has appeared in over 80 literary journals and anthologies, including LA’s poeticdiversity who recently nominated her poetry for a Pushcart Prize. She is co-founder of The Poetry Box®, managing editor of The Poeming Pigeon and journal designer for VoiceCatcher. Shawn is a proud mother of three who shares in the creative life with her husband in Beaverton, Oregon. (www.thepoetrybox.com)

Manijeh Badiozamani Manijeh Badiozamani

Manijeh Badiozamani is a literary non-fiction writer. She writes mostly about her experiences growing up in Tehran, Iran, where she was born. Her short stories and articles have been published in magazines, anthologies and on the Web. She is a retired professor of English, and is currently working on a collection of short stories: "Family Tales from Tehran".

Marilyn J. Baszczynski Marilyn J. Baszczynski

Marilyn Baszczynski, originally from Ontario, Canada, teaches and tutors French in Central Iowa. "Gyuri," a work based on experiences of Hungarian refugees was published in 2015 by Whistling Shade Publications. Her poetry has appeared in Abaton, The Aurorean, Lyrical Iowa, Tipton Poetry Journal, Midwest Poetry Review, Sweet Annie & Sweet Pea Review and at Mused—the BellaOnline Literary Review, Loch Raven Review and Poetry.com. Marilyn is currently President of the Iowa Poetry Association.

Mark Berkerey Mark Berkerey

Mark was born to itinerant Irish parents which set the scene for a restless life. Like the Gypsy, he couldn´t accept the moribund values of a soulless society, what passed for important or posed as spiritual. The resulting roller-coaster of experience and inner conflict eventually gave way to a love of the simple sense of nature that he now lives - the best he can - as a form of meditation. He expresses his ongoing exploration of nature´s spiritual value through his writing and pictures at www.beingmark.com

Susan P. Blevins Susan P. Blevins

Susan P. Blevins, an ex-pat Brit, has traveled the world extensively, lived in Italy for 26 years, and has now settled in Houston, Texas, where she is enjoying writing stories and poems based on her travels and adventures. She had a weekly column on food in a European newspaper and has published various articles on gardens in US and European magazines. She is passionate about classical music, gardening, cats, reading and of course, writing.

Misky Braendeholm Misky Braendeholm

Misky Braendeholm lives in the UK surrounded by flowers, grapevines, bubbling pots of sourdough starter, and always keeps dog biscuits in her pocket for her blind Springer Spaniel. She never buys clothing without pockets. Her work is published with Waterways Journal, Poetry Quarterly, Curio Poetry, Gnarled Oak, inclusion in three international print anthologies, and placed twice in the top 5 Writers’ Digest Chapbook Challenge.

Christine Catalano Christine Catalano

Christine likes to take photographs and play with them on the computer. She dedicates her work to her muse and longtime friend, who passed away recently.

Jan Charone-Sossin Jan Charone-Sossin

Jan Charone-Sossin is a passionate reader and writer whose interest in the human psyche has only been further fueled by her career as a clinical psychologist. She does all of her writing with her beloved King Charles Cavalier at her side. She is currently finishing up her final semester in the MFA program at Bennington College. The characters in Prey Versus Predator live on in a yet-to-be published novel entitled Falling: The First Descent.

Harry Craft Harry Craft

Harry Craft contributed the work The Late Riser's Complaint.

Linda M. Crate Linda M. Crate

Linda M. Crate is a Pennsylvanian native born in Pittsburgh, and raised in the rural town of Conneautville. Her poetry, short stories, reviews, and articles have appeared in a myriad of magazines both online and in print. Her novel Amethyst Epiphany is forthcoming from Assent Publishing under their imprint Phantasm Books. To find more of her writing you can follow her on facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Linda-M-Crate/129813357119547.

Joanne Cucinello Joanne Cucinello

Joanne Cucinello is a poet and writer who to date has published three books of poetry and an illustrated Children´s Fairytale. Her works include lyric essays and free form poetry, often visionary and insightful. Joanne is a member of the Academy of American Poets and the Society of Children´s Book Writers and Illustrators. She has been published in "Shadows Ink Selected Poems 2008" and "A Splash of Verse 2008" with an Award of Excellence. http://icthebridge-moonspirit.blogspot.com/

Ruth Z. Deming Ruth Z. Deming

Ruth Z. Deming, winner of a Leeway Grant for Creative Nonfiction, has been published in Creative Nonfiction, Haggard and Halloo, Ray’s Road Review and other venues. A mental health advocate, she runs New Directions Support Group for people and families affected by depression and bipolar disorder. She lives in Willow Grove, PA, suburban Philadelphia.

Bob Evans Bob Evans

A late-comer to art photography, Bob spent his early career working in engineering. He finds that creating something from nothing gives a tremendous rush. Bob strongly believes in taking the subject ‘as-is’ - no posing, no moving of the subject matter. It is capturing the essential essence of the subject matter that is vital to him. As well as photography, Bob is also a keen sculptor and abstract painter. Visit ArckArts.com or follow on FaceBook.

Lee Evans Lee Evans

Lee Evans lives in Bath, Maine, where he works for the local YMCA. His poems have appeared in such journals as Four and Twenty, Poetry Porch, The Christendom Review and Anon. He has produced eight poetry collections, which are available on Lulu.com. http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/garfy1

Teresa Ann Frazee Teresa Ann Frazee

Teresa Ann Frazee has been an artist for over 20 years. She has presented juried, invitational and solo exhibitions in galleries, museums, and other venues with countless awards and honors. Additionally, she has always pursued her other love, writing. Inside her world of make believe she creates what she knows to be true. To view Teresa’s paintings please go to www.frazeefinearts.com (Teresa’s Gallery)

Linda GoldenLinda Golden

Linda Golden has been listening to other people's stories most of her life. As a Psychoanalyst, she listened with intensity as others told their tales. In later years she has explored watercolor painting and creative writing. She lives in Woodland Hills with her husband of fifty years Mike, in a rambling multi-generational home. She has been published in numerous on line and paper venues. She has a book accepted for publication next year entitled "The Being in Humans", Finishing Line Press.

Joann Grisetti Joann Grisetti

Joann Grisetti lives in Florida with her husband and two sons. Her poetry has appeared or is forthcoming in Haiku Magazine, Daily Love, Lynx, Inclement, Poetry Quarterly, Atlas Poetica, Living Haiku Anthology, Autumn Legends, Whispers In The Wind, Haiku Journal, Wilderness House Review, Sweet Dreams and Night Terrors, and Red Lights. In addition, Joann has published short stories in the Inwood Indiana Press.

Bobbie Groth Bobbie Groth

After many years of writing non-fiction in the service of her career ministering to victims of violence, Bobbie Groth is plunging into fiction with tales both dark and reassuring. She has just signed a publishing agreement for the first novel in her trilogy, which was a finalist in the Dante Rosetti Awards 2014. Bobbie teaches college level sociology, preaches regularly, and plays fiddle in a Celtic traditional band. Oh, and then there are her dogs and grandchildren....

Deborah Guzzi Deborah Guzzi

Deborah Guzzi is a healing facilitator. She writes for Massage and Aromatherapy Magazines. She travels to expand her knowledge of healing and to seek writing inspiration. She has walked the Great Wall of China, seen Nepal (during the civil war), Japan, Egypt (just before ‘Arab Spring’), Peru, and France during December’s terrorist attacks. Her poetry is published in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, China,and Greece. Her new book The Hurricane is available now through Prolific Press & Amazon.

Art Heifetz Art Heifetz

Art Heifetz teaches ESL to refugees in Richmond, Va. He has had over 200 poems published in 13 countries. In 2013 he was nominated for a Pushcart Prize and won second place in the Reuben Rose International Competition in Israel. In 2014 he was nominated for Best of the Net. A sampling of his work may be found at polishedbrasspoems.com

Vanessa Horn Vanessa Horn

Vanessa Horn started writing in 2012, during a sabbatical year from her job as a Junior School Teacher. She has had several successes in short story competitions and at the moment is working on two full-length novels: one for adults and one for younger children. Now spending equal amounts of time on teaching and writing, she feels she has achieved the ideal working week!

A.J. Huffman A.J. Huffman

A.J. Huffman has published twelve solo chapbooks and one joint chapbook through various small presses. Her latest poetry collection, A Bizarre Burning of Bees (Transcendent Zero Press, is to be released December 2015. She is a Pushcart Prize nominee, a Best of Net nominee, and has published over 2400 poems in various journals, including Labletter, The James Dickey Review, and Bone Orchard. She is the founding editor of Kind of a Hurricane Press. www.kindofahurricanepress.com.

Jake Isaacson Jake Isaacson

Jake grew up on Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada. He inherited his mother´s love of literature, and his fathers love of adventure. The inspiration to write poetry was compelling and surprising. Jake is thrilled to make his debut as a poet on "Mused", as he loves the publication´s positivity and creativity.

Joseph JP Johnson Joseph JP Johnson

Joseph JP Johnson teaches literature and composition in the Central Washington University English program. He is currently a student in the Rainier Writing Workshop MFA program at Pacific Lutheran University. He has won the CWU Graduate Student Artistic Achievement Award and the Editor’s Choice Award in Carve Magazine´s Raymond Carver Short Story Contest. He also has poetry and flash fiction published in Flash, The Fictioneer, and The Penwood Review.

Erren Geraud Kelly Erren Geraud Kelly

erren geraud kelly´s work have been featured in over 150 publications in print and online in such literary journals as the evanston review, convergence, rain party and disaster society, black heart literary magazine and others. kelly is the author of the "disturbing the peace," from night ballet press and "watching the detective," forthcoming from etched press. erren recieved his b.a. in englsh--creative writing from louisiana state university in baton rouge. he lives in l.a.

Kara Emily Krantz Kara Emily Krantz

Kara Emily Krantz is a Worcester-based wedding, portrait, and headshot/theater photographer specializing in charming New England venues, outdoor photography, and art that is unique, beautiful and infused with laughter, whimsy, and love. Kara Emily is a photographer, counselor, teacher, and playwright/poet originally from Sturbridge, MA. She was raised appreciating the simplicity of nature and the beauty of the earth, and these values have remained ingrained within her work.

Cindy Lam Cindy Lam

Cindy is a Hong Kong Islander. She writes short stories to appreciate the colours of human nature in face of various social issues in a big city. She lives with her incredibly supportive husband and their two-year-old son.

Sharon A. Larsen Sharon A. Larsen

Sharon Larsen honed her writing skills as a journalist, earning a number of regional and statewide honors for her news writing and editorials. She is now semi-retired and enjoying the freedom to return to her first writing "love" -- poetry. She grew up on a dairy farm, and still makes her home in rural Western New York.

Billy Manas Billy Manas

Billy Manas studied English a long time ago at the State University Of New York at New Paltz, but decided to forego a career in teaching after he realized that he wanted to persue a career in Rock n Roll. Two decades later when he finally faced the fact that he was not rich and famous yet, he learned how to drive a tractor trailer and spends his free time writing poetry and being a dad.

Suzie Marfell Myers Suzie Marfell Myers

Suzie has loved literature and the written word since she was a child. Cutting out poems, tearing out pages of magazines and collecting quotes on little scraps of paper. Loving pieces that move you... That make you feel something. She shares her home with her husband and their three beloved Persian cats Ernest Hemingway, Edgar Allan Poe and Virginia Woolf. You can find more of her writing at suffusion.wordpress.com

Scott Thomas Outlar Scott Thomas Outlar

Scott Thomas Outlar hosts the site 17Numa.wordpress.com where links to his published poetry and fiction can be found. His chapbook "Songs of a Dissident" is forthcoming in January of 2016 through Transcendent Zero Press, and his words have appeared recently in venues such as Words Surfacing, Yellow Chair Review, Section 8 Magazine, and Harbinger Asylum. Scott also writes a weekly piece for the Dissident Voice Sunday Poetry Page.

Faith Paulsen Faith Paulsen

Faith Paulsen contributed the work Not My Poem and Open Wide.

Richard Schnap Richard Schnap

Richard Schnap is a poet, songwriter and collagist living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His poems have most recently appeared locally, nationally and overseas in a variety of print and online publications.

Bob See Bob See

Bob See has been actively interested in photography for many years. He enjoys taking images of wildlife and landscapes. Bob can be reached at his golfing site at http://enjoyma.com/golf/.

Marion Sharville Marion Sharville

Marion Sharville has been writing and performing stories and poetry for many years. Her writing has remained a constant backdrop to numerous life events, including RAF service in WWII and the raising of seven children. She has just completed her second novel, and has recently taken to the stage alongside John Hegley, Jo Brand and Jenny Eclair. She has also written two children´s books, Picklemouse Pumpkin and The Incredible Creatures of the Secret Ark, illustrated by her son, Tim.

Lisa Shea Lisa Shea

Born in Maryland, Lisa Shea has been contentedly nestled in the rolling hills and mossy forests of central Massachusetts since 1995. She is drawn to the ocean and cherishes quiet evenings as the orange glow of sunset glistens across wooden docks. Lisa relishes the challenge of conveying meaning and memorable characters in a measured bounding of time and space. Her stories, poems, and images celebrate natural beauty and serenity. Enjoy thousands of her photos at http://www.lisashea.com

Patty Somlo Patty Somlo

Patty Somlo has received four Pushcart Prize nominations and one for storySouth’s Million Writers Award. She had an essay selected as Notable by Best American Essays 2014. Author of From Here to There and Other Stories, Somlo has three forthcoming books: a short story collection, The First to Disappear (Spuyten Duvyil), a memoir, Even When Trapped Behind Clouds (WiDo Publishing), and Hairway to Heaven Stories (Cherry Castle Publishing). www.pattysomlo.com.

Danielle Trent Danielle Trent

Danielle is a freelance writer and editor native to Texas. She currently works in education and volunteers in the non-profit sector. Through these pursuits, she is able to follow her passion of helping and enriching the lives of others. She is a sci-fi junkie who seeks intellectually stimulating conversation concerning chaos and the fragmented human psyche over frozen cokes. This complex and fascinating subject usually stems as inspiration for her poetry.

Patricia Williams Patricia Williams

Patricia Williams taught art and design for 35 years. Art, design, poetry and creative prose, she feels, are natural partners, their work being the creative examination of life and living. Her poetry appears online and in print journals and anthologies in the U.S. and U.K. and was nominated for a 2014 Best of the Net in poetry. She belongs to the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets and also writes memoir/essay pieces.

Linda Barrett

Linda Barrett is a prolific poet, short story writer and an award winner of the Montgomery County Community College Writer´s Contest for three years running. She wrote her first work at eight years old and her second work at the age of 13. She contributes to the Compass, Mad Swirl, Idea Gems, and Night to Dawn magazine. Linda has lived in Abington, Pa. for 51 years in the same house on the same street. This is her first contribution to Mused magazine.

Tempest Brew

Tempest Brew contributed the work Morte, Pick Ups from the Playground and Won't Do.

Jared Carter

Jared Carter contributed the works Encounter, Secret and Yggdrasil.

Maria S. Cuasay

Maria S. Cuasay contributed the work Escaping Lake Limbo.

Marchell Dyon

Marchell Dyon is a published disabled poet. She believes her disability has inspired her creative spark. Her most recent poems have been published in Silver Blade Magazine, Torrid Literature Journal, Dead Snakes Magazine and Abyss and Apex Magazine. This is her second time to be published in Mused Bella Online, Her first poems were Still Life and From Water I draw you still. She is from Chicago IL.

Carol Frieswick

Carol Frieswick contributed the work Quiet Corner View and Red Barn.

Leonard Gorski

Leonard Gorski contributed the work Don't Go!, I The Poet and Without Farewell.

Sarah Henry

Sarah Henry contributed the work Deux et Machina, The Colors of Velvet and The Poet of the Future.

Brenda Kay Ledford

Brenda Kay Ledford contributed the work Winter Sunrise.

Mandi S. Lockley

Mandi S Lockley lives in London and writes literary and speculative short fiction, as well as non-fiction. Find out more and read previous published stories and articles at http://www.mandilockley.blogspot.co.uk/

Anne Diamond McNevin

Anne Diamond McNevin contributed the work A Face in the Mirror, Nantucket Pantry and Paris.

Vivian W. Newkirk

Vivian W. Newkirk contributed the work Love Messages.

James G. Piatt

Dr. Piatt's poems have been nominated for Pushcart and Best of Web awards, and he had poems published in The 100 Best Poems of 2015 & 2014 Anthologies. He was the featured poet in many magazines and has won poetry contests in the past. He has published 2 poetry books: “The Silent Pond” (2012) and “Ancient Rhythms” (2014), over 660 poems, 3 novels, 35 short stories and 7 essays. His third poetry book is scheduled for release in December. His books are available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Pauline Saull

Pauline Saull contributed the work Lazy Afternoon and The Gold Necklace.

Ophelia Sikes

Ophelia Sikes finds that the more she travels, the more she realizes how much we are all alike. We have the same needs, dreams, heartaches, despairs, and hopes. She hopes her images share the beauty that lies all around us. Ophelia’s novels are at OpheliaSikes.com.

Allison Sobczak

Allison Sobczak contributed the work Ellen.

Shanley Wells-Rau

Shanley Wells-Rau contributed the work Dolly the Llama, Natives and Shouldn't You Be Dead?.

Edga West

Edga West contributed the work Elvis, The Postman, Ruthless Living Rooms and Up the High Street.

Michael Zeis

Michael Zeis contributed the work Parachute Jump and Shadows.