August 21, 2026
Baltimore Review News:
The Baltimore Review 2026, the print compilation of all work published in the summer and fall 2025 and winter and spring 2026 issues, is not live on Amazon. This coming week, I’ll be mailing copies to the 68 contributors in the book, as well as to some “best of” anthologies, the Library of Congress, and a few other places. Many hours go into putting that book together each year, and I’m grateful for BR staff members who helped with proofreading. Thanks, too, to the artist who gave us permission to use her artwork for the cover and to Baltimore Art Gallery for assisting with this. And, of course, all the contributors whose wonderful work makes each online issue, and the annual print compilation, possible.
I now have a roster of readers for the Charm City Books slot at the Baltimore Book Festival on Saturday, September 19, at 11:00 a.m.:
Ned Balbo
Michael Downs
Kathleen Hellen
Joshua Jones Lofflin
Annie Marhefka
Jane Satterfield
Title: Baltimore Review Contributors: Readings and Conversation
And I’m looking forward to our November events:
The Eastern Shore Writers Association Holiday Book Festival on Saturday, November 7, 12:00-4:00 p.m. at Cult Classic Brewing.
The Baltimore Writers’ Conference on Saturday, November 14, at Towson University.
We’ll have tables at both of these.
First of a batch of BR meetings today. We review the financial picture, go over general BR business, then read and discuss submissions. Always good to see everyone off of Submittable.
On a personal note:
My poem “Swivel” was recently published in Yellow Arrow Publishing’s Vignette series, and I participated in a celebratory reading for that at the Bird in Hand bookstore. Each reader received a lovely yellow flower.
This Sunday, August 23, I’m participating in a Washington Writers Publishing House reading at the Ivy Book Shop.
On Monday, August 24, I’ll have work in the Journal of Compressed Creative Arts.
A lot of fun stuff—with a dose of decline emails, too. We all get them. Part of the process.
Still participating in my critique groups and generative writing sessions—always helpful.