Leaves of Ink

I received my first Acceptance Letter of the New Year today from Leaves of Ink. I'm really excited about this one. Six of my Cinquain are going to be published on February 6, 2015.

I was hoping to find homes for more of my short poems this year, so I'm definitely getting off to a solid start with six of them being accepted all at once. That's the most number of poems I've ever had accepted at one time to be published together.

I think it's going to be another very good year. 

http://www.leaves-of-ink.com/

 

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9:48pm - Edited to add: Just received another rejection letter as well. This one from Driftwood Press. That makes three so far for the year. Keepin' busy. Not wasting any time.   ;)

 

http://www.driftwoodpress.net/

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"Capture" listed in the #1 Spot in "Leaves of Ink"

While perusing my favorite online journals this evening, I happened to notice that my poem, "Capture," is listed in the #1 Spot under 'Popular Leaves' in Leaves of Ink.

http://www.leaves-of-ink.com/2014/11/capture.html

That just brought a big smile to my face.   :)

I'm not sure what that translates to in respect to internet traffic. I have no idea how many people have actually read the poem. But for it to be listed that way, I have to assume that at least a few folks have clicked on the link. I'm pretty happy about that.   :)

                                                               
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"Capture" published today in Leaves of Ink

 

Capture

 

The room in the corner  

smells of fresh coffee and old books,
meticulously organized, yet surprisingly dusty.

The window at the end has no discernible view,

yet it’s where she stands to gather her inspiration.

The blinds hang crooked; the window is cracked.

The vent in the ceiling has been stuck since the 70s,
and the stains in the carpet have been present for decades.

An ancient Underwood graces the far corner,

while a modern Dell sits on the desk near the wall.

In summer, the room is suffocating; in winter, near-freezing.

But regardless of season, she’s most often found
sitting on the floor, cross-legged, pen and paper in hand,

capturing the moments as they’re caught by the tail,

then expertly committed to a wide-ruled notebook,

thus preventing their escape through the cracks that linger

between the crispness of an onionskin page,
and the sleekness of a liquid crystal display screen.




                                 ~~~

First published in Leaves of Ink

http://www.leaves-of-ink.com/2014/11/capture.html

November 23, 2014

"Sated"

 

Sated

 

I hear him every

morning at 2:00am, another
restless soul who simply cannot sleep.

We both feed on the

nourishment we seek during
these quiet hours when normalcy sleeps.

He walks the halls,

pausing before every closed door,
listening for the steady sound of deep breathing,

souls lost in slumber,

before he moves on to his final
destination, his true middle of the night calling,

the hunk of ham in the refrigerator,

a tall glass of milk to wash it down.
My room being closest to the kitchen,

I hear the scrape of the silverware

against the porcelain of the plate.
Little does he know I’m awake as well,

feeding myself to fulfillment

in the privacy of my room, my feast
consisting first of a warm appetizer of Collins,

to be followed by an enticing

entrée of Laux, and then topped off
with a delectable dessert of both Kooser and Dunn,

a favorable feast indeed,

for I cannot rest until I am completely
sated, deliriously delighted, wondrously full. 

I would offer
to share my banquet
with he who walks the halls

looking for his own late-hour

nourishment, but I gather my meal
of choice would no more gratify him

then his would satisfy me.

Thus, finally ready to retire as the
clock approaches the three o’clock hour,

I hear my friend as he sighs

and ascends the stairs at last,
sufficiently sated, ready for repose.




                    ~~~

First published in Leaves of Ink 

 http://www.leaves-of-ink.com/search/label/Cristine%20A.%20Gruber

 May 13, 2014

Rejection Letters, Acceptance Letters, and Contributor's Copies - All in all, a very good day.

Rejection Letters, Acceptance Letters, and Contributor's Copies - All in one day

I realize for most of the country, today was all about mid-term voting. And yes, voting is incredibly important. I hope all my friends got out there and voted. But today was a busy and exciting day for me in its own right, in addition to voting. Some days have a little bit of everything, and they're quite enjoyable as a result. Today was one of those days.

• Rejection Letter - The Great American Poetry Show - I checked my email upon waking to find that I had yet another rejection letter from The Great American Poetry Show. I've tried 20 times in the last eight years. No luck so far. Some might wonder why I keep trying when my work has been rejected so many times to date. Simple really - It's so easy to submit to this particular publication and the editor, Larry Ziman, never keeps writers waiting long for a response. I like that. When the turnaround time is consistently a matter of just a few days, it makes it easier to keep trying. Additionally, for anyone who has seen the awesomeness of Volumes 1 & 2 of this amazing book, it really would be quite cool to be included in this Series. So, I'll keep trying. One never knows. An acceptance letter could be just around the corner. http://tgaps.net/

• Rejection Letter - The Adroit Journal - Much of what I wrote about The Great American Poetry Show can also be said about The Adroit Journal. It's so easy to submit, and the editor, Peter LaBerge, never keeps writers waiting long for a response. It makes it very easy to keep trying. I've submitted work 19 times this year. And I'll keep on trying. One has to admire this young man who started this literary journal at the age of sixteen when he was still a sophomore in High School. It's great reading. Highly recommended.  http://www.theadroitjournal.org/

• Rejection Letter - The Adirondack Review - Another fantastic magazine that has great turnaround time for submissions. I usually get a response within a week. http://www.theadirondackreview.com/

• Acceptance Letter - Samsara Magazine  - To be a writer requires tremendous dedication and patience. Most often, it can take months to hear back from a journal with a response on a particular submission. I submitted five poems to Samsara Magazine on December 13, 2013. On May 1, 2014, I received a postcard update letting me know that my submission had been received and that the entire review process would take several months. I received the acceptance letter today, nearly eleven months after starting the process. An acceptance letter is truly that much sweeter, having waited so long to receive it. I am really pleased with this one. My work will be published in March 2015.  http://samsaramagazine.net/

• Acceptance Letter - Leaves of Ink - Earl S. Wynn, of Leaves of Ink, is another awesome editor who believes in speedy turnaround time when responding to writers' submissions. I've had work both rejected and accepted by Mr. Wynn, and the response time has always been within 48 hours. Very much appreciated. My poem, "Capture," was accepted today and will be live on the site later this month on Sunday, November 23, 2014.  http://www.leaves-of-ink.com/

• Contributor's Copy - Pancakes in Heaven - I received the November 2014 issue of Pancakes in Heaven today. I'm very pleased to have my poem, "Canvas," included in this issue. Pancakes in Heaven is a beautiful ministry that distributes free copies of the magazine to Nursing Homes, Shut-ins, Veterans, and Prisoners. Five of my poems were selected to be included in various issues this year. I love being a part of such a beautiful and rewarding literary endeavor.

• Contributor's Copy - The Penwood Review - I am so proud to have work included in yet another issue of The Penwood Review. The editor, Lori Cameron, has been incredibly supportive of my work for nearly ten years now. She's been publishing my poetry since Spring 2005. My poem, "Arrogance," was included in the Spring 2014 issue, and now my little contribution, "Buried," is published in the current Autumn 2014 issue. All back issues are available through the website.  http://www.penwoodreview.com/

     
                

 

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All in all, a very good day.    


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