Thunder by Neetu
April 26, 2026 by Neetu Malik in category Poet's Day by Neetu Malik tagged as Neetu, night, quiet, thunder, Wolves
Thunder
the wolves are quiet tonight
deep silence
before that burst
of lightning
strikes again
illuminates
a desperately darkened
horizon that
holds its breath
like the wolves,
I know
it is better to keep
the howls
for nights when
thunder does not compete
© Neetu Malik
Some of Neetu’s Books
ALL AROUND US: A Review by Veronica Jorge
April 22, 2026 by Veronica Jorge in category Write From the Heart by Veronica Jorge tagged as Adriana M. Garcia, All Around Us, book review, Veronica Jorge, Xelena Gonzalez
ALL AROUND US
by XELENA GONZÁLEZ
ILLUS. by ADRIANA M. GARCIA
Cinco Puntos Press,
2017
ISBN 9781941026762
In my March 22nd post, As Young As Spring, I mentioned several nature themed books. Today, I’d like to offer a review of one of those titles. Since a picture paints a thousand words, I’ve chosen, All Around Us, a picture book by Xelena González, illustrated by Adriana M. Garcia. Available in many libraries and bookstores, I hope reading it will be the start of a flourishing Spring season for you, an inspiration to spend time outdoors, (my heart goes out to my fellow allergy sufferers), and an opportunity to share with others about the wonders of nature and our wonderful Earth.
Grandpa’s daily chores and routines seem mundane and dreary yet through them his granddaughter learns about the wonders of nature that encompass everything about them, including her.
When she sees a rainbow arc in the sky, Grandpa explains that the other half of the circle, the part we cannot see, is hidden in the earth. Patting the garden soil where Grandpa planted seeds, he reminds his grandchild that the seeds, though now unseen, will become the visible fruits and vegetables that will feed them.
Throughout the day, Grandpa introduces her to many other unseen secrets and she begins to see and to understand her own place in the circle of life.
All Around US by Xelena González is a reflective celebration of life; a warm and tender story of the relationship between a grandfather and his granddaughter and the lessons he teaches her about our connection to the earth and the world around us. The illustrations by Adriana M. Garcia support the theme of circles all around with deep rich earth tones, and bright greens and vibrant yellows that swirl around each page. Intermingling with the text, they enfold the reader into the story to help them feel the warmth of the earth and the love between adult and child.
All Around Us is a 2018 Pura Belpre Illustrator Honor Book, an ALSC Notable Children’s Book and a 2018 American Indian Youth Literature Award: Picture Book Honor recipient.
See you next time on May 22nd. Until then, happy reading with whatever new book friends you make.
Veronica Jorge
Books Reviewed by Veronica
Neetu Malik: Featured Author
April 14, 2026 by Neetu Malik in category Featured Author of the Month tagged as Featured Author of the Month, Neetu Malik, Poet's Day, poetry
Neetu Malik’s poetry is an expression of life’s rhythms and the beat of the human spirit. She draws upon diverse multicultural experiences and observations across three continents in which she has lived. She has contributed to The Australia Times Poetry Magazine, October Hill Magazine, Prachya Review, among others. Her poems have appeared in The Poetic Bond Anthology V and VI published by Willowdown Books, UK, NY Literary Magazine’s Tears Anthology and Poetic Imagination Anthology (Canada).
Her poem, “Soaring Flames”, was awarded First-Place by the NY Literary Magazine (2017). She has also been nominated for the Pushcart Prize, 2019 for her poem “Sacred Figs” published by Kallisto Gaia Press in their Ocotillo Review in May, 2018. She had a monthly column, Poet’s Day, here on A Slice of Orange.
Neetu lives in Pennsylvania, USA.
You can find Neetu’s poetry in these volumes.
Hover on the cover for buy links. Click on the cover for more information.
The 2026 Bethlehem Writers Roundtable Short Story Award
April 13, 2026 by Bethlehem Writers Group in category Contests, From a Cabin in the Woods by Members of Bethlehem Writers Group tagged as #TheBWG, Bethlehem Writers Group, Seasons Readings, Short Story Award, The 2026 Bethlehem Writers Roundtable Short Story Award
The Bethlehem Writers 2025 Short Story Award
BWG is seeking stories of 2,500 words or fewer on the theme of Speculative Fiction (tales of science fiction and fantasy, broadly interpreted). The winners receive cash and publication, with the first-place winner being considered for our upcoming anthology, Illusive Worlds: Sweet, Funny and Strange Tales of Science Fiction and Fantasy, forthcoming in 2026.
Winners receive cash awards and offers of publication. (See below for details.)
First Place:
$250 and consideration for publication in our upcoming anthology: Illusive Worlds: Sweet, Funny, and Strange Tales of Science Fiction and Fantasy or Bethlehem Writers Roundtable
Second Place:
$100 and publication in Bethlehem Writers Roundtable
Third Place:
$50 and publication in Bethlehem Writers Roundtable
The 2026 guest judge is science-fiction and fantasy author Susan Kaye Quinn.
Susan Kaye Quinn has designed aircraft engines and studied global warming, getting a PhD in environmental engineering along the way, but now she invents cool stuff in books. She’s been writing across multiple genres for 15 years, with her latest works focusing on hopepunk, solarpunk, and the new stories we need to build a more just and sustainable world. Her short fiction can be found in Grist, Solarpunk Magazine, Reckoning, and all her novels and short stories can be found on her website: SusanKayeQuinn.com. She is the host of the Bright Green Futures podcast. You can read an interview of Susan here.
For more information on the 2025 Short Story Award and for information on how to enter, click here.
About BWG
The Bethlehem Writers Group, LLC (BWG), is a community of mutually supportive fiction and nonfiction authors based in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The members are as different from each other as their stories. BWG also publishes quality fiction through their online literary journal, Bethlehem Writers Roundtable, and their award-winning A Sweet, Funny, and Strange Anthology series.
Each anthology has an overall theme—broadly interpreted—but includes a variety of genres. All but the first anthology include stories from the winner(s) of The Bethlehem Writers Short Story Award.
Their first anthology, A Christmas Sampler: Sweet, Funny, and Strange Holiday Tales (2009), won two Next Generation Indie Book Awards: Best Anthology and Best Short Fiction.
Season’s Reading: More Sweet, Funny, and Strange Holiday Tales is the latest in A Sweet, Funny, and Strange Anthology and was a finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards.
Books from Bethlehem Writers Group, LLC
My 2026 Focus Word is Balance
April 12, 2026 by Denise M. Colby in category The Writing Journey by Denise Colby, Writing tagged as balance, Denise M. Colby, focus word, Word of the yearIt’s time I shared my 2026 focus word. Every year I pick a word to be my main theme for the year. It’s something I’ve done since 2015. Last year, my word was Flourish. In 2024 it was Grow. For 2026, the word I picked is BALANCE.
Why the focus word Balance?
I don’t know about you but I sometimes have a hard time keeping up with everything. Quiet time, family time, full-time day job, writing, family, health & exercise. I absolutely love this quote:
Writing and launching two books in 2025 was so much fun, but it also used up every waking moment I had available outside of my day job. This year I wanted to dial things back a bit to be … well … more balanced. Hence why I chose balance as my 2026 focus word.
That doesn’t mean I’m stopping writing. It’s more about aiming for more time in each area of importance in my life, while not having one part consume me over a long period of time. (although if I had to have one consume me, it’s the book-related one….I never tire of spending time in this area – lol).
Each year, I choose a main Bible verse to go along with my focus word.
For 2026, that verse is Ecclesiastes 3:1
“To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.”
I have also found some great quotes on this word, including:
This is my twelveth year choosing a word and I’ve enjoyed sharing and writing about my word on this blog. I have a section on my website where I’m building word pages so that if someone chose any of those words they could utilize the quotes and ideas.
I have more to share about my 2026 focus word, so stay tuned. In the meantime, I’d love to know what word you’ve chosen for 2026. Let me know in the comments.
Books by Denise M. Colby
Featured Books
LOVE’S PERILOUS ROAD
Travel, houseparties, smugglers, spies--and a mysterious highwayman. Who is the infamous Captain Moonlight? And how many lives will he change—for good or for ill?
More info →
