Yellow Arrow Publishing Blog
Meet a Board Member: Gina Strauss
We at Yellow Arrow Publishing would like to introduce another board member, Gina Strauss. For over 25 years, Gina has worked as a teacher and advisor in a variety of educational settings. Her advanced degrees in counseling and healing arts add a unique dimension to her writing style and interactions with others. She is an advocate for conscious living and is mindful of how all of our relationships serve as mirrors to us. Gina believes that much can be learned from life’s experiences and recognizes the wealth of positive thought that can be gleaned from small day-to-day moments. She lives in Baltimore, Maryland with her husband and two teenage daughters.
Gina recently took the time to answer some questions for us.
YAP: Tell us a little something about yourself.
I never saw myself as a writer. Even though I religiously wrote in my journal during my teenage years, my calling in life has been in the areas of teaching and counseling. It wasn’t until I was in my late 20s and early 30s, as a part of my healing process, I felt the nudge to begin to put my life experiences down on paper to share my story, my voice. Since then, I have self-published a book called Letters to My Teenage Daughter: We’ve Got You, and I have also had one of my creative nonfiction stories, “Listening to the Wisdom of My Body: A Fertility Journey,” published in the RESILIENCE issue of the Yellow Arrow Journal.
In addition to writing as the spirit calls me, I am in the middle of a transition from working as a Montessori teacher to establishing my own private practice as a licensed counselor. I am looking forward to seeing how this piece of my journey unfolds, particularly as I will be continuing my learning to include skills as a Nature Informed Therapist.
YAP: What do you love most about Baltimore?
I am a homegrown Baltimore girl! I love the traditions of Baltimore—eating crabs, watching the Orioles play baseball, and driving to the snowball stand after dinner. I also love the rich history and vibrancy of the cultural events that Baltimore offers.
YAP: How did you get involved with Yellow Arrow and what do you do?
I first heard of Yellow Arrow through a connection with a woman who was also in the Maryland Writers Association (MWA). She asked if anyone in MWA would like to be a reader at one of Yellow Arrow’s events and I responded. After that reading, I did another workshop with Yellow Arrow and had one of my creative nonfiction pieces published in one of the Yellow Arrow Journal issues. Yellow Arrow has given me so much support as a new writer!! A short time later, I was asked to be a board member and have been in that position since January 2020, first as the Feminine Leadership Advisor and now as the Treasurer.
YAP: What are you working on currently?
Right now, I am working on a chapter that will be a part of an anthology on the healing qualities of nature. The anthology is coordinated by Heidi Schreiber-Pan from the Chesapeake Mental Health Collaborative in Towson, Maryland. I am honored to be a part of this collection of personal stories highlighting how nature can be a therapeutic tool.
YAP: Who is your favorite writer?
My favorite writer is Maya Angelou. There are so many things I love about her writing as well as who she was as a person. I am most drawn to the poetic way she speaks about her life and her undying belief in the goodness of humans.
YAP: Who has inspired and supported you most in your writing journey?
In addition to the support I have received from Yellow Arrow, I am deeply grateful to Andrea Hylen who has held a space for my creativity and personal healing for several years. As a Leadership Coach, she hosts an online “Co-Working Space for Cultural Creatives” several times a year. She has been my guide in opening up more to what I want to share in my writing.
YAP: What do you love most about writing?
I love to express my life’s journey in writing. Being able to tell little snippets from moments in my life where I had an AHA moment is so fulfilling. Even though there are writing “rules” in some cases, most of the time, writing is a tool for free expression and is limitless. I love that about it.
YAP: What advice do you have for new writers?
Find a support person/group
Read and listen to other authors
Work through your fears regarding sharing your voice
Trust the ebb and flow of the writing process
Write for yourself—others will connect to your authentic sharing.
*****
We are so fortunate to have Gina on our team. Yellow Arrow Publishing is a nonprofit supporting women writers through publication and access to the literary arts. Thank you for supporting independent publishing.
Until We Meet Again . . .
Aloha ʻoe, aloha ʻoe (farewell to thee, farewell to thee)
E ke onaona noho i ka lipo (the charming one who dwells in the shaded bowers)
One fond embrace,
A hoʻi aʻe au (ʻere I depart)
Until we meet again
“Aloha ʻoe,” composed by Queen Liliʻuokalani in 1878
Gwen, your Yellow Arrow family wants to send you off with a heartfelt bon voyage! Thank you for everything you have done for the Baltimore writing community and for Yellow Arrow. Here’s to new adventures!
If you want to support Gwen, please purchase one of her incredible books in the Yellow Arrow Bookstore or send her your own farewell message on Instagram @gwenvanvelsor. Visit www.gwenvanvelsor.com to follow her adventures.
I can’t believe it’s been 16 years since I first met you! We had fun that summer in Greece and some exciting times building Yellow Arrow Publishing. Thank you for letting me volunteer with Yellow Arrow and for thinking I would make a good Editor-in-Chief.
We constructed a great foundation for something beautiful! Have an incredible journey and adventure.
Aloha nō, Kapua Iao
Gwen gave me the opportunity to pursue what I love and become part of the Yellow Arrow family and I greatly appreciate her for it. I hope for her safety and happiness in her move with her family and that they get to enjoy the new opportunities and experiences that come with it, especially after giving me the same. Thank you so much, Gwen!
Brenna Ebner
It is unbelievable to think that it was only a little over a year ago that I drove through a snowy winter night in order to sit and chat with Gwen about my potential involvement with Yellow Arrow Publishing. Upon meeting Gwen, I was immediately struck by her warmth and passion as she described her vision for YAP and ways to become involved. Her openness in listening to my own interests and ideas asserted that she saw YAP as not only hers but as a collaboration of many voices—an astounding notion in a society that is often focused on the individual rather than the community.
Now, that I know Gwen better, I am not surprised because I have learned that everything she does is undertaken for the purpose of helping others blossom. Because Gwen let me into her YAP family, I have been able to chat about poetry with a fellow writer across the Atlantic Ocean, learn the art of bookbinding, and edit stories from voices from all over the world. I wish Gwen and her family all the best as they continue on their journey.
Siobhan McKenna
One of the first things that I noticed about Gwen was her warm smile. I was a bit nervous coming to speak at an author’s event and her warmth made me instantly feel better. After another event, Gwen reached out to me to chat about life and we met up at Belvedere Square. We had an instant connection and shared conversation about some of the things we had in common: motherhood, teaching, our love of travel, passion for feminine wisdom, and of course, writing. That night she gave me a small gift. I cherish it as a thoughtful recognition of our connection. Later, Gwen welcomed me into her home to talk more about Yellow Arrow and it was there that she invited me to join the board.
Gwen, thank you for noticing the new expression that was blossoming in me and providing a safe and meaningful space to grow as a writer. I know this next adventure will provide you with many learning opportunities and the chance to emerge as an even more beautiful, loving, and fulfilled version of you.
Much love! Gina Strauss
Gwen, it’s been great working with you and getting connected to the Yellow Arrow family. I wish you and your family prosperity, joy, and love as you start on this next journey.
Jennifer N. Shannon
Gwen, thank you for the ways you’ve made me become more of the writer and resident of Highlandtown that I hope to be. Your ingenuity has opened doors I would have never dreamed of, let alone found a way to walk through. The opportunities you’ve given me through Yellow Arrow have forever changed me.
Kerry Graham
Gwen is someone who gathers good people around her—there’s something about her that makes you want to help out because it’s doing stuff you wanted to do all along AND it means you get to hang out with her and her good people. She has such neat, creative ideas, and wants to make good things happen for others—it’s an infectious cycle that brings out the best in all of us. Thank you, Gwen, for everything! May our connections be strong, wherever you are in the world.
love, Ann
Yellow Arrow, in its roots, is Gwen. Passionate and dedicated to helping others. Providing space and lifting up pride for those who may not know where their art belongs or to what direction it is trying to go.
Gwen has helped me realize over the past few years what it means to be a writer, as well as an editor, and a member of a community. It means getting dirt under your nails to help other’s flowers bloom, stapling 100s of pages to see other’s names in print, taking time to see someone past their writing to understand their work.
I first met Gwen when I was invited to read at a First Friday Art Walk. Her energy was contagious. I immediately knew she was someone I wanted to learn from and work with by the excitable yet professional energy she was emitting.
We’ll miss Gwen but, with Yellow Arrow, she’ll still be a piece of Baltimore.
Bailey Drumm
Dear Gwen,
The first time we met was pure serendipity. Yellow Arrow was hosting a series of writing workshops at the Y:ART Gallery, and since I happened to be on the gallery’s email list, I received an invitation. I was not familiar with Highlandtown, but I had gone to an exhibit at Y:ART several months before, when one of my friends was showing some paintings, and visitors were asked to sign in. It was coincidental that the invitation arrived just when I’d decided to make more room for creative writing in my life. What a lovely accident of fate led me to follow those yellow arrows to Highlandtown—and to you—and embark on a new chapter in my life!
When I arrived for my first class, I felt your welcoming warmth like a physical presence—a hug or a blanket. You were at home in the space, with your fellow teachers, with yourself. I remember that you brought coffee, donuts, and fresh strawberries for the students, a kindness I found incredibly comforting. And at each place around the writing table, you had set out yellow-covered booklets for taking notes and doing writing exercises—another homey touch that drew me in. When you talked about Yellow Arrow, your vision for nurturing women writers, and your own writing journey, I was swept along on the current of your enthusiasm, joy, and hopefulness. By the time the series of classes was complete, I was not only more confident in pursuing my own writing journey but also sure that you—and Yellow Arrow—would play a part in my success.
Gwen, I am so thankful to you for opening the door to so many “firsts” in my life. For starters, introducing me to the artsy vibe of the Highlandtown neighborhood. I remember having lunch at DiPasquale’s with you and Cija Jefferson after her class, and the thrill of feeling welcomed into the “club” of local writers. Helping you hand-bind the Yellow Arrow Journal, stapling and stitching care, love, and pride into every copy, was a uniquely joyful way to experience the process of producing printed works. When I joined the board of Yellow Arrow, you gave me the opportunity to manage grant writing, learn new skills, work with Kapua and the rest of the board members, and ultimately connect with other arts organizations and resources in Maryland that will help us reshape Yellow Arrow in the future. You invited me to join a live poetry reading at the Highlandtown Literary Night event, which was my first time reading my poems in public. You introduced me to Ann Quinn, whose poetry class this past year has helped me hone my craft and form relationships with local poets. You encouraged me to submit to Yellow Arrow Journal and my poetry publication in HOME was my first, a milestone moment for me that not only encouraged me to submit new work to other journals but to see the potential in my old, “dormant” poems—and to revisit, rework, and submit them as well.
Through my relationship with you and Yellow Arrow, I’ve come to appreciate the term “publishing house.” Even though we had to close the Yellow Arrow House, Yellow Arrow Publishing remains a “house”—and more importantly, a home—for women writers to be supported, nurtured, gain confidence, grow, and thrive in their creative endeavors. Gwen, your vision, your optimism, your hard work, and your faith have made our house a home—and whether we downsize, renovate, reconstruct, or move away, the Yellow Arrow home that you envisioned will live on inside us—a spiritual, creative, and loving space where we can nurture each other, ourselves, and our creativity. You leave us this precious gift, for which I will always be grateful.
Gwen, as you prepare for the next steps on your life’s journey, I wish you and your family many blessings—safe travels, health, love, and happiness. I wish you new friends, fresh ideas, the pleasure of exploring a new landscape and culture, novel inspirations for your writing, and the joy of watching your daughter grow up and learn about the big, wide world. No doubt, there will be many challenges, but I’m sure you will meet them with your unique blend of courage, curiosity, optimism, and faith. Follow your arrow, Gwen!
With love and gratitude, Sara Palmer
Thank you to everyone who supports women writers and publishers. Please show Gwen some love in the comments below or on Yellow Arrow’s Facebook or Instagram. If interested in joining Yellow Arrow Publishing as a staff or volunteer, email staff@yellowarrowpublishing.com for more information.
Yellow Arrow Publishing is a nonprofit supporting women writers through publication and access to the literary arts. To learn more about publishing, volunteering, or donating, visit yellowarrowpublishing.com.
Gratitude is a Divine Emotion: Yellow Arrow Editorial Associates and Interns
By Kapua Iao
“Gratitude is a divine emotion: it fills the heart, but not to bursting; it warms it, but not to fever.”
from Shirley by Charlotte Brontë
One of the many ways Yellow Arrow Publishing encourages women writers and women in publishing is through inclusion within the organization itself. We welcome (and thrive with) our volunteers and interns, not only for our own benefit but to also (hopefully) provide a prospective future publisher with some necessary tools and knowledge about the publishing world. And even if a volunteer does not plan to continue within the publishing world, the tools and knowledge of working in a women-led, collaborative organization. One that champions the different and the unique. One that looks for partners and allies rather than quick connections, whether from our own Baltimore community (such as Towson University!) or from further afar.
As Editor-in-Chief, it would be impossible for me to organize, create, and publish without the incredible help of our editorial associates and interns. They provide the thought process behind each journal by picking each issue’s theme and reading/voting on each submitted piece. They then read through the chosen submissions and edit them carefully and thoughtfully, not to change the voice of the author but to ensure that the voice flourishes. They provide continuous feedback and proofread the final product before release. And the same goes for our published chapbooks as everyone involved takes the time to make sure the final draft is perfect for the author.
We try to find each volunteer, each intern space in our organization to grow and flourish in the area they are most interested in (and of course where we need the most help!). Past interns have worked at our live events and at Yellow Arrow House. They hand bound our publications and put as much love and tenderness into each copy as we could hope. Now that we are a mostly virtual publishing organization, they focus on writing and/or copyediting grants, blogs, and press releases. They create promotional material and images for our authors and explore or research possible future marketing campaigns. And above all else, they support. Not only me but our authors as well. I am so thankful to have had them with me on this journey.
Currently, we have two new volunteers as well as several who started with us a couple of years ago. I would like to introduce you to our present editorial associates and interns as well as a few from the past (not listed below but valued for their assistance: Meredith Eilola, Eleanor Hade, Josie Hatton, and Rebecca Massey). Each has my appreciation.
Elaine Batty
Lives in Baltimore, Maryland
YA position: marketing intern, Aug-Dec 2020
What did you do? I did a lot of fun things while working with Yellow Arrow, but some of my favorites were making the press releases and promo images. I also really enjoyed making my blog posts (see Elaine’s latest here).
Did you go to Towson University? Yes! I will be graduating in May 2021.
What are you currently working on? I am currently working on a winter class and gearing up to start my final semester at Towson. I am also actively trying to spend as much time in nature and as much time reading as possible!
Elaine is a student at Towson University graduating with a B.S. in English on the literature track. Her poetry has been featured in the College of Southern Maryland’s Connections Literary Magazine. In her free time, she enjoys reading all genres of fiction, writing poetry, and playing with her two cats, Catlynn and Cleocatra. Elaine’s two real passions are literature and travel, and she plans to look for a job following graduation that will allow her to pursue both full-time. Find her on Instagram @elaine_batty.
Bailey Drumm
Lives in Fallston, Maryland
YA position: editorial associate, Aug 2019-present
What have you done so far? I’ve edited two editions of the journal, written a book review for the last edition, assisted in binding last January, and participated in the First Friday Art Walk Reading series.
Did you go to Towson University? Yes (though this is not how I became associated with Yellow Arrow), May 2014.
Did you work for Towson’s Grub Street Literary Magazine? Sure did! I was the nonfiction editor.
What are you currently working on? I review pieces submitted to JMWW and work for the U.S. Attorney’s Office. I have just recently taken a position with Baltimore Fishbowl reviewing books and interviewing authors.
Bailey is a fiction writer whose work has been featured in Grub Street, and whose digital art was displayed as the cover art for the 2017 edition of Welter. She is an M.F.A. graduate from the Creative Writing and Publishing Arts program at the University of Baltimore. Her collection of short stories, The Art of Settling, was published in the spring of 2019. Find out more at Bailey-Drumm.square.site.
Brenna Ebner
Lives in Baltimore/Towson, Maryland
YA position: publications intern, Sept-Dec 2020; CNF Managing Editor, Feb 2021-present
What did you do (as publications intern)? Copyedited and proofread the samurai, YAJ (Re)Formation, and Writers-in-Residence zine; researched and contacted reviewers, podcasts, blogs, and bookstores; approved submissions for (Re)Formation and assisted in the layout; wrote blog posts and a guide for authors to market themselves; and created promotional images for social media.
Did you go to Towson University? Yes, May 2020.
Did you work for Towson’s Grub Street Literary Magazine? Yes, online nonfiction editor of volume 68 and Editor-in-Chief of volume 69.
What are you currently working on? Learning how to format eBooks with Mason Jar Press, walking dogs and pet sitting part-time, and trying to finish a memoir reading list.
Brenna is a recent Towson University graduate and intern at both Mason Jar Press and Yellow Arrow. She is fascinated with creative nonfiction and hopes to pursue a dream career editing it full-time. You can find pictures of her and her dog on Instagram @look_its_brenna.
Kierstin Kessler
Lives in Shrewsbury, Pennsylvania
YA position: editorial associate, Jan 2019-present
What do you do? I’ve proofread/edited multiple chapbooks, read through submissions, and contributed edits to the final versions of two Yellow Arrow literary journal issues.
Did you go to Towson University? Yes, I graduated in December 2019.
Did you work for Towson’s Grub Street Literary Magazine? Yes! In one semester I was an assistant fiction editor, and in the other, I was the online creative nonfiction editor.
What are you currently working on? I am currently working on a few of my own projects, including a fiction book and a memoir.
Kierstin lives a relatively quiet life in Shrewsbury, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Towson University with a degree in English in December 2019. In her spare time, Kierstin enjoys reading and writing urban fantasy. Instagram her @kierstinkessler.
Alexa Laharty
Lives in Olympia, Washington
YA position: editorial associate, July 2019-Jan 2021, Creative Director, Jan 2021-present
What do you do? I edit creative nonfiction pieces for Yellow Arrow Journal and have recently begun to help with graphic design and layout for Yellow Arrow publications.
Did you go to Towson University? No.
What are you currently working on? I am currently writing my dissertation for my masters in Bioarchaeology.
Alexa grew up in Portland, Oregon (just a few blocks away from Gwen Van Velsor, Yellow Arrow’s founder!) before moving to Boston for college. She has spent the last several years living in England for graduate school where she studies archaeology. Due to the pandemic, she has returned to the Pacific Northwest and is enjoying being near family and the gorgeous outdoors. Find her on Instagram @alexaelisabeth.
Michelle Lin
Lives in Lutherville – Timonium, Maryland
YA position: marketing intern, Jan 2021-present
What do you do? I help Yellow Arrow with marketing. Some of these tasks include creating newsletters, updating Yellow Arrow’s website and calendar, creating Facebook events, writing and editing press releases, and creating weekly posts on Yellow Arrow’s social media platforms.
Did you go to Towson University? I am currently attending Towson University and will be graduating in Spring 2021.
Did you work for Towson’s Grub Street Literary Magazine? I did take part in Towson’s Grub Street Literary Magazine course. I was their online poetry editor for volume 69.
What are you currently working on? Outside of Yellow Arrow I am currently working on graduating from Towson University with a B.A. in English on the writing track.
Michelle is a student at Towson University who will be graduating in spring 2021. She had previously served as the Online Poetry Editor for volume 69 of Towson University’s literary magazine Grub Street. Michelle currently lives in Lutherville – Timonium with her family. During her downtime, she enjoys reading and writing poetry. To read more of her work, her writing can be found on Instagram @m.l_writes.
Siobhan McKenna
Currently living in Jacksonville, Florida
YA position: editorial associate, Dec 2019-present
What do you do? During my time with Yellow Arrow, I have worked with Kapua and the editorial team as an editorial assistant on three literary journals: Resilience, Home, and (Re)Formation, as well as on two chapbooks: Smoke the Peace Pipe by Roz Weaver and the samurai by Linda M. Crate. In preparation for the chapbook releases, I was honored to also interview both Roz and Linda about their pieces and the purpose of their work. In addition, I worked with Gwen and the bookbinding team to bind, by hand, Resilience.
Did you go to Towson University? No.
What are you currently working on? Outside of Yellow Arrow, I am a cardiac surgery ICU nurse; I care for patients recovering post-operatively from surgeries including heart and lung transplants and bypass grafts. This past year, I also was among the frontline workers caring for COVID-19 ICU patients. I am the editor of my unit’s newsletter and am actively involved with Dr. Laurel Braitman’s Writing in Medicine group – a virtual creative writing outlet for healthcare workers throughout the pandemic.
Siobhan is a middle child and a lover of bikepacking and practicing yoga. She enjoys writing essays, poetry, and long-winded letters to friends. For the past nine years Siobhan has lived in the charming city of Baltimore but beginning in the spring she will start work as an ICU travel nurse—moving to a different city every three months to work, write, and explore all that this crazy, broken, and beautiful country holds. You can follow her on Instagram @sio_han.
Madison Miller
Lives in Logan, Utah
YA position: editorial associate, Feb 2021-present
Did you go to Towson University? No.
What are you currently working on? I am currently a senior at Utah State University, and I am double majoring in English and Political Science.
Madison is currently a student at Utah State University and is so excited to be a part of the Yellow Arrow Team! Madison is originally from Southern California so getting used to the snow and cold weather has been a big adjustment for her. She is interested in Yellow Arrow’s mission statement of helping women become voices in literature because so often women’s voices have not been heard enough. Madison loves to read books and watch movies and TV shows. She is into Young Adult Fiction but has recently found a love in the classics like Little Women. Madison is grateful to be working for Yellow Arrow this year and cannot wait to see all the publications she gets to work on!
Deja Ryland
Lives in Baltimore, Maryland
YA position: grant writing intern, May-July 2020
What did you do? I researched grant opportunities that would be a good fit for Yellow Arrow, copyedited grants, assisted in writing portions of grants, synthesized data into a spreadsheet, helped draft letters of intent, created a survey, and was able to learn from and work alongside supportive and amazing women.
Did you go to Towson University? Yes, I graduated in August 2020.
What are you currently working on? Currently, I have a full-time job but continue to write poetry, short fiction stories, and nonfiction pieces in hopes of sharing my work and becoming a freelance writer. I am also currently learning how to play an acoustic guitar.
Deja is an emerging author. Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, she hopes to engage her boundless curiosity through her writing. She enjoys writing poetry, short stories, and nonfiction pieces. In her free time, she likes to take long walks in nature, exercise, eat, travel, and spend time with her family. Although she has no social media currently, be on the lookout for her name, which she aspires to be among collections of books or poetry on your bookshelves one day soon.
Thank you to everyone who supports these women and all writers who toil away day after day. Please show them some love in the comments below or on Yellow Arrow’s Facebook or Instagram. If interested in joining us as an editorial associate or intern, email staff@yellowarrowpublishing.com.
Yellow Arrow Publishing is a nonprofit supporting women writers through publication and access to the literary arts. To learn more about publishing, volunteering, or donating, visit yellowarrowpublishing.com.
Meet a Board Member: Jennifer N. Shannon
We at Yellow Arrow Publishing are thrilled to introduce one of our newest board and staff members, Jennifer N. Shannon! She has joined the Yellow Arrow family as our Marketing Director. Jennifer has written and published three books and has had short stories and poems published in several literary magazines such as Deep South, The Auburn Avenue, and an essay forthcoming in North Dakota Quarterly. Jennifer’s work is also being featured in the Maryland State Arts Council 2021 Virtual Exhibition titled Identity.
Our Grants Manager, Sara Palmer, asked Jennifer a few questions to introduce her to the rest of our community. You can also find a video of Jennifer on the Yellow Arrow Facebook page.
YAP: How did you get involved with Yellow Arrow?
I was introduced to Yellow Arrow by someone at the Maryland State Arts Council. I wanted to get more involved in the Baltimore writing community and I was able to speak with Gina Strauss, who is currently on the Yellow Arrow board. Our conversation was very honest and refreshing, and I felt that the mission and values of Yellow Arrow aligned well with my own. It’s been fun so far and I look forward to learning a ton while using my past experiences to help Yellow Arrow move forward.
YAP: What are you working on currently?
Well . . . the big thing is a novel. I’ve been working on this novel for almost two years now, but it’s moving along well, and I’m so excited about the story I’m telling. It’s set in Baltimore during the 1940s and explores the lives of Black women who are living and working in a brothel. I’m also writing essays and poems. I’m in two writers groups which keep me consistent and I’m always looking for opportunities to submit my work. I write often even if it’s not something that ever makes it to a broader audience. I love exploring photography and when the mood hits, I draw and paint.
YAP: Who is your favorite writer and why?
Toni Morrison is my favorite because her book The Bluest Eye changed my life. I read it in a Women’s Study Class at the University of South Carolina my freshman year in college. Our analysis of the book and everything it symbolized spoke to me in a way that was indescribable. That book gave me the confidence to write exactly what I felt, how I felt it. It also showed me the power of words and the complexity of characters. I am eternally grateful for Toni Morrison and other writers who I admire such as Gloria Naylor, Zora Neale Hurston, and Lucille Clifton (just to name a few).
YAP: Who has inspired and/or supported you most in your writing journey?
That’s a good question. More and more I’ve been inspired by other writers. Listening to the perspectives, styles, and brilliance of my fellow poets, essayists, and fiction writers has been amazing. I am in awe of beautiful writing. But my mom is probably the person who has inspired and supported me most. I mean, all of my family and friends have a belief in me that I sometimes haven’t had in myself, but my mom has always been my number one fan. She probably unknowingly put it in my mind to write because she was a great writer and talked about writing in a way that intrigued me. She always has and still does read all of my work, she gives me feedback, and she constantly encourages me. She’s the best! I love you Mom!
YAP: What about your writing do you think is most unique?
I guess the most unique thing would be my dialogue. Mainly because I write as I hear it or would say it. The dialect I use is southern since I’m originally from South Carolina.
YAP: What advice do you have for new writers?
Keep writing—you'll only get better. Get involved with critique groups. Submit your work. Don’t let rejection discourage you, it happens to all of us. And the only reason to write is because you love it. As Whoopi Goldberg said in Sister Act 2: “If when you wake up in the morning all you want to do is sing, then girl you s’posed to be a singer.” Same goes for writing . . .
Visit Jennifer’s website, www.jennifernshannon.com, and follow her @writerjns on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
*****
We are so fortunate to have Jennifer join our team and look forward to working with her and reading her work. Yellow Arrow Publishing is a nonprofit supporting women writers through publication and access to the literary arts. Thank you for supporting independent publishing.
Meet a Board Member: Sara Palmer
Interview originally from fall 2019
We at Yellow Arrow Publishing are thrilled to introduce one of our board members, Sara Palmer! She is our Grants Manager. Sara is a retired psychologist and author who has embraced her love for creative writing and generously wants to support other women who write by being involved with the Yellow Arrow community. Our Poetry Editor, Ann Quinn, asked Sara a few questions to introduce her to the rest of our community:
YAP: What can you tell us about your relationship with Baltimore?
I moved to Baltimore County with my husband in 1983, after living in New York and Seattle. We didn’t expect to stay here “forever” but Baltimore turned out to be a good fit for us. I found great opportunities as a psychologist with a specialty in physical disability; over the course of my career, I worked at Johns Hopkins, Sinai Hospital, and in private practice. I’ve been active in various local professional and community activities such as serving in the past on the board of directors for Maryland Psychological Association, Baltimore Hebrew Congregation, The League for People with Disabilities—and now Yellow Arrow Publishing. I attend many concerts, plays, and art exhibits in Baltimore. Some people say that Baltimore is cliquey but I’ve made wonderful friends here. In 2008, my husband and I moved to Federal Hill, where we are active members of the Light Street Library book club and enjoy easier access to theater and other cultural events.
YAP: How did you get involved with Yellow Arrow?
I got involved with Yellow Arrow when I received an email from the Y:ART Gallery, announcing that they were hosting a series of writing workshops organized by Yellow Arrow. I had been on Y:ART’s mailing list after attending an art exhibit there in which one of my friends had some paintings. I was just starting to take creative writing courses (again) and I quickly signed up for the three-session series. The classes were inspiring and I was impressed by Gwen [Van Velsor] and Ariele’s [Sieling] mission, vision, and dedication.
YAP: What would you like to share about reengaging your creative writing after retirement?
In addition to the classes I took through Yellow Arrow, I took classes last year in self-expression and playwriting at the Everyman Theatre. I had never explored writing a play before, but I found that I liked writing scenes and building characters with dialogue. I’m continuing to work on a couple of “scene collections” from which I hope to create a short play. I joined a writers group at the Light Street Library and also started meeting informally with two friends who are writers, to share work and get feedback. This enabled me to begin revising some of my old poetry with a fresh perspective and to write some new poems. I participated in Yellow Arrow’s First Friday Literary Event last year, reading three of my poems. I am exploring the personal essay and keeping a notebook of ideas and projects. My biggest challenge is disciplining myself to write every day.
YAP: Anything else you would like to share?
My husband and I are both retired now. We spend a lot of time visiting our sons and our two grandchildren. I volunteer as a Board Member for Cure HHT, a nonprofit advocacy foundation for a rare genetic blood vessel disease. When I’m not volunteering or writing, I like to hike, bike, read, walk my dog, knit, cook, and hang out with friends.
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We are so fortunate to have Sara, with her experience and passion, on our team, and look forward to reading more of her work. Yellow Arrow Publishing is a nonprofit supporting women writers through publication and access to the literary arts. Thank you for supporting independent publishing.
Meet the Instructor: Ann Quinn
We decided it was time to include Ann Quinn in our series about local writers. Ann, who became poetry editor for Yellow Arrow Journal in time for our latest issue, “Resilience,” taught the very first class in our new space, Yellow Arrow House. The students went home with a poem each, and another in progress, a fitting beginning for our new space. Ann has an MFA in poetry from Pacific Lutheran University, and has a chapbook of poetry, Final Deployment, published by Finishing Line Press.
We are thrilled to have Ann teach a series of classes for us—A Year in Poetry. Sign up for the year, or come as you can, the first Saturday of each month starting in March.
What do you like about Baltimore?
I actually live in Catonsville because: trees, but I love that Baltimore is planting more trees. And, fun fact, in high school, when I lived in Northern Virginia and played in a prep orchestra at Peabody, I had an intuition that I would live in Baltimore someday, and here I am, since 1994. I love that people in the area love Baltimore, and I love that the city is knowable: in one week I can spend time in Highlandtown, Sandtown, Cherry Hill, and Mt. Vernon—each so different but so much part of the whole, and so easy to get to. (Because I have a car—and that of course is one of Baltimore’s biggest challenges). I have recently become a rower--I row recreationally with the Baltimore Rowing Club. Being on the water is a whole other way to experience the city.
How did you get involved with Yellow Arrow?
I was looking online for local reading series when my book came out and I found YAP and got on the mailing list. When a poem I submitted for the journal was accepted and Gwen sent me a check, I was hooked. I love Yellow Arrow’s innovative ideas for involving community and their commitment to inclusivity and to nurturing women writers.
What do you love most about writing?
Those somewhat rare moments when it really takes you on its own journey, when you are being used to create something bigger than yourself. I also love the feeling of participation in a conversation that has been going on since we figured out how to tell stories and sing.
Who has inspired you most in your writing journey?
Probably Lia Purpura, with whom I took two classes at UMBC when I was getting into poetry (at age 50). She is a wonderful teacher and writer, and I try to emulate her style in my classes.
What are your classes like?
I like to challenge my students by giving them a lot of poetry to read and think about, and then come back and talk about—because we learn so much from one another. And I find that using masterful poems as models helps leapfrog the question of how to start a poem, what form to put it in. Often when you can start by copying from a model, your own poem takes over and almost writes itself. Of course we work on revision as well. I don’t workshop poems in every class—we’ll share bits and pieces of our writing in each class, but I find that we learn more by spending time discovering what is great about masterful poems before diving into discussing one another’s work.
You can read some of Ann’s work or order her book from her website, www.annquinn.net
Meet our Editor-in-Chief
On November 1st we opened submissions for the Winter 2020 issue of the Yellow Arrow Journal. We wanted our readers to become better acquainted with the journal’s wonderful Editor-in-Chief, Kapua Iao. Currently Kapua resides in Montréal, Québec where she does freelance editing for a variety of archaeological journals and manuscripts. Each summer she takes up residence on Crete, Greece where she works for the Gournia Excavation Project. Kapua originally hails from O’ahu, Hawai’i and holds two M.A.’s—one in Art History from the University at Buffalo, SUNY and another in Museum Studies from the University of Toronto.
We asked Kapua a few questions about her role with us and her life outside of Yellow Arrow.
YAP: How did you get involved with Yellow Arrow?
KI: I was in the Art History Department at the University at Buffalo, SUNY with Gwen’s sister from 2003 to 2005. In 2005, her sister and I participated on the Galatas Survey Project in Crete, Greece. Gwen came to visit for a couple of weeks and ended up working with us! Since then, I’ve stayed in touch with Gwen throughout the years. When she released her Follow that Arrow memoir, I became aware of Yellow Arrow and followed that arrow. Timing worked out perfectly when she started to look for volunteers, and the rest is history!
YAP: What is your role within Yellow Arrow?
KI: I am Editor-in-Chief and am incredibly blessed to find myself in such a position. I largely focus on the Journal and manuscript submission/publication, but as we have a small staff, I also help with branding, the website, and editing/designing other zines/books we publish. We are all learning as we go.
YAP: Who is your favorite writer and why?
KI: I sadly don’t have a favorite writer at the moment. Generally, I love to read nonfiction or science fiction—very different genres! At the moment, I read a tremendous amount of archaeological publications and nonfiction/poetry daily and don’t spend my downtime reading. Growing up, I absolutely loved to soak in books so it would be great to get back to reading for fun.
YAP: Can you tell us a bit about the work you do in Greece?
KI: I started working on archaeological projects in Greece in 2005 and have spent every summer since then on the island of Crete. At the moment, I am Registrar and Project Organizer of the Gournia Excavation Project for the archaeological site of Gournia in east Crete. The site was first dug in the early 1900s by Harriet Boyd-Hawes, a pioneer archaeologist and someone to read about if you get the chance. As Registrar and Project Organizer, I care for all objects and bulk finds (ceramics, lithics, mudbrick, plaster, flora and faunal remains, and so forth), both intellectually and physically, ensure that all publishers (including myself!) have access to the information they need, and do general day-to-day logistics every summer we work.
YAP: What do you love most about the work you do there?
KI: Besides the intellectual aspect of working on an archaeological project, the village we work and live in, Pacheia Ammos, has become a second home to me, and the villagers (as well as the people I work with) are all part of my extended family. I have learned so much from everyone over the years.
YAP: As someone who has spent time living, working, and traveling all around the world, what is one of your favorite places on the planet and why?
KI: Everywhere I travel holds a special place in my heart for different reasons. At the same time, however, no other place will ever compare to Hawai’i as it holds my history, all of my childhood memories, my oldest friends, and much of my family. I still call Hawai’i home no matter where I am living or visiting and always will.
To find out more about Kapua and the rest our staff please visit our about page. For information on submitting to the Yellow Arrow Journal please click here. Finally, if you would like to know more about the Gournia Excavation Project you can find their website here.
Writers in Real Life: Jessica Gregg
Jessica Gregg is the Yellow Arrow writer-in-residence for the Highlandtown First Friday Art Walk during the months of July, August and September. Jessica grew up in the Baltimore area, listening to her family’s stories of the city’s street car days. She and her children lived in Bozeman, Montana, before returning to Baltimore more than a decade ago.
Most of her career since then has been spent in education, and much of her poetry has been informed by the time she spent working at Sisters Academy of Baltimore, a middle school for girls from Southwest Baltimore. Three years ago, she left education and returned to her first career, journalism, and currently oversees three magazines, one of which is Baltimore Style.
In the fall of 2017, she decided to take a prose poetry class through Johns Hopkins University’s Odyssey program as a way to keep writing after spending work days editing. After the class, she entered a contest for women poets that was sponsored by Finishing Line Press. She did not win the contest, but the press chose to publish her manuscript News from This Lonesome City, which will be released this summer.
Poetry is Jessica’s way of documenting the moments and stories in life that are most meaningful to her. It’s also a chance to play with words in a way that the day job doesn’t always provide.
Jessica hopes to use her residency to work on a new collection of poems and to teach a workshop or two for the community.
Jessica will be giving a reading in addition to a book signing at Literary Night on August 2nd. Find her circulating the art walk in July, August and September.
Writers in Real Life: Kerry Graham
We are happy to welcome Kerry as our first Writer-in-Residence. You can find Kerry at the Highlandtown First Friday Art Walk in April, May, and June and hear her read her work at Yellow Arrow's August 2nd reading.
Kerry spent the first few years of her life in Baltimore, but was raised in Baltimore County. After going to college in Southern Maryland, attending grad school in England, and being a full-time volunteer in Nigeria, she moved to Baltimore in 2009. She lived in Pigtown for two years, but has been in the Patterson Park area since then. Almost three years ago, she bought a house in Highlandtown/Patterson Park, and couldn't be happier about being part of this neighborhood.
About her experience in Baltimore, she writes, "Sometimes, I describe myself as being hopefully devoted to Baltimore. My entire professional career, I’ve served some of Baltimore’s most marginalized populations: the HIV+, homeless, and its youth. While I have the fortune of being able to enjoy much of Baltimore’s charm, I care about hundreds of people who have been traumatized by Baltimore. I recognize that to be in this position–someone who gets to experience some of the best of Baltimore, but also understands the depths of its worst–is relatively uncommon, which is why I am committed to writing, and story sharing, and using language as a way to unite those who might otherwise never have found one another. I believe I would have been a writer regardless of where I live, but Baltimore has made my writing meaningful."
Kerry’s vignettes have appeared, or are forthcoming, in borrowed solace, The Citron Review, Crack the Spine, and Gravel. She is a regular contributor to Role Reboot, and runs a collaborative weekly newsletter called In This Together.
from gravelmag.com
Promise Him Pencils
Kerry Graham
I cannot tell which day I mark him absent, again, is the one I know he will not be back. He stops coming to class—mine, and apparently algebra, and biology—but still comes to school. In the halls, he holds his back straighter than he ever did in my room; his eyes shine brighter. Here, it does not matter that he never has paper. Pencils. Whenever we pass each other by the stairwell, he stops laughing long enough to vow, “Ima be there tomorrow!” The next day, I tell myself: he meant it at the time.
Soon, he stops coming to school, but I still see him sometimes. Now, instead of by the stairs, I pass him on the street, wondering how far he is from home. The sun shines on him here.
In my car, even with just glimpses of him, I am reminded of how he would look in the hallway. Every time I see him, it is at the same corner, too far—and too late—for me to promise him pencils. Driving past, I know all the reasons he will not realize I am there. I shout anyway.
This morning, the streets only trickle with traffic, and I can tell that today is the one he will see me. Again, I shout his name. Watching him grin at me as he lifts his hand above his head to wave, I want to press the brakes on my car. On time.
Writers in Real Life: Ariele Sieling
Yellow Arrow Publishing friend and board member Ariele Sieling has a book launch coming up on March 28, so we wanted to introduce her and her work to you. Ariele is a prolific author of science fiction, kids books, and urban fantasy (13 books so far), and has short stories published in a number of journals, anthologies, and magazines. She has become a go-to expert in self-publishing and uses Patreon to help readers find her and support her work.
We sat down with her and asked a couple of questions of local interest, starting with: what do you like most about Baltimore so far?
She replied: “We moved here about two years ago. I think my favorite part of Baltimore so far is honestly the people. Of all the places I've lived, the people we've met here have been the most friendly, welcoming, and helpful, which makes it much easier to make such a significant adjustment from a small New England town to a large city.”
How did you get involved with Yellow Arrow Publishing, and what has that been like for you?
“I met Gwen at a craft fair and she asked me if I would like to help her run a reading series. I had been thinking about getting involved in doing volunteer work again, so I figured it was a good opportunity and perfect timing. We ran the reading series together last year and it was extremely successful, and then we started a workshop series. Now I'm the vice president of the board, and super excited about watching the organization grow!”
Tell us about your book. How did you come up with idea?
“My most recent book, being released on March 28th, is called Tentacles and Teeth. It is a post-apocalyptic sci-fi filled with monsters. I’ve always been intrigued by apocalyptic stories—specifically the idea of an empty world mixed with the desperate need for survival—and I’ve always wanted to write one. But I felt that a lot of post-apocalyptic stories have already been told and told again—zombies, flood, nuclear war, environmental collapse, aliens. I wanted to write something a little different. So after mulling it over in the back of my mind for quite a while, I realized I hadn’t ever read or watched something with monsters. And that’s where I started.”
What the day-to-day writing life look like for you?
“I am a full time writer. I split my time 50/50 between doing freelance writing (mostly web copy, copy editing, and independent publishing consulting) and writing and marketing my own work. On an average day, I get up and work out or go for a walk, then sit down and do three or four hours for my clients, have lunch, and then switch over to my own stuff and spend another three or four hours writing or marketing. And of course, I fit in all of my volunteer work for Yellow Arrow too!”
What do you think is the best thing about being an author?
“I love telling stories. I’ve always indulged in stories, reading, making them up, imaginary friends—and now I love the fact that I get to tell them all day every day.”
We love telling stories, too—and sharing stories and supporting women telling their own stories. Thank you so much, Ariele, for your time. We are looking forward to checking out your work, and we appreciate all the hard work you do for Yellow Arrow!
We’re so happy to have Ariele as part of the Yellow Arrow team. Click here to order a copy of her newest book, Tentacles and Teeth! You can also visit her website to learn more about all the work she’s doing.
The book will be live on March 28th, and Ariele will be going live on Facebook that night on her author page at: https://www.facebook.com/arielejsieling/
Other ways to find Ariele online: