A new collection of flash fiction, Disappearing Debutantes by Meg Pokrass and Aimee Parkison is available for pre-order from Outpost 19 now!
In Disappearing Debutantes, disappearing and ever present “female beginners” come-of-age in fantasy and reality. As children, girls, teens, “new adults,” middle-aged women, and old women, they keep having their debuts and going unnoticed. Erased by gender, time, age, and those they most want to see them, neglected females become strange in hopes of being loved, being listened to, being understood, and being seen.
Though society has no interest in allowing them to make a grand entrance on a life they keep trying to live anew, and though the bloom is long off the rose that never fully opened, each disappearing woman refuses to make a graceful exit or to blossom into the perfect flowery fem society wants her to become. Instead, she boldly celebrates her oddly transformative disappearance from a life that didn’t go as planned by exploring a self-charted, self-made, surreal world of love, longing, lust, and lore.
“What’s better than one master of the flash form? Two of them, taking stories where you never thought they could go.”
–Robert Shapard
“Surprising, shocking and stunningly honest, this collection of sharp, witty, sad, funny stories will keep you guessing and marveling at their ingenuity. Strikingly original. ”
–Sean Lusk, author of The Second Sight of Zachary Cloudesly
Kissing the Monster Hunter is a new chapbook about monster hunters, unseen monsters, perpetual dreamers, and the creatures (human and otherwise) who love them. The unmissable prose poems and micros in this collection thrust us into an alternate reality where hope, love, and intimacy, when gone unrecognized, become a mystical force to be reckoned with.
In this wonderful mingling of reportage and dreamscape, Nessie’s appearance becomes a beacon for lovers. Here we have a collection with a ripple effect; one story causes another, widening and deepening the ultimate mystery of ourselves. Who can forget the monster hunter’s baby teeth? The insistence on love at all costs? Reading Pokrass’ work is akin to a Nantucket ride, once you start, there’s no stopping. Darkly comic and wildly original. Brilliant! – Frankie McMillan, author of The Wandering Nature of Us Girls
Surreal, poetic, and strangely beautiful, only Meg Pokrass can take a monster and make it sexy. She searches deep waters and fishes out our curious beating hearts. Another triumph, this book is a love letter to craft from a master of the short form. –Angela Readman, author of Bunny Girls and Don’t Try This At Home
Yes, it’s true! Valentine’s Day is sidling up to us! This quirky workshop is designed for funny/strange/beautiful/ micro-sized love story truffles!
In my popular 3 day microfiction workshop, participants will be using the 100 word story constraint. We’ll be using story models and prompts. My prompts are designed to help all writers break through creative barriers. There will be feedback from me directly on every story, as well as peer feedback. The workshop will be held in a private Facebook group. Cost for the workshop is $100 USD per student.
Numbers of students are limited. For enrollment info, please email me directly here.
You have transformed so many people’s writing lives, mine included! -Frances Gapper
Any micro I have ever published was born in your workshops! Eternal gratitude. – Jenny Stalter
You are such an inspiring teacher. -Nadia Jacobsen
I fell in love with flash in your workshops, Meg! -Karen Schauber
-I’ve ahad many stories published that originated in your workshops or from your prompts, not to mention your skillful editing suggestions. So grateful for all you do for the micro community. -Kathryn Harjo Silver
Meg has inspired many of us to have our writing dreams come into fruition. -Annie Bien
You have a big shout out in the Acknowlegements of my new book. Couldn’t have written it without you. -Jayne Martin
I am inspired by the prompts and the other students and your marvelous, generous, generative energy. I live with the prompts for a few days, and then start writing (and I’ve been using your newsletter prompts as part of my daily writing practice, too). As a writing teacher, I’m also feeling renewed just by reading your comments to everyone and appreciating the way you work descriptively to help writers see what they have. It’s a technique I teach to undergraduates, and it’s hard for them!, so it helps me enormously to be in the middle of that kind of workshop to feel how it works when I’m not the orchestrator. In the middle of a very lonely pandemic, and sabbatical where I really can’t go anywhere, you’ve created these small, at home residencies that I love. Thank you. –Susan Morehouse
You are the best and one of a kind! – Andrea Disario Marcusa
This was grand, as are all your workshops, Meg. Super subject, terrific feedback, incredibly jaw-dropping talent. Stimulation PLUS fun! – Tracey Meloni
I learned so much from you two fabulous writers/teachers. You opened doors to rooms and worlds I didn’t know existed. Look forward to another workshop – Michelle Morris
