eMerge, the online literary magazine of the Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow, is proud to announce its nominees for the Pushcart Prize.
This edition of eMerge is dedicated to all those just passing through, the ephemeral, and the euphoric. This issue is for all of you who are fascinated with the creativity that emerges from the tension of conflicting thoughts, the interplay between memory and narrative, truth and interpretation, perception and perspective, and art that straddles the line between genre, form, language, and symbol.
At eMerge we love both the raw and the refined. The pain, joy, heartache, and elation. The thread that weaves its way through our short lives and binds our common humanity together, is both delicate and critical. Below is a list of writers from eMerge who have shared their perceptions and perspectives of the human condition with us in their own unique and unrelenting voices. They represent a level of understanding and expression that writers constantly strive to achieve. They spend an inordinate amount of time skillfully crafting a sentence or choosing the perfect word or phrase to trigger a thought or put us into an emotional tailspin.
The distinctive work that has been nominated by the editors at eMerge appears below with each respective author. Each title is linked to the piece as it appears in eMerge.
Prose – a short story by Sandra Opoku-Jackson, Blue Mermaid, appeared in the Summer 2020 Issue of eMerge. A story from a different land, a different language, and a different culture that mysteriously draws us in, embraces us, and allows us to relate it to our own experiences.
Prose – a short story by Martha Anne Toll, The Gigolo, appeared in the Winter 2020 Issue of eMerge. Martha Anne Toll's short story published in eMerge Magazine that explores issues regarding our shared humanity and our most basic fears in an insightful manner.
Prose – a short story by Nikki Hanna, Writers are Thieves, appeared in the Winter 2020 Issue of eMerge. Author, Nikki Hanna, is able to weave the frayed Southern Belle charm and the intellectual Yankee in-your-face personality into masterful prose that reads like stream-of-consciousness poetry.
Poetry – by Wendy Taylor-Carlisle, Why Poetry, appeared in the Summer 2020 Issue of eMerge. Wendy Taylor Carlisle’s slightly tongue-in-cheek poem, Why Poetry, almost hides her pleasure in the impact of one sound upon another and the sense of play among words as you roll them from your tongue in poetic rhythm. When you listen to her read her poetry, you can hear the love bubble up from a private place.
Poetry – by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai, Tears of Quang Tri, appeared in the Winter 2020 issue of eMerge. Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai will forever change those who immerse themselves in her poetry. In Tears, Quế Mai reminds us of the toll the American War in Vietnam had on both sides of that tragic affair.
Poetry – by Bill McCloud, I Want to Nurse at Your Breath, appeared in the Fall 2020 issue of eMerge. Bill McCloud who continues to amaze and enthrall his readers as he pushes the envelope of his soul. For those who have been totally immersed in the uncompromising love of another being, Nurse at Your Breath, captures that fleeting moment when we realize it.
We send a sincere thank you to all of our writers for continuing share your unique and unrelenting voices with us and all those who read and love eMerge. There were many prize-worthy prose and poetry submissions to eMerge in 2020 however, Pushcart only allows small press and online magazines six nominees each. As most of you know, eMerge is the online magazine of the Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow and is staffed completely by volunteers. Emerge would not be possible without the skills and support of Sandra Sewell Templeton (artistic editor) and Carolyn-Anne Templeton (web site designer, coder, and gopher extraordinaire).
Until Next Time,
I Remain,
Just another Zororastafarian editor trying to fit some square pegs into round holes …
