academyoftheheartandmind Announcements, Fiction, Miscellaneous

12 Days of the Holidays: “A Little Bit of Hope” by Claire Griffis

When Jamie was eight years old, her family loaded into their eight-seater suburban and drove to the neighborhood on the west side of town, where the neighbors had decided either collectively or in an act of bizarre subconscious unity of the mind, to cover their yards in the biggest spectacle of lights, red and green … Continue reading 12 Days of the Holidays: “A Little Bit of Hope” by Claire Griffis

academyoftheheartandmind Announcements, Fiction, Poetry

12 Days of the Holidays: “Five Winter Haiku” by Jim Bates

Freezing dawn horizonBright streaks of fiery orangeWarms an inner soul.Out comet huntingSaw instead a soft sunsetMagic in the sky.Cold day and blue skyWalking in clear bright sunshineSpirits oh so warm.Choirs singing songsOf peace and joy so soothingLike snowflakes falling.Kids falling asleepSafe and warm with Christmas dreamsOf sleigh bells jingling. Jim lives in a small-town twenty … Continue reading 12 Days of the Holidays: “Five Winter Haiku” by Jim Bates

academyoftheheartandmind Announcements, Fiction, Poetry

12 Days of the Holidays: “The Office Christmas Party 2001” by Ben Macnair

The Gestetner has been dreading tonight,it is his first year, after the previous one was broken.Nigel says it wasn’t him, but we know it was.Only he would photocopy his posterior for posterity.The atmosphere between Janet and Lisa has been decidedly frosty,since the incident with the dishwasher, and Janet’s favourite red mug.Sarah has bought in the … Continue reading 12 Days of the Holidays: “The Office Christmas Party 2001” by Ben Macnair

academyoftheheartandmind Announcements, Fiction, Miscellaneous

12 Days of the Holidays: “The Card” by Denise Diehl

It was after midnight and very dark. In the low light, no one on the quiet, well-groomed cul-de-sac saw the giant shadow stop before number three and hover at its letterbox because the neighbours were all sleeping in their beds. The apparition was a huge man dressed in the attire of a Viking from a … Continue reading 12 Days of the Holidays: “The Card” by Denise Diehl

academyoftheheartandmind Announcements, Fiction, Miscellaneous

12 Days of the Holidays: “Closing Up, Wrapping Down” by Scott Tierney

Superstore, closing time, 'tis the night of Christmas, all that–  And already my colleagues and I are taking down the decorations. Lead has been stripped from church roofs with more decency.  Yep... Nothing gets one revelling in the Yuletide spirit like an army of disgruntled shelf-stackers laying waste to the season's culmination before it has … Continue reading 12 Days of the Holidays: “Closing Up, Wrapping Down” by Scott Tierney

academyoftheheartandmind Announcements, Fiction, Poetry

12 Days of the Holidays: “A wish for when I realize what matters” by Rachel Cheng

One day I’d like to settle down with a nice little boy in a nice little town We’d have 2 kids an old house by the sea two dogsone for him, and one for me He’d make me breakfast in bed we’d kiss when the kids aren’t looking And every christmas we’d put up a … Continue reading 12 Days of the Holidays: “A wish for when I realize what matters” by Rachel Cheng

academyoftheheartandmind Announcements

2026 General and Special Contest Submission Guidelines

Hey all! Before we begin detailing the exact details for our 2026 submission guidelines, here are some updates to those who submitted in 2025: We have decided that those who submitted to our 2025 Contests Pool and did not win may submit these submissions to our 2026 General Pool for consideration We will be holing … Continue reading 2026 General and Special Contest Submission Guidelines

academyoftheheartandmind Announcements, Fiction, Poetry

November “The Thursdays” Contest: Gold Winner: “We Gather Together” by Clarence Heller

Only now, as what I treasure about Thanksgivingis no longer possible,only now do I realize that the important aspect of celebratingthis holiday has always been changing,year after year, decade after decade.As a child, it was to have playtime with my cousins.Then as a teenager in love, it was to spend time with mysweetheart and her … Continue reading November “The Thursdays” Contest: Gold Winner: “We Gather Together” by Clarence Heller