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

academyoftheheartandmind Announcements, non-fiction

November “The Thursdays” Contest: Silver Winner: “The Long November” by Ken Gosse

Dontcha just hate when Thanksgiving is latebecause Friday the First means the calendar’s cursedbut you’re so hurly-burly you start a week earlythen sit at the table and wait, wait, wait, wait! Ken Gosse usually writes short, rhymed verse using whimsy and humor with traditional meters. First published in First Literary Review–East in November 2016, his … Continue reading November “The Thursdays” Contest: Silver Winner: “The Long November” by Ken Gosse

academyoftheheartandmind Announcements, Essays, non-fiction

November “The Thursdays” Contest: Bronze Winner: “Pets” by Oleg Daugovish

The camp fire dies down, and so does the conversation. The darkness blacks out the imperfections of the dusty Californian chaparral. Under the Big Tree, four slumped silhouettes sit, dissolving the week’s worries with cold brews. “Woof, woof, woof!” cry chops the stillness, urgency increasing with every bark.  “Where’s that dog’s owner?” Maura’s logic becomes … Continue reading November “The Thursdays” Contest: Bronze Winner: “Pets” by Oleg Daugovish

academyoftheheartandmind Announcements, Fiction, Poetry

13 Days of Halloween: All Hallows’ Eve by Nina Dinan

When russet leaves begin to fall,When light retreats and west winds blow,When shaken coals begin to glowAnd play with shadows on the wall,Sliced apples bubble in a pot,The wind relays the scent of smoke,The sticks and bellows blow and poke,And hearth flames catch a dimming spot. They say a veil of gossamerHangs just beyond the … Continue reading 13 Days of Halloween: All Hallows’ Eve by Nina Dinan

academyoftheheartandmind Announcements, Fiction, Poetry

13 Days of Halloween: Hallows’ Eve by Elanur Williams

Within, a haunted life - shadows and hidden rooms loom against the full moon'ssilver glow, inviting in winged spirits of the night. Elanur Williams is an educator based in New York City, where she lives with her husband and daughter. Her work has previously been published in Eunoia Review, 3Elements, The Ekphrastic Review, Feminism and Religion, … Continue reading 13 Days of Halloween: Hallows’ Eve by Elanur Williams

academyoftheheartandmind Announcements, Fiction, Poetry

13 Days of Halloween: His Coffin’s Last Tale by Ken Gosse

On his next and last voyage he would pay the full fare.As a passenger now, he found he didn’t careto chase whales or kowtow to a ship tyrant’s ordersor bunk with the crew down below in close quarters,nor climb up the mast like he’d done far too often—the ship far below looking like a small … Continue reading 13 Days of Halloween: His Coffin’s Last Tale by Ken Gosse

academyoftheheartandmind Announcements, Fiction

13 Days of Halloween: Residents Unearthed by Bernardo Villela

I In the cold ground necrotic skin quavers,those lain in gravebeds sleep uneasylifespans end when light is snuffed outbut humanity’s undying fire can reignite the living dead.The afterlife’s cycles occur in light-time.The dead’s centennial reawakening is a needed respite for the long gone and reluctantly departedin local mausoleums and those wind-scattered.Resurfacing, a drowned man waltzes;reintegrating, … Continue reading 13 Days of Halloween: Residents Unearthed by Bernardo Villela

academyoftheheartandmind Announcements, Fiction, Poetry

13 Days of Halloween: November 1st 6:03 am by Laura Dennis

The night beforedancing with the darkdry ice smokeand heartbeat musicflashing lightsa haze of alcoholand drugsThe morning aftera car barely stopsat the cornerhis vampire make upsmudged and sadstruggling to get homebefore dawnsafe for another year Laura Dennis is inspired by people, moments and sunrises.  She has been published in various anthologies and online.