academyoftheheartandmind Announcements

Announcement of Our AHM 9th Anniversary Contest Winners

Thank you to everyone who submitted to our May 2026 Contest! It was a talented bunch of submissions to review and it made quite hard for us to pick just nine winners. Here is the list of our winners and the theme of their pieces! May 22: Elanur Williams (Lapis Lazuli) May 23: Stephen Kingsnorth (Paper, … Continue reading Announcement of Our AHM 9th Anniversary Contest Winners

academyoftheheartandmind Fiction, Poetry

Summer Contest Poetry Winner: “A Late Summer’s Billboard at Dusk” and Other Poems

By Ken Gosse A Late Summer’s Billboard at Dusk There’s promised relief dead ahead. Finally, stopping for bread! We’ll spend lots of dough, because, on the go, our car guzzles gas without lead. Another long, tiresome day. Before sunrise, we’re on our way. Each joyful summer vacation’s a bummer, but we’d rather leave home than … Continue reading Summer Contest Poetry Winner: “A Late Summer’s Billboard at Dusk” and Other Poems

academyoftheheartandmind Fiction, Miscellaneous

Summer Contest Fiction Winner: “A Most Unforgettable Experience”

By Felicita Robinson When Martha invited me to spend the summer vacation with her, I was overjoyed. This was my first trip to the country part of Jamaica. Being a city girl, I was delighted that I was going to actually spend the entire summer away from the city. However, I didn’t bargain for what … Continue reading Summer Contest Fiction Winner: “A Most Unforgettable Experience”

academyoftheheartandmind Fiction, Poetry, Uncategorized

Christmas Contest 2019 Second Place Poetry: “Christmas Cheer” by Luisa Kay Reyes

In a world that is filled with distress The light can still shine in darkness For while there was no room in the inn The angels made sure it wasn’t the end. Ensuring as promised The Word became flesh To bring goodness on earth a refresh So that none who believe are a stranger To … Continue reading Christmas Contest 2019 Second Place Poetry: “Christmas Cheer” by Luisa Kay Reyes

academyoftheheartandmind Fiction, Miscellaneous, Uncategorized

Honorable Mention Piece from the Short Fiction Contest: Death Comes to Aishbagh by Divyanka Sharma

I was getting ready for work when mom told me of grandma’s death. Ambulances were rushing to Beth Israel Medical Center, urgently piercing the morning air with their siren call for space. Ubers and Lyfts and cabs were angrily honking in the 9am rush hour; East Village in New York was ablaze with indifferent and … Continue reading Honorable Mention Piece from the Short Fiction Contest: Death Comes to Aishbagh by Divyanka Sharma

academyoftheheartandmind Fiction, Miscellaneous, Uncategorized

Third Place Short Fiction Contest: Animal Plots and Schemes by Linda Imbler

Jasper Beorn, my Sphynx cat, is an ancient soul.  He is also extremely intelligent. He lives with me in a small cottage house along with his brother, the rescue dog Maurice, who is, through no fault of his own, a few pickles short of a hamburger.  Maurice is not the reason J comes across as … Continue reading Third Place Short Fiction Contest: Animal Plots and Schemes by Linda Imbler

academyoftheheartandmind Fantasy, Fiction, Miscellaneous, Uncategorized

Second Place Short Fiction Contest: The Long Lost Maiden Of Light by Luisa Reyes

Once upon a time, there was a lovely young maiden who was fair of skin, dark of hair, startlingly intelligent, and warm of heart.  She dwelt in a castle, but rarely did she ever behold the finery of the grand ballrooms nor the gilded halls of the music rooms. For her status was that of … Continue reading Second Place Short Fiction Contest: The Long Lost Maiden Of Light by Luisa Reyes