Regions | JOYLAND

The Farmer Takes a Wife

Holly Goddard Jones -

The politician was a good public speaker, warm and spontaneous, and he was loath to stick to a stump speech as he toured the...

Every Drop Is A Man’s Nightmare

Megan Kakimoto -

The first and only time she is driven over the old Pāli road with a container of pork, Sadie smears blood on the back...

Hard Luck Hand

Michael Bible -

A bird got trapped in the lake house. Maniacally, around the room, it flew. Tiny, furious and yellow. It didn’t know how to leave....

Notes on a Christmas Bombing

Susannah Felts -

When I wake to a huge explosion on Christmas, 2020, I want to believe it’s thunder, but outside the window there’s not a cloud,...

The Language of Melons

Annie Trinh -

We speak the language of melons in our family. It has been something that Mom and Dad spoke to me since I was born....

Friend of the Pod

Frannie Comstock -

When Claire first gets the notification, she excuses herself from the meeting she is in, goes into the single stall bathroom at her office,...

The Death of the Author / Maladaptive Daydreams for the Astronaut in Training

Lily C. Buday -

Teacher comes, as usual, at settling-down time— or, more accurately, that’s when you summon her. Right as you’re trying to acquaint yourself with the...

The Smoker

Alexa Economacos -

Her cigarettes always smelled worse than other ones. I couldn’t say why, exactly, since I didn’t smoke. My friends did occasionally. Or what they...

Nina, Rome

Cristina Sandu -

The following story is an excerpt from the story collection The Union of Synchronized Swimmers by Cristina Sandu. The Union of Synchronized Swimmers is available now from Scribe...

The Brittanys: An Excerpt

Brittany Ackerman -

The following is an excerpt from the novel The Brittanys by Brittany Ackerman. The Brittanys is available now from Vintage. My cousin Liza works as...