Anna Vangala Jones

I’m planning to read a slightly abridged forthcoming flash story because we’re each reading for only five minutes. And my book is almost 5 years old now so I tend to read newer work. but I’ve enjoyed hearing people read excerpts from their novels & longer stories as well

hope you like it! it’s a wonderful collection

Title: Mangoes and Tequila Author: Anna Vangala Jones Image of a large mango Text of the story: My ex-boyfriend—who we now say is my best friend which hurts my actual best friend’s feelings though it’s not a real title accompanied by any sort of perks—helped me move into my new apartment in a faraway state today, so I tell him he can stay over for the night before his long drive back home alone. It’s only fair, I try to explain to my actual best friend over the phone but she laughs and says we’ll probably fall into bed together one last time for a wistful unhealthy goodbye. I think she’s wrong and this move is us starting fresh. Right now we’re at my neighborhood grocery store and I’m struck by that strange sense of being lost in a dream. I’m squeezing fruit like I’m touching the body of a new love while my heart is still longing for the familiarity of the one I’ve just left or lost. My ex-boyfriend / best-friend-in-name-only reaches for a mango at the same time as me so we can touch hands and pretend it is an accident of fate, but I pull away before he can prove my actual best friend right. In the liquor aisle, we hesitate but buy some tequila so as to make the temptation tonight almost too much to bear or resist. “Am I here because I come running whenever you call or because I can lift heavy furniture for you?” He’ll ask this when we’re almost asleep and I'll tell him, “you're here because you’re my best friend and I'm going to miss you.” That last part will be true.

I have a tiny new micro today in @bulbregion.bsky.social. grateful to @sarpsozdinler.bsky.social & any of you who read this story! 🥭 🥃 bulbregion.com/Mangoes-and-...

Nature Trail Stories by Shannon McLeod from @thirtywestph.com

<3 we’ve got to stick up for the people we make up

me: no my first person narrator is not me.
reader: oh good, I didn’t really like her.
me: well she doesn’t like you either

Baltimore 5 P.M. Saturday 3/7 Picket Brewing Company 1130 South Paca St. READERS Addison Zeller Lauren Woods Exodus Brownlow Aaron Burch Michael Don Nick Gardner Nikoletta Gjoni Sara Lippman Leslie Pietrzyk Julian Martinez Tommy Dean Robert Vaughan Dina Relles Stephanie Austin Haolun Xu Anna Vangala Jones Andrew Bertaina

#AWP26 THIRTY WEST BOOTH 724 BOOKS & CHAPBOOKS SPECIALS & FREEBIES AUTHOR SIGNINGS * ADAM GIANFORCARO
3/5, 11am-12pm) * CHELSEA STICKLE
(3/5, 1:30pm-2:30pm) * KRISTINE ESSER SLENTZ
(3/6, 11am-12pm) * ANNA VANGALA JONES
3/6, 1:30pm-2:30pm) + more cameos every day!

I’ll be around at AWP this year & hope to see you there! I’ll be at the Thirty West table signing my book, Turmeric & Sugar: Stories, Friday 1:30-2:30pm at Booth 724. I’ll be reading on Saturday at 5pm at Picket Brewing Company for the 804 Lit Salon

Thanks to @aaronburch.bsky.social for writing a beautiful little book and celebrating with a call for beautiful little stories!

“On a plane you’re supposed to put on your own mask before you help anyone else. Rules aren’t so clear out here.” loved this, Jessica, especially those last few lines

“…and I’m going to miss you.”

Oh, I just love this gem by @anniejowrites.bsky.social. That ending!❤️💔❤️

A new sentimental flash from me at the amazing @lostballoon.bsky.social

“I trail off. I have no idea what I’m talking about, not really.” this lovely little story captures parenting so perfectly, Chris

I have another story coming out in @bulbregion.bsky.social soon & am looking forward to sharing it with all of you. they’re a wonderful new journal that opens for submissions for the first time on March 1 so send in your work!

most peaceful dream ever

dreamt last night that I was on a long drive pointing & saying “cow” every so often & nothing else happened

it feels unfair

cranky sad plants in need of light & h2o

plants with emotions—oof

it’s rude how exercising + sunlight + water makes you feel better

Friendly reminder I got laid off recently & want the bookstore to be my main job alongside Amanda. Spent the last week brainstorming how to make it happen.

Some cool things you could do to help:
-Buy books at @eveninghouse.bsky.social, in-person or online
-buy Boxcutters or Feast
-hype either

🍻🙏🫡

thanks so much for reading!

thanks again 🥭 💛

I’ll never manage to pull it off every day but any morning that starts with me reading & writing is always the best

oh yes please visit me there! I won’t be in town yet the days before

thank you both! ✨

I'm so excited to have a story in this absolutely amazing issue!

thank you so much for reading & sharing, Melissa! 🥭 🥃 💛

Gorgeous piece of micro fiction

thank you so much for reading!

would save all of us time